Year 5 Learning Overview – Term 6

Core Text: Holes by Louis Sachar

In Term 6, Year 5 pupils will continue to build their confidence, independence and depth of understanding across the curriculum. Our core text, Holes by Louis Sachar, will provide a rich stimulus for reading, writing and discussion, helping pupils explore themes such as justice, friendship, resilience, family history, consequences and personal change.

English – Holes and Non-Chronological Reports

This term, Year 5 will study Holes, a powerful and thought-provoking novel that follows Stanley Yelnats as he is sent to Camp Green Lake. Pupils will explore the structure of the story, the use of flashbacks, character development and the way different storylines connect.

Children will:

• develop inference and prediction skills through close reading;
• explore character motivation, relationships and change;
• discuss themes of fairness, punishment, friendship and perseverance;
• analyse how the author builds suspense and mystery;
• retrieve and summarise key information from the text;
• use evidence to support their opinions and interpretations.

In writing, pupils will focus on creating non-chronological reports. They will learn how to organise factual information clearly using headings, subheadings, paragraphs and technical vocabulary. Pupils will develop their ability to write with accuracy, clarity and purpose, while continuing to strengthen grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and editing skills.

Maths – Position and Movement / Revision

In Maths, pupils will focus on position and movement while also revisiting key areas of Year 5 learning in preparation for Year 6.

Children will:

• describe positions using coordinates;
• plot and read points accurately on a grid;
• translate shapes and describe their movement;
• reflect shapes and identify lines of symmetry;
• use mathematical vocabulary to explain position and direction;
• revisit key concepts from across the year, including number, fractions, decimals, percentages, measures and problem-solving;
• strengthen arithmetic fluency and reasoning skills.

This term will help pupils secure important mathematical knowledge and become more confident when explaining their methods and justifying their answers.

Science – Living Things and Their Habitats / Animals Including Humans

In Science, Year 5 will explore living things, habitats and animals, including humans. Pupils will develop their understanding of life cycles, reproduction, growth and changes over time.

Children will:

• compare the life cycles of different animals and plants;
• describe the process of reproduction in some plants and animals;
• explore how living things are suited to their habitats;
• understand key stages of human development;
• make comparisons between different groups of living things;
• use scientific vocabulary to explain processes and changes;
• record observations and draw conclusions from evidence.

This unit will encourage pupils to think scientifically, ask questions and explain how living things grow, survive and change.

History – The Tudors

In History, pupils will learn about The Tudors, one of the most significant periods in British history. They will explore Tudor monarchs, daily life, power, religion and the impact of key events during this period.

Children will:

• place the Tudor period on a timeline;
• learn about significant Tudor monarchs, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I;
• explore how religion changed during the Tudor period;
• compare the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor England;
• use historical sources to investigate the past;
• consider how Tudor decisions shaped Britain’s history;
• develop historical enquiry skills by asking and answering thoughtful questions.

This learning will help pupils understand how power, belief and society changed during the Tudor period.

Religious Education – Worship and Places of Worship

In RE, pupils will explore the meaning and importance of worship. They will learn about different places of worship and consider how people express their faith, beliefs and values.

Children will:

• explore what worship means to different people;
• identify features of different places of worship;
• learn how religious communities gather, pray and reflect;
• consider similarities and differences between faith traditions;
• discuss why places of worship are important to individuals and communities;
• develop respect for different beliefs and worldviews.

This unit will support pupils in understanding the importance of faith, belonging, reflection and community.

Design Technology – Cooking and Nutrition: Vegetable Pottage

In Design Technology, pupils will focus on cooking and nutrition by making vegetable pottage, linking their learning to historical food and healthy eating.

Children will:

• learn about the ingredients used in vegetable pottage;
• explore how food choices have changed over time;
• understand the importance of hygiene and safety when preparing food;
• practise chopping, measuring, mixing and cooking skills;
• consider the nutritional value of vegetables and other ingredients;
• design and make their own vegetable pottage;
• evaluate the taste, texture, appearance and success of their final dish.

This unit will help pupils develop practical cooking skills while making links between food, history and healthy lifestyles.

Computing – Website Design and Digital Portfolios

In Computing, pupils will develop their understanding of website design by creating a digital portfolio. They will learn how to organise, present and improve digital content for a specific audience.

Children will:

• create and structure a digital portfolio;
• add new pages to a website;
• change themes and layouts to improve presentation;
• incorporate documents, images, videos and examples of work;
• consider how design choices affect the user experience;
• organise information clearly and logically;
• review and improve their digital work.

This unit will help pupils think carefully about how technology can be used to present learning creatively and professionally.

Music – Music Technology: Hip Hop

In Music, pupils will explore music technology through the genre of Hip Hop. They will learn how rhythm, beats, lyrics and digital tools can be combined to create expressive music.

Children will:

• listen to and discuss examples of Hip Hop music;
• explore rhythm, pulse, beat and layering;
• use music technology to create and arrange sounds;
• experiment with loops, patterns and digital composition;
• consider how lyrics can communicate messages and ideas;
• compose, refine and perform their own music.

This unit will encourage creativity, collaboration and confidence through digital music-making.

PSHE – Understanding Rights and Responsibilities

In PSHE, pupils will learn about rights and responsibilities. They will consider how their choices affect themselves, others and the wider community.

Children will:

• discuss what rights and responsibilities mean;
• consider how rules and expectations help communities work well;
• explore fairness, respect and equality;
• reflect on their responsibilities at school, at home and in the community;
• think about how to make positive choices;
• develop confidence in sharing opinions respectfully.

This unit will help pupils understand their role as active, responsible and thoughtful members of the school and wider community.

PE – Athletics

In PE, pupils will develop their athletics skills, focusing on running, jumping and throwing events. They will work on improving technique, stamina, accuracy and personal performance.

Children will:

• practise sprinting and longer-distance running;
• develop jumping techniques;
• improve throwing accuracy and distance;
• take part in individual and team challenges;
• measure and compare performance;
• set personal targets for improvement;
• show resilience, determination and sportsmanship.

Pupils will be encouraged to recognise the value of effort, practice and perseverance.

Spanish – Breakfast and Frequency Expressions

In Spanish, pupils will learn vocabulary linked to breakfast and will use frequency expressions to describe how often they eat or drink certain items.

Children will:

• learn Spanish words and phrases for breakfast foods and drinks;
• use simple sentences to describe what they have for breakfast;
• practise frequency expressions such as always, sometimes and never;
• ask and answer questions about food preferences;
• improve pronunciation, listening and conversational confidence;
• write short sentences using familiar vocabulary.

This unit will help pupils become more confident using Spanish in practical, everyday contexts.

Preparing for Year 6

Throughout Term 6, pupils will continue to develop the independence, resilience and learning behaviours needed for Year 6. They will be encouraged to take pride in their work, reflect on their progress and approach new challenges with confidence.

Across the term, we will continue to focus on:

• independent learning;
• careful presentation;
• thoughtful discussion;
• accurate use of vocabulary;
• resilience when solving problems;
• readiness for the expectations of Year 6.

We look forward to a purposeful, creative and exciting final term in Year 5.