Welcome to Autumn Term 1 and Sally Ride Class!
Hello!
Welcome back to the Autumn term and welcome to Year 5! It was lovely to welcome the children back into school and to their new class today. They were all super enthusiastic and very keen to show that they are ready to learn and take on new challenges! Below, is all the information that you should need to know about this first half term.
What are the expectations in Year 5?
– To follow the Keyworth Code and our class rules.
– To read at least 3 times a week at home (or in Reading Lair) and for home-school books to be signed every week. Reading Lair is a great option for Year 5 because children can come on their own. It opens at 8.30am every day.
– For children to remain in their green zone on Doodle maths and Doodle spell (this is approximately 10 minutes every day). The children can find their new passwords and logins in the front of their home school book and Doodles have already been set which link to the maths and spelling we are covering in class.
– There is an optional Doodle tables and I set tables to practise every week. Whilst children are not required to do this, multiplication underpins almost 75% of the maths curriculum in Year Five and it is vital that they are fluent in all their times tables – all the way from 1×1 to 12×12!
– For children to take part in the Bronze Reading challenge (this can be found at the back of your child’s home-school book).
– Check the class blog regularly to see what we’re doing in school.
When are the PE days this half term?
PE sessions are with Mrs King and Mrs Wales on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. PE kit is a red T-shirt, black shorts and plimsolls or trainers. It is important their kits are labelled and brought in on Monday, so that your child can take part in these activities.
What will my child be learning about this half term?
Our topic for the first half term is Down the Mines which explores the coal mining industry (whose history is local to Keyworth) from its beginnings in the Roman era to its ending at the end of the last century.
Additional to our topic, we will be covering Materials and their Properties in Science; Place Value and Addition and Subtraction in Maths; and learning a new Talk 4 Writing text entitled Clock Close. A curriculum map to highlight all the areas we will be covering this half term is attached to this blog along with knowledge organisers for history and science.
Our Class Text
Our class text this term is The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie. If you see a copy in a charity shop, it would be great for the children to be able to follow along whilst we’re reading it. Next half term, we will be reading Holes by Louis Sachar if you want to look out for that at the same time.
School Trip!
As part of our Down the Mines topic, we have booked to visit the National Coal Mining Museum on Friday 3rd October. The day will involve workshops, an underground tour and “Human Power to Horsepower!” where in the pony discovery centre, the children will learn about changes to mining over time that have led to ponies and horses being used. They will spend time with the horse-keepers and meet the ponies!
Please watch the Ride Class Blog for more information on this in the next week.
We are also hoping to visit the Keyworth Library. This is a lovely opportunity to walk the children to the library; spend some time in the library with the children sharing a story together; and walk the children back to school. When I have arranged a date, I will be in touch. If you think you are able to support with this, please let me know.
DAaRT
During the Autumn term, Y5 and 6 will be taking part in the DAaRT life skills primary programme which is a ten week course and will finish with a graduation assembly which parents will be invited to. Please find attached below additional information about the DAaRT programme. We will also be holding a parent briefing on Monday 8th September at 3.30pm.
Key dates for this half-term:
- Monday 1st September 2025 – Inset- School closed
- Tuesday 2nd September 2025 – School opens for all pupils
- Friday 19th September 2025 – Inset-school closed
- Thursday 25th September 2025 – KPNS Movie Night
- Friday 3rd October 2025- Trip to the National Coal Mining Museum
- Thursday 9th October 2025 – Friends of KPNS Disco
- Monday 13th and Thursday 16th October 2025 – Parents’ evening
- Half-term – Monday 20th October to Friday 2nd November 2025
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask me at the door when I dismiss the class at the end of the day, or pass on a message to the office.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Mrs Harris
2025 History Knowledge Organiser