Prep 5 Curriculum Brief

Spellings will continue to be based on the children’s own targets and focus on Year 5/6 spelling rules. Spelling tests will be held on Thursdays and new spellings will be given each week.

Grammar – within our grammar work this term, we will refresh our understanding of key grammatical terms (adjectives, verbs, adverbs/ adverbial phrases etc…) and learn to identify and use new terms – hyperbole and idiom. We are going to continue looking at using devices to build cohesion within a paragraph and think about how we link ideas across paragraphs (using adverbials of time or place, tense choices, repetition of a word or phrase and grammatical connections). In our final poetry topic, we will recap poetic devices (rhyming, personification, onomatopoeia, similes/metaphors etc) whilst continuing to develop our vocabulary and try to use words that have a powerful impact on the reader.

Punctuation – we will again revise key punctuation learnt in lower KS2 whilst continuing to master the use of semi-colons, colons and brackets dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis.

Reading/ Comprehension – in our reading this term we will continue to read our own target books but also read a variety of genres and gain a deeper understanding of different writing styles and widen our vocabulary. We will continue to answer comprehension questions that get us to support answers with evidence from the text and develop our ability to infer information from fiction texts. This skill becomes harder as our texts become harder – so we will practise this skill using abridged versions of older texts (Treasure Island, Oliver Twist etc)

Creative Writing – During this term, we will start by writing a class book about different species of animals (linking with our science topic) – focusing on ‘Animalium’ by Jenny Broom and Katie Scott as our model text. We will finish our year by studying the poem ‘I am a Cat’ by Jackie Morris. From this, we will create our own, complex acrostic poem.

During the summer term, prep 5 will continue to have weekly times tables tests and a mental maths sessions to improve the children’s fluency of calculation. Main areas of topic work will include the following:

Place Value: Revise 3-place decimals, multiply and divide by 10,100,1000, compare and order 6-digit numbers and place on number lines, Roman numerals.

Calculation: Solve word problems mentally, revise column subtraction of 5-digit numbers, ‘frog’ subtraction, written multiplication, squared and cubed numbers, short division with remainders as fractions.

Measurement and data handling: angles and polygons, using a protractor, 24-hour clock, time intervals, line graphs, solving rate problems.

Fractions: Percentages and fraction equivalents, addition and subtraction of mixed numbers, convert improper fractions, compare and order fractions, multiplying fractions and mixed numbers.

This term Prep 5 will be continuing their learning about Earth and Space. This will include exploring the Solar System, the Earth and Sun and the Moon. They will describe the movement of the Earth and other planets relative to the sun in the solar system and use the idea of the Earth’s rotation to explain day and night and the apparent movement of the sun across the sky.

For the second half of the term Prep 5 will be learning about forces such as gravity, friction, water resistance and air resistance. Children will also learn about the use of mechanisms such as levers, gears and pulleys. The children will identify forces and find out about Isaac Newton and his discoveries about gravity. The children will look for patterns and links between the mass and weight of objects, using newton meters to measure the force of gravity. They will also work collaboratively to investigate air and water resistance, participating in challenges to design the best parachute and boat. They will have the opportunity to work in a hands-on way to explore friction, developing their own brake pad for a tricycle or scooter. During some of the practical science work, the children will discuss how variables other than the one being tested can be kept the same to help make a test fair. Finally, they will find out about different mechanisms, including levers, gears and pulleys.

We will continue to locate the great mountains and mountain ranges of the world, in particular the Himalayas and Mount Everest.  In relation to Everest, we will be discussing ‘overtourism’, its effects and discuss who is responsible for limiting the damage tourism in general can cause an area. We will study how mountains are formed (including volcanic and plateau mountains), their features and mountainous climates.

This term Prep 5 will be learning about the Benin Kingdom. They will learn about where the ancient Kingdom of Benin was located and how it came to thrive, what the people there believed in and how they showed this in their artwork. They will also explore western attitudes towards African civilisations, comparing the achievements, oral tales and artefacts of ancient Benin to those in Europe at the same time. The children will also learn about the story of Eweka and finally discover how European invaders threatened the civilisation of ancient Benin.

They will then be learning about the Stuarts. This will include the reigns of King James 1, King Charles 1, Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil Wars. They will study the Pilgrim Fathers, The Gunpowder Plot, The Great Plague and the Fire of London.

We will be covering new topics such as seasons, dates and food and drink. More complex grammatical structures will also be introduced and there will be plenty of revision of past topics.

We will be moving on to Chapter 3 of Minimus, Work, work, work.  We will be looking in details at verb endings, particularly those ending in -o, -t, and -nt and how the ending of a Latin verb tells us who is doing the action.  We will think about what it was like to be a Celtic and Greek slave for a Roman family and look at how Roman children of rich families were taught at home.

We shall spend the first part of the term looking at “prayer” and then lead into Pentecost.  This will bring us back to the life of ‘Peter’ and how his life changed with the power of the Holy Spirit.  We shall be thinking about how we can grow in knowing Christ and how we can tell others about Him. Towards the end of the term, we will begin to reflect on the past year and give thanks.

During the first half of this term the form will be creating work based on landscape art, exploring different ways in which artists have created their art. Continuing to develop their ability to use a
range of media with increasing confidence. In the second half of the term they will create designs for an invented sport.

End of year performances – both year groups will be focusing on preparing their end of year performance. We will focus on engaging the audience, stage craft and enjoying the role of ‘performer’.
Once the songs are fully learnt, Prep 5 will begin to use their theory knowledge to compose melodies and to write them down using traditional notation. Prep 6 will use their ukulele skills, combined with their poetry writing skills, to compose their own songs.

Due to the exploratory and ‘spontaneous’ approach in this subject, we will often go off in different directions depending on the ideas and interest of the children. And so the formal lesson plans are often deviated from to preserve a flexibility and originality of approach.  New projects often ‘evolve’ from the children’s ideas in the sessions and it is an important part of the approach and style in this subject  to maintain this flexibility and spontaneity.  This generates a feeling with the children that they are going on a ‘journey’ in this subject each term. The formal lesson plans are only intended to be used as a basis and guide to the type of work and projects that are covered and are not intended to be rigidly adhered to.

Weeks 1, 2 and 3   – Designs incorporating electric lights and geared motors, which will form part of a scene the children have been working on. The children will be working with simple circuits, involving batteries, bulbs, switches and motors.

Weeks 4 and 5 –  musical instrument designs.  Design and construction of instruments that can either be plucked, blown or hit. Investigation and experimentation with pitch, tone and sound resonance. Decoration and finishing of designs.

Weeks 6 and 7 – money box designs. Children will be looking at ways of designing and making a money box. They will consider style, appearance, choice of suitable materials. Opening mechanisms and loading mechanisms.

Weeks 8, 9 and 10 – Wire and crank designs to create mechanical movement for three dimensional models. Materials used will be plywood, blockwood, styrofoam and modelling card.

The latter part of term will involve individual projects of the children’s own choice, provided that they can show necessary thought and planning has gone into their ideas.

This term the pupils will be completing work on use of tables in Excel/Word. Research and prepare presentation on a famous astronomer – their life and work. Links to coding using SCRATCH/Microbits.

Games: Simple cricket/rounders activities, based around limited game situations. The skills involved in catching, throwing, bowling and hitting will be developed. Athletics – to include sprints, hurdles and relays. In field events simple javelin/ long jump/high jump (where possible).

P.E: A collection of activities linked to the cricket/rounders sessions. Racket skills linked to tennis and table tennis.

Swimming: Water time will be spent on the development of correct technique and other related activities. All work based on the ASA ‘National Plan for Teaching Swimming’.

They will rehearse the school play in the summer term.  They will be learning acting and performance techniques and working with musical theatre.  They will also be learning how to create characters on stage. They will also gain an understanding of how to put a play together including lighting, props and backstage instructions.

Physical health and Mental wellbeing – We will start this term by looking at how we can maintain a balanced lifestyle and how this can help our mental health. This will include recapping oral hygiene and dental care.

Keeping safe – Medicines and household products; drugs common to everyday life.

Growing and changing – To finish the term we will recap physical and emotional changes in puberty, talk about personal hygiene routines (already looked at in science) and give support with any concerns for next year.