Miss Fernyhough: Flame Class Teacher (Monday to Wednesday).
2/6
Mr Gude: Gingko Class Teacher.
3/6
Mr Tye: Trumpet Tree Class Teacher.
5/6
WELCOME
to the
YEAR 5 and 6 CLASSES:
Flame, Gingko and Trumpet
English
In our English lessons this half-term, year 5 and 6 will learning about the 'place value' of grammar, punctuation and spelling. This learning phase will have a particular focus on what makes a proper sentence, along with studying the use of verbs, nouns (including different types of noun), adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and pronouns. As it is the beginning of the year, it is always good to delve into a little bit of retrieval practice and build on what the children have learned about grammar in previous years.
In addition to the work we will be doing on grammar, our reading and writing focus will be centred around Victorian Britain, as this is our history topic for the next six weeks. Children will first create a story opening drawing inspiration from the text 'Street Child' by Berlie Doherty. At the end of the half-term, the children will then compose their very own Victorian story.
In maths, for the opening few weeks of the first autumn half-term, the children will be revisiting 'place value' to build on what they have learned in previous years. This is a particularly important topic as it builds the platform for what the pupils will study later on in the year.
These areas will include:
- Comparing and ordering numbers to 10,000,000
- Rounding
- Negative numbers
- Multiplying and dividing whole and decimal numbers by 10, 100 and 1000.
- The value of digits in both whole and decimal numbers.
Following place value, as we enter the last few weeks of the first autumn half-term, the children will begin their study of addition and subtraction. This will include a focus on handling larger numbers than they have in previous years while adopting the formal methods of addition and subtraction.
The areas covered in this second topic of the half-term will be:
- Mental addition and subtraction.
- Formal written methods of addition and subtraction.
- Inverse operations and commutative law.
- Addition and subtraction of decimal numbers.
- Solving word problems.
History:
Victorian Britain
This half-term's history topic will be based on Victorian Britain with an extra focus on Totnes during that era. The book cover shown above is the text that children will be studying in English to support their learning in this topic. To begin with, children will discuss the use of historical evidence and learn the difference between primary and secondary sources. Using these sources, the children will then embark on learning about this famous historical period.
This half-term's Victorian topic will include the study of:
- The difference between primary and secondary sources.
- Where the Victorian belongs on a historical timeline.
- Queen Victoria's reign.
- The British Empire.
- The workhouses of the time.
- How the rich and the poor lived.
- Education and the beginning of compulsory schooling (Education Acts).
This half-term's art sequence will be based on the British artist L.S. Lowry - the painter famous for his industrial landscapes of the north west of England using limited colours. Born in the Victorian era, Lowry is also well-known for his artwork portraying the industrial revolution.
During this topic, the children will experiment with different colours, exploring the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary colours. Following this, pupils will then have the opportunity to create their own Lowry style paintings of Totnes.
Science
Our science sequence in upper key-stage 2 this autumn half term will be Forces.
This will include building on previously learned scientific knowledge and understanding, while carrying out practical investigations. The children will study forces such as gravity, friction and magnetism while learning about how these might be affected by air and water resistance.
Additionally, pupils will be asking themselves about 'fair testing' as they carry out force related investigations.
Religious Education (R.E.)
Personal Social Health Mental Economic
Our RE topic this first autumn half-term is the study of creation and what it means in terms of religion and science.
This will include a look at the way both Christianity and science view creation - from the 'In the Beginning' story of Genesis, to the Big Bang theory put forward by members of the scientific community. Children will ask themselves big questions, such as 'is there room for science in religion and vice-versa?'
PSHME (Personal, Social, Health, Mental, Economic) is colloquially known as 'Team Grove' here at the Grove School.
This half-term's learning will include the following aspects:
- How to plan a healthy meal.
- How to maintain good dental health.
- How to benefit from and stay safe in the sun.
- How to respect that habits can be both healthy and unhealthy.
- How to recognise early signs of physical or mental ill health.