This week in English, we’ve been busy writing our paragraphs for our Alpine booklets. The children did a fantastic job, using vivid descriptions to bring the resorts to life.

In Maths, we kicked off our learning on statistics. To make it fun and active, we headed to the hall for a fitness session, recording how many repetitions we could complete. Back in the classroom, the children worked in groups to create line graphs to display their results, a brilliant combination of exercise and learning!

Geography took us to new heights as we explored the physical features of mountains. The children were fascinated to discover how these towering landscapes were formed over millions of years.

We were also fortunate to have some special visitors this week. The NSPCC delivered an informative talk on the key steps to staying safe, and the children asked some thoughtful questions. Additionally, the police joined us for the first of our Mini Police sessions, which the class thoroughly enjoyed.

Spring 2 Week 4

This week in Year 5 has been full of creativity, learning, and fun!

In English, we explored the world of legends by writing our very own. It was wonderful to see the imaginative stories set right here in Hoddlesden. Lord Ranken emerged as a particularly popular character, adding a touch of drama and excitement to many tales!

In Maths, we delved into the world of percentages and examined their relationship with fractions and decimals. The children did a fantastic job understanding these concepts and applying their knowledge to solve problems.

Our Geography lessons took us to the mountain regions, where we studied the human features of these landscapes. It was fascinating to see how people have adapted and improved these areas, and the children enjoyed exploring the ways humans have interacted with mountain environments.

In Art, we continued our work on abstract portraits. The creativity and individuality shown in the children’s artwork have been truly impressive!

Swimming lessons introduced us to a new challenge this week as we tackled the butterfly stroke. The children showed great determination and enthusiasm while practicing this advanced technique.

To end the week on a joyful note, we celebrated Red Nose Day! We learned about the amazing work Comic Relief does, and the children brightened up the school by dressing in red. It was wonderful to see everyone getting involved for such a great cause.

Well done, Year 5, for another fantastic week of learning and fun!

Spring 2 Week 3

English

This week, our Year 5 students embarked on an exciting outdoor activity to inspire their creative writing for the 'Legend of Hoddlesden'. Each child selected a location that resonated with them—be it the reservoir, Millennium Green, the woods, or the war memorial. These chosen spots will serve as the backdrop for their legends. We eagerly anticipate reading their narratives next week.

Mathematics

Our focus in mathematics was on rounding decimals to the nearest whole number and to the nearest tenth. The students demonstrated dedication and made significant progress in mastering this essential skill.

Geography

We delved into the fascinating world of mountain formation, specifically exploring how the Alps and other mountain ranges came into existence. To visualize these geological processes, students used playdough to model the tectonic movements, enhancing their understanding through hands-on learning.

Art

In art class, the children unleashed their creativity by crafting abstract portraits. Utilizing chalk and a variety of other materials, they produced remarkable pieces that showcased their individual artistic expressions.

French

Our French lessons took a culinary turn this week. We examined a typical French school menu and compared it to our own. The children were intrigued by the differences and found themselves envious of some of the options available to French students.

Spring 2 Week 2

This week in English, we have been creating persuasive adverts to convince Prince Llewelyn to buy a new puppy from us to replace Gelert. The children used persuasive language, rhetorical questions, and emotive appeals to make their adverts truly convincing!

In maths, we have been focusing on decimals and their link to fractions, deepening our understanding of place value and equivalence.

In geography, we have been learning about mountain ranges, exploring the highest peaks in the UK and where they are located. The children were fascinated by the dramatic landscapes and the challenges these mountains present to climbers.

In art, we have been working on portraits of our role models, paying close attention to detail, proportion, and shading techniques to bring our drawings to life.

Finally, we rounded off the week with some World Book Day fun! The children made a fantastic effort with their costumes, and as a school, we focused our learning around The Twits. Year 5 had great fun coming up with their own mischievous instructions for pulling off pranks—Roald Dahl would have been proud!

Well done, Year 5, for another brilliant week of learning!

Spring 1 Week 6

This week in English, we wrote balanced arguments on whether Mulan should go to war. The children had fantastic opinions, and their writing was amazing!

In maths, we wrapped up our fractions unit by finding fractions of amounts—so the children should now be experts at working out discounts when shopping in the sales!

In DT, we put the finishing touches on our soft toys, using the blanket stitch to sew them together and adding decorations to complete our designs.

In RE, we explored some famous parables and reflected on how their messages still apply to the world today.

We ended the week on a high with our behaviour treat, where the children had an exciting Nerf war in the hall—lots of fun and brilliant teamwork all around!

Spring 1 Week 5

This week in English, we explored debates and balanced arguments, learning how to structure them effectively. The children practiced presenting different viewpoints and supporting their arguments with evidence.

In maths, we tackled multiplying fractions, developing strategies to solve problems with confidence.

During RE, we reflected on our Christian school values and examined how these are demonstrated in the Bible through different stories and teachings.

Our history lessons took us back to the Shang Dynasty, where we learned about Lady Fu Hao—an extraordinary female warrior and leader who defied expectations to become one of the top soldiers of her time.

In swimming, we focused on improving our backstroke technique, working on coordination and endurance in the water.

In DT, we began preparing for our upcoming soft toy project by learning how to do a blanket stitch, a key skill that will help us bring our creations to life next week!

Spring 1 Week 4

In English, the children showcased their creativity by writing their own alternative endings to Mulan. They used vivid description, powerful verbs, and action-packed moments to bring their stories to life. Some were full of suspense, while others gave Mulan a completely new home.

In French, we took on the challenge of understanding a recipe in another language. The children used their knowledge of key vocabulary and context clues to work out which ingredients were used. some were surprised by how many words they could recognise!

In maths, we focused on multiplication and division, solving problems that required careful reasoning and different strategies. The children worked hard to explain their thinking and apply their skills to real-life scenarios.

During swimming, we honed our breaststroke technique, focusing on coordination, timing, and gliding through the water more efficiently. It was great to see the children building confidence with each lesson!

History was particularly exciting this week as we became archaeologists, examining artefacts from the Shang Dynasty. Using real-life historical enquiry skills, the children made thoughtful predictions about what these objects might have been used for and what they could tell us about the daily lives, jobs, and hobbies of people in ancient China.

Spring 1 Week 3

This week in Year 5, we’ve had another exciting and productive week of learning!

In English, we explored the ending of Mulan and shared our views on it. The class had fantastic discussions about the characters and the story's resolution. We then began planning our own alternative endings, and the creativity from the children has been wonderful to see.

In maths, we continued working on multiplication and division problems, focusing on applying these skills to real-world scenarios. The children are showing great progress in their problem-solving abilities.

In history, we delved into the hierarchy of jobs in the Shang dynasty. The children learned about the different roles people had and how the society was structured, sparking some great discussions about fairness and status.

In science, we had a hands-on practical lesson investigating which materials are soluble in water. The children enjoyed testing different substances and making observations, showing great curiosity and teamwork.

It’s been a fantastic week, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the next one brings!

Spring 1 Week 2

It was fantastic to be back in class after a disrupted week due to the snow! The children settled back into their learning routines brilliantly and had a very productive week.

English
We started exploring Mulan this week and focused on describing her character. As a class, we had a lively debate about whether we would have liked being forced into the role of a housewife without the freedom to choose our future. The children shared thoughtful and passionate arguments, showcasing their growing critical thinking skills. To end the week, we wrote persuasive letters to the matchmaker, asking her not to force Mulan into marriage.

Maths
Our focus this week was on multiplying two-digit numbers by two-digit numbers. The children tackled some tricky problems with great resilience, demonstrating excellent problem-solving skills and determination. A big well done to everyone for their hard work!

RE
In RE, we explored how Jesus was a great teacher and storyteller by acting out our own parables. The children showed great creativity and understanding as they brought their stories to life.

French
We delved into the festival of Epiphany, learning about French traditions and the special foods they enjoy during this celebration. The children were fascinated by the cultural differences and showed a keen interest in exploring the traditions further.

No Pens Day Thursday
On Thursday, we celebrated No Pens Day, which encouraged the children to focus on using their voices confidently. They enjoyed the day’s activities and embraced the opportunity to develop their speaking and listening skills across all subjects.

It’s been a wonderful week back, and we’re looking forward to the learning adventures ahead!

Autumn 2 Week 7

This week has been a whirlwind of learning and creativity for Year 5!

English
Our budding journalists stepped into the shoes of reporters as they interviewed survivors of the Titanic disaster. The children asked insightful questions, capturing vivid accounts of that fateful night. They also practiced note-taking skills by recording key events from the Titanic’s tragic sinking, preparing them for their newspaper writing next week. 

Maths
In maths, we wrapped up our fractions unit with a focus on adding and subtracting mixed numbers. The children tackled some tricky problems with determination and are now more confident in their understanding of fractions.

Science
Our science lesson this week was out of this world—literally! We explored the phases of the moon and had a deliciously fun time modelling these using Oreos. The students carefully removed and rearranged the cream to replicate the waxing, waning, and full phases of the moon.

Design Technology (DT)
In DT, we evaluated our elf enterprise project. The children were thrilled to discover that their hard work paid off, earning an impressive profit of over £90! This fantastic result has sparked discussions about how we could reinvest or use the profits.

It’s been another fantastic week in Year 5, full of curiosity, teamwork, and achievements!

Autumn 2 Week 5

This week in Year 5, we dove into some exciting and varied learning opportunities!

🌊 English
We began exploring the Titanic, an iconic journey that shaped history. The class thought of key questions they want to investigate, sparking curiosity and enthusiasm for our new unit.

➕ Maths
We tackled adding and subtracting fractions, honing our skills with lots of problem-solving challenges. Everyone showed great determination in mastering these tricky concepts.

🚀 STEM Day
We had an amazing day with the RAF, where we built and designed rockets! It was thrilling to apply engineering and teamwork to create and test our own designs.

Design Technology
The class is in the final stages of designing their Elf Enterprise products. They’ve been thoughtful and creative in preparing for the big task of making their products next week.

It’s been a busy week, and Year 5 have impressed with their hard work and enthusiasm! 

Autumn 2 Week 4

We’ve had a fun and productive week in Year 5, with lots of exciting learning across all our subjects! Here’s what we’ve been up to:
The children showed off their creativity this week by writing alternative endings to The Boy at the Back of the Class. It was wonderful to see their imaginations at work—there were some truly fantastic and thoughtful stories!
In maths, we’ve been focusing on ordering and comparing fractions. The class has been using number lines and visual models to deepen their understanding and become more confident with this concept.
We explored the fascinating topic of day and night, using torches and globes to simulate how the Earth's rotation causes these changes. The children enjoyed this hands-on activity and asked some brilliant questions!
This week, we combined creativity and technology to design Christmas decorations using 3D design software. The class produced some amazing virtual creations that could rival any professional designs!
It’s been an active week in PE! The children enjoyed a gymnastics session, focusing on balance and coordination, and also had a high-energy boxing lesson, which they absolutely loved!

Autumn 2 Week 3

This week, Year 5 had an action-packed schedule filled with learning, creativity, and community spirit. Here's a look at what we've been up to:

In our ongoing exploration of The Boy at the Back of the Class, the students engaged in thoughtful predictions about what might happen in the next chapter. This activity sparked lively discussions and encouraged them to use context clues and their imaginations to forecast the storyline.

We continued our journey into fractions by revisiting equivalent fractions and taking on the challenge of converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. The class showed great resilience as they tackled these new concepts, and answered real life problems often including pizza!

Our history lessons took us back in time to the adventurous voyages of Sir Walter Raleigh. We explored the significance of his expeditions and their impact on Britain. The students were fascinated by Raleigh’s daring explorations and reflected on how such journeys have shaped the nation’s history.

In PE, we had the pleasure of working with Miss Winward, who led an exciting gymnastics session. The class practiced sequencing routines in small groups, focusing on coordination, balance, and teamwork. It was wonderful to see their creativity and confidence grow as they performed their routines.

Friday was a special day as the entire school dressed in yellow to show support for Children in Need. We dedicated time to learning about the amazing work that Children in Need does to help children and families across the UK. The students participated in activities to raise awareness and understand the importance of giving back

Autumn 2 Week 2

This week in Year 5, we’ve had an exciting and week of learning and activities!

In English, we continued our study of The Boy at the Back of the Class. The class focused on describing Ahmet, particularly highlighting the expressions in his eyes, bringing his character to life. We also examined examples of formal letters in preparation for writing our own letters to the Prime Minister.

In maths, we introduced fractions and took a deep dive into understanding equivalent fractions. The class worked on visual representations and practical examples to solidify their grasp of the concept.

In History we discussed the significance of key journeys throughout history and why they were crucial to Britain’s development. The students explored different eras and the motivations behind these historical movements.

On Tuesday, we stepped outside the classroom for an energetic triathlon event. The entire class showed incredible determination and teamwork, making it a memorable and rewarding experience for all.

Finally, in DT, the students unleashed their creativity by designing a product for an outdoor adventure company. Their innovative products included features like GPS tracking and a pedometer, demonstrating their understanding of practical, modern technology applications.

Autumn 2 Week 1

This week in Year 5, we've delved into new learning adventures! We kicked off our English lessons with an introduction to our new class text, The Boy at the Back of the Class. The children enjoyed making predictions based on the book's blurb and cover, leading to some imaginative ideas about the story. We then focused on writing detailed character descriptions of Ahmet, our main character, using similes, expanded noun phrases, and parenthesis to bring his personality to life.

In maths, we've been exploring prime and square numbers, with the class developing a solid understanding of how to identify and work with these numbers.

For RE, we had a spirituality afternoon focused on "God's Big Story," with special guests Reverend Ben and Matt. They guided the class in producing thoughtful artwork that reflects their insights focusing on the Old Testament.

Mid-week, we had an exciting visit from a Blackburn Rovers coach who taught the children about healthy living, emphasizing the importance of exercise and a balanced diet. The class enjoyed playing games that got everyone moving and thinking about fitness!

Year 5 have made a great start to the new half term!

Autumn 1 Week 7

We've had another fantastic week in Year 5.

The children have completed their information texts on African biomes, and I must say, they were absolutely amazing! The research and writing skills on display were impressive, and the students should be proud of their hard work.

This week, we started our multiplication unit, focusing on factors and multiples. The class has been building a strong foundation for more complex multiplication tasks, and they're making great progress.

In Geography, we explored what the UK imports from Europe. The students were surprised to learn about items like cars, pencils, and even football boots that come from different European countries.

In Science, we had fun investigating how levers and pulleys work to make tasks easier by lifting heavier items. The hands-on experiments were a hit, and the class enjoyed testing out these simple machines in action.

We wrapped up our tennis unit with some fantastic rallies in the sunshine. The students have shown great improvement, and it was a pleasure to see their enthusiasm in PE.

As a special reward for fantastic behaviour, we had a visit from Professor Slime! The students had a blast making slime and blowing bubbles—what a fun way to end the week!

Autumn 1 Week 6

In outdoor learning, we channelled our inner David Attenborough and ventured into the beautiful surroundings around our school. The children explored the woods, stream, and reservoir, pretending to film their own wildlife and weather documentaries. It was wonderful to see them narrating their findings like professional wildlife reporters, observing the wonders of nature right on our doorstep!

In English, we’ve been delving into African biomes, as the children began researching for their information texts. From the Serengeti savannah in Tanzania to the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, and even the River Nile, each child has chosen a unique biome to study. We're excited to see their work come to life as they continue researching these fascinating ecosystems.

In geography, the students got their hands on some population data, comparing European countries. After creating bar charts, many were surprised to find how densely populated the UK is, despite being one of the smaller countries on the map! This opened up some great discussions about how geography and population size can sometimes be deceptive.

Our RE lesson was particularly special this week as we welcomed two visitors – a Buddhist and a Christian faith worker. They shared stories about their faith, traditions, holy books, and even their favorite football teams, which sparked lively and engaging conversations among the children.

Finally, in science, we experimented with gravity. The students dropped various objects from a height and discovered that while mass didn’t affect the speed of the fall, the shape of the objects did. This hands-on activity really helped them grasp the concepts of gravity and air resistance in a fun and practical way.

Autumn 1 Week 5

In English, we introduced our new class text, The Wonder Garden. The children were excited to explore the different biomes we’ll be learning about. They shared which biomes they are most looking forward to studying and had some great discussions around the wonders of our world. 

In Maths, we focused on some tricky addition and subtraction problems. The children worked incredibly hard and tackled the challenges brilliantly. I was really impressed by their perseverance!

In Geography, we explored the varying weather across Europe and had fun imagining where we’d like to go on holiday. Some children fancied a ski trip, while others preferred a beach getaway. We also discussed which times of the year would be best for each type of holiday.

In RE, we connected our learning with Black History Month by studying Martin Luther King Jr. After learning about his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, the children wrote their own versions, sharing their visions of an ideal world. Their thoughtful and heartfelt words were truly inspiring.

In PE, we worked on our tennis skills again, focusing on rallying and using both forehand and backhand strokes. The children are making great progress and only one tennis ball was lost! 

Autumn 1 Week 4

Here’s a brief update on what we’ve been up to in Year 5 this week:

In English, we finished reading A Long Walk to Water. The children thoroughly enjoyed the book and wrote fantastic diary entries, beautifully expressing Salva’s emotions. Their writing really captured his journey and inner thoughts. This made the children appreciate how lucky we are to simply have a working tap and all go to school. 

In Maths, we completed our unit on place value and have now moved on to mental addition strategies. I’m pleased to say the children have done very well with this new focus and are making great progress.

In Science, we conducted an exciting experiment where we tested how cars moved on different surfaces. The children predicted which surfaces would create more friction and discussed the reasons behind their predictions.

In PE, we have been working on our tennis skills, specifically using both forehand and backhand strokes. The children enjoyed practising and are improving their coordination.

In Geography, we compared digital maps with an Ordnance Survey map. We also practised using four-figure grid references to help locate places and landmarks, which the children found both challenging and rewarding. We even managed to find Ewood Park!

We finished the week with some delicious cakes! The children had a look at the great work that Macmillan does and what their money would be spent on. Thank you for your generous donations. 

Autumn 1 Week 3

What a week!! We have been working so hard in Year 5 this week. 

In Maths, we have been ordering and comparing numbers to 100,000 and today we started rounding to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000.  Some of us have shown true grit and resilience with this.  As always, we worked on our problem solving and reasoning tasks which really got us thinking.   

In English, we have been carrying on with our work related to ‘A Long Walk to Water.’  It has been a fascinating read over the past few days as we follow Salva’s journey.   We used our hands to help retell the story looking at setting, characters, events, problems and resolutions.  We then looked at diary entries and expanded noun phrases for description.  Mrs Bradley has been so impressed with our attitude towards this unit of work!

In RE, we had a very interesting debate!  We were given a question and we had to decide what our point of view on it was.  We then separated into two groups, devised an argument and then had a whole class debate!  Mrs Sullivan joined in and we enjoyed challenging differing points of view.  Our question was ‘Do Christians have to read the Bible?’

In PSHE, our focus was all about how to be a good friend.  We looked at 9 qualities of a friend and then had to rank them from least important to most important.  We compared our answers and found it interesting how we had all ranked qualities slightly differently.  

In Geography, we recapped over what we have learnt about Europe so far.  Our PLP this week was based on the human characteristics of Europe.  This week we went on to learn about the physical characteristics of Europe such as Mount Etna, The Swiss Alps and The River Danube.  We had to link an image to a name, locate the physical landmark within Europe and then find out an interesting facts about it.

Autumn 1 Week 2

Year 5 have had very busy week. We continued our learning all about Africa and read the first two chapters of our book, A Long Walk to Water. We thought about how the main character might be feelings as he had to leave his family home. We also compared Salva’s life to our own.  

In Geography, we looked at some of human features of Europe. We looked at some famous landmarks, transport links and trade. The children then looked at items they own, and realised we own things from all over the world that are shipped to Europe.

In music, we added to our African beats and used ukuleles and glockenspiels to create some of our own. The children copied some of Mr Richard’s rhythms to give them some inspiration. 

In PE, we introduced the basics of racket sports. The children learned the basic grip and how to contact the ball to direct it around the court. We finished with a game and it was nice to see their competitive side! 

Autumn 1 Week 1

We have had a super start to Year 5! The class have hit the ground running in English looking at the Amazing continent of Africa. This is the setting of our novel ‘A Long Walk to Water’. The children have been predicting what the story is about using the front cover and the blurb, and they have come up with some super ideas. 

We also created our own class contract. The children came up with what their dream classroom looked like, sounded like and felt like. Using the children’s idea, Mr Edgar has created a contract that the class will sign on Monday if they agree!

In Geography we are moving around the globe to the continent of Europe. We have been exploring which countries makeup Europe, and what their capital cities are. 

In music, we listened to some African beats and used ukuleles and glockenspiels to create some of our own. We then played together in the sun, using a 4 note sequence.