Primary 5 – Term 1 Update
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the first update for Primary 5 this year! I’m pleased to share that the class are settling in well, adapting to new routines, and already demonstrating a fantastic work ethic. There’s a lot of exciting learning ahead, and I’m eager to give you a glimpse of what we’ll be exploring in Term 1. I hope the children are as excited as I am!
UNCRC
We have already spent time exploring various articles from the UNCRC, discussing which rights the children felt were the most important. Most of the class agreed that all children’s rights are equally important, with no right being any less significant than another. To symbolise how children flourish when their rights are upheld, we chose the theme butterflies for our class charter.
Interdisciplinary Learning (IDL)
Our interdisciplinary learning topic this term is our class novel, ‘The Butterfly Lion’ by Michael Morpurgo. We have begun reading this and plan to do activities linked with other curricular areas such as Expressive Arts and Health and Wellbeing.
Literacy
We will use our class novel throughout the term to complete various tasks which will deepen our understanding of the text and build vocabulary skills.
We’re continuing with Bug Club, both in class and as part of the homework routine. I greatly appreciate your support in encouraging your child to read at home for personal enjoyment.
In writing, our focus will be on creating descriptive and narrative pieces. The class are learning to edit and redraft their work to improve clarity and detail. We’ll also be practising handwriting weekly, and I encourage you to support this at home as part of the homework routine.
For talking and listening, we’ll be focusing on choosing and executing appropriate voice levels for different tasks as well as practising good listening skills when others are speaking. We are also practising listening for instructions and carrying these out in a timely manner.
Numeracy
In Term 1, we are focussing on place value. The class have been discussing the significance of each digit in a number and what it represents. This foundational understanding is crucial as we build on more complex concepts throughout the term. Pupils will be working on place value at their own level – using units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, and hundred thousands in context.
As the term progresses, we’ll delve into addition and subtraction with larger numbers, exploring various strategies to tackle more complex calculations.
With Mrs Terras, P5 will revise the rules involving rounding to the nearest 10, 100, 1000 and applying rounding within various contexts. Pupils will also explore a range of 3D objects and 2D shapes and use mathematical language to describe their properties.
We will be continuing with our Number Talk sessions, which are incredibly valuable in encouraging children to think flexibly about maths, using a wide range of strategies and choosing the one that works best for them.
Health and Wellbeing
Our P.E. sessions are scheduled for Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. The key areas will be Street Hockey and Rugby, where the class will learn the vastly different skills required for each sport.
Primary 5 will be continuing the ‘Do Be Mindful’ program, setting aside time during our busy school day to re-centre and practice mindfulness through a variety of activities.
Our P.A.T.H.S. programme will also continue to be developed. By exploring and discussing the emotions they feel, the children will engage in open conversations in a safe environment.
Later in the term we will be exploring how to look after ourselves. This includes understanding what a good diet entails and learning how much sleep and rest are necessary for maintaining good health, encouraging children to develop healthy habits.
R.E.
During term 1, we will be exploring different kinds of relationships, including friendships and the children’s personal relationship with God. Using stories from the Bible, we aim to help the children draw comparisons that will guide them in becoming better friends to both Jesus and others. We will also be revising Mass responses regularly.
Expressive Arts
This term, our expressive arts will be interwoven throughout the reading of our class novel. We will explore techniques such as line work and shading, allowing the children to experiment with the range of a pencil as a drawing tool.
In Music with Mrs Terras, P5 will continue learning to play the glockenspiel. Pupils will be introduced to music theory and given the opportunity to develop their playing skills, leading to a final performance. We will also practise singing through hymns for our monthly masses, fostering both musical and spiritual expression. Our drama activities will be closely linked with our class novel and Health and Wellbeing curriculum. Additionally, as we dive into our next topic, The Victorians in Scotland, drama will play a significant role in helping students bring history to life.
Technologies
Once the children have access to their individual log ins, we will begin work on logging onto the school Glow network and accessing educational resources as well as Bug Club for reading.
We will also use our ICT time for practising word processing and formatting skills with a particular focus on finalising writing pieces.
A Note from Miss Carr
As a new teacher at Mount Carmel, I want to take a moment to thank you all for your support thus far. I look forward to hopefully meeting you all in person at the Primary 5 ‘Meet the Teacher’ afternoon on 11th September.
