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Year 5

Welcome to Year 5!

Blenheim Class

Teacher: Miss Springate
Teaching Assistant: Mrs. Silvester

Windsor Class

Teacher: Miss Wilkins
Teaching Assistant: Mrs. Jimenez

Societies in Contact

Welcome to Year 5 and Upper Key Stage 2. This is an exciting year where pupils build greater independence, confidence and responsibility as learners.

Our Year 5 curriculum theme is Societies in Contact. Throughout the year, pupils explore how different societies, cultures, environments and ideas have interacted, influenced and changed one another. Children learn about ancient civilisations, global trade, rivers, rainforests, space exploration and the importance of our local maritime history.

Through this learning, pupils continue to develop as thoughtful and responsible Global Citizens. They consider how people are connected across time and place, how human choices affect the natural world, and how knowledge can help us shape a fairer, healthier and more sustainable future.

Term 1: Ancient Egypt

How did Ancient Egyptian beliefs influence their lives?

Children begin the year by exploring the fascinating civilisation of Ancient Egypt. They learn about the River Nile, pharaohs, beliefs, mummification, tombs and the afterlife, considering how religion influenced everyday life and society.

In English, pupils use Secrets of a Sun King and other texts to support diary writing, narrative writing and instructions linked to mummification. In Art, pupils create Egyptian death masks using mod roc, helping them connect creative work to historical understanding. 

Term 2: Ancient Greece

How did Ancient Greece influence the world?

In Term 2, pupils study Ancient Greece and consider how Greek society, achievements, beliefs and ideas have influenced the wider world. They learn about Athens, Sparta, democracy, myths and the legacy of Ancient Greece.

In English, children write a balanced argument comparing Athens and Sparta and persuasive writing linked to The Odyssey. In Art, they create Greek bowls using pinch and slab clay techniques. This term helps pupils understand how ancient societies continue to shape modern life.

Term 3: Space

What is our place in the universe?

In Term 3, pupils explore Earth and Space in Science. They learn about the Solar System, the movement of the Earth, Moon and planets, and how ideas about space have changed over time.

In English, pupils write moon-inspired poetry and narrative writing linked to The Highwayman. In DT, pupils design and make space food, exploring how food can be prepared and preserved for different environments. Computing also supports pupils’ digital understanding through iCrypto.

Term 4: Rivers

How do rivers connect people, places and environments?

In Term 4, pupils learn about rivers and why they are important to people, places and ecosystems. They explore the journey of a river, river features, human use of rivers and how rivers shape landscapes and communities.

In English, pupils write explanations about how bees make honey and poetry inspired by rivers. In DT, pupils design a levered bridge, linking their design work to rivers and engineering. This term also supports pupils’ understanding of interconnection and how people depend on natural resources.

Term 5: Rainforests

Why must we protect the rainforests?

In Term 5, pupils explore the world’s rainforests, including their layers, climate, biodiversity and importance to the planet. They learn about deforestation, human impact and the choices people can make to protect fragile environments.

In English, pupils write a persuasive letter about deforestation and a non-chronological report about rainforest habitats. In Science, they study living things and their habitats, including animal life cycles. In Art, pupils create rainforest-inspired paintings linked to Henri Rousseau

Term 6: Maritime Medway

Why was Chatham Dockyard so important?

In Term 6, pupils study Maritime Medway as a local history unit. They learn how Chatham Dockyard developed, why it was important, and how it shaped the local area and the lives of people in Medway.

In English, pupils use A Midsummer Night’s Dream and their Dockyard learning to support newspaper writing and narrative writing. In DT, pupils create warning flags using sewing skills, linking design work to maritime history.

Please scroll down to find out more about our learning.

PE Lessons

Year 5 PE lessons take place on Mondays and Thursdays.

Please ensure children come to school wearing the correct PE kit on these days. Long hair should be tied back and earrings removed before school, as staff are not able to remove or replace earrings.

In Year 5, pupils will take part in OAA, hockey, dance, basketball, gymnastics/parkour, volleyball, swimming, tag rugby, athletics, rounders and cricket.

Educational Trips and Visits 2026/7

Across Year 5, pupils take part in a range of trips, workshops and enrichment experiences designed to bring their learning to life.

In Term 1, pupils take part in an Ancient Egyptian workshop with Historic Workshops. This is already booked for 7th September.

In Term 2, pupils enjoy an Ancient Greece enrichment day, helping them explore Greek society, beliefs, myths and legacy.

In Term 3, pupils take part in a Space-themed day, including astronaut training.

In Term 4, pupils will complete a Rivers trip or fieldwork experience later in the term, supported by a smaller hook day in school.

In Term 5, pupils will take part in a Rainforest Unwrapped workshop with Zoolab, subject to confirmation.

In Term 6, pupils will visit Chatham Dockyard on 8th June as part of their Maritime Medway learning.

All trips, visits and enrichment activities are carefully planned and risk assessed in line with school procedures.

Reading

Reading is one of the most important ways children can build vocabulary, knowledge, confidence and imagination. In Year 5, we encourage children to read widely and regularly, both at home and in school.

At Thames View, we are part of the Accelerated Reader programme. Children choose an appropriate AR book, read it carefully, and then complete the associated quiz to check their understanding. This helps pupils develop fluency, comprehension and independence as readers.

We celebrate reading success every week, including the number of words read and the number of successfully completed quizzes. Children are encouraged to challenge themselves, make thoughtful book choices and develop a lifelong love of reading.

Children should read most nights at home for at least 20 minutes and bring their reading book and Reading Record to school every day. Parents and carers can support by listening to their child read, asking questions about what they have read, and encouraging them to complete their AR quiz once they have finished their book.

This year, key class texts include:

  • Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll
  • Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
  • Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
  • a variety of other texts linked to the curriculum

These texts support pupils’ understanding of ancient civilisations, exploration, responsibility, friendship, the natural world and the choices people make.

Writing

In Year 5, pupils develop their ability to write with increasing control, detail and independence. They learn to write for different purposes, including to entertain, inform, persuade, explain and discuss.

Across the year, writing will include:

  • diary writing linked to Secrets of a Sun King;
  • narrative writing inspired by Tadeo Jones;
  • instructions on how to mummify a pharaoh;
  • writing tasks linked to The Odyssey;
  • persuasive travel writing linked to The Odyssey;
  • moon-inspired poetry;
  • narrative writing inspired by The Highwayman;
  • explanations about how bees make honey;
  • river poetry;
  • persuasive letters about deforestation;
  • non-chronological reports about rainforest habitats;
  • newspaper reports linked to A Midsummer Night’s Dream;
  • narrative writing inspired by the Ropery visit.

Spelling

In Year 5, pupils continue to build accuracy and confidence with spelling. They revisit spelling patterns from Year 3 and Year 4 and begin to learn the Year 5 and Year 6 statutory spelling words.

Children learn to use spelling strategies, dictionaries and thesauruses, and to apply spelling rules in their writing. Regular spelling practice at home helps pupils become more confident and accurate writers.

Maths

In Year 5, children continue to build fluency, reasoning and problem-solving across the maths curriculum. They develop confidence with place value, calculation, fractions, decimals, percentages, perimeter, area, statistics, shape, position and direction, converting units and volume.

The new LTP places early emphasis on place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division before moving into fractions, decimals, percentages, geometry, measures and volume.

Parents can help by encouraging regular practice of:

  • times tables and division facts;
  • arithmetic fluency;
  • reading scales and measuring;
  • telling the time;
  • using money in real-life contexts;
  • explaining how they solved a problem.

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