Octopus Class - Year 5

Class page example:

Octopus Class – Mrs Sibley

Welcome to Octopus Class!  I am so excited that you will be joining this class.  This year is going to be full of exciting opportunities to learn. You will develop both your ability to work independently as well as working within a team and supporting each other.  

Wider Curriculum – Term 1

Our theme for Term 1 is “Off with her Head”.  You will travel back in time to the 1500’s to face the Terrifying Tudors and learn more about Henry VIII, that includes drama, poetry, dancing and singing as well as painting in miniature.

Our text explores The Savage by David Almond that explores how our thoughts can become reality.  Our maths will embed some place value skills as well as the four operations in depth.

As long as you have fun with your learning and think carefully about what it is you are learning, you are sure to have an amazing start in Term 1.

Wider Curriculum - Term 2 

Every wondered what is out there?  This term might help you answer this question as we explore our topic, “Stargazers”.  Create ways to remember the order of the planets, learn more about them in our science lessons as well as lots of fun facts too.  You might even be lucky enough to be chosen for an important mission and build a rocket to help you go into space. 

Our English text explores what it might be like as a child to go into space as Liam finds himself in a rocket in outer space without his parents!  How exciting.

Maths will explore the world of statistics as well as perimeter and area.  There will be lots of opportunities for measuring, so get your tape measures ready.

This term the children will explore the importance of the incarnation and the Messiah within key parts of the Bible, from the Gospel and prophecies. Our celebrations for Christmas will help to inform our understanding of how Christians practise their beliefs and enable us to justify our thoughts on the idea of Jesus as the Messiah and how this is important in the world today. 

Children will also start to prepare for the Christmas production and in Year 5 many of them will be given parts to play, so get ready to learn some lines and be dramatic.

Wider Curriculum – Term 3

Let’s travel back 5000 years, to the dusty realms of ancient Egypt. Cruise along the Nile, entering a world of mysteries and curses, mummies and kings. Find out about life on the river’s fertile banks, discovering Egypt and its fascinating culture. Unravel the secrets of ancient tombs, using historical sources and ancient artefacts. Find out about powerful pharaohs and grandiose gods. Make yourself a Nemes and you’ll really look the part. Become an apprentice and work for Ramose, the chief embalmer at the Beautiful House. Help him prepare a body for its journey into the afterlife. Now open the doorway to ancient Egypt. Who knows what treasures you will find?

Wider Curriculum - Term 4

Term 4 sees us time travel as the hands on the clock never stop. From the moment we are born, from toddler to teen, middle age to elderly, time stops for no man. Find out what happens to our bodies and brains as we grow older, and how we cope with these changes. Take a good look at yourself. How has your face changed since you were a baby and how will it change as you grow older? Imagine that you could time travel. When would you like to travel to and what would you like to see? Will you head back to your past or into your future? You decide.

Wider Curriculum – Term 5

Let’s grow. A crispy carrot, a luscious lettuce or a tasty tomato. Dig deep and put your back into it, making your own tubs and planters and nurturing your greens. Harvest your crops and make soups and dishes of seasonal foods that taste delicious. Learn about farms and where food comes from, writing reports on worldwide produce. Discover which allotments are closest to your school, and open the door to the secret garden. Then establish a farmers’ market, harvesting your crops and selling local produce. Include garden crafts and work out your prices. Be sure to make a profit, not a loss. After all that hard work, have your fingers gone green?

Wider Curriculum – Term  6       

Roll up, roll up. You’re going on a day trip to a theme park, to soak up the unique sights, smells and sounds of the fair. Learn about the science behind roller coasters and write poems that are shaped as a loop the loop. Design a theme park and show your ideas on a digital map. Time for some mini investigations. Cam mechanisms, pendulums, pulleys and prototypes. Let’s go behind the scenes to see forces at work. Good news. The engineers at ‘Scream Towers’ love your work and want you to build a death-defying new drop ride for their theme park. Make a working model and test it out with uncooked eggs. Cracking stuff. Okay, ready to ride? Don’t forget to scream if you want to go faster. This term also sees us learn in depth from different religious and spiritual ways of life about being a follower of the Muslim religion. You will  explore the five pillars of Islam and the importance of these to Muslim believers. You  will gain a greater understanding of Islam and what we can learn from its beliefs, values and ideas. This investigation provides an opportunity to learn about the Qur’an and other forms of guidance and visit a Mosque.

The investigation implements the principal aim of RE, which is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.                                                                              

Curriculum Days / Trips 

P.E

PE will be on a Tuesday and Wednesday. The children come to school dressed appropriately for P.E. with long hair tied back and earrings taken out.