Summer 2 Term

As we reach the end of another fantastic school year, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on what has been a wonderful year for our Year 5 children. It has been a pleasure to watch them grow academically, socially and personally, and they should all be incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.

One of the highlights of the year was undoubtedly our trip to Lepe Beach. The children had a fantastic day exploring the coastline, taking part in a range of activities and applying their learning outside the classroom. They represented the school brilliantly with their enthusiasm, curiosity and excellent behaviour, making it a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Our time at Woodland School with Mrs Taylor was another huge success. The children embraced every opportunity to learn new outdoor skills, develop teamwork and build resilience. Whether they were problem-solving together, exploring the natural environment or learning practical woodland skills, they approached every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. It has been wonderful to see how these experiences have helped develop their confidence, independence and communication skills throughout the year.

In PE, the children have worked incredibly hard across all areas of the curriculum, but a particular mention must go to their swimming lessons at Cranbourne. Mr Kimber has been absolutely blown away by the progress the children have made. Not only have their swimming techniques improved significantly, but their determination, perseverance and willingness to challenge themselves have been exceptional. Many children have achieved personal milestones that they should be extremely proud of.

Academically, the children have made excellent progress across the curriculum. In mathematics, we placed a particular emphasis on developing arithmetic skills. Through consistent practice and determination, the children have grown in both confidence and accuracy, and it has been fantastic to see the progress they have made. Their willingness to tackle increasingly challenging questions and persevere when faced with difficulties has been particularly pleasing.

In English, the children thoroughly enjoyed studying The Hobbit. This inspiring text allowed them to develop their narrative writing skills by creating engaging stories with detailed descriptions, exciting vocabulary and well-developed characters. They worked hard to improve their use of dialogue, varied sentence structures and ambitious language, producing imaginative pieces of writing that showcased the progress they have made throughout the year.

One of the biggest highlights of the summer term was our production of Shakespeare Rocks! alongside Year 6. The performances were a huge success, and the children should be incredibly proud of themselves. They demonstrated confidence, enthusiasm and commitment throughout rehearsals and performances, entertaining audiences with their singing, acting and energy. It was wonderful to see them shine on stage and work so well together as a team.

In Geography, the children explored the fascinating world of deserts. They learnt about the unique features of desert environments, the climate, wildlife and how people adapt to living in these challenging landscapes. A particular focus was the Mojave Desert, where the children used their geographical knowledge to create eye-catching tourist posters promoting the area. This project enabled them to develop their research, presentation and persuasive writing skills while demonstrating creativity and an understanding of physical geography.

Art lessons have provided many opportunities for creativity this year. One particularly enjoyable project involved creating self-portraits with a twist, allowing the children to experiment with different artistic techniques, colours and styles while expressing their own individuality. The finished artwork demonstrated imagination, confidence and a willingness to try new ideas.

In RE, the children explored the symbolism of trees within Christianity. They reflected on how trees can represent growth, life, wisdom and faith before creating their own Tree of Knowledge. This thoughtful activity encouraged the children to consider their own learning journey and the values that help them to flourish, while developing their understanding of Christian beliefs and symbolism.

Our Year 5 Choir has also had a fantastic year. The children have represented the school brilliantly, performing with enthusiasm and dedication. Their commitment to rehearsals and performances has been outstanding, and they should all be very proud of their achievements.

Perhaps the greatest achievement this year has been seeing the children grow in confidence. They have become more independent learners, more willing to take risks in their learning and more supportive of one another. Watching them mature into thoughtful, kind and resilient young people has been incredibly rewarding, and these qualities will serve them well as they move into Year 6.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your continued support throughout the year. Working together has helped the children achieve so much, and your encouragement at home has made a real difference.

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful and well-deserved summer break filled with fun, relaxation and special family memories. We wish every one of our Year 5 children the very best as they move into Year 6. We know they are more than ready for the exciting challenges ahead, and we look forward to seeing all that they will achieve in their final year at Chalk Ridge Primary School.

Have a fantastic summer!

Summer 1 Term

The children settled quickly into their routines and approaching their learning with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. It has been a pleasure to see their growing confidence and their eagerness to contribute and share ideas in class.

In Maths, we have been focusing on place value. The children have been revisiting and developing key skills, including

• Recognising the value of each digit in a number
• Partitioning numbers into thousands, hundreds, tens and ones
• Comparing and ordering numbers
• Rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1,000
• Counting forwards and backwards in different steps
• Using place value knowledge to solve problems and explain their thinking

In English, we have begun our new unit on non-chronological reports. The children have been learning about the key features of this type of writing and how it is used to present clear, factual information in an organised and engaging way. The children have made an excellent start, showing great focus and enthusiasm as they begin to build their reports. They have worked hard to make their introductions informative and engaging, while thinking carefully about the audience and purpose of their writing.

This week in Science, we have begun an exciting new unit in Physics, focusing on forces that oppose motion. The children are exploring the big question, “How and why do things move?” Throughout this unit, the children will develop their understanding of the different forces that affect how objects move and how motion can be slowed down or stopped. 

In Religious Education, the children have begun a new unit exploring belonging in Islam. This unit encourages pupils to think about what it means to belong, how belonging shapes identity, and how faith and community can give people a sense of purpose and connection. To introduce the topic, the children discussed what belonging means to them personally and how it makes them feel. They shared thoughtful ideas about belonging to their family, friendship groups, school, clubs, and wider communities. The children reflected on how belonging can create feelings of safety, happiness, support, and pride, and how it helps people feel valued and accepted.

Spring 2 Term

The children have returned after half term feeling refreshed and ready to learn, settling back into school routines smoothly. They have approached their work with enthusiasm and a positive mindset, and it has been fantastic to see their confidence continuing to grow, especially in their willingness to share ideas and contribute during class discussions.

Maths

In Maths, we have been focusing on Geometry, with a particular emphasis on estimating and calculating angles. The children have been developing both their conceptual understanding and practical skills in this important area of mathematics.

How You Can Help at Home

You can support your child by:

• Spotting and discussing angles around the home or outside

• Asking them to estimate angles in books, signs, or furniture

• Practising measuring angles with a protractor

• Asking them to explain how they know their answer is correct

English

In English this week, the children have been creating their biography about Nelson Mandela.

Through this project, pupils have not only learned about the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, but they have also developed a wide range of important literacy skills.

What We Have Been Learning

• Understanding Biography Writing
• Research Skills
• Planning and Organising Writing
• Sentence Structure and Grammar
• Vocabulary Development
• Editing and Improving Work
• Presentation Skills

Learning about Nelson Mandela allowed pupils to:

• Understand the importance of perseverance and resilience
• Discuss fairness, equality, and justice
• Reflect on how individuals can create positive change
• Develop empathy and global awareness

This project has been a wonderful opportunity to combine literacy skills with meaningful history learning. We are incredibly proud of the effort, thoughtfulness, and growth the pupils have shown throughout this unit.

In Guided Reading, the pupils have explored the text ‘Journey to Jo’Burg.’ We have focused on retrieving key information from the text, making inferences using evidence, predicting what might happen next, exploring characters’ thoughts, feelings and motivations, identifying themes such as courage, family, hope and resilience & discussing the author’s purpose and message.

Science

In Science, we have continued our exciting Chemistry unit focusing on substances. The children have explored the key question:

“How are substances made?”

As part of this topic, pupils investigated how substances can change when they are mixed, heated, or cooled. They observed how materials behave and began to understand that some changes are reversible while others are not.

The children took part in practical, hands-on investigations that encouraged curiosity and careful observation. They were supported to ask scientific questions, make predictions, and explain their findings using appropriate scientific vocabulary.

History

This week in History, we explored an exciting question:

What can inventories tell us about life in Tudor times?

As part of our Tudor topic, pupils became history detectives. Instead of reading from a textbook alone, they examined real historical evidence to find out how people lived during the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Spring 1 Term

The children have settled quickly into routines and approached their learning with enthusiasm and positivity. It has been wonderful to see their confidence and eagerness to share ideas in class.

Maths

In Maths, we have been focusing on time. The children have been revisiting key facts, including:

• Reading analogue and digital clocks

• Understanding a.m. and p.m.

• Knowing how many seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour, and hours in a day

• Using timetables to calculate durations and solve time-based problems

This strong foundation has helped the children develop accuracy and confidence when working with time, particularly when reasoning and explaining their thinking.

Building on these skills, we are now moving on to mass and conversion. Children will be:

• Comparing and ordering masses

• Using grams and kilograms correctly

• Converting between different units of mass

• Applying their knowledge to real-life problem-solving situations

Throughout these lessons, there is a strong emphasis on applying prior learning, choosing appropriate methods, and explaining answers clearly. These skills are essential as we continue to develop fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving across all areas of maths.

English

In English, we have been focusing on poetry, using the beautifully illustrated book The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris as our inspiration.

This book was written in response to nature-related words being removed from a children’s dictionary, and its purpose is to celebrate, protect, and reconnect children with the natural world through language. Each poem brings these lost words back to life and encouraging readers to notice, value, and care for nature around them.

The children have explored how poets use:

• Rich and precise vocabulary

• Figurative language such as similes and metaphors

• Personification to bring nature to life

• Structure and rhythm to create mood and meaning

Using these skills, the children have written their own poem for their Apprentice Write, carefully choosing language to create vivid images and strong emotional impact. They have shown great creativity, thoughtfulness, and pride in their writing, applying editing and redrafting skills to improve their work. This unit has not only supported the development of writing skills but has also encouraged the children to observe the world more closely and express their ideas in a thoughtful and imaginative way.

Science 

In Science, we have begun an exciting new unit in Chemistry, with a focus on substances. The children are exploring the big question:

“How are substances made?”

Throughout this unit, the children will develop their understanding of what substances are and how different materials are formed and changed. They will be learning to:

• Identify and describe different types of substances

• Understand that substances are made from particles

• Explore the properties of materials and how these affect their use

• Investigate how substances can be changed through mixing, heating, and cooling

The children will take part in hands-on investigations, observations, and discussions, encouraging them to ask questions, make predictions, and explain what they notice using scientific vocabulary. There will also be a strong focus on working scientifically by planning simple investigations, recording results, and drawing conclusions.

As the unit progresses, the children will build their knowledge step by step, helping them to understand how substances are created, how they behave, and how they are used in everyday life.

We are looking forward to seeing the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm grow as they explore this fascinating area of science.

R.E. 

In Religious Education, the children have begun an exciting new unit on Humanism. This unit helps pupils explore a non-religious worldview and encourages thoughtful discussion about beliefs, values, and what guides people’s choices in life.

During this unit, the children will learn that Humanism is a way of thinking that focuses on human beings, their experiences, and their ability to make moral decisions without belief in a god or gods. We will discuss how Humanists believe people can live good, meaningful lives by being kind, fair, and responsible, and by using reason, evidence, and empathy to guide their actions.

The children will explore:

• What Humanists believe about life, happiness, and responsibility

• How Humanist values such as kindness, respect, honesty, and equality influence everyday choices

• Similarities and differences between Humanism and religious worldviews previously studied

• How people with different beliefs can still share common values

There will be plenty of opportunities for discussion, reflection, and respectful debate, helping children to develop their listening skills and learn how to express their own ideas thoughtfully. This unit also supports our wider aim of promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for different beliefs and ways of life. 

Message from Year 5 Team: 

Your continued support and involvement in your child’s learning play an essential role in their development and success. When families and teachers work together, we create a strong foundation that supports not only academic progress but also builds confidence, curiosity, and a positive attitude towards learning.

The encouragement you provide at home—through conversations about their day, sharing books together, or celebrating achievements—has a significant impact on your child’s motivation and progress. These small but meaningful moments help reinforce learning and boost self-belief.

By maintaining this strong partnership, we can support every child in reaching their full potential, tackling challenges with confidence, and embracing new opportunities with enthusiasm. Your engagement helps make their learning experience purposeful, enjoyable, and memorable.

We are truly grateful for your commitment and support—it has a lasting impact on your child’s growth, resilience, and future success.

Thank you for being such an important part of their journey.

The Year 5 Team