Year 5

As we come to the end of the autumn term, it has been a pleasure to reflect on all the learning and experiences Year 5 have enjoyed. The children have worked hard across the curriculum and shown great enthusiasm in everything they have done. One of the highlights of the term was our first school trip, which was a fantastic opportunity for the children to learn outside the classroom and create lasting memories together. We are very proud of their efforts and positive attitudes throughout the term.

We would like to wish everyone a lovely Christmas and a relaxing holiday break.

LEEDS CITY MUSEUM

For our first trip of the year, we visited Leeds City Museum for a workshop all about the Ancient Greeks. The class was divided into three groups and given a selection of images related to Ancient Greece. Their task was to explore the exhibition and identify each item. Afterwards, each group chose one artefact to discuss and present to the rest of the class. After this, we spent time rotating around different activity stations.

At the first station, pupils examined genuine artefacts, some of which were over 2,000 years old. They even donned white gloves to handle the objects carefully. For the next task, pupils designed their own Ancient Greek vases. They stuck to the traditional colours of brown, yellow, black and grey. The children were incredibly creative, incorporating ideas and themes we have explored in our lessons.

At the final station, pupils were given bags filled with mysterious objects. They had to discuss what they thought each item was and what it might have been used for. One bag contained what we initially assumed were teeth (much to the pupils’ disgust!), however, we later discovered they were actually counters used in a simple game played by Greek children.

After our workshops, we had some free time to explore the museum. The pupils particularly enjoyed the Natural World exhibit, where they discovered a variety of different species of bugs and animals. We then visited the Journey Through Leeds exhibit, focusing on how the city has changed over time. The children were fascinated by some of the ways things used to be done!

forest school

Pupils braved the cold for a Forest School session. They used a saw to cut round pieces of wood, which they then threaded with string to turn into ornaments. The children also had a go at striking flint and steel to create a small fire. Some found this very easy, while others needed a little extra time to practise. A few pupils chose to relax in the tree hammock, happily watching their classmates at work. The sessions were thoroughly enjoyed, and pupils were certainly not afraid to get a little (or a lot!) muddy.

uk parliament week

For UK Parliament Week, Year 5 learned how Parliament works and explored different roles within it. We took part in a virtual tour of the House of Lords and the House of Commons and watched videos of the Opening of Parliament.

We then held our own debate on whether school uniforms should be optional, with two parties—the Fox Party and the Hill Party—and key roles such as Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and Speaker of the House.

science

In science, pupils have been learning about the properties of materials. They explored how materials can be separated using methods such as filtering and magnetism. Pupils then put this into practice by mixing iron filings with sand and using magnets to separate the iron again. They were fascinated by the results.

dt

In DT, pupils dived into the world of food. They explored different types of bread and learned how bread is one of the most common staple foods around the world. Pupils then had a go at making garlic flatbread, using skills such as mixing, kneading and rolling. They thoroughly enjoyed tasting their creations afterwards, with the delicious smell of garlic lingering around the school.

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