Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 27th March 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

 

Reminders:   

I hope you all have a restful Easter break. Please remind your child to read each day over the holidays.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 20th March 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Monday - UKS2 are going on our Science trip.

Please can all children bring in a cereal box on Monday for our DT week. 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

 

Date: 13th March 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 

The children enjoyed using black and white to recreate a simple piece of optical art.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Next week, the children will be starting a new unit of work in PSHE called Healthy Me. The children will be learning this week about eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Please find below the key vocabulary that will be covered in this session: 

Alcohol

• Choices
• Healthy behaviour
• Unhealthy behaviour
• Informed decision
• Pressure
• Media
• Influence

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 6th March 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 

The children enjoyed taking part in the Booky & Footy Quiz ran by the Premier League for World Book Day.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Next week, the children will be starting a new unit of work in PSHE called Healthy Me. The children will be learning this week about eating a healthy and balanced diet.

Please find below the key vocabulary that will be covered in this session: 

Alcohol

• Choices
• Healthy behaviour
• Unhealthy behaviour
• Informed decision
• Pressure
• Media
• Influence

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 27th February 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

   

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Next week, the children will be starting a new unit of work in PSHE called Healthy Me. The children will be learning this week about making healthy choices, specifically looking at smoking. 

Please find below the key vocabulary that will be covered in this session: 

Smoking

Choices 

Healthier behaviour 

Less healthy behaviour 

Informed decision 

Pressure 

Media 

Influence

Vaping

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 13th February 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

How you can help... 

There will be no homework this week. However, please still encourage your child to read every night. 

Reminders:   

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 6th February 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

   

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 30th January 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 

   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 23rd January 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

Here are some of the children's Girih patterns .

  

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 16th January 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

Activities we enjoyed this week...

   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

22nd January: Please ensure your child brings a packed lunch and dinner for the trip, and that they wear either a Young Voices white T‑shirt or a plain white T‑shirt for the concert.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 9th January 2026

What we have been learning this week...   

In Maths, the children began a new unit on multiplication and division, focusing on multiplying a one‑digit number by a two‑digit number using the area model. In English, they started exploring Philip Pullman’s Clockwork, using their reading skills to make predictions, draw inferences, and investigate new vocabulary. In Science, the class started a new topic on the properties of materials, testing a range of objects to see whether they were magnetic, permeable, or hard. Music has been full of energy as the children continued practising for Young Voices, especially now that the event is only two weeks away. In PE, they began two new units: one developing hockey skills and the other exploring dance inspired by the Vikings.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed testing different materials .

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

I hope you all have a restful break and I looking forward to welcoming the children back in the new year! 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 19th December 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week, Cherry Class has thoroughly enjoyed Design and Technology Week. On Monday, the children explored a range of hand-sewn decorations online. They discussed how each one had been made, what they liked and disliked about them and how well the products worked. Together, we also talked about the design criteria for their own creations. On Tuesday, the sewing began! The children practised different stitches including running stitch, back stitch, stem stitch, chain stitch and blanket stitch. They then designed their very own Christmas tree decoration and drew the template they would use. On Wednesday and Thursday, the children carefully cut their felt pieces and began sewing their decorations, showing great concentration and creativity. On Friday, the children reflected on their work through self and peer evaluations, sharing what they were proud of and what they might improve next time. They also enjoyed attending the Christmas service at the Church, which was a lovely way to end the week. The children have worked with enthusiasm and perseverance, and we are very proud of their beautiful handmade decorations.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

Here are some of the wonderful decorations that have been created.

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

 

 

Reminders:   

I hope you all have a restful break and I looking forward to welcoming the children back in the new year! 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 12th December 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in Maths, the children have been consolidating their learning on fractions, focusing particularly on subtracting fractions and mixed numbers. On Thursday, the children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to The Junction in Cambridge to watch Snow White. In English, the children have been analysing the character of Lucien Silver, preparing to write a discussion text about whether he will be a good or bad character. In Art, the children explored the concept of forced perspective and had fun experimenting with this technique. In Music, the children have been practising and developing their singing skills. In PE, the children have been completing and refining their gymnastics routines. In Computing, the children have been learning about concatenation and how it can be used in programming. 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children loved watching the performance of Snow White at the Junction on Thursday.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Thursday- The children will be attending the panto.  

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 5th December 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

 

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 

Some of the children's macrophotography creations. 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Thursday- The children will be attending the panto.  

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 28th November 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in class, the children have been busy with a range of exciting learning activities. In Maths, they have been adding to mixed numbers, adding fractions with totals both greater than and within one, and practising adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominators. In English, the children have planned and written setting descriptions inspired by The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie. In Art, they explored how to crop photographs to achieve the best composition. In Computing, they learned about coding functions, while in PE they continued developing their skills in gymnastics and netball. The children also enjoyed spending time in the nature reserve this week. Finally, in History, they discovered how Alfred the Great unified England.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

  

The children enjoyed collecting exciting vocabulary ahead of their setting-description writing.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 21st November 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

In maths, the children have been learning how to convert improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa. They have also practised comparing and ordering fractions less than 1, as well as comparing and ordering fractions greater than 1. In English, we have started an exciting new unit based on The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie. This week, the children focused on answering different comprehension questions about the story. In history, our topic on the Vikings continued with a fascinating lesson about the raid on Lindisfarne and why it was such a significant event in history. In PE, the children have been developing their skills in both netball and gymnastics. In science, we explored the concept of friction. The children enjoyed conducting an experiment to test whether different materials created more or less friction and how this affected the speed of a toy car.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 14th November 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week has been assessment week! The children have been brilliant at completing their tests under the correct testing conditions. 

The Year 5 children also enjoyed attending the war memorial service at the village monument on Tuesday for a Remembrance service. Rev Matt conducted a brilliant service, and we were impressed with the children’s focus and respectful behaviour during this time.

The children loved seeing the poppy that the school council, alongside all of the children, had created displayed on the hall wall.

This week was also Anti-Bullying Week. On Monday, the children enjoyed learning the song that has been brought out by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

Remembrance Day 2025

  

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

 

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 7th November 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in English, the children have been planning and writing a newspaper report about Johann Westhauser, the man who was trapped for a dozen days. In Computing, the children started a new unit of work about coding, looking this week at how they can make codes more efficient. In Maths, the children have started a new unit of work on fractions, focusing this week on finding fractions equivalent to unit and non-unit fractions, and recognising equivalent fractions. In PE, the children have started their new unit on gymnastics. In History, the children enjoyed learning about their new topic on the Vikings, discovering this week who they were and where they came from. In Science, the children have started a new unit of work about forces, learning this week about different types of forces.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

This week in History, the children enjoyed learning about who the Vikings were and where they came from.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Wednesday 11th:  The children in Year 5 will be visiting the War Memorial in the village.

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 23rd November 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

In Maths, the children have been wrapping up their unit on multiplication and division. This week, they focused on multiplying and dividing numbers by 10, 100, and 1000, developing a strong understanding of place value and number patterns. In English, the children explored the features of newspaper reports. They also learned the difference between direct and indirect speech, and how each is used effectively in newspaper article writing. In science, the children completed their end-of-unit pages, consolidating all their learning about Earth and space. It’s been wonderful to see how much knowledge they’ve gained throughout this topic. In geography, the children concluded their unit on maps. They brought together everything they’ve learned to demonstrate their understanding of map features and navigation. During PE, the children have been learning about game situations in football, applying their skills in small-sided matches and developing teamwork. In Art, the children completed their final pieces when recreating digital landscapes. Their creativity and attention to detail have really shone through in these impressive works. In music, the children continued practising their Young Voices singing. Their enthusiasm and energy are building as they prepare for their performance.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed creating their final pieces of artwork in this half-term’s unit of work.

 

 

How you can help... 

 

There will be no formal homework over the half term. However, please do encourage your child to read daily. 

Reminders:   

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 17th October 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week, in maths, the children have continued their unit on multiplication and division. They have explored common factors, prime numbers, square numbers, and cube numbers, developing a deeper understanding of number relationships. In English, the children have been publishing their own survival stories, showcasing creativity and resilience in their writing. They have also begun a new unit on newspaper articles, focusing on identifying and understanding key features of journalistic writing. In Science, the children have learned that the sun does not move across the sky. Instead, they discovered that it is the Earth rotating on its axis that creates the appearance of the sun’s movement. In Art, the children have been planning their watercolour landscapes, thinking carefully about composition, colour blending, and the mood they want to convey in their artwork. During PE, the children have continued their football unit, applying their skills in game situations and working collaboratively as a team. In Music, the children have been practising their dance and singing skills in preparation for the Young Voices performance. Their enthusiasm and energy have been fantastic!

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

  

On Thursday, the children visited Cambourne Village College to take part in the CB23 Careers Convention. They had a fantastic time exploring a wide range of career options and engaging with professionals from different industries.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 10th October 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

In Maths, the children have started a new unit focusing on multiplication and division. They have been exploring the concepts of multiples, common multiples, and factors. In English, the children have been writing their own survival stories, inspired by Survivors by David Long. They have worked hard to build suspense and emotion in their narratives, using descriptive language and powerful vocabulary to bring their characters and settings to life. During PE lessons, the children have continued to develop their football skills. They have practised dribbling, passing, and teamwork through a variety of engaging drills and small-sided games. Music sessions have been lively and energetic as the children practised their singing and rhythm skills. They are preparing for the upcoming Young Voices concert, learning the dances and songs with growing confidence and excitement. In Geography, the children have been learning how to read maps and interpret symbols. They explored different types of maps and discussed how symbols help us understand geographical features and locations. The Art lesson this week focused on colour mixing techniques. The children experimented with blending shades and tones in preparation for recreating a digital landscape using watercolours. 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 This week, in Art, the children have been practising their watercolour mixing skills. 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 3rd October 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

In Maths, the children have been continuing their learning around addition and subtraction. This week, they explored how to round numbers to check answers, used inverse operations, and tackled multi-step problems involving both addition and subtraction. In English, the children have planned and begun writing their own survival stories, inspired by Survivors by David Long. Their creativity and imagination are already shining through! In Art, the children enjoyed decorating their Christmas cards, adding festive flair and personal touches to each design. In Geography, they had a go at creating their own road maps of Bourn, thinking carefully about landmarks and layout. In Music, the children continued to practise their singing skills, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork. On Friday, the children had a brilliant time at the church for the Harvest Festival, celebrating together with songs and reflections. In PE, the children have started their new unit on football, developing their skills and enjoying active sessions outdoors.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

   In Geography, they had a go at creating their own road maps of Bourn, thinking carefully about landmarks and layout.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 26th September 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

It’s been another busy and exciting week of learning! The children have wrapped up their place value unit, finishing with rounding numbers within 100,000 and 1,000,000. They’ve now begun a new unit on addition and subtraction, focusing on mental strategies and adding numbers with more than four digits. This week, the children explored the use of parenthesis in writing—learning how to incorporate it effectively and edit their work to include it. They’ve enjoyed experimenting with different sentence structures and improving their writing style. Inspired by David Hockney, the children recreated landscape artworks using a variety of techniques. Their creativity and attention to detail have really shone through! Rehearsals for the Young Voices concert are well underway. The children have been practising their singing and following along with the dance practice videos—lots of energy and enthusiasm all around! In PE, the focus has been on team building. This week’s skill was sharing and including everyone, helping children understand the importance of collaboration and kindness in group activities. The children have been learning about different types of maps, including political, topographic, road, and economic maps. They’ve enjoyed discovering how each map serves a unique purpose and helps us understand the world around us. 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed learning about the Earth's orbit around the Sun, and the Moon's orbit around the Earth.

 

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

3rd September- Harvest Service in Church

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 19th September 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week, in English, the children have been developing their understanding of fronted adverbials and adverbial phrases. They have been exploring how to incorporate these effectively into different pieces of writing, including setting descriptions. This work has helped to enhance their descriptive language and sentence structure. In Maths, the children have continued their work on place value. They have been using a range of strategies and representations to deepen their understanding of number, recognising the value of each digit and applying this knowledge to solve problems. In Science, the children have been learning about the relative size of the planets in our solar system. Through hands-on activities and discussions, they can now confidently order the planets based on their size and understand the vast differences between them. In Geography, the children have been exploring how to read world maps from different perspectives. They have been learning about hemispheres, continents, and key lines of latitude and longitude, helping them build a broader understanding of the world around them. In Art, the children have been focusing on landscape composition, learning about the key elements of foreground, middle ground, and background. In PE, the children have continued their unit on teamwork. Through a variety of games and challenges, they are learning to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and support one another to achieve common goals. In Music, the children have been practising their singing skills in preparation for their Young Voices performance. They have been working hard to learn lyrics, improve their vocal techniques, and sing with confidence and enthusiasm. On Friday, the children had the opportunity to listen to the Year 6 House Captain speeches. They enjoyed hearing the candidates present their ideas and demonstrate their leadership qualities. It was inspiring to see such confidence and passion from our oldest pupils.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoying their maths lesson this week. 

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

 

Reminders:   

28th September- Bourn to Run 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 12th September 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in Maths, the children have continued their unit of work on place value. They have been learning how to read and write numbers up to 1,000,000 and exploring powers of 10. They have also practised finding 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 more or less than a given number. In English, the children have been learning about relative pronouns and relative clauses, and how to include these effectively in their writing. In PE, the children have continued developing their team-building skills. They worked together to get their whole team from one side of the playground to the other using limited equipment—a fun and challenging task! In Science, the children explored the different planets in our solar system. They researched each planet's size, length of year, length of day, and atmosphere. In Geography, the children have been learning about different map projections, including the Winkel Tripel, Mercator, and Gall-Peters projections. They discussed the benefits and disadvantages of each type.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Art, the children have been learning about landscapes. They particularly enjoyed experimenting with felt-tip pens and water to create their own unique landscape pictures.

 

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

Please see below for a link to the slides that were shown at the 'Welcome to the Year Ahead' meeting on Thursday.

Cherry - Welcome to the Year Ahead 25-26

 

Reminders:   

Thursday 18th - Individual photographs.

Friday 19th - Flu vaccinations.

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 5th September 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

It has been a pleasure to welcome the children back to school and into Cherry Class. They have all settled in beautifully and are full of enthusiasm, ready to take on the new school year. This week, the children had their first PE lesson of the term, where they began by practising their teamwork skills. In RE, we explored the Creation Story alongside the Big Bang Theory, discussing whether the two are in conflict or can coexist. In Maths, we have started our unit on place value. The children have been learning about Roman numerals up to 1,000, numbers to 10,000, and numbers up to 100,000. In English, we have begun our first unit of work based on Survivors by David Long — a compelling book filled with true survival stories. The children have been working on writing setting descriptions inspired by the book. In Geography, we’ve started our topic on maps and globes. This week, we focused on understanding the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the North and South Poles, the Equator, and lines of latitude and longitude.

 

How you can help... 

Homework:
This week, the children will only be completing spelling homework. Full Year 5 homework will begin from next week.

Collection Reminder:
At the end of the school day, Year 5 children will be brought to the collection point near the main gate by the small wooden fence. This is where I will walk the children for collection each afternoon.

WINNERS OF THE WEEK

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 22nd July 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

As we wrap up another wonderful school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the fantastic final days in Cherry Class. On Monday, the children channelled their creativity into art inspired by Hokusai. Using ink to create prints, they produced some truly brilliant works that showcased both their imagination and skill. Tuesday brought a bittersweet moment as the children attended the Year 6 leavers' assembly. It was a touching celebration of our Year 6 pupils, and there's no doubt that they will be missed by all. Later that day, our school community came together for the end-of-year picnic. It was great  to see so many smiles, laughter, and shared memories—a lovely way to close out the year. And just like that, the Year 5 journey comes to a close. Thank you all for your continued support throughout the year. It's been a pleasure to watch the children grow, learn and thrive. I wish each and every one of them the very best as they step into Year 6—I’m sure they will absolutely love it.

Wishing you all a restful, exciting summer break!

Miss Kitson   

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 18th July 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in Maths, the children have been learning about negative numbers. They have learnt to understand negative numbers, count through zero in ones, count through zero in multiples, and compare and order negative numbers. In English, the children have continued their learning around our English text The Shark Caller. This week, they have been using descriptive devices to describe different locations in the story. In PE, the children enjoyed their last swimming lesson, where they played water polo and then had some free time in the pool. In Science, the children learned about the gestation periods of animals and humans. They used what they had learned to make predictions about different animals’ gestation periods based on their size. In History, the children learned about Picot of Cambridge and the Cambridge Castle that was built on the current Bourn Hall site. On Wednesday, the children loved watching the Year 6 play. They were super impressed by the singing and acting skills on display.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Science, the children learned about the gestation periods of animals and humans. They used what they had learned to make predictions about different animals’ gestation periods based on their size. 

  

 

How you can help... 

There will be no homework this week.

Next week:

As we approach the end of term, I want to say what a pleasure it has been teaching the class this year. I’m looking forward to the new term and seeing everyone in their red uniforms. Wishing you all a restful, joyful, and exciting summer break.

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 11th July 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in Maths, the children have continued their learning about decimals. They have been applying efficient strategies for adding and subtracting decimals, exploring decimal sequences, and multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000. In English, the children have been researching, planning, and writing persuasive letters to either Blue Wing or Maple from our class text The Shark Caller. In Art, the children have been practising different techniques using pastels. They then applied these techniques while replicating various works by Hokusai. During their swimming session in PE, the children have been learning about water safety and what to do if they are ever in trouble in the water or if they see someone else who is. They discussed the importance of not panicking and instead floating. This included recapping the different types of floats, such as the star float and mushroom float. In History, the children have been examining different maps of Bourn over the years, identifying features that have remained the same and those that have changed.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Art, the children have been practising different techniques using pastels. They then applied these techniques while replicating various works by Hokusai. 

  

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

Next week in Maths, the children will be finishing their learning about decimals and moving on to learning about negative numbers. This will include understanding negative numbers, counting through zero in ones, counting through zero in multiples, comparing and ordering negative numbers, and finding the difference. In PE, the children will continue their learning about rounders in game situations, and they will complete their final swimming lesson of the year. 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 4th July 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week was DT Week! The children have been learning about different mechanical systems, such as pulleys and gears. They worked in pairs to create electric cars, developing simple design specifications to guide their thinking and communicating ideas through discussion and annotated drawings. They selected from and used a range of tools and equipment—such as cardboard and cardboard wheels—to make products that were accurately assembled and well finished. Impressively, all of this was completed within time constraints. In PE this week, the children enjoyed playing a whole-class game of rounders. They were fully involved and had a great time. On Thursday, they loved spending time with Miss Hensleigh in the Oak classroom. They completed a range of different activities and returned to the Cherry classroom with big grins on their faces.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed making cars during DT week! 

  

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

RSE REMINDER

Next week, during our PSHE RSE unit. The lesson in the unit focus is:  Conception 

The key words for this session are: 

Relationships

Conception

Making love

Sexual intercourse

Fallopian tube

Fertilisation

Pregnancy

Embryo

Umbilical cord

Contraception

Fertility treatment (IVF)

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 27th June 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week in Maths, the children have been learning about decimals. They have learnt how to add and subtract decimals across 1, how to add and subtract decimals with the same number of decimal places, and how to add and subtract decimals with different numbers of decimal places. In English this week, the children have been learning about discussion writing and balanced arguments. On Monday, they orally debated the topic ‘Islands should be encouraged to keep their traditions and should not be changed by visitors or newcomers’, which was linked to our class English text. Later in the week, they planned and wrote a balanced argument around this topic. In PE, the children enjoyed their swimming lesson. They learnt how to skull forwards and backwards in the water. In Science this week, the children were learning about the different stages of a baby’s growth. In Art, the children used graphite sticks and sketching pencils to replicate pictures of different mountains. They were practising their shading skills.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In English, the children enjoyed sharing their oral debates with the rest of the class.

   

  

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

RSE REMINDER

Next week, during our PSHE RSE unit. The lesson in the unit focus is:  Conception 

The key words for this session are: 

Relationships

Conception

Making love

Sexual intercourse

Fallopian tube

Fertilisation

Pregnancy

Embryo

Umbilical cord

Contraception

Fertility treatment (IVF)

 

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 20th June 2025

What we have been learning this week...   

This week has been assessment week. The children have been working extremely hard, and I am impressed by their dedication and determination. On Wednesday, the children had a brilliant time participating in Sports Day. They completed a variety of activities, including the javelin, speed bounces, long jump, football dribbling, wicket knockdown, shuttle run and the egg and spoon race. They also all took part in a sprint race, which was very exciting to watch. In Art this week, the children started their new unit on printmaking. They focused on how to discuss pictures by artists, looking at the work of Katsushika Hokusai. In History, the children began learning about the local history of Bourn. This week, they explored various historical features of the village, such as the school, Bourn Hall, the war memorial, and different historical houses in the area.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 In Art this week, the children started their new unit on printmaking. They focused on how to discuss pictures by artists, looking at the work of Katsushika Hokusai.

  

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

RSE REMINDER

Next week, during our PSHE RSE unit. The lesson in the unit focus is: Puberty for boys

The key words for this session are:

Puberty

Sperm

Semen

Testicles/Testes

Erection

Ejaculation

Wet dream

Larynx

Facial hair

Growth spurt

Hormones

Email: ckitson@bourn.cambs.sch.uk

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 13th June 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

In Maths this week, the children have finished their topic on position and direction. They have been learning about translation, translation with coordinates, lines of symmetry, and reflection in horizontal and vertical lines. In English, the children have been analysing the character of Blue Wing from our English novel The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell and writing character descriptions. In Computing, the children have been learning how to implement different text styles in a document and how to format headings and subheadings. In PE, the children had their first swimming lesson. They were practising their push and glide on both their fronts and backs. In Friday’s session, the children will be starting their rounders unit. In Geography this week, the children have finished their learning about biomes and completed their end-of-unit information pages to showcase all the knowledge they have gained. On Monday, the children enjoyed watching the Year 3 and 4 dress rehearsals of their singing performance.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Geography this week, the children have finished their learning about biomes and completed their end-of-unit information pages to showcase all the knowledge they have gained. 

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

RSE REMINDER

Next week, during our PSHE RSE unit. The lesson in the unit focus is: Puberty for girls

The key words for this session are:

Puberty

Menstruation

Periods

Menstrual towels

Menstrual pads

Menstrual cups (mooncups)

Tampons

Ovary/ Ovaries

Vagina

Oestrogen

Vulva

Womb/Uterus

Hormones

 ONLINE SAFTEY REMINDER

I would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and carers about the importance of having parental controls in place on devices and internet access at home. These controls help ensure that children are protected from inappropriate content, limit access to certain websites or apps and provide a safer online experience overall. As children become more confident with technology, it’s essential that we work together to help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. To help with this, please see below the National College's '#Wake up Wednesday' guides which provides top tips for using and reviewing parental controls. 

using and reviewing parental controls.pdf

  

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 5th June 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week in Maths, the children have started a new unit: Position and Direction. They have been learning how to read and plot coordinates, solve problems using coordinates and understand translation. In English, the children have begun a new unit of work based on the book The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell. They have been making predictions based on the prologue, front cover and blurb. They have also been answering reading comprehension questions linked to the prologue. In PE this week, the children have been practising different activities in preparation for Sports Day. The children also enjoyed their visit from Joel Rickard, a golf coach from Bourn Golf Club. In Art this week, the children were experimenting with creating different textures using watercolours. This included the wet-on-wet technique, dry-on-dry technique, salt technique and the crayon technique. In Science, the children concluded their learning about living things and their habitats by completing a double-page spread on all the information they have learnt.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Art, the children have been experimenting with creating texture with watercolours. 

  

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Reminders:   

Next week, during PSHE we will be starting our RSE unit. The first lesson in the unit focus is To understand that everyone is unique and special.

The key words for this session are:

Self

Self-image

Body image

Self-esteem

Perception

Characteristics

Aspects

Affirmation

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 23rd May 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week in Maths, the children have been learning how to calculate angles around a point, angles on a straight line, and lengths and angles in shapes, as well as exploring regular and irregular polygons and 3-D shapes. In English, the children have been practising their knowledge of prefixes such as dis-, mis- and de-. They have also been developing their inference and retrieval skills during a reading comprehension task about the notorious highwaywoman Moll Cutpurse. Alongside this, they have been using ‘show, not tell’ techniques in their narrative writing. In PE, the children enjoyed playing cricket in game situations. In Geography, the children created infographic posters about the tundra and taiga biomes. In Computing, the children have been learning how to add pictures to a document and how to edit these.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Art, the children have been experimenting with continuous line drawings of objects.

  

How you can help... 

There will be no homework over half term. However, please encourage your child to read every night and log onto Times Table Rockstars. 

 

Next week ...    

Next week is half term! I hope the children have a restful break, and I look forward to welcoming them back on Monday, 2nd June.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 15th May 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week in Maths, the children have been learning how to measure angles up to 180 degrees using a protractor, and how to draw lines and angles accurately. In English, the children have been using their knowledge of metaphors and similes to write a descriptive paragraph about a setting. They have also been practising their reading comprehension skills by exploring the context of The Highwayman poem. In Science, the children have continued their learning about living things and their habitats, focusing this week on how life cycles differ around the world. In Art, the children have been practising their sketching skills by drawing different 3-D shapes. In Computing, the children have learnt how to open a document, edit the font, change the colour and size of the text, and save the document. In PE, the children learnt how to correctly throw the javelin.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 The children have been practising their sketching skills by drawing different 3-D shapes.

  

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...    

Next week in Maths, the children will be learning how to calculate angles around a point, angles on a straight line, and lengths and angles in shapes. In PE, the children will continue developing their skills in athletics and cricket.

REMINDERS:

---

 Thursday 22nd May - RSE information evening for all parents/carers (6-7pm, in the hall)

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 9th May 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week in Maths, the children have finished their learning about statistics, looking further at reading and interpreting timetables. In English, the children have been writing character descriptions of the Highwayman from The Highwayman poem by Alfred Noyes. In Geography, the children have continued their learning about biomes, focusing this week on the savannah and the flora and fauna that live in this biome. In PE, during their cricket session, the children have been practising their fielding skills and overarm throws to create power. In Science this week, the children have been learning about asexual reproduction in plants. They had the opportunity to plant one of the spores from our existing spider plants in the classroom. They were interested to find out how the spiderettes can be separated from the plant and planted to grow into new plants.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

 The children planted spiderettes from our spider plants in the classroom as part of their learning about asexual reproduction in plants.

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...    

Next week in Maths, we will be starting a new unit of work on shape, learning about understanding and using degrees, classifying angles, and estimating angles. In English, the children will be using their learning about similes and metaphors to write descriptive paragraphs.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 2nd May 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in English, the children have continued their learning around The Highwayman poem by Alfred Noyes. They focused on using drama to develop their understanding of the text, including activities such as freeze frames. They have also been practising their performance and spoken language skills, learning about tone, intonation, and pace. The children now understand that how we read a poem affects what the reader understands and how much they enjoy the text. In Maths, the children have been continuing their learning on statistics, this week focusing on reading and interpreting line graphs, tables, two-way tables, and timetables. In Science, the children have begun their unit of work about living things and their habitats. This week, they studied flowering plants and their life cycle. In PE, the children have been learning about cricket, focusing this week on batting. On Wednesday, the children in Cherry class gathered around Lyla’s tree on the front field to remember their friend and share special memories of her.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

This week was Reading Week. The children have been reading as much as possible for our sponsored read. Each day, we have read in an unusual place.

  

  

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...    

Next week, in English, the children will be continuing their learning about The Highwayman poem. In Maths, we will be starting a new unit of work about shape, learning about understanding and using degrees, classifying angles, and estimating angles.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 25th April 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

It has been a very short week this week! It has been great to welcome the children back for the start of the summer term.

On Wednesday, the children completed their Maths unit on area and percentages, looking finally this week at how to estimate area. In English, the children have begun a new unit of work based around The Highwayman poem, looking particularly this week at the type, theme, and language used in the poem. In Geography, the children began their learning on which of the biomes have been most impacted by human activity, focusing this week on the features of major biomes.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...    

Next week in Maths, the children will be starting a new unit on statistics, learning about drawing line graphs, reading and interpreting line graphs, and reading and interpreting tables and two-way tables. In English, we will be using drama to develop our understanding of The Highwayman text. In PE, the children will be starting their unit on cricket and athletics. In Science, we will be learning about living things and their habitats.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  4th April 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, the children have been learning about perimeter and area, specifically looking at the perimeter of rectangles, the perimeter of rectilinear shapes, the perimeter of polygons, the area of rectangles and the area of compound shapes. In English, the children have been writing an alternative ending to the book The Viewer by Gary Crew. In PE, the children have come to the end of their units on tennis and rugby, and they have enjoyed playing these sports in tournament situations. On Thursday, the children took part in an Easter egg hunt run by the BSA. On Friday, the children engaged in various activities linked to the Easter story during our Easter Experience Day.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

This week in Art, the children enjoyed experimenting with colour when creating op art-inspired drawings.

       

 

 

How you can help... 

There will be no homework for the children over the Easter holidays. However, please encourage your child to read every night.

 

Next week ...    

And just like that, we have reached the end of the Spring term. I hope everybody has a restful Easter holiday! I look forward to welcoming the children back on Wednesday, 23rd April.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  21st March 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week was assessment week, and the Year 5 children have been working super hard! They completed their Big Write, where they wrote a narrative about a tiny dragon. I was really impressed with the creativity displayed in their work. In PE, the children enjoyed their tag rugby session on Wednesday, playing 4 vs 4 mini matches. They focused on passing the ball correctly and exploring the rules of tag rugby. In Art, the children continued their unit on optical art, practicing various techniques for creating op art pieces. In PSHE, the children discussed how their dreams and aspirations in life might differ from those of children in other countries, as well as children from different areas of the UK.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Art, the children have been enjoying creating op artwork.

  

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...  

Next week, the children will continue their maths unit on decimals and percentages. They will be learning to understand percentages, as well as how to express percentages as fractions and decimals, and explore the relationship between equivalent fractions, decimals, and percentages.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  14th March 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, the children have been continuing their learning about decimals and percentages. They have been learning about thousandths as decimals, thousandths on a place value chart, ordering and comparing decimals with the same number of decimal places (up to three decimal places), and rounding decimals to the nearest whole number. In English, the children have been enjoying writing biographies about David Attenborough, focusing on making sure they include fronted adverbials and relative clauses. In Computing, the children have been learning about different databases (both paper and digital) and discussing which they think is more effective. In History, the children have been learning about the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. In PE, the children have been continuing their tennis learning, specifically looking at the backhand this week.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children also enjoyed their science experiment about which material would be best suited for hamster bedding. They were investigating which material absorbed the most water.

      

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...  

Next week is assessment week. The children will be completing their NFER papers, just like they did during the autumn term.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  7th March 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, In Maths, the children have been recapping their learning about equivalent fractions, decimals, and thousandths as fractions. Some of the girls in the class had the opportunity to take part in the girls' football tournament, where they came 3rd out of 12 schools! Well done, girls.

The children have had an exciting week taking part in Bikeability. On Monday, they were practising their biking skills off-road on the court. Then, from Tuesday to Thursday, they have been cycling on the road around the village. They have been learning to:

Check – Perform an “ABCD” safety check of your air, brakes, chain, and direction before every ride.

Look – Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Move – Take the most suitable riding positions and own your space on the road. Keep out of the gutter and use the middle of your lane at junctions.

Communicate – Riding position, arm signals, and eye contact are all useful ways to show your intentions.

Ride – Stick to the rules of the road, remember who has priority at each stage of your journey, and enjoy your ride!

On Thursday, the children celebrated World Book Day, where they had the opportunity to go onto the book bus, read with younger children in Hazel class, and watch a BBC online live lesson all about books!

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed Bikeability this week! 

     

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ... 

Next week, in English, the children will be writing a biography about David Attenborough. In Maths, the children will be learning about thousandths as decimals, thousandths on a place value chart and ordering and comparing decimals. 

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  28th February 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

 This week, in maths, the children began a new unit on decimals and percentages. They have been learning about decimals up to two decimal places, equivalent fractions and decimals (tenths), and equivalent fractions and decimals (hundredths). In English, the children have been learning about biographical writing, focusing on the features of these texts and the linguistic features, such as fronted adverbials. In PE, the children have started their learning on tennis and tag rugby. In art, the children have begun studying optical art, exploring the works of famous op art artists and their artwork. On Wednesday and Thursday, the children went on the Life Education bus, where they had an hour and 45 minutes to learn about the topic of friends. During the session, the children learned about emotional needs, body knowledge activities, structured drug discussions, alcohol and cigarettes, peer pressure, and how to be assertive and not give in to peer pressure.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children enjoyed their learning about friends on the life bus.

    

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ... 

Next week, in English, the children will be writing a biography about David Attenborough. They will also begin their history topic with the big question: Which of the early Islamic achievements has had the most effect on our lives today?

 

Notices

Year 5 have Bikeability from Monday to Thursday. Thursday is World Book Day; considering this, please ensure that your child comes to school in something suitable for biking.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  14th February 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, the children have finished their topic on fractions, learning about finding fractions of amounts, finding a whole, and using fractions as operators. In English, the children have been writing character descriptions of Princess Mariposa from the book Clockwork by Philip Pullman, focusing on using show, not tell to engage the reader. In Art, the children have completed their unit on Islamic art and enjoyed summarising everything they have learnt on a summary page. In PE, during dance sessions, the children have been completing their Viking dances, which include sections of unison and cannon. During our hockey session this week, the children were playing mini matches against each other, which they found a lot of fun!

Activities we enjoyed this week...

The children have been practising how to write calligraphy in Art.

  

 

Some of the children got the opportunity to take part in the Quicksticks hockey tournament, they had a brilliant time.

 

How you can help... 

There will be no homework this week. Please do encourage your child to read every night.

 

Next week ...

We have reached the end of Spring 1. I hope the children enjoy the half term break, and I look forward to welcoming them back on the 24th of February.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date:  7th February 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week was Children’s Mental Health Week. The focus of the week this year was about being self-aware, which means getting to know and understand what we are good at, what we find difficult, our likes and dislikes, what makes us feel JOY, and what may cause us SADNESS. It is also about understanding what makes us unique, as well as our fears, hopes, and dreams. As we build a sense of self, we grow in our ability to connect with others, as well as develop our skills and talents. It is with this basis that we can form strong and healthy relationships, from early childhood right through to adulthood, and are equipped to cope with the challenges that life brings our way. In line with this, during collective worship, the children have been watching snippets from the film Inside Out and have been watching videos and discussing this topic within lessons.

This week, in English, the children have been using their reading comprehension skills to infer and retrieve information from a text. In Maths, the children have started a new unit of work on fractions, learning this week how to multiply a unit fraction by an integer, multiply a non-unit fraction by an integer, multiply a mixed number by an integer, and calculate a fraction of a quantity. In Art, the children were learning about calligraphy, a fundamental element of Islamic art. The children had the opportunity to explore this using the double pencil technique. In PE, this week during hockey, the children were practising their hockey skills in game situations. In PSHE, the children were exploring different jobs and the salaries of these jobs. This sparked some interesting discussions and really got the children thinking about their future.

Activities we enjoyed this week...

In Science, the children enjoyed exploring how to separate different mixtures through filtration, sieving, and magnetism.

   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, the children will be continuing their learning on fractions, learning about fractions of an amount, finding the whole, and using fractions as operators. In PE, the children will be continuing to practise their hockey skills in game situations.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 31st January 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in maths, the children have been learning to divide a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number, divide with remainders, use efficient division methods, and solve problems involving multiplication and division. In English, the children have been writing a section of a narrative linked to the end of part one of our English text Clockwork by Philip Pullman. They have also been thinking about how to edit their work to improve their writing. In PE, during hockey, we have been developing attacking skills, taking on defenders, and recapping tackling. During science, the children were learning about dissolving, making predictions, and investigating whether materials such as salt, sand, jelly, and wax are soluble or insoluble. In art, the children were learning about the features of arabesque art, such as spiral, symmetry, and balance. They then had the opportunity to practice some of the Rumi motifs that are often seen in arabesque art.

 

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

 The children had a brilliant time at Young Voices on Thursday last week. They have not stopped talking about it all week!

  

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in maths, the children will be starting a new unit of work on fractions. They will be learning how to multiply a unit fraction by an integer, multiply a non-unit fraction by an integer, and multiply a mixed number by an integer. In art, the children will be learning to identify calligraphy in Islamic art. In PE, the children will begin to apply their hockey skills in game situations.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 25th January 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, the children have been solving multiplication problems and practising their short division. In English, the children have continued to read our English text Clockwork or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman. They have been practising their comprehension skills when answering questions about the text. We have also been thinking about tricky vocabulary from the text and finding synonyms for these words. In Science, the children have been learning about electrical conductors and insulators. They enjoyed experimenting with these using the circuit equipment to check which materials were electrical conductors and which were not. In PE, the children have continued their learning about hockey, focusing this week on how to tackle. In Geography, the children continued their learning about the different climates in South America. This week, we looked at the Atacama Desert in Chile and discussed the climate there.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

 The children enjoyed experimenting with these using the circuit equipment to check which materials were electrical conductors and which were not

   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, the children will be learning to divide a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number and divide with remainders. In English, we will be writing our own ending to part one of our English text Clockwork. In PE, the children will begin to play hockey in game situations.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 17th January 2025

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, the children have been multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers and multiplying 2-digit numbers by 3-digit numbers, using the column method. In English, the children have continued to read our English text Clockwork or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman. The children have been practising their comprehension skills when answering questions about the text. We have also been thinking about exciting adjectives to describe Glockenheim, a German town in the book. In Science, the children have been learning about thermal conductors and thermal insulators. In PE, the children have continued their learning about hockey, focusing this week on how to pass accurately. On Friday, we will begin our unit of dance, where the children will be learning a dance linked to the Vikings. In Geography, the children continued their learning about the different climates in South America.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

This week, the children enjoyed practising their passing in hockey in PE.

  

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, the children will be learning to solve problems with multiplication, short division, and dividing a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number. In PE, we will be continuing with our hockey unit in our Wednesday session looking at tackling and defending. We are also looking forward to our trip to Young Voices on Thursday! 

Please note: Young Voices t-shirts will be handed out today for those who ordered them. If your child has not got one, then please send them with a white t-shirt in their bag to change into before the concert.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 10th January 2025

Remembering Mrs. Monks 

This week, we have come together as a school community to remember and celebrate the life of Mrs. Monks. In our collective worship sessions, we shared special memories of her, reflecting on the impact she had on our lives. Through a PSHE lesson at the start of the week, the children reflected on their safety circles (trusted adults they can turn to if they ever need support or someone to talk to).

To help the children process their emotions, we created a class worry box, offering them a safe space to express any concerns they might have. Additionally, we reassured them that adults are always available to talk and listen.

The children were also introduced to a beautiful story called The Invisible String, which explores the theme of death and the enduring connections we share with loved ones. After hearing the story, the children participated in an activity that helped them understand this concept better. As part of the ongoing remembrance of Mrs. Monks, we also invited the children to create special memories on heart-shaped cards. These will be placed on a "Memory Tree" at the front of the school, serving as a lasting tribute.

Finally, we took time to explore the children’s emotions, acknowledging how they can change throughout the day or even hour by hour. The Blob Tree activity was used today to help them recognise and name their feelings, fostering a greater understanding of their emotional well-being.

It’s been a week of reflection, connection, and support for one another, as we remember Mrs. Monks.

What we have been learning this week...  

This week, in Maths, we have started a new unit on multiplication and division. The children learnt to multiply up to a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number, multiply a 2-digit number by a 2-digit number (area model), multiply a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number, and multiply a 3-digit number by a 2-digit number. In English, we have started our new text, Clockwork or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman. The children have been predicting what they think the story will be about by looking at the blurb and the front cover. They have also begun to read Chapter 1, pick out the key vocabulary that they were unsure of, and use their dictionary skills to find out the meanings. In Science this week, we have started our new topic about properties of materials, looking at what properties of materials mean, and carried out tests on different materials to work out what their properties are. In PE, we started our new unit of work on hockey, focusing on dribbling.

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, the children will be learning to solve problems with multiplication, short division, and dividing a 4-digit number by a 1-digit number. In PE, we will be continuing with our hockey unit in our Wednesday sessions, and on Friday, we will be starting our new unit on dance.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 20th December 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in Maths, we have continued our unit on fractions, focusing on subtracting from a mixed number when breaking and not breaking the whole, as well as subtracting two mixed numbers. In English, the children have been learning how to punctuate speech correctly. On Friday, the children enjoyed our trip to the Junction to watch the performance of A Tiger’s Tale.

In Cherry class, we have also been getting into the Christmas spirit by doing lots of Christmas crafts. On Monday, we created Christmas Gonk tree decorations. On Wednesday, we enjoyed our delicious Christmas dinner and made Christmas light cards. On Thursday, we made calendars for 2025. Today, the children are looking forward to the Christmas service at the church and our classroom Christmas party.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

This week, the children enjoyed making Christmas cards.

 

How you can help... 

Over the Christmas break, please encourage your child to continue reading every night. 

Next week ...

We have reached the end of the Autumn term. I hope the children enjoy their Christmas break, and I look forward to welcoming them back on Tuesday 7th January.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 13th December 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in English, we have been writing fact files about different cities as the Emporium in the Nowhere Emporium travels all over the world. The children have done their own research on the iPads and learned lots about the cities of their choice! In Maths this week, the children have been learning to add fractions with a total greater than 1, add to a mixed number, add two mixed numbers, and subtract fractions. In History, the children have concluded their learning about the Vikings by bringing together all their knowledge when completing their big question. In PE, the children have been continuing to practice their defending and attacking skills and are becoming more familiar with the rules of Netball. Also, this week, Cherry class enjoyed watching the Acorn, Willow, and Hazel Nativities. Additionally, they also enjoyed a Christmas visit from GenR8.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

This week, we also finished off our Nowhere Emporium wonders!

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

Next week ...

Next week will be the final week of Autumn 2! We will be concluding all of the learning we have done this half term. Additionally, we will be having a Christmas decoration afternoon and a Christmas party!

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 5th December 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in English, the children have been writing and publishing their wonders, which were inspired by the book The Nowhere Emporium. In Maths, the children have been learning to compare and order fractions greater than 1, add and subtract fractions with the same denominator, and add fractions within 1. In History, the children have been learning about how the Vikings planned and carried out their attacks, specifically focusing on the Viking Raid on Lindisfarne. In PE, the children explored the tactics and rules of netball in game situations. In Science, the children have been learning about forces. We looked at how different materials produce different amounts of friction and how this affects the speed of a toy car.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

In Art, the children were learning about the forced perspective technique, which creates an optical illusion that makes objects appear larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they really are.

      

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, they will be learning to add mixed numbers, add two mixed numbers, and subtract fractions. We will also be getting into the Christmas spirit by watching the Acorn, Willow, and Hazel Christmas Nativities. Additionally, we have a visit from Genr8.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 29th November 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week in English, the children have been writing their big write, which was based on a character named the Dream Giver. The children really enjoyed writing their fantasy stories based on this character. In Maths, the children have been continuing to learn about fractions. This week, they learnt how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions, compare fractions less than 1, and order fractions less than 1. In History, they learnt about the different ways the Vikings prepared and protected themselves during battle. In PE, during our gymnastics session, the children learnt about different gymnastic rolls, such as pencil rolls, teddy bear rolls and barrel rolls.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

In Science, during our forces topic, the children learnt about water resistance, a type of force that uses friction to slow things down when moving through water. The children investigated how different shapes have different amounts of water resistance acting on them. They learnt that boats have pointed fronts, as this shape is streamlined and creates less water resistance.

   

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

Next week ...

Next week, the children will be writing their own wonders for the Book of Wonders, linked to our English text. In Maths, they will be learning about comparing and ordering fractions greater than 1, adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator, and adding fractions within 1.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 22nd November 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in English, we have begun to write our discussion texts about whether Lucien Silver from The Nowhere Emporium will be a good or bad character. This week in Maths, the children have continued learning about fractions, looking at recognising equivalent fractions and converting improper fractions to mixed numbers. In Science, we were looking at air resistance, discussing how it is the opposing force that objects experience when passing through the air. In PE, this week in Gymnastics, the children learned about counterbalances, and in our Netball session, the children learned about attacking. In Art this week, the children had the opportunity to use the rule of thirds themselves; by taking pictures on the iPad and editing them to ensure they had good composition. In Computing, we continued our coding unit, looking at decomposition and abstraction, and using these to design and write algorithms for either a simple board game or making a meal.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

In History, this week, we were learning about the different weaponry used by the Vikings. This included spears, bows and arrows, swords, and axes. We wrote a fact file about each of these and then designed our own Viking shields.

   

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, we will be looking at converting mixed numbers to improper fractions, comparing fractions less than 1, and ordering fractions less than 1. In History, we will be looking at how the Vikings prepared and protected themselves before and during battle. In Gymnastics, we will be learning how to jump in gymnastics using the equipment.

 

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 15th November 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in Maths, the children have started a new unit of work on fractions. They have been learning how to find fractions equivalent to a unit fraction, how to find fractions equivalent to a non-unit fraction, and how to recognise equivalent fractions. In English, we have continued our unit of work on the book The Nowhere Emporium. This week, the children have been analysing the character of Lucien Silver, discussing and predicting whether he will be a good or bad character. In Art, during our digital photography unit, the children have been learning about the rule of thirds and how it can help improve the composition of photographs. In PE, on Wednesday, the children were learning how to defend in a game of netball. During our gymnastics session, they learnt about different balances.

The children also attended a workshop this week with the EmpathyLab and the author of Those People Next Door, Manon Steffan Ros. This story illustrates the importance of treating everyone equally and respecting people regardless of their differences.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

In History, the children were learning about the longships that Vikings used to travel to different countries. They learned about all the different features of these ships, such as the keel, oars, mast, shields, hull, and figureheads.

 

 

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, in Maths, we will be looking at converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, converting mixed numbers into improper fractions, and comparing fractions less than one. In PE, during our gymnastics session, the children will be learning about counterbalances. In Science, they will be learning about air resistance.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 8th November 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week, in Maths, the children have continued their unit on multiplication and division. They have been learning about cube numbers and multiplying and dividing by 10, 100, and 1,000. In English, we have started a new unit of work based around the book The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie. The children have been using this book to write setting descriptions about the Emporium. In History, we have begun our new topic on the Vikings. The children learned this week about where the Vikings came from, the features of their homelands, and why and where they raided, traded, and settled.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

This week, in PE with Mr Puckey, the children began a new unit on Netball, focusing on the different passes: chest pass, shoulder pass, and bounce pass.

  

How you can help... 

Please encourage your child to complete their homework on time. If there are any problems, encourage them to bring it in early and talk to us so that we can help them complete it.

This week homework includes:

-Spellings

-English

-Maths

-Times tables 

Also, please encourage your child to read every night. 

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

Next week, we will be starting a new unit of work on fractions, looking at finding fractions equivalent to a unit fraction, finding fractions equivalent to non-unit fractions, and recognising equivalent fractions. In Science, we will be continuing our new topic of forces.

 

Cherry Class - Year 5

Date: 25th October 2024

What we have been learning this week... 

This week was music week! The children in Cherry class have been enjoying lots of different musical activities alongside our usual lessons. On Monday, we were very excited to have the Junk Orchestra come to visit. During this session the children made music using instruments made from recycled objects. On Tuesday, the children took part in a dance workshop where they learnt choreograph to the song Surface Pressure from Encanto. The children also went to the Nature Reserve to create music out of nature with the Year 2s Miss Cornwell and I were really impressed with their teamwork and imagination during this session. We also took the time to listen to lots of different musicians within the school play their instruments in assembly as well as in the classroom.

Activities we enjoyed this week... 

 Junk Orchestra  Performing to the class

 Dance workshop

Making music with nature in the Nature Reserve 

 

How you can help... 

Although there will be no written homework tasks this week, please still encourage your child to continue to read over the half term.

This is the link to our class timetable. Please note that this may change as we progress through the year.

 

Next week ...

We have reached the end of the half term. I hope the children enjoy their break, and I look forward to welcoming them back on Monday 4^th November.