Welcome to Mercury – Year 5
Summer 1 – Pharaohs
Engage – Let’s travel back 5000 years to ancient Egypt, cruising along the Nile and entering a world of mysteries, curses and mummies.
This half term, we are going to learn first-hand about the gruesome, yet fascinating, process of mummification. We’ll write a report about Howard Carter’s famous discovery and use different sources to research Tutankhamun’s tomb. We’ll also consider whether it was right to open Tutankhamun’s tomb, or whether it should have been left as it was. Our work will inspire us to write some exciting Egyptian mystery stories and non-fiction books and the internet will provide us with information to make fact files. We’ll draw Egyptian artefacts in detail, focusing on symbols and design features. Studying historical sources will help us learn more about the Pharaohs, the Egyptian gods and ancient religious beliefs. We’ll find out about the food that was eaten at the time, make some Egyptian bread and use recycled materials to build model tombs.
Innovate – As assistant to Ramose, we will help prepare the body of a wealthy Egyptian for his journey into the afterlife.
Express – We will end this fantastic topic with a celebration of all the work we have done on Wednesday 5th May from 2pm to 3pm – everyone is invited.
Maths – Mean, area of a triangle, angles, properties of triangles and 4-sided shapes.
RE– Beliefs and Values in Sikhism: We are learning to understand how Sikhs show their commitment to God and to evaluate if there is a best way.
Understanding Christianity: What does it mean if God is holy and loving? The children will weigh up how biblical ideas and teachings about God as holy and loving might make a difference in the world today, developing insights of their own.
PE – Cricket and athletics.
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 – ‘At the Movies’ – focusing on composition.
French – On-going throughout the year – Intercultural Understanding, Language Learning Strategies, Knowledge about Language with Madame Day.
PSHE – Relationships
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