Year 5

Friday 7th May 

It has been really lovely to see many of your parents at consultations over the last couple of weeks. Please thank them on our behalf for all their fabulous support.

Well done everyone for cracking fractions. We are almost at the end of the chapter and have just about mastered the grand finale - multiplying mixed numbers by fractions. Both Mrs Haysom and I have been impressed with the level of focus and determination you have shown in understanding this difficult concept.

We have also been delighted with, both your reports on spiders, and your diaries from the viewpoint of that dastardly rat: Templeton. It is marvellous to see the progress you have made in your writing. We were sad to read about the death of Charlotte in the closing chapters of Charlotte's Web - I wonder what we'll be reading next...

Homework:

GPS Homework for Tuesday: please complete workouts 5 & 6 for this Tuesday (11th May) and 7 & 8 for next Tuesday (18th May)

Maths Homework for Thursday: sheet in yellow books (30-45 minutes)

Spellings: words with the long vowel sound /i/ spelt with y

apply, occupy, identify, supply, multiply, rhyme, cycle, python, hyphen, hygiene

Cued Spellings: multiply, ring, sing, bring, think, drink, sink.

Reading: we are still running the reading raffle every Friday so make sure you read 5 times at home and ask a family member to listen to you once and sign your diary - REMEMBER - you have to be in it to win it!

Times tables: keep practising these at home.

FINAL REQUEST - PLEASE COULD YOU ALL HAVE A BLUE FIBRE-TIPPED PEN IN SCHOOL ON MONDAY

Friday 30/4/21

Might we start by saying how good it was to catch up with many of your parents this week at the family meetings. We enjoyed letting them how well you are getting on and how good it is to have you back in the classroom after lockdown.

In Literacy this week, we have written diaries from the point of view of Templeton  - a gluttonous rat and and overall anti-hero of Charlotte's Web. He is greedy, lazy, and rather selfish and helps Charlotte and Wilbur only when offered food. You have captured his character extremely well and impressed with the overall standard of writing. Next week, we shall edit and improve these pieces and then go on to publish them.

In Maths, we have moved from adding fractions to subtracting them, using many of the same skills in the process. We have also practised converting mixed numbers to top-heavy (improper fractions) and vice versa. Finally, we have become more confident in simplifying fractions at the end of a calculation. This task is, of course, far more straightforward if your times tables knowledge is strong.

As part of our Grow, Sow and Farm topic, we have investigated how climate and other environmental factors determine land use, with a particular focus on North and South America.

Finally, I'd like to plug the new Year 5/6 Book Club title, Shadow, which is described on the goodreads website as a stunning and moving novel from Michael Morpurgo. In this passionate and touching story, the interlinked fortunes of an Afghan boy and the dog who helped him to escape from his war-torn country and find sanctuary in the UK is full of emotion and tension. Now in detention in the UK and facing deportation with his mother, despite having lived safely in the UK for six years, Aman tells his desperate story to his friend Matt’s grandpa. Sensing the injustice of it all, Grandpa campaigns furiously to ensure Aman and his mother a secure future. We shall meet after school on the first Monday of next term to chat about the text. The meeting will be outside on the stage - like last time. There will not be a clash with cricket club, as it will not be on this day. Ms Wright and I hope that plenty of you will join us.

Enjoy your bank holiday weekend.

Mrs Haysom and Mrs Hester

Homework

1) Times tables practice for those who are still working on instant recall. Maybe just select one table to focus on and then just work on the ones that usually hold you up. For example, when I was at school it was usually the middle calculations that I had to think extra hard about, for example, 6x7, 7x7, 8x7. So you may find that you only really need to practise a few to get really quick.

2) Reading - please continue to read at home regularly. Do make sure that you have a reading book and your diary in school every day.

3) GPS Booklet. Please complete Workouts 3 and 4 and ensure that you have them with you so that we can go over them in class on Tuesday. If you've done them sooner, then by all means hand them in before. (Although this will be tricky this week, as, of course, you're not in on Monday!) It is fine to ask for support at home with any questions you get stuck on, or to look things up yourself. Perhaps make a note of any questions that you couldn't manage alone so that I can go over them in more detail in the lesson.

4) Spellings: words with the short vowel sound /i/ spelt with y. There are symbol, mystery, lyrics, oxygen, symptom, physical, system, typical, crystal and rhythm.

Cued Spellings: stir, bird, burn enter, better, master, person.

A selection of these words will be tested through a dictation on Friday.

5) Maths sheet for Mrs Hester, which is to be completed and returned by Thursday.

Friday 23rd April

First week back and what a week it's been! The sun has been shining and the children have been able to use a far larger chunk of the playground so it's been smiles all round.

In the classroom, we are still focusing on adding fractions. Children are learning to find common denominators, simplify fractions and turn improper fractions into mixed numbers.

We've been loving the gentle humour of Charlotte's Web and are looking forward to creating diary entries from Templeton the rat's point of view. He's rather a self-centred character so it will be interesting to see how the children write in his voice.

We've also been researching those abominable arachnids: SPIDERS. There were lots of shivers as children looked various species up on the Ipads - I look forward to reading the resulting reports.

There is literacy and spelling homework this week - see below - and could the children please practise their times tables.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester and Mrs Haysom

Cued Spellings: poor, floor, door, more, sore, explore, saw, paw, flaw, straw

Friday 26th March 2021

It's been quite a tiring week for the children as they completed assessments in reading, grammar, spelling and maths - fortunately we were all done by end of day Thursday so today has been more relaxing. We have been learning how to read maps and identify the six figure grid references for various places in our area. Children were particularly interested in finding their own houses on Ordnance Survey maps of the locality.

We also managed to dodge the rain and have lunch break up on the Rec. which was a popular choice. It was great to see them in all that space.

There is no homework again this week, as term ends on Wednesday, but it would be helpful if children could ensure they know the words to the KS2 Easter song - see newsletter. 

We will be doing CAT tests with the children on Monday and Tuesday of next week. These are done routinely at this stage in their school career so we can feedback on how they're doing with some useful data at our parent meetings in May. They don't need to prepare but a large breakfast and substantial snack are important.

Don't forget, it's the Easter Bonnet and Boot parade on Wednesday - I look forward to seeing all their creations.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester

Friday 19th March 2021

Another Friday, it's Red Nose Day, the sun's out and we've been egg-and-spoon racing with ping pong balls! The children have had a good week. One of the highlights was our Q & A session with Oliver Vicary's dad about farming and what's involved in being a dairy farmer. A huge thank you to Mr Vicary for Zooming in and answering all our questions.

In maths, we finished the week with a fun game - played entirely in silence - in which the children had to find equivalent fractions. Perhaps you had to be there?? Even more of a hit was the game in which they had to work out what fraction of a bar of dairy milk they'd get when 24 pieces were split between 4. They were amazingly quick to reach the answer.

There is no homework this week (apart from spellings) as we have assessments next week and the children will benefit from a relaxing weekend. Please send them in with a substantial snack to keep their brains working at optimum capacity!

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester

A note about the Year 5 & 6 Book Club on Monday 19th March

The book is Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson. I highly recommend it if you're hoping to push yourself with a more challenging read.

Twelve-year-old Matthew is trapped in his bedroom by crippling OCD, spending most of his time staring out of his window as the inhabitants of Chestnut Close go about their business. Until the day he is the last person to see his next-door neighbour's toddler, Teddy, before he goes missing...

Cued Spellings Term 4 Week 5: I'd, you've, they've, didn't, haven't, weren't.

Friday 12th March 2021

Well done Class 5 - you have completed your first week back after lockdown and been fantastic - of course.

In maths, we have embarked on fractions and have been learning about mixed numbers, improper fractions and simplifying fractions. Please do ask your children what all these terms mean - they ALL assure me they know!

As part of our Sow, grow and farm topic, we've been reading Charlotte's Web and discussing the description of Mr Zuckerman's cosy and very fragrant barn. The children have been thinking about their 'happy places' and writing detailed descriptions of them - they've really done some excellent work.

There is maths and comprehension homework this week - it's been sent home in their purple comprehension books and yellow maths books. Please don't spend more than 30 minutes on the maths and 20 minutes on the comprehension. Just write a note in their books if they don't complete anything. BOTH ARE DUE IN ON FRIDAY.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Mrs Hester

Cued Spellings: tidy/tidiness happy/happiness nasty/nastiness 

Friday 5th March 2021

Dear All

We made it! Thank you so much to all the lovely Year 5 parents and carers for your incredible support over the last few weeks. Home-schooling can be extremely challenging and I have been impressed, surprised, delighted and amazed at the standard of work that's been sent in over the last few weeks. I am very grateful to all of you.

We're looking forward to seeing the children back in school on Monday - here is a reminder of what they need to bring in:

• Snack, water and lunch
• School Coat and wellies (or similar)
• PE kits (which will stay in School all week)
• Maths No Problem book
• 'Book Room' and life-cycle poster 
• Reading book and diary (if it's at home)

Attached is the "Happiness Hack" PPT I talked them through this morning - it is a little rough and ready but might help those who are apprehensive to feel a little more positive.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester

Friday 11th December 2020

.....and, as if by magic we head in to the last school week of 2020. I'm sure we'll all be glad to see the back of this strange year. The children have soldiered on in spite of the restrictions imposed on them; their resilience is admirable.

We've had a busy week; writing stories in the guise of Scrooge, creating beautiful stars and mastering the art of reading graphs. We have our Carol Service on Wednesday. Hopefully, there'll be plenty of video footage to show you all. Class 5 are Kings and will be singing the very jaunty, Three Kings . All the words for the carols are attached. We'd be grateful if you could ensure the children know them before Wednesday. They are already almost word perfect.

I've sent them home with statutory spelling lists for Years 3,4, 5 and 6. Do please encourage them to pick a word a day to learn and understand over the next few months as it will help improve their vocabulary and stretch their spelling ability. Apart from that, there is no homework

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester and Mr Rowland

Friday 4th December 2020

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Year 5. Our tree is up but is looking a little sad and bare. I've asked the children if they could bring in one or two things to decorate it each. Hopefully, with their (your) contributions, it will look more festive by Monday.

In other news, we've been busy tackling word problems in maths and reading the very spooky Clockwork by Phillip Pullma in literacy. We'll be focusing on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol next week  as the children are doing a drama workshop (via Zoom) based around the story. If you have time over the weekend, do encourage the children to watch one of the many movie versions.

Sticking with books, don't forget the Year 5 Book Club title, I was A Rat. Mrs Haysom will be running Book Club early next term so there's plenty of time to read it over the holidays.

Our Christmas lunch is on Thursday and the children are invited to come in wearing Christmas Jumpers...….The only homework this week is the usual spelling list - see below.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Hester

Friday 27th November 2020

Well done Year 5 - another fab week! The children have worked really hard this week and deserve a pat on the back for their focus. We've completed our letters to The Ministry of Magic at Chogwarts School. They will be sent off on Monday and we'll be eagerly awaiting verdicts from Chief Wizards, Streatldore and McHaysomall, on which Covid Killing Potions they think the School should buy.

In maths, we've just about cracked short division. We've been using the 'bus stop' method (see homework) The children should be able to explain it to you if it's unfamiliar.

Our week long science experiment on evaporation is complete and we've created line graphs with the results. I've been impressed with the children's enthusiasm and knowledge in science lessons.

Finally, we've been making music using GarageBand on the Ipads. - they are far more adept than me and we'll be finishing their Corona Cure jingles using this brilliant software next week.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Hester

PS - Please make sure all Christmas cards that the children would like to give out to their friends are in School by Friday 11th December.

HOMEWORK

Cued Spellings: improve, sugar, could, would, sure

Literacy - Comprehension in purple books for Friday

Friday 20th November 2020

It's been another busy week in Year 5. We've been taking daily measurements to see how much salt solution has evaporated from beakers strategically placed round the classroom. In literacy, the children created potent potions (in their imaginations) to cure Coronavirus and will be sending letters to the Ministry of Magic persuading the School to buy their particular concoction - the Jack Vacc, Corona Cracker and Covid Killer 2020 all sound very promising!

In maths, we're working on multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers by 2 digit numbers using the column method. The children need more practice at this so there is maths homework for Friday in their yellow books.

We finished the week by looking at advertising jingles and are well on the way to producing some catchy raps promoting their miracle Covid Cures. Several children have asked to bring in instruments . I have agreed to this, as long as they have permission. Please could they bring them in for Monday.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester

HOMEWORK

LITERACY - Pronouns - sheets in purple books for Friday

Friday 13th November

What a fabulous effort Class 5 made for Children in Need! From Tom Daley to Lewis Hamilton via several top flight footballers, some karate experts, champion horse riders, rugby stars, a ballerina, Serena Williams and a handful of Olympians - we had the full Monty of athletes. As you can see from the picture, we kicked off the day with a Joe Wicks workout then moved on to thinking about looking after our mental well-being. They came up with an impressive list of things for which they are grateful.

We also undertook some science activities this week focusing on how to separate mixtures. We spent Thursday morning testing the best materials for filtering dirty water and writing up our findings. The children are becoming much more adept at thinking scientifically. They asked me to include a link for them to try at home.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=best+way+to+filter+water+in+wild&&view=detail&mid=10F6B34C15B77107B59210F6B34C15B77107B592&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dbest%2Bway%2Bto%2Bfilter%2Bwater%2Bin%2Bwild%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

In maths we're working on column multiplication - keep practising those times tables as they're absolutely vital.

Have a lovely weekend.

Friday 6th November

Year 5 started the week with a charming walk through the Chiddingstone countryside to find ideas for a portal. The children took photos using the Ipads and selected their favourite one. They then used this as a starting point for an adventure story. Taking them to a mysterious land and ready to see what they encounter.

The children were also given a riddle and a map as part of the new topic "Alchemy Island", the class had to use dictionaries to understand some of the more difficult words and then decipher what the riddle meant.

They also started researching gold and I would like them to continue this over the weekend.

The first science experiment of the term was also completed. The class were trying to find out which objects were magnetic and which objects would pass a current through. They talked about fair tests and wrote the experiment up.

Maths was all about: factors, multiples and prime numbers and I hope they will be able to explain to you what each one is.

Maths Homework:

2 grids - please can you write down the time taken to complete each grid.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Year 5 Homework: Potions

I hope you have all had a wonderful first week of holiday. Here is your homework for this week. 

Please can the children create their own potion. The could use: food dyes, oils or a range of liquids and other materials from home (please try not to use anything that will ferment over the 6 week term as we don’t want any sudden rather smelly explosions in the classroom – it has happened before!).  The potion needs to be in a small plastic bottle with a secure lid, no bigger than 500ml. 

The potion will need a label, neatly attached to the bottle. The label should contain the name of the potion, what it is used for (e.g. to turn a dragon into stone), the inventors name (their name) and also details of the ingredients used and in what quantities (can also add a more creative ingredients list such as 2 drops of unicorn blood, a strand of witches hair….).  Some children may also like to write a spell to make their potion detailing the order in which the ingredients need to be added, how they should be prepared and what should be said as the potion is stirred…

The potions should be in school by Monday 9^th November, although they may bring their potion in at any point during the first week. The children will then present their potion to the rest of the class. 

Have fun!

Mr Rowland​

Wow! What a term it's been. Highlights included the children's performance at the Harvest Festival, the enthusiasm with which they embraced the 'Fallen Fields' topic and their fabulous trenches.

Despite six months off, every single one of your children has knuckled down, worked hard and produced some excellent results. they should be proud of themselves. They (and possibly you) will be delighted to hear that the only homework is to make a potion and produce a recipe and method - as per Mr Rowland's letter. They will present these over the course of next term. Our topic is Alchemy Island - all about the chemistry of life!

I would also like them to read, read, read. I'll be asking them which book(s), magazines, graphic novels, newspapers, comics etc they enjoyed over the half term so encourage them to be prepared.

Don't forget The Middler book club on Zoom the first Monday back.

I hope the children have a lovely, restful couple of weeks off.

See you next term!

One week to go!

It was wonderful to speak to some of you on Wednesday and we look forward to the rest of the consultations next week.

The children have had a lovely week at school.

Monday - Consisted of the creation of the shoebox trenches. The children glued, cut, tore and painted (mostly the desk and carpet) and came out with some wonderful and authentic trenches. 

Tuesday - Harvest rehearsals, maths and a cracking game of diamond cricket.

Wednesday - The Harvest Service.

Thursday - Writing a creative story about an Octopus on an adventure.

Friday - Designing and creating a WW1 propaganda poster on publisher.

Please can all children have their wellies in for next Wednesday.

Have a restful weekend.

HOMEWORK

Literacy: a short quiz on WWI in Purple Books. This isn't a comprehension but just a chance for them to check what they know about the First World War. They can, of course, look any answers up.

Friday 2nd October

Rain was the order of play this week. Luckily we managed a bit of time outside. The class have been busy rehearsing for the Harvest Service (fingers crossed for a dry day). We will continue to work on the performance leading up to the event. 

In maths, the children have been completing their lessons on place value and specifically rounding.

Literacy lessons consisted of understanding the differences between: statements, questions and excalamtions! The also began writing fascinating stories about an octopus.

During our topic lessons, they spent time researching trenches and have created their designs for their shoebox trenches. We will be making these on Monday.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and don't get too wet.

Homework:

Maths - I have attached a combination of grids for you to complete. Please complete at least one.

Literacy: comprehension in purple books for Friday. It's quite a long one this week. I've told the children to spend no more than 30 minutes on it and see how far they get.

Friday 25th September 2020

We've completed our third full week back and the children have adjusted brilliantly to being in a 'bubble'. The 'mile a day' helps as they need the extra exercise and time out of the classroom. As the weather cools and we get more rain, it might be sensible to invest in a cheap pair of wellies they can leave at school; coats will also be essential in the coming weeks.

As ever, it's been a busy week -  we've read and discussed a large chunk of Private Peaceful,  revisited subordinating and co-ordinating conjunctions (what a mouthful!), written up our First Day of School stories, rounded numbers into the 100,000s and made poppies.

We were delighted to welcome our new Head Boy and Girl and all the heads of houses - it got the children thinking about the fact that it'll be their turn next year......

Don't forget this term's  Year 5 & 6 Book Club book -The Middler - I've seen a couple of copies on desks and reviews from the children are very positive.

Literacy homework is in the purple books  - due back Friday.

Spellings: The prefixes 'il' and 'ir' added to root words beginning with r and l.

illegal, illegible, illiterate, irregular, irresponsible

Cued Spelling Group: they, then, there, they're, there, these

Happy weekends!

Friday 18th September 2020

Phew - another busy week completed. The children produced fabulous Willy Wonka hats for Roald Dahl Day and we were lucky enough to be visited by Mrs Haysom in the guise of various well known Roald Dahl characters. The children then did an excellent job of creating their own fearsome Dahlianesque villains. Mr Flint and Mrs Whack were a couple of the more evil ones..

In other literacy, the First Day of School stories are almost complete. We'll be correcting them and writing them up in our Published Work books next week  - they are occasionally hilarious and often endearing. The children will be adding their photographs to them to create a Classroom display.

In maths, we're still working on Place Value and times-tables - do keep practising at home.

This week's comprehension is in the purple homework books - please return them by Friday.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mrs Hester and Mr Rowland 

Year 5. and 6 Book Club

Mrs Haysom and Ms Wright will be running the Year 5 and 6 Book Club on Zoom towards the end of term. This term's title is The Middler by Kirsty Appelbaum.

Eleven-year-old Maggie lives in Fennis Wick, enclosed and protected from the outside world by a boundary, beyond which the Quiet War rages and the dirty, dangerous wanderers roam.

Her brother Jed is the eldest, revered and special. A hero. Her younger brother is Trig – everyone loves Trig. But Maggie’s just a middler; invisible and left behind. Then, one hot September day, she meets Una, a hungry wanderer girl in need of help, and everything Maggie has ever known gets turned on its head.

Narrated expertly and often hilariously by Maggie, we experience the trials and frustrations of being the forgotten middle child, the child with no voice, even in her own family.

This is a gripping story of forbidden friendship, loyalty and betrayal. It would be great to see Year 5 children adding their thoughts and opinions to our thriving Book Club so get reading!

Friday 11th September

What a week! We've had more empty seats  than Wembley due to children being off.

This caused some strife when completing all their end of Year 4 assessments....but at last, we are almost there.

The class have done very well in completing the tests after such a long time off.

As well as this, they have also completed a number of place value lessons in maths; we have now moved up to the hundreds of thousands.

In literacy, the class have started to study 'The Christmas Truce' and will be attempting to write a newspaper article about the event next week. We have also begun planning our stories based on our first memories of school. The children have really enjoyed reminiscing and looking at the pictures of themselves. Thank you for sending them in.

During our topic afternoons, they have been busy creating a WW1 trench and we have begun studying the weaponry used in the Great War.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Friday 4th September 2020

It has been so lovely to have the children back in school this week and they have settled in extremely well, adapting to the new routines with apparent ease.

The light blue caps have been a huge hit and Class 5 have been wearing them with pride in our corner of the playground. As you can see from the above picture of our display, we have kicked off our topic about World War I by looking at the causes of the War and the different countries and alliances involved. We have also started reading Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo and begun discussing what a soldier's life was like.

In maths, we are revisiting place value in numbers into the 100,000s. If you have a few minutes spare at home, it's worth writing out one or two larger numbers and asking the value of the number at each position within them. For example - what is the 5 worth in 105,623:  Answer = 5,000.

In order to allow the children more time outside, we are taking them up to the sports field in the mornings for a gentle jog/walk. Hopefully we'll be able to do this for as long as the weather stays reasonably dry.

The only homework this week is to learn the spellings below for Friday. As of next week, maths homework will run from Tuesday to Tuesday and literacy from Friday to Friday.

Have a good week.

Mrs Hester and Mr Rowland.

Spellings: the /aw/ sound spelt 'au' or 'augh' 

caught  naughty  taught  daughter  autumn