ENGLISH
In English, Year 5 are exploring The Journey by Francesca Sanna, a powerful and thought-provoking story about a family seeking safety and a new home. Through the story, the children will develop their understanding of empathy by considering the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the characters.
The children will use these ideas to inspire their own writing, including heartfelt letters and imaginative poetry. They will also explore how figurative language can bring writing to life, experimenting with similes, metaphors and personification to create vivid descriptions and express emotions effectively.
GUIDED READING
In Guided Reading, Year 5 are exploring Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird, a powerful story set during the Lebanese Civil War. Through Ayesha’s experiences, the children will explore themes of courage, family, conflict and hope while developing their understanding of different perspectives and experiences.
Throughout the unit, children will develop the key reading skills of vocabulary, retrieval, inference, prediction, summarising and sequencing. They will explore how authors use language, structure and presentation to create meaning and consider the impact of particular words and phrases on the reader. Children will also learn to identify key ideas and themes, make comparisons within and across texts, justify their opinions using evidence from the text, distinguish between fact and opinion, and discuss what they have read with confidence.
Through thoughtful discussion and carefully chosen questions, the children will deepen their comprehension skills while developing empathy and a greater understanding of the world around them.
MATHS
In Maths this autumn term, Year 5 will be developing their understanding of place value, working with numbers up to 1,000,000. Children will learn to confidently read, write, order and compare six-digit numbers, as well as write numbers correctly in words. They will develop their rounding skills, rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 100,000, and use number lines to identify and position larger numbers. Children will also apply their mathematical knowledge to interpret information and data presented in tables and solve a range of reasoning and problem-solving questions.
COMPUTING
In Computing, Year 5 will be developing their understanding of online safety, learning how to use technology safely, responsibly and respectfully. Children will explore the importance of protecting personal information, making sensible choices online and knowing what to do if they encounter something that concerns them. They will also develop their coding and programming skills using Busy Things, learning how to create, run and debug programs while exploring concepts such as sequences, loops, conditions and variables. Through practical activities, children will strengthen their logical thinking, problem-solving and computational skills.
SCIENCE
In Science, Year 5 will be exploring mixtures and separation, learning how different materials can be separated using methods such as sieving, filtering and evaporation. Children will investigate the properties of different materials, make predictions and carry out practical experiments to discover which separation method is most effective.
As with all areas of our curriculum, scientific learning will be thoughtfully connected to Qur’anic teachings, encouraging children to reflect on the signs of Allah within the natural world. For example, when exploring mixtures and separation, children will reflect upon Surah Ar-Rahman (55:19–20), where Allah tells us, in simple English: “He brings the two bodies of water together, yet between them is a barrier they do not cross.” This connection will be woven into lessons, encouraging children to develop their scientific curiosity while reflecting on the wonder, order and complexity of Allah’s creation.
HISTORY
In History, Year 5 will be exploring Early Islamic Civilisation, with a particular focus on Iraq and the city of Baghdad during the Abbasid period. Children will discover how Baghdad grew into an important centre of learning, culture, science, medicine and mathematics, and explore the significance of the House of Wisdom.
They will learn about influential figures associated with this remarkable period, including Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Al-Khwarizmi, whose mathematical work helped shape the development of algebra, and Al-Kindi, a celebrated scholar who contributed to areas including mathematics, medicine and philosophy. Children will consider how scholars preserved, developed and shared knowledge and how their achievements continue to influence our lives today.
Throughout the topic, children will develop key historical skills by examining sources, placing events on timelines, exploring cause and consequence, comparing different periods and distinguishing between historical evidence and interpretation.
DT
This term in Year 5, the focus will be on sculpture, giving students the opportunity to explore three-dimensional art and develop their creativity through hands-on work. Pupils will investigate different sculpting techniques and materials—such as clay, wire, and recycled objects—while studying the work of famous sculptors for inspiration. They will experiment with form, texture, and structure, learning how to shape and join materials to bring their artistic ideas to life. Throughout the unit, students will design, create, and evaluate their own sculptures, developing both their technical skills and their understanding of how sculpture can be used to express ideas and emotions.
PSHE
In PSHE, Year 5 will begin the year by exploring New Beginnings and the Zones of Regulation. Children will learn to recognise, name and understand a range of emotions, while developing practical strategies to help them self-regulate, manage their feelings and respond positively to challenges. They will consider how their emotions can influence their behaviour and relationships and learn how to seek support when needed. Through discussions and activities, children will also develop resilience, empathy, self-awareness and respect for others, helping them to feel confident and ready for the year ahead.
PE
P.E. will be on Tuesdays. Please ensure that your child comes to school wearing their P:E kit on that day.
Please can children bring a refillable plastic water bottle every day.
"If there are any questions or worries relating to your child please do not hesitate to speak to me."
"Thank you in anticipation of your support this term."
Ustadha Ahmed and Ustadha Daudi
Ustadha Ahmed and Ustadha Daudi are the teachers for Year 5 and are working hard to help all the children achieve their potential!
