Dear Parents,
Firstly I would like to welcome you to Year 5 and hope that you had a wonderful summer holiday. This letter will hopefully clarify some of your questions about curriculum coverage and classroom routines this year.
The Year 5 curriculum is broad and balanced, with plenty of scope for practical work, investigations and group work. We have also incorporated several trips to enhance and complement learning.
Topics in Science this term will include ‘Keeping Healthy’ and ‘Gases all around us’. In ICT we will be looking at Databases and using these to solve a criminal investigation. The topic in History will be the Tudors. We are hoping to organise one trip this term to Hatfield House – It was here that Elizabeth1 was first told that she would be queen; details will follow. Art will concentrate on ‘shades, tones and tints’ and Design Technology will support our History topic through making Tudor houses. In R.E. we will be studying rules for living and aspects of Hanukah and Christmas. Work in P.S.H.E. will include ‘new beginnings’ and saying ‘no’ to bullying – This will be taught by Miss Ivory on a Tuesday morning. Furthermore, Mr Bolton will be teaching the children music and drama which for the most part will follow our history topic. Swimming starts on Wednesday 14th Septemder and will cost around £16.00 per child. French will now be a half hour weekly lesson on Wednesdays.
Additionally,
- Spellings are set on Monday and tested on Friday.
- Reading for 30 minutes, at least 3 times a week.
- Number bonds/times tables- Regular practice in short sessions (e.g. 10 mins) at least once a week.
As the children are now in the Upper Juniors, it is important that they become responsible for remembering to bring their homework books on the correct day! ‘Learning Log’ tasks will be given out on a Friday and should be returned the following Wednesday. The children have all been handed reading diaries. These will be checked weekly and should contain a brief record of any reading outside of school. There is no need for the children to detail the content of what they have read on a daily basis. However, a brief explanation once a week to show comprehension would be appreciated. The diaries will be used to record spellings and should you have any concerns please feel free to contact me.
The school provides writing pens, however, should your child wish to bring their own please ensure it is a fountain pen with blue ink. It is also important that they have a named P.E. kit in school, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays when / PE is scheduled.
There are plenty of opportunities for parents to support within the classroom in Year 5. We have already had volunteers for the number bond/table cards and thank you for that. Any additional parental help would also be greatly appreciated, for example, if anyone is able to aid on a Wednesday at swimming, please come and see me.
I hope that your child will be very happy in Year 5. I would like to thank you for your help and support in advance and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Mr G. Jones