Welcome back! This term in Primary 5 we have not only moved up a school year, but ‘up’ in the school literally as we have relocated upstairs which will be an exciting new experience. The school week will consist of myself in class, Mrs McIntyre (Mon->Thurs) and Mrs McCreadie (Fridays). We are looking forward to engaging in more challenging learning this year within our class, and of course, we hope to share this with you throughout the year. This first blog post will overview the learning covered in the P5 class from August until October. So far, we have already established our class community, routines, expectations and  had our welcome meeting with parents.

IDL– ‘Knights and Castles’

Our focus this term is ‘Knights and Castles’. Pupils will use their developing research and note-taking skills to look at historical events in the Middle Ages. This will include the history of castles, the evolution of castle design, the feudal system and role of Knights, including the ‘Code of Chivalry’ and society at this time. We will be using various curricular areas within this topic to help, such as, ICT, Art, Literacy, STEM and problem-solving skills.

Literacy –

This term we will be reading ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ as a class novel study to loosely link with ‘Knights and Castles’ .

Through our study pupils will be able to

• Read using strategies, make notes and engage in dialogue with peers to discuss themes in the class text.
• Build skills on our 6 key Active Literacy Comprehension strategies.
• Writing Focus – Recount, Imaginative and Information Report (Newspaper Article).

The pupils will complete various reading and writing tasks related to this appropriate to their level. This novel study will also link to other areas of the curriculum.

 

We will continue to use Bug Club as our differentiated reading        resource and will be developing our fluency and comprehension skills using this resource, both in class and as homework.

Spelling

Spelling will take the form of active activities related to the ‘Active Spelling’ resource, the children will continue to experience phonemes and blends pertinent to the ability and stage. Please support your child by asking about their spelling words weekly.

Writing

P5 will focus on descriptive/ narrative writing this term. The class will learn the focus of their writing early in the week which will allow time to discuss ideas together in class, and at home,  to help with planning. This will be their ‘Talk Homework.’ In class, groups will look at planning their piece, punctuation, effective use of vocabulary and paragraphing to meet personal success criteria.

Numeracy & Maths –

• Place Value – looking at larger whole numbers. This will range per group from TTh/Th /H/ T/ U.
• Using our knowledge of place value to develop Addition and Addition strategies for all groups dealing with larger numbers, such as using friendly numbers, formal notation and partitioning.
• Estimation/Probability.
• Daily Mental Maths covering the 4 processes (+ – x /) and revision of strategies.

P5 will work on Beyond Number topics with Mrs McCreadie on a Friday. This will include subject areas such as shape, measure, data handling, time and money. This term the children will be looking at ‘Shape’.

At home, children will benefit from times tables revision and experience of telling the time in everyday situations.

Health and Wellbeing –

The class have worked brilliantly as a team in P4 and have been an integral part of our MC family. To ensure that our class strengthens these skills as we move into Primary 5, we will refresh, revisit and complete our class charter, to ensure to uphold the UNRC/ RRS rights we have selected as our focus. P5 pupils understand the responsibilities and expectations that will be placed upon them this year.

We are continuing to use our whole school ‘PATHS’ resource this year, which allows children to grow emotionally and channel their thoughts and behaviours in a calm and proactive way. Children are familiar with this programme and can name and identify their feelings. We will continue to provide them with scenarios and situations that will require their knowledge of ‘self’ to grow. We will focus on our unique talents and nurturing friendships as well as celebrating our ‘Pupil of the Day.’  Pupils will discuss aligned themes at assemblies and in class with Mrs McCreadie to link with this.

P.E

In P.E. we will cover the following in term 1,

• Team Games
• Netball

This will be on Tuesdays (Mrs McI) and Fridays (Mrs McC).

A gentle reminder, can you please ensure your child comes prepared weekly with a full PE kit (the office have limited spares available if you need and you can contact the school office to enquire), also we would be grateful if your child does not wear jewellery on these days preferably or can remove earrings etc. by themselves. Thank you for your support in this.

Religious Education –

August/ September/ October –

In class, we will introduce the Gospel of Mark, our P5 focus gospel. We will discuss our talents and skills, and this will form the basis of our class charter. We will look at Bible stories aligning with our learning about friendship focus and our faith community. We also will learn new prayers in P5 and look forward to attending mass as a whole school. In early October we will look at the Creation and St Francis of Assisi.

Important Primary 5 info… 

Homework distributed on Mondays to be completed, signed and returned by Friday.

P.E days are on Tuesday & Friday.

**Keep an eye on the school blog daily for regular updates to what is happening in class, photos and any information about relevant upcoming dates, also, learner Journals posts throughout the term. **

Thank you for your co-operation and we look forward to an exciting year ahead,

Mrs McIntyre and Mrs McCreadie

 

Primary 5 – Term 4

Welcome back to our final term in Primary 5! I hope you all had a restful break. This term promises to be a memorable one, filled with exciting opportunities for learning, performing, and reflecting on how far we’ve come. As always, I am proud of the enthusiasm and determination this class continues to show. Here’s a look at what’s coming up in Term 4.

Literacy

In writing, we’ll begin the term focusing on non-chronological reports, allowing pupils to develop their informative writing skills. Later, we’ll transition into recount writing in the form of newspaper reports, where students will learn how to report events with structure and clarity. These genres will give pupils the opportunity to apply grammar and punctuation skills in meaningful contexts.

For reading, we will enjoy our class novel Wilderness War while continuing to develop comprehension strategies through Bug Club texts. Spelling and grammar work will include focus on phonemes, pronouns, alphabetical order to the third letter, similes, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and compound words.

Listening and talking skills will be developed through preparations for our Summer Show, where pupils will have the chance to build confidence, teamwork, and expressive communication.

Numeracy

Number

We will begin the term with a focus on fractions, exploring both unit and non-unit fractions, as well as developing understanding of equivalent fractions. Pupils will engage in practical, hands-on activities to help them apply their knowledge in real-world contexts and build confidence in using fractions in a variety of situations.

Beyond Number
Later in the term, we will move on to patterns and relationships, where pupils will be encouraged to think logically and solve problems. This area supports the development of reasoning skills and a deeper understanding of how numbers and operations relate to one another

HWB

In PE, our focus will be on tennis and bowling throughout April and May, followed by outdoor games and physical challenges as we move into June. We’re especially looking forward to visiting the local bowling club, where pupils will have the chance to apply their skills in a new and exciting environment.

Pupils will also be setting personal fitness goals and working collaboratively through a variety of physical activities. Later in the term, we’ll cover important topics such as emergency situations and sexual health education, delivered in a sensitive and age-appropriate way.

R.E

In May, our focus will be on Mary, Mother of God. Pupils will learn about Mary’s life and her importance within the Catholic faith, exploring key moments such as the Annunciation and the Visitation. We’ll reflect on her qualities such as faith, courage, and compassion and how her example can inspire us in our own lives.

Through stories, discussion, art, and prayer, pupils will develop a deeper understanding of Mary’s role in the Church and in the lives of believers around the world. P5 will also look at how different cultures celebrate Mary and the ways in which she is honoured, especially during the month of May. This unit will support pupils in thinking about the values they admire and how they can show kindness, respect, and faith in their own actions.

Expressive Arts

Preparations are already underway for our Summer Show! Pupils will work together to rehearse, perform, and support the production using a variety of expressive skills. Pupils will also be working within show groups demonstrating skills such as, technical, creative, communication and problem solving.

IDL

This term, our IDL topic will be Local Politics and Community Involvement. Pupils will explore how local government functions, including the roles of councillors, the responsibilities of the local council, and how decisions are made that impact our daily lives.

We’ll look at real-life issues and case studies to help pupils understand the importance of civic engagement. Pupils will learn how their voices can contribute to change, and how to express opinions respectfully and effectively. Activities will include group discussions, debates, and creating a mock council meeting to practise decision-making and public speaking skills. The class will also explore how laws are made, the importance of voting, and the rights and responsibilities we all share as members of a community.

Technology

This term we’ll focus on creating digital presentations using PowerPoint and Sway. Pupils will build skills in layout, text formatting, and multimedia use, as well as how to share their work with others.

UNCRC

This term in Primary 5, we are focusing on some key UNCRC articles that highlight important rights for children. We’ll be learning about Article 24, which is all about the right to good health and healthcare, and linking it to Mental Health Awareness Week in May. In June, we’ll observe World Day Against Child Labour (Articles 32 and 35), and talk about the importance of protecting children from harmful work. We’ll also mark World Refugee Day (Articles 10 and 22), exploring the rights of refugee children and the importance of family reunification. Through insightful discussions and activities, children will understand why these rights are so important, not just here, but for children all over the world. It’s a great opportunity for P5 to reflect on the rights they have, and how they can be advocates for others too!

 Upcoming Visit

We’re also excited about our upcoming trip to the Maritime Museum in May. This will be a fantastic opportunity to enhance our learning in a hands-on, engaging setting, and we’re looking forward to exploring the exhibits and discovering more about our maritime heritage.

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to thank you for your continued support. It’s been a privilege to see how far this class has come, and I’m excited to finish the year strong with lots of opportunities for celebration and reflection. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Take care,

Miss Dorby

Primary 5 – Term 2 Update 

Hello everyone, 

Welcome to the P5 update for Term 2. 

Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL) 

This term, our interdisciplinary topic will be ‘The Victorians in Scotland’. We will be exploring the life of Queen Victoria and the many accomplishments during her reign that had a significant impact on the people and children of Scotland. Additionally, the class will be learning about influential groups, as well as notable scientists and artists from this period whose visions helped shape the modern world. The children will be able to act out a day in the life of a Victorian school pupil and take part in a Victorian P.E. lesson. 

Literacy 

We have almost finished last term’s class novel, The Butterfly Lion and will be deepening our knowledge of comprehension strategies and questioning this term with our new class novel, Rivet Boy by Barbara Henderson. 

In writing, we have started work on narrative stories and after this, will then move onto response pieces. The class will continue to edit and redraft their work to improve clarity and detail.  

For talking and listening, there will be a health and wellbeing focus on friendships and what makes a good friend. We will also be improving our listening skills and the importance of listening to others. 

Numeracy 

Our focus for Numeracy in Term 2 will be Addition and then Subtraction. Groups will expand on their prior learning and add and subtract with 2, 3 and 4 digits, carrying and exchanging, what this looks like using practical materials and then spending some time exploring negative numbers and their real-world contexts. 

On Thursdays, Mrs Terras will be teaching the children about money and then moving on to measuring area. 

Health and Wellbeing 

Our P.E. sessions are scheduled for Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Please ensure that your child brings in their P.E. kit on the correct day.  

The key areas for this term will be Gymnastics with myself and Football with Mrs Terras.  

Within our P.A.T.H.S lessons children will be looking at ‘The Control Signals’ (Stop, Make a Plan and Go) that help us calm down when we are faced with a problem. This will also link in with our friendship focus in Health and Wellbeing.  

We are broadening our studies in Health and Wellbeing to look at why groups of people may avoid certain food groups, viewing some of the statistics surrounding obesity in Scotland and how adverts we see on various platforms contribute to this. 

R.E.  

In term 2, we will be looking at many different topics such as Remembrance, how we honour our departed and the promise of eternal life through the month of November. December will be a month for learning about Advent as well as composing our own prayers. In both months, we will be researching some of the many Saints, how they were the models of Christian life and how they can help us through prayer. Mrs Terras will concentrate on the life of St Vincent de Paul on a Thursday. 

Expressive Arts 

Our expressive arts will be interwoven through our learning of our new class topic. We will experience techniques such as printing, allowing the children to create their own stamps and prints using everyday materials.  

Mrs Terras will be focussing on drama this term with the class using drama games, creating and evaluating group performances. 

Technologies 

We have been working on getting groups of pupils onto the school Glow network, resetting passwords and accessing educational resources as well as their pupil emails. I will be sending reminders of children’s glow log ins and Bug Club passwords home with them in the coming weeks, please keep an eye out for this.   

Our ICT time will also be used for word processing our narrative and response writing pieces, learning how to save those files and retrieve them.  

1+2 Languages 

Primary 5 will be learning some Spanish phrases to say hello, goodbye, introduce themselves as well as ask someone else’s name. In French, Mrs Terras will be looking at classroom vocabulary as well as the use of ‘le’, ‘la’ and ‘les’ before nouns. 

Thanks as always for your continued support

Miss Carr & Mrs Terras