1. MOUNT PLEASANT PRIMARY SCHOOL AUTUMN 2 YEAR 5 MATHS This half term the children will be studying place value and basic number facts including multiplication and division – they will be introduced to new methods including long multiplication and bus stop method for division. We will also be looking at how we can apply our mathematical knowledge to real life situations. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY - Ensuring your child practices their times tables regularly, giving your child plenty of opportunity to develop their mental maths skills and allowing them to access websites such as Mymaths, Mathszone etc. SCIENCE In Science we will be carrying out different investigations. During this unit, they will develop a variety of skills and how to carry out investigations. The criteria they will follows includes: developing a question and making predictions, creating conditions for a fair test and describing the method, record results (observations), recording results (data), drawing conclusions and evaluating. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Talking about the different investigations children have carried out in class will allow children to explain what they have done. You could also repeat the investigation at home and discuss with your child how they could make it a fair test. ENGLISH This half term we are reading ‘Odysseus‘ by Hugh Lupton. In this unit we will be writing a variety of both fiction and non-fiction texts including an information leaflet, character description, diary, a non-chronological report and a news report! We will also be looking at different aspects of punctuation and grammar including commas, main and subordinate clauses, how to use both direct and indirect speech and the difference between formal and informal language. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Reading other books by the author mentioned above, reading with your child everyday and encouraging them to use their writing skills frequently. Children should be reading a wide range of material, not just stories. Comprehension exercises which can be found online and in popular book stores will certainly help your child move on with their reading. History This half term the children will be learning about Ancient Greece. They will sequence events in chronological order on a timeline, identifying famous landmarks in Greece and why they are famous and describing what people believed in the past. You can help your child by researching about Ancient Greece using reference books and/or the internet: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_gree ks/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/ancient_gree ks/ MFL In Modern Foreign Languages this term we will be learning how to read, write and speak in French. In addition to consolidating previous work, the topics we will be covering are: Names of animals Alphabet Vowels Using adjectives YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Discussing new words they have learnt. ICT The children will be learning new skills that are linked to programming. The children will then use these skills to create animations that have different functions. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Discussing ideas and concepts that popular games include in their programming. This could also involve the certain styles that are evident within each of the programmed games as well as the artistic elements involved. PHYSICAL EDUCATION The children will be swimming every week as well as having a session taught in school by a PE specialist – Mr Simmons. This half term we will be focussing on gymnastics. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Making sure they have their PE kit every Tuesday and swimming kit every Wednesday. DESIGN TECHNOLOGY This half term the children will be focusing on creating the Parthenon – a Greek temple. They will design, make and evaluate their Greek temple which they will create in small groups using construction tools and equipment. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Discussing what the Parthenon is and why stone is a better material to use for buildings rather than wood. TARGETS Reading: In year 5 pupils are challenged to read for 20 minutes everyday. Please use their planners to let the teacher know if they have been reading. Help them meet the reading challenge and receive their rewards. Maths: Each week the children will be tested in the ‘Kung Fu Maths’ challenge. They will need to learn their times tables to pass each test and move on to the next level. To ensure children can spell common words, they will be receiving spelling homework weekly which they will be tested on the following week. I PSHCE In PSHCE the theme that the children will be studying is Getting on and Falling out as well as the effects of bullying. They will discuss the types of relationships, how to manage conflict and the effects of bullying. Children will also revise the school Behaviour Expectations. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Stressing the importance of the schools expectations. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION In RE children will be exploring what Muslims believe about a good life. They will explore different themes found from important stories in the Qur’an. YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD BY – Talking about what they have discussed in class and comparing and contrasting Islam with your child’s religion. COMPREHENSION This year we will be focusing on comprehension work in order to improve your child’s understanding of what they are reading. You can help your child by questioning them when they read to you and using comprehension activity books which are available through several book shops.