Year 5
Thursday 13th July 2023
Year 5 very much enjoyed their trip to The Royal Observatory.
All children were incredibly well behaved and were a credit to our school.
The knowledge they demonstrated in the activity sessions showcased how much they have learned throughout our Space topic in Science. The people working at the observatory were very impressed by their questions, answers and conduct during the visit.
Upon arriving, we had a brief chance to look around the North Site and visited Flamsteed House, observing aspects of the family life of the astronomers who lived there in the past.
In the museum, we discovered a variety of astronomical instruments, telescopes and clocks, and children got to stand on the Prime Meridian line, with one foot in the western hemisphere and the one in the Eastern hemisphere.
The workshop sessions included information and activities based on the moon and how the solar system began. Children asked sensible questions enthusiastically and gave accurate responses to enquiries based on their understanding of areas covered in class. We were extremely impressed and pleased with them.
The planetarium show was fantastic and many of the children said it was the best experience!
We had a great time! The teaching staff are very proud of how the children represented Fairways and pleased that it was a successful, fun trip.
Friday 28th April 2023
Year 5 took part in a Conductive Music Workshop today, where they made music using a Micro:bit by using coding skills.
Friday 31st March 2023
Year 5 finished off the term with a Viking Craft Week!
They have leant so much about the Vikings over the last half term and used their new understanding of life in the past to design and make an assortment of products.
Children made swords, axes and turtle brooches, and some enjoyed weaving on looms. These activities combined a number of skills and required critical, logical thinking about which materials and tools to use to create the best finished products.
They also used their research from Computing, Geography, History and Art lessons to make an information text about Viking Life.
Lots of their work will be on display later in the year.
Monday 27th March 2023
When we arrived at Westcliff mosque, we had to remove our shoes and leave them on the shelves outside. We were incredibly lucky to be able to watch some Muslim people carrying out their afternoon prayers. Whilst the prayers were happening, all of the children remained respectfully silent.
Once the Imam had lead the worshippers in their prayer, he then came to talk to us about some of the beliefs of the Muslim community. We identified some of the features in the mosque that we had previously learned about and we also went into the washing area to see where the men perform Wudu before they pray.
This visit concluded our unit of work studying the question: What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?
You could try to identify the items in the pictures and discuss some of the other features and customs. Words to help are: Imam, prayer mats, rak'ah, Qur'an, mihrab (in the wall), minbar (steps), Wudu, minarets, dome, symbol of Islam.
Monday 7th November 2022
This term in Year 5, we are working towards answering the question: What does it mean to be a Muslim in Britain today?
The children enjoyed looking at the artefacts (objects) a Muslim person might use when praying. Some chose to wear items of clothing a Muslim might wear and perform the rak’ah (the positions used during prayer). We ensured the prayer mats faced the Kaaba (also known as the Qiblah) which is found in Mecca.
We compared the way Christians and Muslims pray and the artefacts they use looking for similarities and differences.
Do you know any similarities or differences between Christian and Muslim prayer and artefacts?
Friday 14th October 2022
Today, children returned to drawing in their sketchbooks so they could continue and develop the Constable inspired pieces of art they began last week. They chose from a selection of landscape pictures and tried to emulate some of the themes of Constable's art but in their own style.
At the end of the day, some children wanted to share their work, so we created a mini class gallery and appreciated the work of others by looking and discussing the positive aspects of the pieces.
Friday 7th October 2022
Children designed a WANTED poster based on our 'Highwayman' topic and included ideas from the poem as well as their research and knowledge from Computing and History lessons.
They planned by doing a draft version first to organise their ideas, practise the layout of the design and ensure spellings were accurate. Children then worked on a final piece to create a finished poster.
We have also been learning about John Constable in Art and children made notes on his life, work and style which they then wrote up in best. They have recalled and shared the facts about his life and paintings throughout the week. Today they started their own versions of landscape drawings in their sketchbooks.
Thursday 6th October 2022
Year 5 have been using PowerPoint to create information based on our Highwayman research. The children previously used the internet to search effectively for relevant information and made notes on the topic. They have spent a few weeks creating a slide show and enhanced their skills of editing transitions and adding animations, and they have also learned how to reorder the slides.
Thursday afternoon is when Year 5 children have the opportunity to enjoy our fabulous library.
Mrs Mason (our incredible librarian) selects a wide range of appropriate books based on her knowledge of the children's preferences.
Pupils are able to read together with friends, choose books of their own and spend time discussing choices with each other and all of the class adults.
Tuesday 4th October 2022
Last week, children spent a whole day on an experiment to find the best thermal insulating material.
As whole classes, and in smaller scientific teams, we tested five different materials by wrapping ice cubes in them and then checking regularly to see how much the ice cube had retained its solidity.
Children recorded their group results in tables over the course of the morning and early afternoon. Then we created a class table of results and a whole class line graph.
We wrote a method, discussed anomalies in the data and formed conclusions based on our results.
Friday 16th September 2022
Year 5 have been working hard over the last two weeks. We have been studying The Highwayman, by Alfred Noyes, and the children have written some excellent pieces based on their understanding of the text.
In Art, we have started to create a picture of the Highwayman riding across the moor. Children have been improving their painting and drawing skills and will add silhouette details next week.
We have also been learning about The Georgian period in History to help us understand the poem better.
In French, we have been revising days of the week through listening and singing along to songs, as well as playing a vocabulary matching game.
