Welcome to Year 5

An introduction...

Our topics this year are as follows: Race to the Pole (Robert Falcon Scott and Endurance), Vikings, and Tudors. During these topics, the children will gain an understanding through discussion, research, and a range of learning activities about historical events, key figures, and the impact of exploration and settlement. They will also explore how these periods shaped societies and environments in the world around them.

Curriculum Overview – Autumn Half Term
Topic: "Race to the Pole"

This half term, our overarching theme is ‘Race to the Pole’. Pupils will engage in a rich cross-curricular exploration of the historic race to reach the South Pole, studying key figures in Antarctic exploration and examining the lasting impact of their expeditions on the modern world.

English
Through a combination of fiction and non-fiction texts, pupils will develop a deeper understanding of life in polar regions. They will draw inspiration from their reading to produce a range of written outcomes, including a non-chronological report on Arctic and Antarctic animals, a diary entry from the perspective of an explorer, and an original narrative. As part of our ongoing commitment to promoting a love of reading, pupils will also incorporate themes and ideas from their Summer Reading Challenge book, The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, into their learning.

History
In History lessons, pupils will examine the key events and milestones associated with the ‘Race to the Pole’, developing an understanding of the broader historical context and the significance of this period. They will investigate the lives, achievements, and legacies of notable explorers such as Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott.

Geography
Geographical study will focus on the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Pupils will learn to identify and classify the physical locations of these polar areas and explore how plants, animals, and humans have adapted to survive in such extreme environments. Additionally, pupils will consider the impact of human activity on global landscapes, including the effects of climate change and environmental degradation in polar regions.

Educational Visit
We are pleased to offer pupils the opportunity to take part in a day trip to Mill Waters Adventure Base. This exciting visit will provide a hands-on experience of the types of challenges faced by early Antarctic explorers. Activities such as artificial caving and climbing will allow pupils to develop their problem-solving and teamwork skills in a safe and stimulating environment.

This term promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking journey through some of the most extreme and fascinating environments on Earth, as pupils build their knowledge and understanding of both historical and contemporary global issues.

PE and Enrichment – Autumn 1

PE
This half term, PE will take place on Fridays. As far as we are aware, this will remain the case throughout Autumn 1; however, if there are any changes, we will inform you as soon as possible. If no further updates are sent, PE will continue on Fridays.

Children should come to school wearing their correct PE kit, which includes:

• Plain blue or black jogging bottoms
• A white polo shirt
• Their school jumper or cardigan (or a plain blue/black jumper or cardigan)
• Suitable trainers for physical activity   

Additionally, long hair must be tied back, and earrings must be removed or covered with plasters/tape.

Enrichment

We are very fortunate to have the chance to take part in Yoga as part of our enrichment this year. This will take place on Monday afternoons in Autumn 2 beginning the week commencing the 3rd November and running until the week commencing 8^th December. We will then begin our Forest School sessions on the week commencing 15^th December running until the week commencing 2^nd February. These sessions will take place on a Wednesday afternoons.