Welcome to Mercury – Year 5
Summer 2 – Allotment
Engage – Let’s grow! A crispy carrot, luscious lettuce or a tasty tomato. Dig deep and put your back into it, making our own tubs and planters and nurturing your greens.
Develop – This half term, we’ll visit an allotment to see what’s growing and spot the greenhouses and frames that help the plants to grow. Our visit will inspire us to write a report about the allotment and investigate types of compost and biodegradable materials used. We’ll use food from the allotment to make delicious dishes, and plant our own fruits and vegetables. Our art skills will improve as we make detailed observational drawings, using botanical images for inspiration. The classic children’s book The Secret Garden will inspire us to write our own short stories. We’ll explore germination, learn more about the parts of the plant and find out how they reproduce. Maps will help us to identify the best place for an allotment and where different foods come from.
Innovate – Visit to Wyke Farms to look at farming methods and sustainability.
Express – We will end this fantastic topic with a celebration of all the work we have done on Wednesday 3rd July at 2pm 3pm – everyone is invited
Science – Animals including humans
Discuss why living things need to reproduce and look in detail at human life cycle (describing the changes as humans develop to old age), comparing with other animals. Study physical and emotional changes at puberty.
Maths – Properties of 3D shapes, volume of cubes and cuboids, reflection, rotation, translation of shapes, statistics.
RE – Understanding Christianity: What does it mean if God is holy and loving?
PE– Tennis and rounders
We will aim to go outside whatever the weather, safety permitting. Please ensure the children have appropriate outdoor PE kit: t-shirt, trousers, jumper and footwear.
Music – Our Community
Looking at changes through time. Children will be given the opportunity to compose and perform music inspired by their local community, both and present.
French – On-going throughout the year – Intercultural Understanding, Language Learning Strategies, Knowledge about Language with Madame Day.
PSHE – Changing me (linked to science unit of Animals, including humans).
Homework
This will be set and sent home on Friday with it due in on Wednesday. Times tables or alternative number work will be set with a follow up timed assessment on Wednesday. Spellings will be tested on Friday. Please make sure you take a copy of the spellings so that when your child hands their book in on Wednesday they are still able to practise for Friday’s test.
Ways in which you can help your child
Reading, reading and more reading! Please encourage your child to read as often as possible. Listen to them and ask questions about the text to develop their understanding.
Please follow this link to have a look at the sort of books your child could be reading
https://www.booksfortopics.com/year-5
This is what we are reading in class this term.
Practise all times tables up to 12 x 12, especially the 7’s, 8’s and 9’s.
Test them on their spellings and encourage all homework to be completed to a high standard.
If you have any queries or questions, please do not hesitate to come and talk to us.
Keep up to date with Year 5 news by following Class Dojo. 
The Mercury Class Team
Mrs Jenkins, Mrs Buck, Mrs Markley, Mrs Cheshire