We are already halfway through the half term, and the children have been working and learning brilliantly!
English
After planning their stories, this week we have started drafting our short scary stories. We have focused on different types of story openings, fronted adverbials, dialogue and a range of open endings. Next week, we will be revising our stories and exploring how to build suspense by using ‘show don’t tell’ techniques and onomatopoeia. The children are already very excited about sharing their scary stories once they are finished.
Maths
We have completed our unit on fractions, focusing on adding and subtracting fractions. Worksheets week 3 maths
Next week, we will begin our new unit on multiplication and division. The children will be learning how to multiply 2-, 3- and 4-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. It is vital that they continue to practise their times tables whenever they can.
STEM
In STEM, we are continuing our learning about forces, with a particular focus on air resistance. This week, we investigated parachutes and compared how effective different materials were by measuring the speed at which our ‘parachutist’ fell. 
History
We have continued learning about the Maya civilisation. This week, the children explored Maya religious beliefs and compared them with Anglo-Saxon religious beliefs.
Guided Reading
In Guided Reading, we have read about the changes our main character, Bradley Chalkers, is going through as he begins to open up to his counsellor. This has led to thoughtful discussions about why people might behave in certain ways and what could be happening beneath the surface.
To support reading skills at home, please find the First News comprehension sheets attached : L2-Look-Closer-908
Fuji and Olympus swimming lesson schedule:
13th Jan, 20th Jan, 27th Jan, 3rd Feb, 10th Feb
Sagarmatha swimming lesson schedule:
26th Feb, 5th Mar, 12th Mar, 19th Mar, 26th Mar
We ask that your child brings a swimming kit consisting of: swimming costume (no bikinis or tankinis, please) or swimming trunks, swimming caps, goggles and a bath-size towel. Please also pack a book for your child to read during any waiting times.
Have a lovely weekend!
Year 5 Team