Spring 2
Dear Parents and carers,
Welcome back to the Year 5 class page.
I hope you have had an enjoyable half term holiday with your children. Myself and the staff in Class 5 are looking forward to sharing the children’s learning that will take place this half term both inside and outside of the classroom
In Year 5, we will continue to remind the children about the Brookhouse school values of Respect, Good Manners, Patience, Perseverance and Honesty. We will use our reward system ‘Brookhouse Monster’s University’ to recognise good behaviour and attitudes. If your child is in the winning team, they will celebrate at the end of the term. Homework will be given out on a Friday and we will expect the children to hand it in on a Wednesday, so it can be marked. As well as some key vocabulary that is set on a Friday and must be done for the following Monday. There will also be some online homework, which will be through a variety of online platforms such as Purple Mash, SPAG, TTRS and Reading Plus.
The Spring 2 topic is called ‘Inventors and Inventions’.
English.
Our focus for English and Writing this term is ‘Novel as a Theme’ and ‘Magazine information text: Hybrid’. We will be diving into both topics and we will be preparing a variation of writing for both. Our class novel will be Alex Rider, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. There will be multiple opportunities to read a range of texts that are linked to our units in English. By the end of each unit, your child will have produced a piece of work, either in their books or published on a template for their writing portfolio.
Reading is also a priority of ours at Brookhouse therefore Whole Class Reading sessions will take place every day, where children are expected to read a range of texts and answer questions by summarising, retrieving, making inference and explaining. We also encourage children to focus on new vocabulary in the texts. The school uses an online reading resource called Reading Plus, which improves pupil’s reading age but it does rely on the children using this resource on a regular basis, so please make sure your children are using this at home. Please support your children in reading their school books, at home, for ten minutes every day. We will also continue to encourage children to improve their oracy skills through participating in the project Voice 21.
Mathematics.
Maths lessons will provide pupils with the opportunity to learn through concrete, pictorial and abstract models. In Spring 2, we will be starting with the unit Decimals, which will include reading, writing and comparing decimals to one another. We will then move on to percentages, which is also closely linked to decimals and our previous unit of fractions. We will then begin the unit of geometry, which focuses on the properties of shapes.
Pupils will learn to apply this knowledge to reasoning and problem solving (using the QUACK method). Pupils will also be given a practice arithmetic test on a Friday to boost their test skills and mental math skills. Please encourage your children to practice their timetables at home. In order to aid them with this, your child can sue the online program ‘Times Table Rockstars’.
Science.
This half term we will be learning about forces. By the end of this unit, children will be able to describe forces as ‘push’ and ‘pull’. As well as, be able to carry out a range of investigations to find the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction, the act between moving surfaces. Please encourage your child to learn their knowledge organiser that can be accessed in the links above.
Physical Education.
Class 5 will have PE on a Tuesday so please make sure that your children come to school in their full PE kit- yellow P.E shirt with the school's logo, black joggers, shorts or leggings and their school green sweatshirt. In their P.E lessons, children will focus on athletics, which focuses on the fundamental movement skills such as to run, throw and jump.
Computing.
In our computing topics this half term, the children will be learning about databases. This is done through the use of Purple Mash which is accessible at school but is also used for homework tasks. The pupils have a unique username and password.
Music.
Music will take place on a Wednesday morning and taught by Bolton music. The children have been introduced to a new instrument in January 2023. The children will continue to learn how to play either a clarinet or a flute. This is in preparation for a music concert that is performed by the pupils at the end of the school year.
It is important that your children are punctual in the mornings and they attend school every day, as much as possible. Any queries feel free to talk to us in the morning or at the end of the day or arrange an appointment through the school office.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Miss Nicholls (Year 5 class teacher)
Mrs Momoniat (Teaching Assistant)
Mrs Sheikh (Special Support Assistant)