Maths: This week, we focused on adding and subtracting decimals with different numbers of decimal places. The children used place value charts and counters to support their understanding and develop confidence when solving calculations.

Reading: In Reading, we explored the text Recipe for Disaster. The children answered a range of question types including retrieval, vocabulary and higher order reading questions before applying these skills to more formal test style questions.

Writing: We began writing our own narratives based on Francis. Our first paragraph focused on creating a setting description of the beauty and tranquillity of Quetico Park. The children used a range of sentence types, ambitious vocabulary and metaphors to bring the setting to life for the reader.

Star Lincs Planetarium: We were incredibly lucky to welcome the Star Lincs Planetarium on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the children entered the planetarium and explored the planets of our solar system, modelled the phases of the Moon and learned about the history of lunar expeditions, including the Artemis mission planned for 2026. We journeyed through the gas giants, visited the dwarf planets and even went stargazing. One fascinating fact we learned was that two tortoises were the first living creatures to travel around the Moon.

On Friday, we took part in a workshop focused on planning a trip to Mars. The children considered which essential items they would need to take, sampled freeze dried fruit, built Lego models of spacecraft and created clay models of the Martian landscape. It was an amazing and memorable experience for everyone involved.

PE: In PE, we focused on developing our overarm throwing technique in preparation for rounders. The children worked hard to use the correct stance and body position to generate power and accuracy in their throws. They showed excellent effort and determination throughout the lesson.

Maths:
We started our new topic on decimals. The children focused on adding and subtracting decimals as well as finding complements to 1. They used their place value knowledge to support their understanding and solved a range of reasoning and problem solving questions.

Reading:
In Reading, we explored the text I Want My Mummy. The children answered a range of question types including retrieval, vocabulary and higher order reading questions before applying these skills to test style questions. We also explored the language and themes linked to mummification and Ancient Egyptians.

Writing:
We continued our work on our new video book Francis. This week, we focused on using dialogue to advance the action. The children first created a new character for the narrative called Noah, who is Francis 8 year old brother. They then took part in role play activities to explore how the characters would communicate with each other in preparation for their writing. We also began developing suspense within our narratives.

Science:
In Science, we started our new topic on properties of materials. We explored dissolving by testing different solutions and discussing whether materials were soluble or insoluble. We also looked at different ways materials can be separated.

Empathy Day:
We celebrated Empathy Day by exploring the theme step into someone elses story. The children thought carefully about what empathy means and how we can understand the thoughts and experiences of others through stories and discussion.

PE:
In orienteering, we focused on working as a team and making sure that everyone played an equal role. The children were divided into teams and given the challenge of moving from one side of the hall to the other using only hoops. They had to stand in the hoops and pass them along, which required clear communication, cooperation and problem solving skills.

Maths: This week, we explored translation, reflection and lines of symmetry in a range of different shapes. The children used their previous knowledge of plotting coordinates to support their understanding and apply these skills accurately.

Reading: In Reading, we explored the text Theseus and the Minotaur. The children answered a range of question types including retrieval, vocabulary and higher order reading skills, before applying these skills to test style questions.

Writing: We began exploring our new video book called Francis. The children investigated the setting of Quetico Park and took a closer look at the main character. We focused on using a range of ambitious adjectives to describe her personality and build a detailed character profile.

Science: In Science, we learned about asexual and sexual reproduction in plants. The children then planned and carried out an experiment to investigate plant cloning. We planted different parts of plants and will measure them over time to discover whether they can successfully be cloned.

PE: In PE, we started our new topics of Rounders and orienteering. In Rounders, the children focused on developing accurate underarm throws and practised aiming carefully at their targets. In orienteering, the children were given a range of equipment and used their problem solving and communication skills to create their own games. To finish the lesson, they completed a challenge where they had to guide their partner safely from one end of the hall to the other whilst their partner had their eyes closed. This required clear and precise communication to help them avoid the equipment in their path.

Sports Day: The children competed in our annual sports day on Friday! They all did fantastic and we are so proud of them. A fantastic afternoon was had by all!

Maths:
This week, we explored regular and irregular polygons, understanding that polygons are closed shapes made with straight lines. We then moved on to 3D shapes, where the children identified and counted faces, vertices and edges.

Writing:
We wrote non chronological reports all about Sir David Attenborough. The children thoroughly enjoyed learning more about his life and achievements while planning and creating their reports. They used a clear thematic design to make their reports visually appealing and included a range of writing techniques we have learned this year, such as parenthesis and fronted adverbials.

RE:
In RE, we explored Islamic art, focusing on designs commonly found in mosques. These included repeating geometric patterns and calligraphic verses from the Quran. The children then created their own artwork inspired by this style.

History:
We learned about child labour during the Industrial Revolution and the introduction of the Factory Act of 1833. The children then wrote diary entries from the perspective of a child worker to explore the difficult conditions they experienced and consider whether the Act improved their lives.

Science:
In Science, we learned about the reproductive parts of a plant and the process of pollination. As part of this, we dissected a plant to explore its different structures in more detail.

Cleethorpes Academy visit:
We visited Cleethorpes Academy for a musical workshop based on their summer production of Matilda. The session began with a warm up activity before the children learned the song Revolting Children. They then worked with performers from the production to learn the dance. At the end, the children performed everything they had learned and did an amazing job.

Art:
In Art, we sketched and painted our own landscapes based on Cleethorpes Boating Lake. The children were inspired by Van Gogh and used techniques such as swirling brush strokes and dappling to create texture in their paintings.

PE: 

In addition to our usual PE lessons, we took part in a special netball session led by a coach from Havelock Academy. The children focused on passing accurately, defending effectively and then applied these skills in a short game. They showed great enthusiasm and teamwork throughout.

Maths: We consolidated our knowledge of different types of angles and how to measure them accurately. The children then moved on to calculating angles around a point and on a straight line. We learned that angles around a point add up to 360 degrees and angles on a straight line add up to 180 degrees.

Reading: In Reading, we explored three new texts, including a range of fiction and non fiction. The children practised answering different styles of questions and developed their ability to explain their thinking clearly.

RE: In RE, we explored why some religions avoid images of God. This concept is known as aniconism. The children looked at different forms of religious art, including calligraphy, repeated patterns and symbols, and discussed why these are used instead of images.

History: We continued our work on the Industrial Revolution by learning about key inventions from this period and how they impacted the lives of people living at that time.

Science: In Science, we completed our life cycles topic by focusing on the life cycle of birds and reviewing what we have learned across the unit.

Maths: We began our new topic on shape by learning about angles. The children classified angles as acute, right angle, obtuse and reflex. They then estimated angles and used protractors to measure angles up to 180 degrees. We learned lots of new vocabulary and used tell me more cards to deepen understanding and help remember key terms. The children did extremely well and could recall all key facts confidently.

Reading: In Reading, we explored three new texts including a range of fiction and non fiction. The children discussed how to answer different styles of questions and practised explaining their thinking clearly.

Writing: We continued our spelling, punctuation and grammar revision by revisiting different tenses, with a focus on present and past progressive. The children then worked in pairs to answer a variety of questions, working as a team to find the correct solutions.

PE: In tennis this week, the children focused on improving both forehand and backhand shots. They practised their control and technique before working with a partner to take part in rallies, aiming to keep the ball going for as long as possible. They also challenged themselves by aiming at specific targets to improve accuracy. Great effort, teamwork and determination were shown by everyone.

RE: In RE, we looked at different religious symbols and how they inspire creativity and communicate messages. We focused on the Christian cross, the Jewish Star of David, the Muslim crescent moon and star, the Sikh Khanda and the Buddhist lotus flower.

History: In History, we continued our learning about the Industrial Revolution by focusing on what caused it. The children debated which of the six key factors had the most influence, including population growth, transport, factories, agriculture, power and empire.

Science: In Science, we continued our work on life cycles by focusing on the life cycle of birds.

Maths: We began our new topic of statistics. The children learned how to draw, read and interpret line graphs. We also practised reading and interpreting tables, including two way tables, to compare and understand data.

Reading: In Reading, we explored three new texts, including a range of fiction and non fiction. The children discussed different question styles and practised explaining how they would find and justify their answers.

Writing: We continued our spelling, punctuation and grammar revision. This week, we focused on parenthesis, colons, semi colons and dashes, as well as active and passive voice. The children then worked in pairs to answer different types of questions, working as a team to find solutions.

PE: In tennis, the focus was on learning how to volley. The children practised the basic technique before developing greater accuracy by aiming shots into hoops and cones. In cross country, we focused on adapting pace to help run longer distances. The children found that a slow and steady pace helped them manage their breathing and maintain stamina. They worked incredibly hard and showed excellent perseverance.

RE: In RE, we started our new topic on creativity. We explored what creativity is and how people express themselves. The children then worked in groups to create freeze frames showing different creative activities, including painting, singing or making music, writing a story and acting in a play.

History: We began our new history topic on the Industrial Revolution. The children learned what life was like before this period, including farming, smaller populations and limited transport, and compared this to life after, with factories, child labour and changes in housing. The children were very interested and keen to learn more.

Maths:

We continued our topic on perimeter and area. This week, we began learning how to calculate the area of rectangles and compound shapes. The children worked carefully to break shapes into manageable parts and apply their understanding accurately.

Reading:

In Reading, we explored three new texts and practised answering a range of different question styles using our VIPERS skills. These included vocabulary, inference, prediction, explain, retrieve and summarise. The children demonstrated growing confidence in justifying their answers using evidence from the text.

Writing:

This week in Writing, we focused on developing spelling, punctuation and grammar skills. The children revised conjunctions through fast paced challenges, working against the clock to answer questions one by one and aiming to beat their peers. This was an engaging way to reinforce key skills.

PE:

In tennis, we focused on the backhand shot, developing control and accuracy when hitting a target. In outdoor PE, we worked on long distance running and explored how to adapt pace to use different race tactics such as a fast start or sprint finish. The children found that beginning at a slower steady pace helped them control their breathing and maintain energy for a strong finish.

Science:

We started our new topic on life cycles by focusing on mammals. To secure key vocabulary, we used tell me more cards to deepen understanding of the terms mammal, monotreme, mammary gland, offspring and life cycle. We then compared the life cycles of different mammals, including elephants and humans.

St Georges Day:

We learned more about the story of St George and discussed why St Georges Day is celebrated.

Geography:

Using our learning about rainforests, we created posters to display around Bursar explaining what deforestation is, why it needs to be stopped and how people in Bursar can help make a difference. We also completed our 'Fieldwork Flash' by walking around the playground to spot different types of builings, we then discussed which was the most common and why we thought this.

Online Safety:

We welcomed PC Dave who spoke to the children about staying safe online. He explained that people online can sometimes hide who they really are and showed how AI can be used to change how people look. The children learned how being online late at night can affect sleep and discussed how some people try to trick or bully others online. PC Dave explained that online bullying and unkind messages, known as malicious communication, are the most common issues reported to the police involving young people. We also explored fake news, how AI has increased this risk, and how to spot signs that content may not be real. The session covered online spending risks and the importance of keeping accounts private. The children were reminded to be cautious online, question what they see and talk to a trusted adult if something does not feel right. The children were mature and thoughtful throughout the session, and PC Dave was very impressed.

We are now in our final term of Year 5 and have already started lots of exciting new topics across the curriculum.

Maths:
We began our new topic on perimeter and area, focusing on rectangles, rectilinear shapes and polygons. The children explored how to calculate perimeter and area accurately and applied their knowledge to a range of problems.

Reading:
In Reading, we explored three new texts and discussed how to answer a variety of different question types. The children practised explaining their answers clearly and using evidence from the text to support their ideas.

Writing:
We looked at a range of word classes and created memory mindmaps along with examples to support our understanding.

PE:
We started our new PE topic of tennis. The children learned how to show power and accuracy when striking a ball that was static, rolling, bouncing and with no bounce. They focused on demonstrating effective reactions and coordination, particularly when practising the forehand.

RE:
We explored the key question: What reasons do Christians give for believing the resurrection happened? The children discussed why Christians believe the resurrection took place and also considered why some people are not so sure, sharing thoughtful ideas and respectful viewpoints.

This week has been another fantastic one filled with hard work, curiosity and creativity across all subjects.

Writing:
We continued developing our non-chronological reports inspired by The Last Bear. The children worked thoughtfully to include a clear structure, technical vocabulary and engaging facts.

Maths:
We focused on multiplying 3- and 4-digit numbers by 1- and 2-digit numbers. Although this was a challenging concept, the children showed great determination and made excellent progress.

Science:
We evaluated our experiment on thermal insulators. By comparing how different materials affected the temperature of a liquid over time, the children strengthened their understanding of heat transfer.

RE:
We explored the importance of the Resurrection to Christians and how this belief influences the way Christians live their lives.

History:
We looked closely at the Viking invasion of Lindisfarne and discussed the significant impact it had on Anglo-Saxon England.

PE:
The children began planning their own yoga stories. They did incredibly well remembering each of the yoga poses we have practised and thinking about how movements can be used to convey a story.

We also had an exciting visit from Image Theatre with their fantastic performance of Dr Dolittle. We learned songs alongside sign language and were wowed by our volunteers!

Willow Class have had another productive and engaging week, full of research, investigation and new learning across the curriculum.

Writing:

This week, we researched polar bears, focusing on their appearance, diet, habitat, lifestyle, evolution and the threats they face. The children then began writing a non-chronological report using this information.

Maths:

We began our new topic on multiplication and division. The children used concrete and pictorial manipulatives to support their understanding.

Science:

We planned and carried out an investigation about thermal insulators, exploring how different materials affect the temperature of a liquid over time.

RE:

We started our new topic on Christianity and looked at the story of the resurrection and its importance to Christians.

Reading:

In reading, we explored an informative text about keeping pets safe in cold weather. The children discussed the intended audience and why the text would be useful to them.

Willow Class have enjoyed another exciting and productive week, building on previous learning and diving into new topics across the curriculum.

Writing:

Our work on The Last Bear continued this week, with a particular focus on using parenthesis to add extra detail and clarity to our sentences. The children also began planning their own non chronological reports, gathering information and organising ideas in preparation for writing.

Maths:

In Maths, we deepened our understanding of fractions, this time exploring subtracting fractions. The class tackled subtracting from mixed numbers and learned how to break the whole to support their calculations. We also looked at a range of reasoning and problem-solving questions through think-pair-share activities and using the Chromebooks.

Science:

We launched our new Science topic: Properties of Materials. The children investigated whether different materials are magnetic, transparent, translucent, or opaque, as well as whether they act as conductors or insulators. Hands on exploration made this a particularly engaging lesson.

History:

A highlight of the week was our visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre. The children were immersed in Viking life, learning about their battle tactics, daily routines, and the way people lived during this fascinating period. It was a brilliant opportunity to bring history to life.

Computing:

In Computing, we began our new topic: How Computers Impact Our Lives. The children started by working independently to create presentations that included graphics and images, thinking carefully about how digital tools help us communicate information effectively.

Willow Class have had a wonderfully busy and enriching week, filled with curiosity, creativity and lots of new learning.

Writing
We began our new class text, The Last Bear. The children explored the front cover closely, discussing what they could observe, infer, and predict about the story. We then started writing factual recounts based on the opening chapters, focusing on using clear, accurate information in our writing.

Maths
In Maths, we continued our work on fractions, with a particular focus on adding fractions. The class showed fantastic perseverance as they applied their understanding to increasingly challenging problems.

Science
Our Science lessons centred on global warming, where we learned what it is, what causes it, and the effects it has on living things and our planet. The children engaged thoughtfully in discussions about how we can help protect the environment.

History
We launched our new History topic on the Vikings. The class enjoyed discovering who the Vikings were and exploring what life might have been like during this fascinating period.

PE
This week in PE, we continued developing our gymnastics skills using apparatus. We also had an introduction to yoga, where the children listened to calming, tranquil music, helped create a success criteria for good practice, and learned five new yoga poses—including the boat pose and child’s pose.

Art
In Art, we explored the life and works of Henri Matisse. The children researched his unique style and began thinking about how his bold use of colour and shape might inspire their own artwork.