What a whirlwind of a term we’ve had in Year 5! From the stars above to the depths of the ocean, our students have embarked on a thrilling journey through a range of fascinating themes, all while developing new skills and deepening their understanding of the world around them.
We kicked off the term with a cosmic adventure into space, where our young astronauts delved into the vast universe using the power of the internet to explore planets and celestial bodies. Their enthusiasm was contagious as they created their own space infographics, showcasing their newfound knowledge of our solar system. To enhance the atmosphere, we introduced the children to Gustav Holst’s The Planets Suite. Inspired by the epic “Mars, the Bringer of War,” they crafted their own poetry, capturing the intensity of interplanetary battles, sparking both creativity and imagination.
Our budding coders took on the challenge of programming with Scratch, designing their own reaction time games. They tested their astronaut-worthy reflexes, and it was inspiring to see their determination as they learned the ropes of coding and problem-solving. A true blast!
To deepen our space exploration, we were lucky enough to have Sam from Tactile Universe lead two hands-on workshops where children explored the relative sizes of planets. Using spheres of different sizes and feeling along planet strips made with gems, they experienced the vastness of our universe in a tangible way. The children even crafted their own galaxies with CDs and playdough, bringing their understanding of space to life.
Building on our historical explorations, we turned to the inspiring story of the Suffragettes. The children learned about the brave women who fought for the right to vote—a right we often take for granted today. Our Year 5 class engaged in a thought-provoking debate on the topic, sharing well-researched arguments and expressing their ideas clearly, echoing the passionate voices of those who fought for equality.
Next, we dove into the “Secrets of the Deep” with a focus on the wonders of the ocean. We started by learning about the continents and oceans of the world, and the popular continent song (which you can find on YouTube) has now become a favourite in the classroom! We explored the seven marine wonders of the world, researching incredible facts about the Great Barrier Reef, the Mariana Trench, and the Red Sea, and turned our findings into stunning infographics. A particular highlight was carrying out a flotation investigation with an egg, water, and salt to explore why you can float on the Red Sea.
In our ocean exploration, we also investigated the different layers of the ocean and the fascinating animals that live within them. It’s clear we have some budding marine biologists in Year 5! We even delved into the Titanic disaster, sparked by an interactive session with a Titanic expert from Southampton University. The students created their own newspaper articles about the disaster and used maths and ICT to create databases and calculate percentages of survivors on the lifeboats, which proved both shocking and moving.
Year 5 has also had a fantastic time developing their physical skills through the County in the Community sessions each Monday. From hand-eye coordination to team building, the children have participated in a range of fun and engaging activities that have helped improve their ball skills.
In the final weeks of the term, we’ve been busily preparing for the Eisteddfod competitions. The children have been learning the Welsh poem Dw i’n Hapus, Hapus, Hapus for the recitation competition and the traditional Welsh song Calon Lân. They’ve also been writing creative stories with the title Trapped, sketching Welsh miner’s lamps, and even creating working mine shafts, all while immersing themselves in Welsh culture and language.
It has truly been a busy, fun-packed term full of learning, creativity, and personal growth. We’re incredibly proud of the effort and enthusiasm our Year 5 students have shown in every activity. We can’t wait to see what the next term brings!
