Dear parents and carers,

Welcome back, Year 5! We hope everyone had a wonderful half-term break and enjoyed some well-deserved rest. 

In Maths this week, we have been exploring fractions. The children have been working hard to understand the difference between unit and non-unit fractions, finding equivalent fractions and converting improper fractions into mixed numbers. There has been lots of great mathematical thinking, with the children developing their confidence in explaining their methods and reasoning.

We have started an exciting new unit in English, exploring the world of portal stories! This week, we stepped into the magical world of Alice in Wonderland. The children have been imagining what Alice might experience as she falls down the rabbit hole. They have been developing their descriptive writing skills, thinking carefully about what Alice might see, hear and feel as she tumbles into this strange and wonderful world. We have also been considering how Alice might react to the unusual things happening around her before having a go at continuing the story. There have been some wonderfully imaginative ideas!

During Guided Reading, we have been exploring The Dragon of Krakow, a traditional folklore story. We have been thinking about the features of folklore and how these stories are often passed down through generations. The children have enjoyed discovering the characters, settings and events that make this tale so interesting.

We have also launched our new Design and Technology unit, focusing on small-scale structures. To get started, the children were challenged to think about what structures they could design and build for our Forest School area. We were so impressed by the range of innovative and imaginative ideas! The children have been thinking creatively about how their structures could be used and what features would make them practical and exciting additions to our outdoor space. We can't wait to see how these ideas develop!

In Art, we have been introduced to the work of artist Michael Brennand-Wood. The children began by exploring colour wheels and experimenting with colour combinations. They then used their creativity to produce their own concentric designs, exploring patterns, shapes and colour. The results are already looking fantastic!

Have a great weekend.

The Year 5 Team