The Junior School Curriculum
Year 5
LITERACY / ENGLISH
Reading
Reading is the most important subject in the National Curriculum. Pupils should be reading every night before they go to bed. It is advisable that parents should not stop reading to their children, as it is always a treat to be read to. Reading together with you is often rewarding, particularly for the less confident readers. English Speaking Board will take place after half term in the Autumn Term.
Spelling
Weekly spellings will be set and tested. Pupils will be given a spelling test and a related exercise. The method we use is look, cover, write and check. Please encourage your children to learn these spellings thoroughly.
Writing
The pupils will be taught a variety of ways to write creative stories, poetry, letters, information leaflets and newspaper reports. They will draft their ideas in their general workbook and may be expected to redraft their written work into their creative writing books. This must be read through so that the pupils correct any mistakes before handing it in.
Handwriting
At this age children are expected to write legibly using joined, consistently sized letters. Please ensure that your child has a fountain pen with blue ink or a Berol handwriting pen. Pencil is not acceptable in Year 5 for English written work.
Library
We would like you to visit the local library so that pupils can find information books and dip into them for research skills. This gives them more choice of fiction and non fiction books. Year 5 will go to Bourne Hall library every half term.
NUMERACY / MATHEMATICS
Multiplication tables are a most important Maths tool. Your child can learn them at anytime, anywhere: on the way to school in the car or waiting in a queue. Speed of recall is emphasised. Regular tests will be given.
Mental arithmetic is very important and will be developed through games and regular practice. Homework may involve learning number patterns or place value principles as well as working from a textbook or worksheets.
Children should practise using money whilst out shopping with you; they will become more accustomed to spending it and receiving change.
Telling the time, not just digital time but using an analogue face, will help your child in the classroom. Ways of helping include discussing the lengths of TV programmes.
Maths methods have changed in schools, so if you are not sure, do come and ask.
SCIENCE
The main topics in Years 5 are:
- Earth and space
- Light and shadows
- Lifecycles
- Healthy Eating
- Gases
- Forces
GEOGRAPHY
Topics covered this year are:
- Water
- Traffic problems
- Coasts
- Coastal Places
- Wind
HISTORY
Topics covered this year are:
- the Victorians
- World War II
- the Stuarts
PERSONAL ORGANISATION
You should have a copy of both your child's daily timetable and their homework timetable in their homework diary. It is important that the pupils in Year 5 organise their equipment themselves.
Their pencil case must have the required equipment and be brought in daily. Each pupil should have a dictionary and basic Maths equipment. A thesaurus is also helpful for the pupil's creative writing.
P.S.H.E.
Topics include :
- Peer relationships
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Human rights
INFORMATION and COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
The children will be using a variety of software packages including Microsoft Word to manipulate objects and Microsoft Excel to solve mathematical problems and use simple databases. If pupils wish to use the Internet for homework but are not able to do this at home, they may use the computers in the classroom immediately after school by arrangement with form staff.
P.E./ GAMES / SWIMMING
Year 5 will need their named football kit for Games on Mondays and their named P.E. kit on Friday (after half term) . Swimming will take place int he first half of term, on Thursday mornings. All pupils will be required to wear a red swimming hat. Pupils do not need huge bags to carry their kit. It can be packed in their rucksacks with a boot bag for their boots. No plastic bags please unless they are inside another bag.
Swimming costumes and hats are available to purchase from the Junior School Office.
HOMEWORK
Children are expected to read independently from a book of their choice for 15 minutes each evening.
Pupils work hard all day and should not work hard all evening; they need to relax. Each subject should take them 30/40 minutes, apart from Spanish which is 15 minutes. It is important that you look at the homework and check that it has been completed and is neat. Sign the homework book if you think your child has spent too much time on a piece of work and is too tired to complete it properly or is unable to do the work (due to a club etc.).
A 45 minute after-school detention (on a Friday) is given to any child who fails to hand in three pieces of homework a month.
VISITS/SPECIAL EVENTS
We aim to have a visit each term.
On Thursday 15th December J3-J6 will go to the Bloomsbury Theatre to see 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter'.
Carols by Candlelight, for all Year 3 - 6 pupils and parents, will take place in St. Mary's Church at 6.30 p.m. on Monday 12th December..
The Glyn House Christmas Parties will be held on Wednesday 14th December.
ASSEMBLIES
Assemblies take place every day. Once each half term, we meet as a whole Junior School at Chessington Lodge. We hold an assembly in the Church for J1-J6 twice a term.
Parents are invited to join us for our church assemblies.
If you have any concerns or problems during the year please do not hesitate to come and see Mrs Goff or Mrs Hacker..