Remembrance Day

This week, Year 5 have been learning about Remembrance Day and why it is so important to remember those who have lost their lives or made sacrifices during times of war and conflict. We have discussed the significance of the poppy and reflected on the importance of peace, remembrance and showing gratitude to those who have served their country. As a class, we worked together to create a special piece of artwork to share during our Remembrance Day collective worship. The children showed great teamwork, creativity and respect as they contributed to our finished piece.

We also took part in a Remembrance Day trail around school, where we had the opportunity to explore some wonderful work created by Year 6. The children enjoyed looking at the different pieces and learning more about the experiences of those affected by war. It was lovely to see Year 5 showing such maturity and respect as they reflected on the messages behind the work. A thoughtful and meaningful week of learning!

This week, Year 5 have been learning about Black History Month and why it is so important to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people throughout history. We have discussed the importance of equality, respect and recognising the challenges that people have faced in the past. The children have enjoyed learning about how individuals have helped to change the world and why their stories deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

We have also explored the lives of some inspirational figures, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mary Seacole, learning about their courage, determination and the positive impact they have had on society. The children have shown great interest and maturity during our discussions, asking thoughtful questions and reflecting on the importance of treating everyone fairly. It has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate diversity and recognise how we can all help to make the world a more inclusive place!

During our Arts Fortnight, Year 5 have been exploring Ancient Greek culture through a range of exciting, creative activities inspired by the myth of Hercules. We have designed and created our own Modroc masks, taking inspiration from the fearsome beasts Hercules encountered during his twelve labours. We carefully shaped and moulded our masks before adding details to bring our mythical creatures to life.

We have also developed our pottery skills by making clay pots and painting them with patterns inspired by Ancient Greek pottery. Alongside our artwork, we explored Greek cuisine by making delicious falafel and tzatziki, learning about the ingredients and techniques used to prepare these traditional dishes.

To finish off our fortnight, we have been learning a dance routine to Zero to Hero from Disney’s Hercules. We have worked hard to learn the movements, keep in time with the music and perform with confidence and energy. It has been a fantastic fortnight full of creativity, teamwork and opportunities to bring our learning about Ancient Greece to life!

We are really excited to share all our hard work with our parents and carers in our upcoming performance! We can’t wait to showcase our fantastic masks, celebrate our creativity and perform our Zero to Hero dance routine. The children have put so much effort into their learning throughout Arts Fortnight, and we are looking forward to sharing everything we have achieved with you!

Year 5 had a fantastic trip to the Royal Armouries! The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring the museum independently, discovering the fascinating world of knights, armour and weapons. They were excited to see so many incredible artefacts up close and learn more about how people lived, fought and protected themselves throughout history.

It was wonderful to see the children exploring with such curiosity and enthusiasm, taking their time to look at the different exhibits and sharing their discoveries with one another. From the impressive suits of armour to the amazing historical objects on display, there was so much to see and learn! Everyone had a brilliant day, making memories and bringing their history learning to life in such an exciting and memorable way.

In our Year 5 music lessons, we have been exploring pulse and rhythm, learning how to keep a steady beat and work together to create music. We have experimented with using claps, body percussion and a range of different instruments to produce different sounds and rhythms.

Working in groups, we have been putting our ideas together to create our own short pieces of music. We have had to listen carefully to one another, keep in time and make sure that everyone’s ideas are included. It has been fantastic to see the creativity and teamwork shown as the children have developed their musical compositions.

We have also been performing our pieces to the rest of the class, building our confidence and developing our performance skills. After each performance, we have shared positive feedback and offered constructive criticism to help each other improve. We have been learning the importance of being supportive audience members and using feedback to develop our musical skills further.

This week in RE, Year 5 have been learning about Mekkah and why it is such a special and important place for Muslims around the world. We explored the significance of the Ka’bah, which is located in the centre of the Grand Mosque, and discussed why millions of Muslims travel to Mekkah each year to complete the pilgrimage of Hajj. The children enjoyed learning about the traditions and beliefs connected to this sacred place.

To show our understanding, we created some fantastic artwork inspired by Mekkah and the Ka’bah. The children carefully considered how they could use colour, detail and patterns to reflect the importance of this special place. We were really impressed with the care, creativity and respect shown throughout the lesson, and the finished pieces of artwork look wonderful!

Learning Hockey 🏑

This week, Year 5 have been getting active and developing their hockey skills! We have been practising our dribbling, passing and controlling the ball, as well as learning how to work effectively as part of a team. The children have shown great enthusiasm and determination, with lots of fantastic teamwork on display. We have particularly enjoyed putting our skills into practice through small games and challenges!

Ace Readers – Greek Myths 🏛️

Our Ace Readers sessions have taken us back to Ancient Greece this week as we explored the famous myth of Icarus. We have been developing our reading skills while learning about Icarus and his father, Daedalus, and the warning Icarus was given about flying too close to the sun. We have discussed the characters, explored new vocabulary and thought carefully about the lessons and messages hidden within the myth. The children have enjoyed sharing their ideas and making predictions as we discovered what happened to Icarus!

What a fantastic start to the new school year 5DJ have had! It has been lovely to see the children settling back into school routines, reconnecting with friends and getting ready for all the exciting learning ahead.

This week, 5DJ have spent some time refamiliarising themselves with our school library. We revisited how the library is organised and explored the different sections and genres available. We also talked about how to choose books that interest us and how we can make the most of our library time. It has been wonderful to see so much enthusiasm for reading, with lots of children already excited about finding their next book!

5DJ have also started their new Talk for Writing unit based on the story of King Midas. We have been introduced to the story and have begun exploring the characters, vocabulary and key events. The children have been thinking carefully about what makes a great story and have already started collecting some fantastic vocabulary and ideas

What a fantastic first full week we had in Year 5! The children settled in brilliantly and enjoyed getting to know their new classroom, routines and expectations. We spent time discussing how we can make our classroom a happy, safe and positive place to learn. Together, we agreed on our class charter, which everyone signed to show their commitment to following our shared expectations and treating each other with kindness and respect.

We also got creative by producing some wonderful self-portraits as part of a whole-school art project. The children worked carefully to capture their own unique features and personalities, showing fantastic creativity and attention to detail. Alongside this, we completed a short piece of writing, giving everyone the opportunity to show off their writing skills. It was a busy but enjoyable first week, and it was lovely to see the children settling in, building friendships and approaching their learning with such enthusiasm. A brilliant start to Year 5!