year5@allsaints-harwich.essex.sch.uk
Welcome to the autumn term in Year 5!
I hope you all had a fantastic summer break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the exciting year ahead. We’ve got a brilliant term of learning planned, and I can’t wait to get started with you all as we begin our Year 5 journey together!
P.E and Forest schools
This term, PE and Forest School will now both take place on Tuesdays. Children should come to school in their Forest School clothes and bring their PE kit in a bag to change into during the day. This half term, they will be focusing on football and tag rugby.
English
This term in literacy, the children will be focusing on narratives and biographies. They will explore a range of high-quality texts linked to these genres, identifying the key features and language styles used by authors. Using the Year 5 Writing Checklist, the children will analyse model texts to spot key writing skills and techniques, before applying these in their own writing. This will help them develop greater confidence, creativity, and control in structuring and crafting both fictional stories and real-life accounts.
Reading
In our reading lessons this term, we will be exploring a range of texts and using close reading techniques to deepen comprehension, expand vocabulary, and build fluency. This will include repetitive reading to help children develop a stronger understanding of language and meaning.
Regular reading continues to play a key role in supporting your child’s learning, so please encourage as much reading at home as possible. We’ll also be enjoying our class books together at the end of each day to help foster a love of reading. Please remember to sign your child’s reading diary regularly!
Mathematics
During the autumn term, we will be focusing on place value, addition, and subtraction as key areas of learning in maths. Some of these can be challenging, so we encourage regular use of Mathletics at home to support your child’s understanding. We’ll also be continuing with our Superhero Times Tables Challenges, so any extra practice at home will make a big difference in building speed and confidence with multiplication facts.
Science
In science, we will be exploring the fascinating topic of Earth and Space. Our learning will focus on the solar system, the moon, the concepts of day and night, time, and the role of satellites. We will be developing our understanding through scientific enquiry and hands-on experiments.
RE
For our RE focus this term, the children will be exploring the Old Testament. We are fortunate to have a visitor leading a series of five sessions, introducing a variety of Bible stories. This will give the children the opportunity to learn about and ask questions regarding the Bible, helping them understand that it is a collection of different books. They will also learn about key figures and the important themes and values taught through these stories.
History
This term, our history focus will be on the Ancient Maya civilisation and how their achievements have influenced society and beyond. We’ll explore why the Maya settled in the rainforest, the significance of chocolate, their beliefs and inventions, and how their ancient cities thrived and eventually declined. To support and deepen this learning, our class novel ‘Middleworld’ will help immerse the children in the world of the Maya through storytelling and adventure.
Geography
This term, our geography topic will explore the question: "What is life like in the Alps?" We will develop our physical map reading and digital mapping skills to locate the Alps and learn about the region’s key features. We’ll investigate what the Alps are like, why people choose to visit, what activities are available, and how life there compares to our own local area. Through this enquiry, children will gain a deeper understanding of how geography influences lifestyle, tourism, and the environment in different parts of the world.
Music
In our music lessons this term, we will be focusing on the classic rock song ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi. The children will listen to and appraise a range of songs within the same genre, learning to recognise beats and rhythms through clapping and movement activities.
They will explore the instruments commonly used in rock music and begin to discuss musical elements, such as tempo, dynamics, and instrumentation. As the term progresses, the children will learn to sing the song confidently, before using instruments to play along, developing their understanding of notes, timing, and working collaboratively with their peers.
Art
Over the coming weeks in art, the children will explore space imagery using a variety of different mediums. They will take inspiration from Teis Albers’ Moonwalk artwork to create their own space-themed prints. As part of this, they will look at illustrations from the Space Race era, exploring how imagery was used and how it influenced art and design. They will also learn the term retrofuturism and evaluate images using their knowledge of the formal elements of art.
D.T
In DT this term, the children will be exploring electrical systems, with a focus on how motors work. They will be introduced to doodlers—fun, motor-powered drawing devices—and will begin by examining existing products. They’ll consider how these products are constructed, how they function, their key components, and identify possible areas for improvement. Using this knowledge, the children will then develop their own ideas and designs, ready to create and test their own working doodlers.
Spanish
During Spanish this term, the children will begin by linking their learning to our science topic, focusing on naming the planets in Spanish. In the second half of the term, the focus will shift to learning how to talk about dates in Spanish. Children will recall and use numbers, days of the week, and months of the year, building confidence in using everyday language through practical and engaging activities.
PSHE
Our first PSHE topic is Families and Relationships, where the children will explore the importance of friendships, family life, self-respect, and challenging stereotypes. Through discussion and reflection, they will develop a deeper understanding of how to build positive, respectful relationships with others.
Later in the term, we will move on to our Health and Wellbeing unit. This will focus on the importance of rest and sleep, embracing failure as part of learning, taking responsibility for our actions, and making healthy food choices to support physical and mental wellbeing.
Homework
Weekly spelling patterns or words are sent home on a Friday via Marvellous Me. We work on these words and spelling patterns throughout the week, but practising at home can help to embed these spellings, ensuring the children consistently use them within their writing.
Mathletics homework is set on a Friday each week and should be completed for the following Friday. All children who complete this earn an extra break on a Friday afternoon. If it has not been completed, this time is an opportunity where we can support children in completing the work.
We also ask that reading is completed five times a week for at least five minutes and recorded in their reading records. Children may wish to read to themselves, but we ask that their reading records are still signed by an adult. They do not need to only read the book they are currently reading at school, but instead could choose to read anything that they are interested in.
Key messages
If you have any questions, anything that you want to let me know or just check, feel free to catch me on the gate in the morning or at the end of the day. Alternatively, you can leave a message with the office or email me on our class email which is Year5@allsaints-harwich.essex.sch.uk.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or queries.
Kind Regards
Miss Wells