Year 5- Summer 1- Week 3
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 4:17pm
We’ve had a great week of learning in Year 5, packed full of exciting discussions, practical activities and new skills.
In English, we started the week with a conscience alley to help us decide whether the Paper Bag Prince should sell his farm to the council to be turned into a rubbish dump, in return for a new house and lots of money. Children explored different viewpoints and gave thoughtful reasons for and against the decision. We then used these ideas to plan and write a persuasive letter back to the council explaining his final choice. Along the way, we learnt how to use persuasive devices effectively. We have also researched landfills, which will help us with more persuasive writing next week.
In Maths, we have been practising mental methods for adding and subtracting decimals. We also learnt how to multiply and divide decimals by 10, 100 and 1000. To bring this learning to life, we took our maths outside, drawing large place value charts and physically moving the digits left and right to show how the value changes.
Our RE learning focused on the story of Deborah. We discussed her important role and thought carefully about the qualities she showed as a leader. Children also reflected on why her job would have been particularly challenging as a woman living in those times.
In Geography, we explored why Japan experiences so many earthquakes. We watched a video showing how school children in Japan practise earthquake drills, similar to how we practise fire drills. We then had a go at performing the DROP–COVER–HOLD procedure ourselves.
We have continued to enjoy PE, focusing this week on developing our cricket batting skills. The children are growing in confidence and coordination each session.
During Outdoor Learning, the children worked together to put up a shelter to give us some shade from the lovely sunshine. They also chose a range of creative activities, including building dens using the knots we have learnt, ‘cooking’ delicious meals in the mud kitchen, and creating a farm in the digging pit.
To finish the week, the children were very excited to take part in their first proper brass instrument lesson. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm, and we’re looking forward to seeing how their musical skills develop over the term.
What a fantastic week of learning – well done, Year 5!
Reminders:
- PE days are Thursday and Friday.
- Outdoor learning is each Thursday. As the weather is getting warmer, please send children in to school with hats and suncream, when necessary. Children are also welcome to bring a change of clothes for getting dirty.