Year 5: Mesopotamia & Life Cycles

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting few weeks in our class, filled with creativity, learning, and new challenges. In art, the children have been experimenting with charcoal and watercolour techniques, taking inspiration from the beautiful work of Elizabeth Blackadder. They have enjoyed exploring how bold charcoal lines can contrast with delicate washes of colour, producing some truly stunning pieces.

In English, we have been diving into our class book, Varjak Paw, and using it as a springboard for writing our own action sequences. The children have worked hard to create suspense and drama in their writing, thinking carefully about how to keep the reader engaged and bring their characters to life. The children also loved having a debate about what Varjak should do next.

Our history lessons have taken us back thousands of years to the fascinating world of Mesopotamia. We have learned about the gods worshipped by this ancient civilization and explored the laws that governed their society—many of which were surprisingly gruesome! The children have been fascinated by how these laws compare to the ones we have today.

In French, we have been learning how to greet each other, name colours, and count up to ten. The children have enjoyed practising their pronunciation and using these new words in short conversations, building confidence in speaking a new language.

Science has been all about life cycles. We have investigated how different animals grow and change throughout their lives, comparing similarities and differences between species. The children have been amazed by the variety of life and the unique ways animals adapt and survive.

In PSHE, we have been discussing diversity and difference, thinking about what makes each of us unique and why it is so important to respect and celebrate those differences. These conversations have been thoughtful and have helped the children develop empathy and understanding.

Our PE lessons have focused on netball skills, with plenty of practice in passing, shooting, and working as a team. The children have shown great enthusiasm and determination, and it has been wonderful to see their confidence grow on the court.

Finally, in maths, we have been tackling fractions. We have explored equivalent fractions, learned how to convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions, and practiced comparing and ordering them. These have been challenging concepts, but the children have shown fantastic perseverance and are becoming much more confident in their understanding.