Year 5 - St Thomas More

RE - The Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Today, we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux through a special "Celebration of the Word" service. The children reflected on her life of kindness and simplicity, learning how even small acts of love can have a big impact. Together, we prayed and shared how we can follow her example in our own lives.

English - Bringing the Script to Life: Acting Out Act 1, Scene 4

Celebration of the Word: Meditation

Today, we had a beautiful meditation session where we reflected on a Bible verse that connects to our science lesson on the human body.

We focused on Psalm 139:13-15: "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."

We thought about how God created each of us with unique talents and a purpose, reminding us of the positive impact we can have in this world by sharing His love. Each of us wrote down the gifts and talents we believe God has given us, and then we combined these into one larger picture—symbolizing how, though we're all different, we come together to create something greater, filled with God's love and purpose.

School Parliament Election

Year 5 students are running for school parliament in departments like Peace and Justice, Environment, and Health and Wellbeing. Their campaigns reflect Catholic Social Teaching by promoting dignity, stewardship, and peace. This activity helps them live out these values while making a positive impact in their school.

Curriculum Evening

Class Curriculum Presentation.pptx

English - Prince Escalus' Monologue 1

English - Prince Escalus' Monologue 2

English - Prince Escalus' Monologue 3

PE - Netball

RE - Role-playing (Catholic Social Teaching)

PSHRE - Class Rules (Catholic Social Teaching)

RE - Class Saint (Facts and Portraits)

English - Favourite Book Sharing

Curriculum Maps

We have been learning about animation in computing. Here, we are learning to use the group, copy and paste functions on ABCya to create a frame.

Think Back Project

A fantastic project completed by two Year 4 pupils all about our learning so far this term. They have even included our neurons and were able to clearly explain how our neurons become strengthened when we build on things that we have learned about before, or when we make connections to other topic areas.

First Aid Heroes

In this week's PSHRE, we became first aid heroes. We role played scenarios and practiced staying calm, reassuring the individual and calling for help.

Discussion Circle

To link with our English text 'The Boy at the Back of the Class', we heard three stories from three real life refugees who came to the UK. Afterwards, we had a discussion about their stories. Here are some quotes from the children:

"I think these children showed great resilience. It must have been incredibly difficult to make such a long and dangerous journey only to arrive and not be able to speak the language."

"These stories made me feel sad, but also grateful. I realise that all of my life I've had everything I ever need - love and a house. "

"I think our government needs to be better. People arrive already feeling alone and lost and then our government moves them to somewhere else."

Computing - How Does Animation Work?

We have been learning about how animators create the illusion of movement. Here, we are drawing 9 frames which change slightly each time. When they change quickly one after the other, the illusion of movement is created.

International Week

During International Week, we learned all about Eritrea. For International Evening, we dressed in a country's colours or national dress.

Science - Classifying Animals

In teams, we competed in a relay race to classify animals into two groups: vertebrates and invertebrates.

Kite Studios - Week 3

Maths - Money

D&T - Experimenting with Switches

Kite Studios - Week 2

Class Assembly on the Tudors

Role on the wall

We have begun reading 'The Boy at the Back of the Class' by Onjali Q.Rauf. This week, we have had an introduction to the four main characters in the book. We have shown what we know and can infer through role on the wall.

Decimals

We have been learning to represent decimals in different ways.

Kite Studios - week 1 - creating prints

Creating Charts on Google Sheets

Tomato Sauce!

Here is our final tomato sauce which we made, created labels for and sold after school.

We have been learning how computers store data. This week, we chose to store data about a topic of our choice. We then created a filter and used it to search for specific information.

Now Press Play - a plot to kill Elizabeth I

In this Now Press Play, we took on the role of a courtier of Elizabeth I. We discovered that a group of Catholics, who had to pray in secret, were plotting to kill Elizabeth. We had to stop them!

Here is a selection of our Tudor projects from this half term.

Tudor World

We enjoyed our trip to Tudor World in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the morning, we had an Elizabethan theatre workshop, a crime and punishment workshop and a tour of the museum. In the afternoon, we had a Shakespearean tour of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Science week workshop

We enjoyed our 'As Creatives' workshop all about electricity through time.

Storing data on a computer

We used Google Sheets to store and search for data about gingerbread men. We realised that a computerised version was much more efficient!

Science week workshop

We are enjoying our science week activities. In this workshop, we learned about how science can be used to create a more sustainable world. We were excited by some of the scientific discoveries that we may see in years to come!

Cooking week 3

In this week's cooking lesson, we tasted some shop bought tomato sauce. We compared the taste and texture of them. Next week, we will be thinking about which ingredients we might use to create our own tomato sauce and how we would like the label to look.

How do computers store data?

We have been learning about how computers use tables store data. We learned that computers store records in a much more efficient way than humans can!

Making pasta!

Library Sessions

We really enjoyed our library session to celebrate World Book Day. We had the opportunity to hear extracts from many different books and have all chosen something old or new that we would like to read. We enjoyed guessing which book was being read from!

World Book Day outfits

Pitch and Volume with Miss Howard

Miss Howard joined this week's science lesson on pitch and volume. She taught us how sound can be created in lots of different ways using instruments and our voice. She also showed us how to alter pitch and volume using instruments.

Measuring the speed of sound

In yesterday's science lesson, we took a trip to the park to measure the speed of sound. We had to use a stopwatch to time how long it took for a sound to travel across the park. We repeated the test many times to ensure it was accurate.

Creating cardboard reliefs

We have been learning about space in art this half term. We have learned how artists make artwork look 3d. Here, we are creating cardboard reliefs to show background, middle ground and foreground.

English - Hot seating

In today's lesson, we came up with questions that we would like to ask the main character in our new book, Jub. We worked in groups to come up with questions and had the opportunity to ask them to her.

Computing - binary code

In computing, we are learning about data. This week, we learned how computers use binary code to store information. We learned that computers do this much more effectively than humans could!

In our cooking lesson this week, we made savoury dishes like vegetarian shepherd's pie, focaccia and garlic bread.

PSHRE - bullying

In PSHRE this week, we spoke about bullying and things that we say that can make others feel bad. We played games and role played scenarios to help us to develop our sense of empathy. We also talked about how to practice resillience.

Science - making string telephones

In this week's science lesson, we made strong telephones to show how sound travels. We learned that sound travels faster through solids, because the molecules in a solid are closer together.

Presenting data

We have been learning about presenting data in maths. Here, we are working together to create bar charts which accurately show the amount of runs scored in a cricket match.

Conductors and insulators

This week, we have been working scientifically. We created circuits and added different materials to test which are conductors of electricity and which are insulators.

Art - Creating a 3D effect

This term, we are learning about how artists create space in art. We are learning from the work of Millet and Brugel the Elder. Using cardboard, we will be creating a piece of art which clearly shows background, middle ground and foreground. Here, we are preparing the background for our pieces of art, where things will be shown further away (smaller and less detailed).

Multiplication and division

We have learned a variety of methods to show how to multiply and divide. Here are some examples of our partner work this week.

Multiplication

We have been exploring how to multiply using lots of different methods.

Role on the wall

We created a role on the wall based on Mrs. Tredegar. On the outside, we wrote all of the things that we know about Mrs. Tredegar. On the inside, we inferred what her thoughts and feelings were.

Creating circuits

We created electrical circuits in this week's science lesson to show how electricity flows.

The Green Ship role-play

This half-term, we are exploring 'The Green Ship' by Quentin Blake. Here, we are role-playing the children's exploration of their new discovery, a green ship.

Sphero's sensors

In this week's lesson, we learned about variables and that Sphero has sensors. We programmed a true or false quiz - if the answer was true, we shook Sphero, if it was false, we kept Sphero still. If we got the answer correct, an achievement sound was played. If the answer was incorrect, an error sound was played.

Sphero stuck in a maze!

In this week's lesson, we had to program Sphero to navigate its way through a maze. We learned that there were more than one algorithm that could be used to solve this problem. Some groups even managed to add penalties when Sphero bumped into the side.

Now Press Play - the water cycle

In today's Now Press Play, we took on the role of a water droplet as it journeyed around the water cycle.

King Canute

We worked in groups to create poems about King Canute. We then presented them to the class. Here is an example:

King Canute

Long, long ago about 1000 years from now,

a great, strong king would show the English how.

In 1016 he became a king,

peace, power and religion he would bring.

Travelled on a longship across the vast North Sea,

for 19 years, King Canute he would be!

King of an Empire for England, Denmark, Norway,

with an army on the ground, they were sure to stay.

He taught his subjects to show them wrong from right,

but one day they would have such a fright.

“You are a God,” his subjects would say,

but they didn’t know that the sea would not obey.

He threw his crown on the sand,

to show he could not control the sea with his hand!

Creating myths

We have been learning about how authors build tension in their writing. We worked in groups to create our own myth where a king or queen needed saving from a monster. We have been learning from the writing style of Rob Lloyd Jones.

Water cycle in a jar

We recreated the water cycle in a jar to show how a water droplet heats, cools and changes state as it moves around the atmosphere.

Dance party with Sphero!

In this week's computing lesson, we had a dance party! We used the 'loop' block when programming so that Sphero could create a dance that was repeated. We planned our code using psuedocode. We loved dancing to the music!

Conflict with Racha

In this week’s workshop, Racha and Miss Jackson had an argument while looking at the number 9. Miss Jackson thought it was a 6. We helped them to see that they were looking at the number from a different angle, just like how in a conflict, we can look at it from different sides. We then came up with some advice on how conflict can be solved, using a song to help us.

Multiplication and Division

We have been using lots of different methods to show multiplication and division!

Visit from Neal Zetter

Today, we had a visit from Neal Zetter who is a comedy performance poet, author, and entertainer. We were inspired by his work and creativity!

Drawing with Sphero

Trinket Boxes

Here are our final shell structures. We created trinket boxes.

Friendship with Racha

In this week's workshop with Racha, we discussed friendship. We listened to the song ‘Count on Me’ and talked about what makes a good friendship. We created friendship recipes, which included all of the things that we felt was important in a strong friendship.

Movement with Sphero

In this week's lesson, we programmed Sphero, a robotic ball, to move in different directions and to change colour.

D&T - Shell Structures

We have been learning about shell structures in D&T. Here, we are creating nets of shapes for our trinket boxes and decorating the.

Reading corner

We love spending time in our reading corner where we have access to books from a variety of genres.

Workshops with Racha

We have been enjoying our weekly PSHRE workshops with Racha which focus on self-esteem, empathy, friendships and dealing with conflict!

It Starts with YOU!

This week is anti-bullying week. The theme of this week is 'Make a Noise about Bullying'. Year 4 came together to write a poem called 'It Starts with You' which will be performed in Friday's assembly.

Make a noise for the girls and boys.

Don’t let the bullies leave you no choice.

It’s your voice, so make a sound,

Don’t let the bullies push you to the ground.

We need to hear a voice and it starts with you,

Let’s join forces, we would need a few.

Something small can grow really big,

A few kind words will help very quick.

A hug and a smile can make someone’s day,

And remember to ask, ”Are you okay?”

We all are different and that’s a fact,

Let’s celebrate and make an impact.

We all are different and that’s alright,

Don’t take away other people’s lights.

It’s anti-bullying week and it starts with YOU,

Let’s work together and see this through!

Science Trip to All Saints

Today we had an exciting trip to All Saints Catholic College where we experienced science in a lab!

We got to use a wide range of scientific equipment, such as Bunsen burners. Our task was to observe over time what happens to ice cubes when we add heat. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and can't wait to do more science experiments at All Saints in the future.

A trip on a Viking longship

In this week's history lesson, we took a journey across the North Sea on a Viking longship. We took on the role of a Viking girl who travelled to England in search of a better life. However, we were shocked to realise that we had actually come to steal, raid and invade the Anglo-Saxon's land. In the end, we learned that Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon king of Wessex created a peace treaty between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons. The Vikings were allowed to settle on parts of the land and have their own rules there. This was known as the Danelaw.

Trust in God

Fr Mark came to visit to speak about our RE topic 'Trust in God'. We had lots of questions for him and spoke about how it is possible to trust in something that we cannot see or touch.

Sky Studios

We had a fantastic time at Sky Studios! After our behind the scenes tour of the studios, we had the opportunity to write, create and edit our own news report on our chosen topic 'cyberbullying'. We worked with sky's team of experts along with using the technology that is used every day to create real TV content.

Light in art

This half term, we have been learning about light in art. From the work of Caravaggio and Vermeer, we learned how to create a 3d effect by using different shades and shadows. We also learned how artists paint in layers to make colours stand out. Here, we are painting our final still life paintings.

Autumn Projects

Over half-term break, we completed projects based on our next topics: Trust in God, The Water Cycle and The Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. Here are some examples which we presented to the class.

In English, we began studying 'Beowulf', an epic poem from Anglo-Saxon times. Here, we turned our partners into heroes that would be brave enough to fight Grendel the monster. We used the superlative form of adjectives to describe our hero.

Black History Month

October marks Black History Month. This year's theme is 'celebrating our sisters'. Here are some examples of our home learning projects, where each of us chose a black woman in history who we are inspired by. In class, we learned about Esther Bruce, an inspiring woman who was a fire warden in WWII and was the first to publish an autobiography documenting the life of a working-class Black British woman. Esther lived and worked in Hammersmith and Fulham.

World Mental Health Day

Today marked World Mental Health Day. The official theme for this year's event was 'Mental health is a universal human right'. We attended assembly this morning where we spoke about what our mental health is and how we can look after it. Miss Howard wrote us a song, which we all learned along with actions. We wore yellow to raise awareness.

The digestive system

We used a food bag, tights, banana, cracker, orange juice and water to show what happens to the food in our bodies as it moves through the digestive system. The orange juice represented acid and the water represented saliva. The bag represented our stomach, and the tights represented our intestines, rectum and anus.

King Duncan's murder

We acted out the events of the night of King Duncan's murder, inferring what the characters must have said, felt and done.

Macbeth's conscience alley

Macbeth agonised over his decision to Kill King Duncan. To understand his thoughts, we created a 'conscience alley'. One side of the alley were for the murder, the other side were against. Macbeth (Nandin) walked down the centre, listening to both sides of his mind. In the end, he decided that it was not a good idea to kill the king. Will this be the decision that Macbeth really makes in the play?

Maths - place value

We have been exploring different ways to show the value of numbers in maths.

Macbeth - the battle scene

We enjoyed acting out a part of the first scene from Macbeth, the battle between Scotland and Norway. We learned that Macbeth was a brave warrior who won a war for his country.

The children in Year 3 have been working extra hard this term on their joint Music-English project, Blues songs inspired by Elizabeth Cotton, and below are the final mp3 results! These songs have been written and performed entirely by the students, ukuleles and all - please enjoy!