Years 5 & 6

Years 5 and 6 Curriculum Overview

Welcome back and we hope you had a good break. We are looking forward to our new topic: Peasants, Princes and Pestilence.

This term the children will be learning about the dark and deadly world of the 14^th Century. They will look at the different social classes, at the Kings who reigned during this time and find out why the peasants revolted.  We will look at the food eaten during this period of time and design a banquet for a King. The children will learn where the plague originated from and what happened when someone was infected with the Black Death. They will compare the life cycle of rodents, bacteria and fleas. The children will learn about a knight’s role in battle including the importance of armoury, weaponry, tactics and chivalry.

We will continue to ensure that the children have a good understanding of the non-negotiables – the building blocks that support their maths learning. We will be developing the children’s reasoning skills and their ability to use and apply the mathematics they have been taught when problem solving. Please encourage them to learn their multiplication tables and their division facts as these are used in many areas of the maths curriculum. All pupils have access to Times Table Rockstars and this is a fun way to learn the multiplication tables.

The children will be set some project homework do this half term along with their regular maths homework.

In the Year 5 and 6 team we have the following teachers: Mrs Koszykowska, Mrs Harris, Mrs McGarragh, Miss Stankowski and Miss Pollendine. To help the children with their learning we have: Mrs Brown, Mrs Launn, Mrs Donald, Mrs Briggs, Mrs Smith and Miss Holman.

Ideas for home learning

• Search your local library to find out if the plague of the 14th century affected a village or town near you. What information can you find out?
• Design a coat or arms for your family. What symbols would you use and what would they represent? What would be your family motto?
• Find out what happens when something decomposes. Place an apple core, orange or grape in a transparent container and watch as it decomposes. Document what happens but don’t open the container! When you have finished your investigation throw away the sealed container.
• Make a model rat out of papier-mâché. Paint it to make it look realistic. Take a picture of your rat in different places…but try not to scare anyone!