Year 5
PE Day: Monday and Friday
Year 5 Blog
Autumn 2025
Week Commencing 1st December 2025
Another fantastic week of learning and creativity in Year 5!
π English
We are excited to begin a short piece of creative writing inspired by Skellig. Our focus has been on using expanded vocabulary, similes, and carefully crafted sentence structures to build atmosphere. The mystery of Skellig continues to grip us – we are desperate to discover more about who he really is!
π’ Maths
This week we started a brand-new unit on Prime Numbers. Alongside this, we’ve been pushing our times tables practice to make sure we’re ready for the challenges ahead in upcoming units.
π Geography
Our afternoons have been packed with new knowledge and revisiting old. We returned to the mountain ranges of North America, learning that the Appalachians were once much taller but have been worn down over time by erosion.
π° History
In history, we explored why Britain wanted an empire. We discovered the key reasons: power, trade, defence, and money. It was fascinating to see how these motivations shaped history.
π¬ Science
We were lucky enough to carry out another experiment in science – this time separating water and salt using heat. Watching the process unfold was truly fascinating and helped us understand mixtures and solutions in a practical way.
π€Έ PE
In PE, we focused on pairs work in gymnastics. The wonderful ideas and routines your children came up with showed creativity, teamwork, and confidence – a joy to watch!
ο»Ώ
β¨ Well done, Year 5 – another week of curiosity, effort, and imagination. Keep up the brilliant work!
Week Commencing 24th November 2025
What a busy and exciting week we’ve had in Year 5!
π English
We have been working hard on writing balanced arguments. Everyone has been practising using cohesive connectors and embedded clauses to make their writing flow beautifully. Some of us even used colons for the very first time – a big step forward in our writing journey! In our class book Skellig, we’ve been observing the changes in the mysterious character and wondering what might happen next… the suspense is building!
π’ Maths
In maths, we tackled division with powers of 10 – dividing by 10, 100, and 1,000. It was a great chance to recap some tricky concepts we’ve already covered, making sure our understanding is solid.
π¨ Art
Our afternoons have been filled with patience and precision as we painted our Islamic star patterns. These designs were delicate and challenging, but the results were stunning – well done for your focus and creativity.
π Geography
We began exploring mountains in North and South America. Did you know the Andes is the longest mountain range in the world? We also admired the beauty of the Rockies, learning how these ranges shape the land and inspire awe.
π° History
In history, we relived the Battle of Quebec and discovered how it changed Canada forever. It was fascinating to see how one event could have such a lasting impact on a country’s history.
π οΈ DT Day – The Highlight!
The absolute highlight of our week was DT Day. You’ll have received the wonderful Cam toys we created – each one innovative and creative. No fingers were burnt (well, apart from Mrs E’s and mine!), and the designs were truly impressive. A huge well done, Year 5 – your imagination and effort shone through every project.
β¨ Another week of learning, creativity, and teamwork. Year 5, you should be proud of everything you’ve achieved!
Week Commencing 17th November 2025
π English
This week in English, we focused on mastering the use of colons. We discovered how colons can introduce lists, explanations, or examples, making our writing clearer and more powerful. For instance: There are two types of schooling: traditional schooling and homeschooling. We also began planning our balanced argument essay on schooling vs. homeschooling. It’s been exciting to weigh up the pros and cons of each approach, thinking carefully about fairness and evidence before forming our conclusions.
π’ Maths
In Maths, we explored what happens when we multiply whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100, and 1,000. The key idea: multiplying by these numbers shifts the digits to the left, changing their place value. For example:
- 3.5 x 10 = 35
It was fascinating to see how quickly numbers can grow and how important it is to keep track of place value.
ποΈ Geography
Our afternoons took us on a journey to the Himalayas, the world’s largest mountain range. We learned about its towering peaks, including Mount Everest, and discussed the brave climbers who first reached the summit. This sparked conversations about human determination and the challenges of extreme environments.
π History
In History, we studied the British Empire in India. We explored how British rule affected the people, culture, and economy of India. This lesson encouraged us to think critically about the impact of empires: both the advancements they brought and the struggles they caused for those living under foreign control.
π¬ Science
Science was hands-on and exciting! We investigated solutes, solvents, and solutions. A solute is the substance that dissolves, while the solvent is the liquid that does the dissolving. Together, they form a solution. We even carried out experiments to see which substances dissolve in water and which do not—salt dissolved easily, while sand stubbornly refused. These experiments helped us understand the difference between soluble and insoluble materials.
β¨ Reflection
This week has been packed with learning across subjects: from writing with precision in English to exploring the tallest mountains in Geography, and from mathematical place value shifts to scientific experiments. Each lesson has given us new insights and skills, reminding us how interconnected knowledge can be.
Week Commencing 10th November 2025
This week has been full of exciting discoveries and challenges across all our subjects. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to:
β Maths
We have been developing our skills in adding and subtracting decimals, focusing especially on mental maths strategies. Everyone has been practising how to break numbers down, estimate, and check answers quickly in their heads. It’s been great to see confidence growing with tricky decimal problems!
π English
In English, we’ve worked hard on using embedded clauses to add extra detail to our sentences. We also explored cohesive connectors to join ideas smoothly, making our writing more fluent and engaging. Our class writing is becoming more sophisticated every day.
ποΈ Afternoons – Topic Work
Our afternoons have been packed with fascinating learning:
- Geography/History: We learnt about the Alps and the incredible story of Ötzi the Iceman, who was hidden in the ice for over 5,000 years before being discovered.
- History: We explored the British Empire, finding out what goods were traded and where they were sent around the world. This helped us understand how trade shaped history and connected different countries.
π¬ Science
In science, we carried out an experiment to test which materials are good at retaining thermal energy. We compared different materials and discussed why some keep heat in better than others. It was hands-on, fun, and helped us think like real scientists.
β¨ It’s been a busy week of learning, and we’re proud of how much progress we’ve made. From decimals to embedded clauses, from ancient history to scientific experiments, our class has shown curiosity and determination in every subject. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!
Week Commencing 3rd November 2025
This week has been packed with discovery, debate, and dazzling creativity — a true celebration of learning across every subject!
π΅οΈβοΈ English: The Mystery Unfolds
The suspense is over — we’ve finally discovered who ‘him’ in the garage is in our reading of Skellig! As the characters begin to evolve, the children are diving deeper into the story’s themes and relationships. Alongside this, we’ve started learning about balanced arguments, preparing for our very first class debate next week: Homeschooling vs School. The discussions are already heating up with thoughtful points and passionate opinions!
ββ Maths: Mental Mastery
In maths, we’ve moved on to addition and subtraction, and the children were fascinated by the different mental strategies they could use. We explored how to choose the most efficient method depending on the numbers involved — a brilliant way to build confidence and flexibility in problem-solving.
π¬ππ¨ Afternoon Adventures
Our afternoons have been a whirlwind of new topics and creative challenges:
- Science: We’ve begun investigating materials, exploring their properties and uses in everyday life.
- History: The children are delving into how the British Empire evolved, asking big questions and making connections across time.
- Geography: Our new topic on mountains is already sparking curiosity — from how they form to where they’re found.
- Art: We’ve started working on Islamic art, a detailed and intricate style that’s testing our patience and precision in the most rewarding way.
It’s been a week of big ideas, bold questions, and brilliant effort. We can’t wait to see where next week takes us — especially with our upcoming debate!
Week Commencing 20th October 2025
What a fantastic week we've had in class! From mathematical investigations to imaginative storytelling, the children have truly shone in every subject.
π· Maths Magic: Nets and 3D Shapes
This week, our maths lessons were filled with curiosity and hands-on fun as we explored the nets of 3D shapes. The children were fascinated by how flat shapes could fold into familiar solids, and they especially enjoyed investigating the differences between a prism and a pyramid. It was brilliant to see them experimenting with various nets and predicting which 3D shape they would create — a wonderful blend of geometry and problem-solving!
βοΈ Writing Wonders: Michael Meets Skellig
In writing, the children wrapped up their own versions of Michael discovering Skellig, and I was absolutely blown away by their creativity. Their use of vivid vocabulary and the variety of sentence structures brought their stories to life in such powerful ways. Each piece was unique, thoughtful, and full of imagination — a real testament to their growth as writers.
π¨ Afternoon Assessments: Sharing and Shining
Our afternoons were dedicated to finishing their final art pieces, creating a vibrant gallery wall in the hall. Their abstract painting were wonderfully varied, showing their individual personalities.
Week Commencing 13th October 2025
π This Week in Class: A Celebration of Learning!
What a fantastic week we’ve had! Your children have been busy developing new skills, sharing brilliant ideas, and showing just how much they’ve grown this half term.
βοΈ English In English, we’ve been diving into the world of expressive writing. Pupils have been learning how to paint vivid pictures in their readers’ minds using similes, metaphors, and sensory language. From describing cobwebs as “chandeliers” to comparing dust motes to “dancing ballerinas” their creativity has truly shone through!
β Maths In maths, we’ve mastered the art of rounding decimals—both to one decimal place and to the nearest whole number. We’ve also begun exploring nets, starting with cubes, and discovering how 2D shapes fold into 3D objects. It’s been hands-on, visual, and lots of fun!
π Afternoon Learning & Assessments Afternoons have been filled with opportunities to reflect on everything we’ve learned this half term. Pupils have written some beautiful assessments that showcase their understanding and curiosity. Here are just a few of the impressive facts they’ve shared:
- “Veins have valves to stop blood going the wrong way.”
- “The Tigris River was diverted into a moat around Baghdad to increase protection.”
- “Scale is a tiny, invisible map that helps us understand how far away somewhere is.”
You’ll be able to see their work for yourself at Parent’s Evening next week —I can’t wait for you to celebrate their achievements with us!
π» Computing In computing, pupils have been designing their own webpages all about Baghdad. They’ve chosen images, written informative text, and thought carefully about layout and design. It’s been a brilliant way to combine history and technology.
Week Commencing 6th October 2025
What a fantastic week it’s been in our classroom! We’ve been diving deep into numbers, language, history, geography, and science—and we’ve loved every minute of it. Here’s a peek into what we’ve been up to:
π’ Maths: Diving into Decimals
This week in Maths, we’ve been expanding our understanding of decimal numbers. We explored the concept of thousandths, learning that one thousandth is what you get when you divide 1 into 1,000 equal parts—tiny, but mighty! We also revisited our knowledge of tenths and hundredths, building on what we already know to compare numbers with up to three decimal places. It’s been amazing to see how confident everyone is becoming with these tricky numbers!
βοΈ English: Crafting Clauses and Exploring Skellig
In English, we’ve been sharpening our grammar skills by learning about main clauses and other types of clauses, and how to join them to create more powerful and interesting sentences. We’ve also been delving into the relationships between characters in our class text, Skellig by David Almond. From friendship to family, we’ve had some brilliant discussions about how characters connect and grow throughout the story.
π° History: The Fall of Baghdad
Our afternoons have taken us back in time to the dramatic and devastating Mongol attack on Baghdad. We learned how the Mongols swept through the city in 1258, leaving destruction in their wake. One of the most haunting images we explored was the Tigris River turning black from the ink of countless books thrown into the water—a powerful reminder of the importance of knowledge and the impact of conflict.
πΊοΈ Geography: Mapping the Land
In Geography, we’ve been learning how to read and interpret maps by studying the two main ways to show elevation: relief and contour lines. We now know how to spot hills, valleys, and mountains just by looking at a map—how cool is that?
β€οΈ Science: Pumping Up Our Heart Rates
To wrap up the week, we completed our exciting heart rate experiment in Science. The children got active and measured how their heart rates changed before and after exercise. It was a great way to see firsthand how our bodies respond to physical activity—and there were definitely some speedy pulses after all that jumping and running!
Week Commencing 29th September 2025
What a fantastic and jam-packed week we've had in Year 5!
In English, we've been diving deeper into Skellig by David Almond. We’ve learned more about Michael, the boy at the heart of the story, and the mysterious creature he discovers in the garage—the one who eats spiders and hides in the shadows. We’re now preparing to write our own version of the moment Michael finds "him" in the garage, and we’ve been thinking carefully about how to build suspense and describe the setting. Our handwriting has been looking absolutely brilliant too—everyone has been working incredibly hard to make their writing neat and clear.
In Maths, we’ve started exploring decimals. We discovered that dividing 1 by 1,000 gives us 1/1000, which is the same as 0.001. We also found out that 0.001 is equal to 0.1 divided by 100 or 0.01 divided by 10. It’s been tricky, but we’re getting the hang of it and enjoying the challenge!
Our afternoon lessons have been full of excitement and learning. We joined the world’s largest online CPR lesson, learning how to help someone in an emergency—such an important life skill. We also attended church for our Harvest Festival, where we proudly read the poem we’ve been practising in class. To finish off the week, we took part in the Wisbech Grammar Netball Festival, showing off our teamwork, energy, and sportsmanship.
ο»Ώ
We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved this week and can’t wait to see what next week brings!
Week Commencing 22nd September 2025
It’s been another busy and rewarding week in Year 5, filled with creativity, curiosity, and plenty of hard work!
In English, we’ve proudly completed our biographies on David Almond, the author of Skellig. The children have been developing their editing skills, learning how to refine and improve their writing. We’ve now moved on to exploring our new model text and are feeling very excited about writing our first creative piece inspired by the mysterious garage scene. Alongside this, we’ve been strengthening our spelling, focusing on words with the tricky ‘m’ sounds—such as accommodate and communicate.
In Maths, we’ve been tackling negative numbers. The children have worked incredibly hard to understand how subtraction works when starting in the negative—realising that taking away pushes us even further below zero!
Our afternoon lessons have been full of variety and exploration. In Geography, we’ve been learning about coordinatesand discovering how the app What3Words can pinpoint any location on Earth with just three words. In History, we’ve been fascinated by the intricate and well-thought-out design of old Baghdad, exploring how its layout reflected the culture and values of the time.
In Science, we’ve started investigating heart rate and are preparing to carry out our own group experiments to see how it changes with activity. And in Art, we’ve been learning how to create beautiful sketchbooks, using different techniques to express our ideas and observations.
ο»Ώ
Thank you for your continued support. We’re so proud of the children’s enthusiasm and effort across all subjects!
Week commencing: 15th September 2025
.What a brilliant week it’s been in Year 5! Our classroom has been buzzing with curiosity, collaboration, and some seriously impressive learning. Here's a peek into what we've been up to:
π English
We’ve been diving deep into our class text, hunting for evidence of nurturing and care between characters. Our close reading skills are sharpening beautifully as we learn to read between the lines and spot subtle clues. In writing, we’ve been mastering the mighty comma—those tiny marks that make a big difference! We also began crafting biographies on the incredible author David Almond, exploring his life and what inspired his storytelling.
π’ Maths
This week we stepped boldly into the world of six-digit numbers, comparing and ordering numbers up to 100,000 and beyond. Our group work has been a highlight—lots of teamwork, discussion, and shared strategies. It’s great to see everyone supporting each other and growing in confidence.
π Geography
We’ve started to unravel the mysteries of how our world is divided using imaginary lines like the equator and prime meridian. Using coordinates, we’ve been locating countries and discovering how geography helps us make sense of our planet. Maps have never looked so fascinating!
ποΈ History
Old Baghdad has captured our imaginations! We’ve been exploring why it was built where it was, and the stunning features that made it a centre of learning, trade, and culture. The architecture and layout of the city are truly awe-inspiring.
π§ͺ Science
We’ve been learning all about blood pressure—what it means, why it matters, and how it connects to our heart health. Next week, we’ll be measuring our own heart rates, and we can’t wait to become mini scientists in action!
We’re proud of the effort, enthusiasm, and teamwork that’s been shining through in every lesson. Keep up the fantastic work, Year 5—you’re smashing it!
Let’s see what next week brings… π
Week commencing: 15th September 2025
.What a brilliant week it’s been in Year 5! Our classroom has been buzzing with curiosity, collaboration, and some seriously impressive learning. Here's a peek into what we've been up to:
π English
We’ve been diving deep into our class text, hunting for evidence of nurturing and care between characters. Our close reading skills are sharpening beautifully as we learn to read between the lines and spot subtle clues. In writing, we’ve been mastering the mighty comma—those tiny marks that make a big difference! We also began crafting biographies on the incredible author David Almond, exploring his life and what inspired his storytelling.
π’ Maths
This week we stepped boldly into the world of six-digit numbers, comparing and ordering numbers up to 100,000 and beyond. Our group work has been a highlight—lots of teamwork, discussion, and shared strategies. It’s great to see everyone supporting each other and growing in confidence.
π Geography
We’ve started to unravel the mysteries of how our world is divided using imaginary lines like the equator and prime meridian. Using coordinates, we’ve been locating countries and discovering how geography helps us make sense of our planet. Maps have never looked so fascinating!
ποΈ History
Old Baghdad has captured our imaginations! We’ve been exploring why it was built where it was, and the stunning features that made it a centre of learning, trade, and culture. The architecture and layout of the city are truly awe-inspiring.
π§ͺ Science
We’ve been learning all about blood pressure—what it means, why it matters, and how it connects to our heart health. Next week, we’ll be measuring our own heart rates, and we can’t wait to become mini scientists in action!
We’re proud of the effort, enthusiasm, and teamwork that’s been shining through in every lesson. Keep up the fantastic work, Year 5—you’re smashing it!
Let’s see what next week brings… π
Week commencing: 8th September 2025
.What a brilliant start to Year 5 it’s been! We’ve hit the ground running with exciting new topics, lively discussions, and lots of learning already underway.
β Maths Magic
We’ve dived into our new curriculum and discovered two new place values: 10,000s and 100,000s! It’s been fascinating exploring how numbers grow and change, and we’ve had some great class conversations about patterns, problem-solving strategies, and what we notice when we work together. Big numbers, big thinking!
βοΈ English Adventures
In English, we’ve been working towards writing a biography on David Almond, the author of our class book Skellig. His life and writing are so inspiring, and it’s been exciting to learn more about him. We’ve also been brushing up on our grammar skills—recapping fronted adverbials, subordinate clauses, and lots more to help make our writing shine.
π Afternoon Explorations
Our afternoons have been packed with discovery:
- In Geography, we’ve started exploring spatial sense—learning how we understand and represent space around us.
- In History, we’ve travelled back in time to Old Baghdad, uncovering the wonders of this ancient city.
- In Science, we’ve begun investigating the heart—how it works, why it’s so important, and what keeps it healthy.
It’s been a fantastic first week back, full of curiosity, creativity, and connection. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the term brings!
Curriculum visits and enrichment activities:
Coming Soon
CPR Online
DNA Talk
DEMAT Football
