Year 5 Class Newsletter Summer (2nd Half Term) 2015
Welcome back to Year 5. I hope you have had a fantastic half term and are ready to begin an
exciting year ahead. I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year. This half of
the Summer term we will be studying the following topics:
Literacy
This half term our literacy topics will be continuing fiction from our Literacy Heritage, Poetry (Free
Verse and Take One Poet – Poet Appreciation), Explanation Texts and Discussion Texts. We will also
be reading Street Child by Bertie Doherty and lesson will be based on this text.
Maths
 Addition and Subtraction
 Multiplication and Division
 Fractions
 Number and Place Value
 Measurement; Statistics
 Geometry (Properties of Shapes)
Topic
This term our topic is continuing Vikings and Anglo- Saxons. We will also be learning about the French
Alps.
Science
Our science topic is all about properties and changes of material. We will be taking part in lots of
experiments to find out how materials change in different conditions. We will also be discussing opinions
about whether it is right or wrong to test on animals.
RE
This half term the pupils will be learning about the Christianity beliefs and values.
PSHE
In our PSHE work we will be looking health and well-being. We will also be learning about how to stay
safe online.
PE
We will be doing dance on Mondays, gymnastics on Tuesdays and games on Wednesdays so it is very
important that the children have their PE kits in school on these days. PE kit should be named and
should include: black shorts, a white ring necked t-shirt, trainers/plimsolls, socks and black or grey
jogging bottoms or leggings for when the weather is cooler. Some of the class will continue swimming
on Tuesdays with Year 4 pupils, please ensure your child has their swimming kit on this day if this
applies to them.
Music
In music, we will be looking at the history of music and learning about music from different
countries/traditions. Children will be researching different composers; such as Beethoven, Mozart and
Tchaikovsky.
Homework
Children will be given a new homework grid for this half term which is based around our topic.
Each child has been given a minimum points target that is individual to them. They can and should look
to exceed this target by as much as possible by the end of this term. This being said, they should
ensure they achieve an appropriate balance of quality and quantity. At the end of the term, prizes will
be given to the pupils who are felt to have put the most effort into their homework. The children must
complete and hand in at least one piece of homework per week and must do at least one activity from
each row on the grid before the end of the term. I encourage both the pupils and yourselves to ask
about anything you are unsure of. Miss McLaughlin, Miss Lee and I are happy to help in clarifying the
tasks and can also assist in providing and/or finding appropriate resources and information. Miss
McLaughlin will continue to run a homework club this year on a Wednesday after school. Their homework
folder should be handed in every Friday with: their homework grid, their maths homework and their
selected and completed homework task/s (from the homework grid) inside. I will look at/read the
children’s homework every Friday, highlight the tasks they have successfully completed on their grid
and then hand their folders back to them before home time.
Maths questions will be given out on Mondays and will be tested on Fridays. Spellings will also be given
out on Mondays and will be tested on Fridays. Please help your child to learn their spellings each week
as this will help them to progress in literacy.
The children are expected to have their reading book and planner in school every day as we try to find
as many opportunities as possible for each pupil to read with Miss McLaughlin, Miss Lee or myself and
this could take place on any day of the week. Whenever your child reads with Miss McLaughlin, Miss
Lee or myself (either as an individual or as a member of their guided reading group) it will be written
in their planner. We ask that you (or a Grandparent or older sibling) aim to listen to your child read 3
times a week (making note of when you do on the right hand side of their planner on the correct day)
and then ask them questions on what they have read to check their understanding of the text. This
will greatly help them to progress with their reading.
General Reminders
Planners act as a method of communication between home and school. If you have any message for
myself or Mrs Gray then please write them in here. Please make sure your child then brings any
messages to our attention as soon as possible. Miss McLaughlin, Miss Lee and I will write any messages
we have for your or your child in here as well.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask myself, Miss Lee or Miss McLaughlin.
Thank you for your continued support.
Miss Cartwright