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 given every Monday for J5R and Tuesday for J5T and a test will be given on the following Monday or Tuesday. Pupils will be given a spelling test and dictation. 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, 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 or a Berol handwriting pen. Pencil is not acceptable in Year 5 for English 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 three weeks. Please fill in the accompanying membership form as soon as possible.
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.
It can be done whilst shopping, along with the children's familiarity with money, spending it and receiving change.
Lessons begin with mental exercises, which the children do at the back of their exercise books.
Telling the time, not just digital time but using an analogue face, will help your child in the classroom. Ways of helping can 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, by now, have a copy of both your child's daily timetable and their homework timetable. It is important that the pupils in Year 5 organise their equipment themselves.
Their pencil case needs to have the required equipment and to 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. Pupils will also go to the Senior School for sessions on Control and Modelling. 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 Thursdays. Swimming will take place each term. All pupils will be required to wear a 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
Reading is set every night. 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 French 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. Year 5 have a theatre visit to Dorking Halls to see a Shakespeare 4 Kidz production of 'Macbeth' on Tuesday 6th October. On Thursday 17th December J3-J6 will go to the Bloomsbury Theatre to see 'Skellig'.
The Glyn House Christmas Parties will be held on Wednesday 16th December.
ASSEMBLIES
Assemblies take place everyday. 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. The next church assembly is our Harvest Festival on Wednesday 23rd September at 9.00 am.
The Carols by Candlelight service will be held on Monday 14th December at 6.30 pm at St. Mary's Church, Ewell.
If you have any concerns or problems during the year please do not hesitate to come and see Mrs Radburn or Mr Tinkler.