Science: An experiment fit for a king!
Year 5 have planned and conducted an experiment fit for a king. They received a very special message from the King with a problem he was facing.
With this message in mind, Year 5 used the enquiry question ‘Which material is the best insulator of heat?’ A thermal insulator is a material that does not let heat pass through it easily or quickly.
Our scientific enquiry type was ‘comparative and fair testing’. 
The children used three materials: fabric, bubble wrap and foil. They wrapped these around their beakers and used scientific equipment to measure the temperature of their ‘tea’. Year 5 recorded their results into their tables.
Next week, the children will analyse their results and see if they have any anomalous results (a result that does not fit in with the pattern of other results).
Help at home: Discuss the independent (what is changed), dependent (what is measured) and control (what is kept the same) variables in this experiment.
Maths: Adding with different denominators
For the past two lessons, Year 5 have been learning how to add fractions with different denominators.
Firstly, we recapped Year 4 learning where we added fractions with the same denominator. 
We then moved on to fractions with different denominators. To add these types of fractions, we need to find equivalent fractions that have the same denominator. Once we have fractions that have the same denominators we can add them like we did previously. Have a look at a worked example.
Help at home: Have a go at these questions.
Spring term after-school clubs
*UPDATE*
We do have the following availability for clubs should your child wish to sign up.
The after-school clubs for this term are available for booking. We hope your child/children can get involved with our extra-curricular activities.
Please contact the office if you have any queries about the after-school clubs.
Living and Learning: D:side drug education visitor
This week, we had a visitor: D:side Dave! Dave came in to talk to Year 5 about the impacts of smoking and vaping.
First of all, we played a game of ‘Which is the most dangerous?’.
- Knives or a plastic cup?
- A toolbox or a Year 5 maths book?
- Smoking or vaping?
The discussion led us onto the impacts and risks of traditional smoking. Have a look at the key points:
We then talked about the different types of vapes and e.cigarettes and how their packaging is incredibly similar to some packaging for sweets. Take a closer look:
Finally, Dave spoke about how smoking and vaping can impact our health.
Help at home: How many different health impacts can you list in a minute?
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
This week, Lauren from Children’s Heart Surgery Fund came to visit.
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is our new school charity, voted for by the Junior Leadership Team, and we learnt all about their work and how our donations will support the charity over the next year.
Here are some of our Junior Leaders with Lauren.
Living and Learning: I know what a drug is.
In Living and Learning, Year 5 have been learning what a drug is, why people use medicine and how vaccines can protect the population.
We defined a drug as ‘a substance that changes the way the body or mind works.’ Then, we moved on to focus how medicines can help:
- prevent someone from becoming ill or stop a disease from spreading
- help someone manage an ongoing health condition, such as asthma or diabetes
- help someone feel better and relieve pain, such as from a headache
- help the body recover from illness
To finish off, we played ‘the vaccination game’. This helped us to look at how different percentages of vaccinated people can affect the spread of diseases. We learnt that the more vaccinated people in a population, the less likely it is for someone to get the disease.
Reading and Music: Sounds Like A Story
Today, we welcomed back Liz from the British Library to do another workshop with us.
This time, we linked together reading and music. It started with us listening to The Phoenix of Persia by Sally Pomme Clayton. As Liz was reading, we had a soundtrack playing in the background; each page had a different song.
Afterwards, we were then able to practise with instruments and then in small groups, create our own soundtrack for the rest of the book. 
Art: Our Sculpture Show
At the end of last term, we had a sculpture show to showcase our amazing sculptures. If you were unable to make it, here are the final pieces of artwork.
Help at home: Discuss how your child’s sculpture related to Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Family of Man’.
Carols in Moortown
Today, Y5 and Y6 ventured into Moortown to bring some festive cheer to our community!
We blasted out some Christmas classics such as Frosty the Snowman and fan-favourite Feliz Navidad!
Oracy skills certainly played their part – we projected our voices loud and clear (and our adults did too!).
Can you spot Rudolph anywhere?
Thank you to all who came to watch us and support. We hope you enjoyed it.
Have a lovely, happy and healthy break and we’re excited to welcome you back in the new year.
Miss Goswami, Miss Wilson and all the 5,6 staff
Art: Sculptures
This week, Year 5 have started their art skills lessons where they have started to create their very own sculpture inspired by Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Family of Man’. Firstly, the children got into small groups to design their sculpture. The brief was to sketch something that related to them, whether that be a hobby, their family, a sport or a pet.
Once the maquette (a sculptor’s initial model or sketch) was finished, the children started to let their ideas come to life. They showed a lot of perseverance and determination when cutting into their boxes.
After their shapes were complete, they then took to covering their boxes in scrunched tissue paper to help create a patina texture.
Then, Year 5 painted their boxes white to create a consistent neutral base on to which they can apply the colour to next week.
Help at home: Discuss the inspiration of your child’s sculpture.