St John's C of E Primary - Nurturing Excellence

Falcon Class

Welcome to Our Falcon Class Page!

English

In English, the children will be continuing their class novel Skellig by David Almond, using it as a rich stimulus for reading comprehension, discussion and extended writing. They will learn about the author’s life and achievements as they produce a biography of David Almond, and they will develop their ability to write for different purposes by creating a balanced argument and a range of non‑fiction pieces. Their geography work will support them in writing an informative report on New Zealand, and in RE they will use persuasive techniques to write on behalf of a Christian charity. Alongside this writing, the children will be strengthening their knowledge of Year 5 grammar. They will revisit and refine their use of complete sentences, embedded clauses, expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials that show time, manner, place and frequency. They will also develop confidence with modal verbs as they apply these skills across their independent writing.

Maths

This term in maths, Year 5 children will begin following a new scheme called Can Do Maths. As part of this, they will continue to build on their learning of fractions, decimals and percentages, developing a deeper understanding of how these concepts are connected. Children will practise converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, as well as comparing and ordering them. They will apply this knowledge to solve a range of reasoning and problem-solving questions, helping them to explain their thinking clearly and confidently. Through this unit, children will strengthen their fluency, develop their mathematical reasoning, and apply their skills to real-life contexts.

Science

In science, the children will be learning how the universe began and how it has continued to expand over billions of years. They will explore how galaxies are formed, where our solar system sits within the Milky Way and why gravity is essential in keeping planets in orbit. As part of their study, they will examine the features of the Sun, Earth and Moon and investigate why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Through these lessons, they will develop a strong understanding of Earth’s place in a vast and fascinating universe.

Geography

In geography, the children will be exploring New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific, developing their understanding of both physical and human geography. They will learn where New Zealand is located, identify its two main islands and discover how volcanoes, geysers and earthquakes shape the landscape. As they investigate the region’s climate, biomes and wildlife, they will find out why New Zealand is home to unique species such as the kiwi bird and how introduced animals like stoats threaten native populations. The children will also study the wider South Pacific, learning about island groups such as Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, and discussing some of the environmental challenges faced by island communities today. Through maps, images and guided enquiry, the children will gain a rich understanding of this fascinating part of the world.

History

In history, the children will be discovering how Britain was transformed during the Industrial Revolution. They will investigate the inventions that powered this change, including steam engines, cotton‑spinning machinery and improved iron production, and learn how these developments reshaped work, travel and daily life. As they study this period, they will also explore what life was like for workers, including the tough and often dangerous jobs carried out by children in factories and mines. By looking closely at real sources and images, they will gain an engaging and meaningful understanding of how this extraordinary era changed Britain

Art

In art, the children will be exploring a range of printmaking techniques and discovering how artists create images using blocks, plates and screens. They will experiment with approaches such as relief printing, lino cutting and mono‑printing, learning how each technique creates different effects. As they study examples from well‑known printmakers and produce their own artwork, they will develop confidence with tools, materials and specialist vocabulary. This hands‑on experience will help them understand printmaking as both a creative process and an important artistic tradition.

Design and Technology

This term, the children will be learning essential cooking and nutrition skills through a practical project where they make their own pitta bread. As part of this work, they will follow a recipe, measure ingredients accurately, learn how yeast helps dough to rise and practise techniques such as mixing, kneading, shaping and baking. They will also explore where ingredients like wheat come from and how bread forms part of a healthy, balanced diet. After making their pitta breads, the children will taste and evaluate their results and reflect on how they might improve their cooking next time. This unit supports children in developing confidence in the kitchen and understanding cooking as an important life skill

Religious Education

In R.E., the children will be exploring key themes from the Old Testament story of Moses and considering what this story means for Christians today. They will begin by making connections between different world religions, revisiting ideas from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Humanism. As they follow the life of Moses, they will examine what life was like for the Hebrew people in Egypt, explore Moses’ experiences and emotions, and investigate how themes such as freedom, justice, leadership and obedience run through the story. The children will discuss why Christians see Moses as a key figure and how the Ten Commandments still guide many people today. Towards the end of the unit, they will learn how some Christians put their beliefs into action and will create a persuasive leaflet for the Christian charity Toybox, explaining how its work reflects Christian teaching about bringing freedom and justice to others.

Music

In this unit the children study English folk songs. They learn that folk songs are popular, traditional songs from a particular region or country. They listen to famous English folk songs such as Hopping Down in Kent, Scarborough Fair and An Acre of Land and learn that this music is used to dance to, used for such forms of dance as Morris dancing, a form of English folk dancing. They listen to a wide variety of artists who have performed/been associated with these songs: the English folk singer Louie Fuller; Ewan MacColl who was an influential musician in the revival of British folk songs in the 20th century; the American folk/rock duo Simon and Garfunkel who came to prominence in the 1960s; Vaughan Williams, the English classical composer who collected many folk songs in the early 20th century and the modern singer/songwriter P.J. Harvey and film composer Harry Escott who have created a modern version of the traditional song An Acre of Land. They practise and learn to perform two folk songs, Hopping Down in Kent (which they also create a dance to and learn to sing in two part harmony) and An Acre of Land which they create an accompaniment to using chords built on triads (a set of three notes or pitches which misses a note out in between each of the three notes) played on tuned percussion.

French

In French, the children will be exploring language through the theme Out of this World, using songs, games and structured activities to build both confidence and accuracy. They will learn to complete and understand an identity card, ask and answer simple personal questions and take part in short dialogues. As the unit develops, they will revisit familiar adjectives and begin using new descriptive vocabulary to talk about planets, drawing on prior learning about colours, places in the city and weather phrases. The children will read a short adventure story set in space and use it to support their own descriptive writing, eventually creating sentences about an imaginary planet and producing a poster to present their ideas. Through these tasks, they expand key vocabulary, strengthen pronunciation and continue developing core language skills in an engaging and meaningful way.

PSHE

This term in PSHE, Year 5 children are learning about managing safety and risk. They will explore what risk means in real-life situations and consider both the benefits and possible consequences of taking risks. As children become more independent, they will develop their understanding of how to assess risks and make safe, responsible choices. Children will learn practical strategies to keep themselves safe in a range of contexts, including road safety, sun safety and basic first aid. They will also explore how to seek help from both familiar and unfamiliar adults when needed. Through discussions and real-life scenarios, children will build confidence in recognising hazards, reducing risks, and taking increasing responsibility for their own safety and wellbeing.