Year 5

In this unit, Year 5 will be studying uplands and mountain ranges. We start by focusing upon our local area and exploring whether we have any mountains, peaks or upland areas in Meir. We then branch out to look at these within the context of the UK. Finally, we will be exploring mountains and mountain ranges in the world, with a focus on the Alps.  

Our Science unit is 'Circle of Life', which will see us explore the life cycles and reproduction of plants to begin with. We will be exploring how plants are able to reproduce and how humans can help. We will then focus on animals (in particular birds, mammals and amphibians) and we will produce the life cycles of these creatures. 

In English, we will be reading, 'Rumblestar'. This half term, we will be focusing upon how we can add detail to our writing. We will be exploring many genres (and revisiting some again) as we look at newspaper reports, persuasive arguments and magazine articles, broadcast transcripts and, of course, our favourite, which is narrative (story writing). 

In Maths, we will be focusing yet again on fractions, but this time we will be focusing upon reasoning and problem solving with fractions. We will be using our knowledge of adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions (and finding different denominators) to find equivalent fractions and equivalents of fractions, decimals and percentages. We will then have a focus on time, and using and applying time, at the end of the half term. 

In this unit, Year 5 will be studying the Anglo-Saxon and Viking struggle for the kingdom. Throughout this unit, we will research some of the key elements of the period, such as the raid on Lindisfarne and other key events, plus learn about some very important people, such as Alfred the Great and King Athelstan.  

Our Science unit is 'Let's get moving', which will see us explore the forces that are so important to our everyday life. We will be answering the question, 'Which will fall quickest: a bowling ball or a feather?' (the answer seems obvious!) as we explore gravity and friction. 

In English, we will be reading, 'How to Train Your Dragon'. As ever, we will be writing many different pieces from many different genres, however we will be returning to lots of story writing. We are also looking forward to the great debate when we ask the question, 'Is a dragon a dangerous creature?'

In Maths, we will be learning about measures (including area and perimeter) and then we will be diving into everyone's favourite part of Maths - fractions! We will be learning what an equivalent fraction is and then we will be using this to help us with the tricky task of adding and subtracting fractions.

In this unit, Year 5 will be studying changes in the local and national environment from a geographical point-of-view. We will be studying the local area using map-work skills and field-study techniques and be looking at pictures from the past and what the locations look like now. We will then be comparing Stoke-on-Trent to Liverpool in a national fieldwork study and a trip to the City of Liverpool. 

Our Science unit is 'Amazing Changes', in which we will be looking at different solutions and how these can be reversible or irreversible. Our main focus is upon reversible and irreversible change; we will be conducting many experiments to test this, including chemical reaction experiments and burning experiments. In English, we will be reading 'The Trouble with Perfect'. We will be writing descriptions of important aspects of the book to start with. After this, we will be focusing on narrative writing this half term, with The Trouble with Perfect as a hook, and this will include our own, independent narrative. We will also be re-visiting persuasive writing. In Maths, we will be focusing on multiplication and division this half term. Multiplication will cover many aspects, from our general times tables knowledge to multiples and factors to prime, squared and cubed numbers and followed by multiplying 3- and 4-digit numbers a 1 digit number 

In this unit, Year 5 will be studying the Industrial Revolution and Victorian England with a focus on the local area. We will be studying what the impact of the Industrial Revolution was on Stoke-on-Trent, whether it was a positive or a negative, how the area was important to the country and the world and whether being part of the British Empire had an effect on the city. 

Our Science unit is 'Material World', in which we will be looking at and grouping different materials based upon their properties, conducting experiments into thermal conductors and thermal insulators and looking at reversable and irreversible changes in materials.  

In English, we will be reading 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'. We will be writing persuasive adverts, persuasive letters and narratives based upon the text that we are reading. 

In Maths, we will be focusing on place value, addition and subtraction this half term. The children in Year 5 will be learning about the place value of numbers to 1 million, learning to count in 10s, 100s and 1000s from any number and will be embedding the strategies for addition of subtraction of 4- and 5-digit numbers.