Hawthorne
Welcome to Year 5 – Hawthorne
Miss Mason
Learning Update
In Literacy, Year 5 have been thoroughly enjoying our class text, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, as part of our scheme of learning. The children have been exploring the exciting world of Greek mythology while developing their reading comprehension skills and expanding their vocabulary through rich, engaging discussions.
As part of their writing, pupils have used their predictions to rewrite their own versions of a chapter, thinking carefully about plot development, character actions, and building suspense. It has been wonderful to see their imagination and confidence grow as they take ownership of the story and experiment with their own ideas.
In addition, the children have been researching one of the twelve Olympian gods or goddesses. Using this research, they have created detailed non-chronological reports, focusing on key features such as headings, subheadings, factual language, and well-organised paragraphs. This has further supported their understanding of both mythology and informative writing.
In Maths this term, Year 5 have been focusing on decimals, negative numbers, and position and direction through our White Rose scheme of learning. The children have developed their understanding of place value in decimals, including comparing, ordering, and rounding numbers with up to three decimal places. They have also applied formal written methods, such as column addition and subtraction, and used related facts to solve problems involving decimals with increasing accuracy and confidence.
Alongside this, pupils have been introduced to negative numbers, exploring their position on number lines and applying this in real-life contexts such as temperature. In our work on position and direction, the children have learned to read and plot coordinates, as well as describe movement and translation on a grid. They have particularly enjoyed tackling practical and reasoning challenges, which have deepened their understanding across these areas.
In Art this term, Year 5 have been exploring the Cornerstones unit Expression, learning how artists convey feelings and ideas through their work. The children have experimented with a range of techniques, including sketching, shading, and colour blending, to create mood and atmosphere. They have also explored how facial expressions and body language communicate emotion in portrait work.
As part of the unit, pupils have created their own expressive artwork, including detailed self-portraits and abstract pieces inspired by different emotions. They have developed their understanding of colour theory, carefully selecting and combining colours to represent specific emotions and explaining the impact on the viewer. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they take creative risks and express themselves in unique and thoughtful ways.
In Science this term, Year 5 have been exploring the Cornerstones unit Properties and Changes of Materials. The children have been investigating the properties of materials and how they can be grouped and used for different purposes. Through practical learning, they have explored methods of separating materials, including sieving, and developed their understanding of why different techniques are suitable for different mixtures.
They have also carried out investigations into temperature change, using thermometers to measure and record how water changes under different conditions. In addition, they have explored soluble and insoluble materials, observing how some substances dissolve in water while others do not. These hands-on experiments have supported the development of their scientific enquiry skills, including making predictions, recording results, and drawing conclusions.
In History this term, Year 5 have begun their Cornerstones topic Groundbreaking Greeks, exploring life in Ancient Greece. The children have compared the Archaic period with the earlier Dark Age, identifying key changes in society, culture, and development over time.
They have also been learning about the structure of Ancient Greek society, focusing on city-states such as Athens and Sparta, and how these operated independently. Pupils have been introduced to the concept of democracy, particularly in Athens, and have explored how this system allowed citizens to have a voice in decision-making. They have enjoyed comparing this to modern democracy and reflecting on its importance.
In the coming weeks, we will be learning:
- Literacy: Children in the Benin Kingdom (prediction, asking questions, writing in the first person)
- Maths: Negative numbers
- History: Social hierarchy and the Ancient Greek Olympic Games
- Science: Evaporation and filtering mixtures
- Art: Innovating a self-portrait project
Summer Term 2025
Links to Summer Term learning are in the process of being uploaded.