Year 5

Welcome to Year 5

Spring 1

Dear Parents and carers,

Welcome back to the Year 5 class page.

Happy New Year, I hope you are well and have had a nice winter holiday with your children. Myself and the staff in Year 5 are looking forward to sharing the children’s learning that will take place this year 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 1 topic is called ‘Earthlings’.

English.

Our main focus for English this term is Science-Fiction stories and an assessed piece on information booklets. Our class novel will be Aquila by Andrew Norris. 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 1, we will be starting a new unit on fractions, which includes: dividing, comparing and ordering, adding, subtracting and multiplying them. 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 Earth and Space. By the end of this unit, children will be able to name planets in our solar system, compare sizes of planets and discuss how we get day and night. Please encourage your child to learn their Knowledge Organiser that can be accessed in the links above. As well as understanding that the sun is the centre of our solar system and be able to discuss the size of the sun. Pupils will know that it takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the sun and, in this time, creates the seasons. By end of the unit, pupils will answer a variety of questions relating to these facts and more, with confidence.

Physical Education.

From the Week beginning 13/01/2025, Class 5 will have PE on a Monday 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 they are very fortunate to be provided the opportunity to take part in Move and Learn sessions with BRFC. These sessions also incorporate some of our PSHE learning that is beneficial to the pupils’ development.

Computing.

In our computing topics this half term, the children will be learning about spread sheets and 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 will be introduced to a new instrument this from January 2025. The children will be chosen 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 Patel (Higher level Teaching Assistant)

Mrs Matadar (Special Support Assistant)