English – In Year 5, children embark on an exciting journey through English, diving into a wide range of books that ignite their imaginations and broaden their horizons. They’ll enhance their knowledge of punctuation and vocabulary, learning to express themselves with clarity and flair. Throughout the year, they’ll focus on important writing features like clauses, conjunctions, and expanded noun phrases, which will help them craft more complex sentences. Guided reading sessions will play a key role in developing their comprehension skills, as they practise making inferences and retrieving information from texts. This blend of reading and writing activities not only boosts their confidence but also nurtures a lifelong love for literature, setting the foundation for their future studies.

Maths – In Year 5, maths really gets exciting as students dive deeper into a variety of concepts. They begin by mastering place value, learning how to recognise the value of each digit up to 1,000,000, which lays a solid foundation for dealing with larger numbers. Recall of multiplication and division facts becomes second nature, enabling them to tackle more complex problems with confidence. Multi-step addition and subtraction questions challenge their reasoning skills, while converting, comparing, and ordering fractions adds a layer of fun. Students also explore the properties of shapes, leading them to calculate the area and perimeter of various figures. Overall, Year 5 maths fosters critical thinking and problem-solving, preparing them for the challenges ahead.

Computing

In Year 5, computing takes a fun turn with a focus on algorithms and programming, where students learn to create simple codes. They explore data representation, understand communication and networks, and get hands-on with information technology by using various applications to enhance their learning experience. The children will also interpret and read data.

Autumn 1 – Programming –  In Spring One, we’ll be diving into coding music! As we iterate ideas, testing and tweaking throughout our lesson, you’ll learn how basic commands function—like setting notes and rhythms. Your programme will connect to our theme, and we’ll incorporate loops to repeat sequences. Don’t forget to correct simple mistakes along the way! Describe your scene in the story, linking it to musical elements and using repeats to enhance the overall sound. Let’s create a piece of music with varied structures and loops, showcasing how programming connects our skills.

Autumn 2 – Data Handling  – In Autumn 2, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of the Mars Rover! It collects data like photos and atmospheric samples. The Rover sends this info back to Earth using radio waves, though it faces challenges like distance and interference. We’ll also explore binary numbers, learning input, processing, and output, plus how those binary signals relate to ASCII. Exciting stuff!

Spring 1 – Stop motion animation  – In Spring 1, we’ll dive into creating a toy that features simple images and a single movement. Let’s make a short stop-motion animation where we’ll think up a simple story and break it down into a storyboard with easy characters. Remember, small adjustments to your models will ensure smooth animation, and don’t forget to give feedback to other groups on their efforts!

Spring 2 – Programming 2 Micro: bit – In Spring 2, let’s get creative by clipping blocks together and predicting outcomes, just like we did in Scratch! Students will create their own images for animations and learn the difference between ‘on start’ and ‘forever’. They’ll recognise familiar blocks, identify inputs and outputs, and make predictions about variables. Plus, they’ll tackle challenges independently, breaking programs down into smaller pieces and matching algorithms to their projects!

Summer 1 -Search engines –  In Summer 1, we dive into search engines! They’re tools like Google, Bing, and Yahoo that help you find information online. Remember, not everything you see is true, so check sources for reliability. Keywords are essential; they help you narrow your search. Don’t forget about copyright and fair use when combining text and images for your poster. Just like books, websites use web crawlers to sort results, ensuring you get the most relevant information.

Summer 2 – Skills Showcase – Mars Rover 2  – This summer, we’ll dive into creating a pixel picture. A pixel is the tiniest part of a digital image, and it uses binary code for data transfer. You’ll learn how to save a JPEG as a bitmap and see how file sizes vary. We’ll explore the ‘fetch, decode, execute’ cycle through real-life examples. Plus, you’ll create a profile with a secure username and password, start using 3D design tools, and take tutorials to enhance your skills—all while being responsible in our online community!

History and Geography

In our History and Geography lessons, we’ll alternate each half term, diving into fascinating events from the past one term and exploring different countries around the world the next. Kids will gain essential skills and knowledge, discovering how history has shaped our world and learning about diverse cultures and landscapes. It’s all about making connections between new and old learning.

Autumn 1 – Anglo- Saxons – In this topic on the Anglo-Saxons, the children will discover why the Romans lost their grip on Britain. They’ll delve into the origins of the Anglo-Saxons and the reasons behind their invasion of our shores. Plus, they’ll explore how these early settlers ruled the land and the lasting impact they had on our culture. It’s going to be a fascinating journey into Britain’s history!

Autumn 2 – North America –  In these engaging lessons, the children will discover where North America is on the map and learn about its countries, like the USA and Canada. We’ll dive into the stunning natural and physical geography, from mountains to rivers, and explore the diverse economies at play. It’s all about understanding how these elements shape the lives of people living there. So, let’s get ready for an exciting journey across the continent!

Spring 1  – The Vikings – In this topic on the Vikings, the children will explore where these fascinating people came from and what drove them to invade Britain. We’ll dive into the reasons they were able to launch these invasions and discover how they lived day-to-day. Plus, it’s all about their influence on Britain—how they shaped the culture, language, and even the landscape. It’s going to be a thrilling adventure through time!

Spring 2 – Countries of the world including Biomes – During this half term,  children will learn about some major countries of the world and discover what a biome is in different environmental regions. They’ll explore how biomes vary across the globe and examine the human characteristics that define places like Europe, North and South America. Plus, we’ll look at the physical features that shape these continents. It’s a fun journey through geography and the environment!

Summer 1 – The ancient Maya civilisation – during this half term, the children will learn about the ancient Maya civilisation, exploring where and when the Mayas lived, and what made them so successful. They’ll delve into how we know about the Maya, including their intriguing writing and architecture, and discover how they were ruled. We’ll also compare the leaders of the Maya with those of the Anglo-Saxons, highlighting the fascinating differences and similarities between these two cultures.

Summer 2 – Settlements, land use and Economic Activity  –  During this half term, the children will learn all about settlements and where they are found. They’ll get the chance to explore whether settlements follow a particular pattern and investigate if people’s movements show any trends. It’s an exciting opportunity for them to understand the connection between land use and economic activities in their local area, helping to build a foundation for future learning.

Science

In Year 5, children will delve into some exciting science topics! They’ll explore how our bodies change as we grow, gaining a better understanding of human development. The solar system will also be on the agenda, sparking curiosity about the planets and stars. They’ll investigate forces in action, discovering how things move and interact. Life cycles will give insight into the stages of living organisms, and they’ll learn about the properties and changing of materials, fostering their inventive spirit. It’s sure to be a year full of fascinating discoveries!

Autumn 1 – Human development – In this topic, children will explore the stages of growth in both animals and humans. They’ll compare gestation periods and create timelines to showcase human development. Plus, they’ll learn about the unique capabilities of newborns versus other young animals, as well as the changes during puberty. They’ll also discover the parts of a flower, understanding pollination, fertilisation, seed dispersal, and how plants respond to their environment.

Autumn 2 – Earth and Space – In this engaging unit on Earth and space, kids will explore the sun, moon, and Earth, learning to describe how they move in relation to one another. They’ll explain the seasons, day and night, and track the Moon’s changes over 28 days. They’ll also discover how Earth’s rotation affects shadow lengths and why day and night vary in length around the globe. Plus, they’ll delve into the solar system, looking at how our planet and others orbit the Sun.

Spring 1 – Investigating material – In this exciting unit, children will work scientifically to explore the properties of various materials. They’ll dive into questions like, “Which materials are best for mopping up a spill?” by checking absorbency. They’ll learn to identify solids, liquids, and gases, as well as processes like melting, freezing, condensing, and evaporating. Plus, they’ll find out that dissolving solids creates a clear solution and learn the best methods for separating mixtures. They’ll also discover that signs like burning or bubbling show a non-reversible change.

Spring 2 – In this unit, children will explore the exciting world of magnets! They’ll describe how magnets work and what happens with both magnetic and non-magnetic objects. Using a force meter, they’ll measure different forces, comparing their sizes and directions. They’ll learn how gravity affects objects, like parachutes, and see how air resistance impacts things like sycamore leaves. Plus, they’ll discuss where friction can be handy and when lubrication is helpful to reduce it. They’ll also discover how simple machines—like pulleys, levers, and gears—amplify the effects of force!

Summer 2 – Working scientifically- In our science lessons, children will follow methods and come up with their own simple ones for investigations, ensuring they identify and maintain safety precautions. They’ll predict results using past experiences and measurements, like temperature and mass, recorded in various ways. Children will plot data on bar and line graphs, label the axes, and carry out fair tests to observe patterns!