WELCOME
to the
YEAR 5 and 6 CLASSES:
Flame, Gingko and Trumpet
English
This half term in English the children will be studying the action-packed historical text 'Viking Boy'. This is a book that has been popular with year fives and sixes in the past. Set in Viking times, it follows the life a boy called Gunnar who sets out to avenge his father's death.
Throughout his epic journey, Gunnar will face villains, raiders, gods and giants as he attempts to find his father in Valhalla.
Once the children have read Viking Boy, they will then have the opportunity to write their own version of a Viking saga. We look forward to reading these in October!
Freewrites/Creative Writing
Throughout the seven and a bit weeks of this first autumn half-term, the children will be given the opportunity to 'freewrite' on a weekly basis.
This might entail them being given a photograph to write a story about, or a non-fiction task where they might have to create a report on an animal (for example).
The freewrite is designed to help children maintain their skills in writing and enable them to become better writers as they prepare for the transition to secondary school.
In maths this half term, we will be starting with the basics attributed to place value. This gives the children the opportunity to demonstrate mastery when it comes to what numbers mean and how they are valued.
Areas of the curriculum covered will be:
- Value of numbers up to 10 million
- Rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000
- Multiplying and dividing numbers by 10, 100 and 1000
- Value of digits in both whole and decimal numbers
- Rounding decimal numbers
- Calculating negative numbers and using them in context.
History
In history this term, the children will be studying The Vikings. This links nicely with the other areas of study in both English and Art.
Throughout this sequence, the children will learn about:
- The importance (and difference between) primary and secondary sources.
- The timeline of different Viking endeavours.
- What Yggdrasil was and why it was important to Vikings.
- The type of clothes they wore and food they ate.
- What a Viking Longhouse looked like (children will also get to design their own!)
This half-term's art sequence will be based on the African-American sculptor, Kimmy Cantrell. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kimmy is famous for his imperfect sculptures based on fish, still life and masks. Originally inspired by African art, Kimmy has produced a multitude of different designs.
As part of the art sequence, the children will get to design their own Viking style mask using the same techniques adopted by Kimmy in his own artwork. We look forward to seeing these colourful results very soon!
Personal Social Health Mental Economic
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.
Science
Our science sequence in upper key-stage 2 this half-term will be 'light'.
Throughout this topic, the children will learn:
- that light travels in straight lines.
- the difference between sources of artificial and natural light.
- that some objects reflect light while some absorb it.
- the difference between transparent, opaque and translucent.
- how shadows are created.
- how to carry out fair testing when experimenting with various light sources and shadows.
Religious Education (R.E.)
Religious Education at The Grove
Our RE topic in Year 5/6 this year is 'What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?'
Along the way, children will be reminded of some of the facts they've already learned about Islam, while discovering new facts with regards to the different types of Muslims that can be found all over the world.
In addition to this, children will learn about:
- The five pillars of Islam
- Festivals such as Eid-ul-Adha (at the end of Hajj).
- The sacrifice of Ishmael
- Different forms of guidance in the Qur'an.
- The design and purpose of a mosque.
At the end of the sequence, children will also get create their own architectural plans for a mosque.