St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary School
We act with love, build our faith and grow as people
Year 5
Newsletter 24.01.25
What a fantastic start to the Spring term! Year 5 have been busy crafting their own narrative stories inspired by the book ‘The Snowman’, showing off their creative skills with similes and superlatives.
In RE, we have started our revelation unit, focusing on the baptism of Jesus. The children have enjoyed sharing their own baptism experiences, comparing the similarities and differences. Through learning about Jesus’ baptism, they have gained a deeper understanding of how it marked the start of his ministry and symbolised obedience to God, as well as the importance of baptism in representing spiritual cleansing and the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As part of our Art lessons, we have explored Chinese art, and the children have created beautiful paintings of Chinese blossoms and dragons using linear brushstrokes. Their attention to detail has been very impressive!
Our music lessons this term are centered on African music. The children have had fun learning an African song and practicing the art of ‘clicking,’ which they have found to be quite challenging, along with some energetic dance moves.
With plenty of exciting activities still ahead, it is wonderful to see how the children are growing, learning, and achieving!
Newsletter 13.12.24
In Computing, we have been focusing on online safety and the SMART rules. The children did a great job identifying who to trust and created their own comic strips to show how to stay safe online. In DT, we are continuing our unit on Chinese inventions, with the children exploring the design and creation of their own kites. There have been some truly creative designs!
In RE, we have been learning about repentance and reconciliation. The children have deepened their understanding of forgiveness and the role of John the Baptist. It was such a pleasure to see so many parents at our Celebration of the Word and to watch the children confidently deliver their parts. We feel that our message of forgiveness was conveyed well and connected with many.
In Maths, we have just begun our multiplication unit, focusing on multiplying by two-digit numbers. This is a great opportunity to see how well the children have engaged with their Times Tables Rockstars! We will be engaging in various internal competitions in the next term and the children are confident that they will be at the top of the TTRS leaderboard.
A huge thank you to Mrs Ridguard for organising the Penitential Service, the children had the opportunity to burn their promises in the fire, symbolising the letting go of sins and renewing their commitment to purify their hearts. This served as a beautiful reminder to seek forgiveness and tied in perfectly with our assembly.
I would like to take a moment to thank you all for your continued support and for being so welcoming. It has been a wonderful term, and I truly appreciate the effort you put in to help your children thrive. Your involvement and encouragement make such a difference.
Wishing you all a blessed and joyful Christmas, and I look forward to welcoming you and your children back in the New Year!
Newsletter 22.11.24
It has been a busy few weeks for Year 5. It was truly heart warming to see the entire school come together to create poppy wreaths, uniting in remembrance and honouring those who have served.
We were also fortunate to take part in a printmaking workshop, where the children had the opportunity to design and carve their leaf patterns on lino. The results were highly effective and showcased the wide range of talent among the students.
The children were incredibly fortunate to take part in another workshop, where they had the opportunity to showcase their dancing skills. They learned a variety of movements and worked together to choreograph their own creative dance.
In Music, we have explored remixing and looping, where the children have learned to create their own beats by layering individual sounds. This process has allowed them to experiment with various elements of music production, enhancing their understanding of rhythm and sound composition.
In maths, we have started our Fractions unit, focusing on exploring equivalent fractions and comparing them. The children enjoyed using fraction walls and playing interactive games, which helped deepen their understanding. Their strong use of times tables has also greatly supported their progress in this area.
The children have successfully completed their non-chronological reports on polar bears, demonstrating impressive recall of key features and a clear understanding of the steps to success in their writing.
Finally, it was wonderful to see so many children supporting anti-bullying by wearing odd socks. It was a fun and meaningful way to raise awareness for an important cause.
Newsletter 18.10.24
Year 5 were inspired by author Sufiya Ahmed during her visit to our school, where she shared her experiences and journey as a writer. We feel very fortunate to have had her visit!
Additionally, the students participated in a ‘Code and Build’ workshop, where they had the exciting opportunity to code a vehicle and various mechanisms, then use Lego to bring their designs to life. Our Year 5 students showed so much creativity!
We are concluding our RE ‘Creation’ unit, where we have explored who proclaims the Gospel and the important role of Deacons, including the qualities they embody. The children thoughtfully reflected on their own Beatitudes and discussed how we can live fulfilling and joyful lives.
In Literacy, we have started our non-chronological unit and kicked off with an engaging ‘Experience Day’ focused on discovering fascinating facts about emperor penguins. We explored how penguins use blubber to stay warm, and the children enjoyed a hands-on experiment using butter insulation to compare the effects of dipping their hands in water with and without insulation.
In Maths, we have been analysing inverse operations in addition and subtraction, learning how to compare and identify similarities and differences in equations. This will help to develop and apply effective mental maths strategies.
I am incredibly proud of the hard work the children have shown this half term, and I am sure they are all looking forward to a much-deserved break.
Newsletter 27.09.24
Welcome to the new school year! It has been wonderful to be back with Year 5, and we are off to a fantastic start. The students have returned with great enthusiasm, and we are already diving into some exciting learning units this term.
In Maths, we have been focusing on place value, identifying the hundredths and thousandths columns, as well as understanding tenths and the power of 10. The children have worked hard using place value mats and counters to support their learning.
Our English lessons have focused on punctuation and grammar, working together to identify the subject and verbs in each sentence. The children have become quite skilled at distinguishing between proper and improper nouns and are now able to confidently construct single-clause sentences. We have also been working hard on handwriting, ensuring that the children are using cursive letters and practicing correct letter formation. They are improving every day, and we can’t wait for you to see the transformation in their handwriting!
In RE, we have been reflecting on our school mission and exploring the significance of St. Margaret Clitherow to our school community. We’ve also begun our Creation unit, where we are learning about what it means to be co-creators. The children have shown great faith and thoughtfulness in their ideas about how they can contribute as co-creators, demonstrating a deep understanding of their role in caring for the world around them.
In ICT, we have been exploring coding by creating our own games. The children have been learning to use decomposition and abstraction to break down real-life situations, which has been an exciting and engaging way to develop their problem-solving skills.
During our Geography lessons, we have been learning about mountains and how they are formed. The children have explored the Seven Summits and enjoyed hearing some wonderful stories about mountains that family members have climbed! We would love for you to send us any pictures you may have, as the children are eager to share these experiences. The children also worked in groups to present the different types of mountain formations, and their teamwork and creativity have been impressive!
As part of our Music, we have been channelling our inner blues, exploring the chords that are commonly used in blues music to create some fantastic musical pieces. The children have even taken it a step further by writing their own songs based on the blues, showcasing their creativity and growing musical knowledge!
We are looking forward to a productive and fun-filled year ahead, where we will continue to nurture curiosity, foster creativity, and build essential skills together. Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to a successful and engaging Year 5!
Year 5 Long Term Planning Map
Meet the Teacher Presentation
Recommended reading list for Year 5: 
Recommended Reads
Lit in Colour
Recommended book list of books by authors of colour
Penguin Books and Lit in Colour state that:
Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world.
It’s vital that the books we read in our formative years reflect the rich diversity of the society we live in.
Here at St. Margaret Clitherow, we have a diverse school community - 55.7% of our school children are from a minority ethnic background. We therefore think it is important that children have access to books that reflect who they are. Attached is a list of recommended reads put together by Penguin Books. You can read the research behind the inclusion of books by authors of colour here:https:// https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour/parents-and-supporters
2023 KS2 Lit in Colour Book List