Dear Parents and Carers,

I really hope you were all able to enjoy half term and it has been great to welcome the children back this week. We have already started the term as we mean to go on with lots of learning and great sharing of what children already know before we develop children’s knowledge and understanding of Volcanoes and earthquakes, life cycles/reproduction and much more

In Geography, our focus will be on Volcanoes and Earthquakes. We will recap our understanding of mountains and how they are formed which children learnt about earlier in KS2. Children will develop their understanding of the tectonic plates that form the earth’s crust and how the plate boundaries are the location for most of the world’s volcanoes and earthquakes. Plate boundary types – constructive and destructive will be explored. We will learn that they both occur due to movement of the Earth's tectonic plates. They are both caused by the heat and energy releasing from the Earth's core. Earthquakes can trigger volcanic eruptions through severe movement of tectonic plates.

In English, we will finish reading ‘Who Let the Gods Out’ by Maz Evans in our reading sessions. In English, we will explore our new text ‘The Arrival’ by Shaun Tan. This book is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel which explores the issue of immigration and the reasons why people have to flee countries and seek asylum. Children will explore characters, emotions, different points of view and the challenges faced by the main character and some of the other characters that have made their way to the new land. Through the sequence of learning, children will write a diary of the little girl as well as short scripts for scenes and narrative passages to describe what is happening at certain points in the book. We will explore a range of grammar activities throughout, and drama techniques, such as thought tapping.

We will complete our fraction unit before beginning a multiplication of division unit focussed on written methods of multiplication (working up to multiplying 4 digits by 2 digits) and written methods of division up to 4 digits by 1 digit and division including remainders. We will continue to practise recall of times tables and doubles/halves to 100.

Our key instant recall fact focus will be to know all prime numbers up to 100.

For more information on curriculum areas please see project map which I will share on Class Dojo.

PE/Outdoor Learning

PE will be continue to be on Monday with Mr Bain/Mrs Hunter and on Fridays with Mr Bain. We will be covering units on dance and football.

Children need a pair of wellies or outdoor shoes (separate to shoes worn inside) in school if they wish to go on the field during playtime.

The children will also have an outdoor learning session on Friday so please provide your child with appropriate clothing for the day, such as waterproofs and wellies. Hats and gloves also recommended if wintry weather continues and sun hats/sun cream if the weather improves as we progress through the term. It is very handy if all these items are name labelled. Children can continue to come into school wearing their PE kit on Monday and Friday.

Supporting your child at home

Reading is possibly the single-most important activity your child can do to improve achievement in school, across a range of curriculum subjects. Please encourage your child to read for a minimum of 10-15minutes (ideally half an hour) at least 3 times a week – we will be looking at reading records regularly and encouraging children to use them to record their reading in school and at home.

Time Tables -secure knowledge of the times tables facts (and the related division facts) up to 12 x 12 underpins the majority of the Year 5 and 6 Maths curriculum, and working on these can really boost progress and fluency. If your child if not yet confident with their times tables, please support them in learning and practicing them.

Each child has a personal login for Times Tables Rockstars and I would highly recommend regular practice by visiting https://play.ttrockstars.com/auth/school/student or downloading app. Children can also listen to songs and play other games online to make times tables fun to practise.

We are looking forward to a great term of learning!

If you have any questions or require any additional resources, please do not hesitate to reach out via ClassDojo or email shunter@stoke-climsland.cornwall.sch.uk.

Warm regards,

Mrs Sarah Hunter and the Year 5 Team