Welcome to Year 5 and 6 - Mount Etna
Class Teacher: Mr Dando

In Sow, Grow and Farm, your child will learn about where our food comes from and how plants, animals and people are connected through farming. They will explore the journey from seed to plate, beginning with the conditions plants need to germinate, grow and thrive. They will investigate soil types, water, light and nutrients, and learn how different environments affect what can be grown in various places around the world.

They will take a close look at the features of arable, pastoral and mixed farms, discovering how farmers use land, machinery and technology to produce food. They will compare traditional and modern farming methods and explore how climate, weather and physical features influence the choices farmers make. They will also learn about food origins, tracing everyday ingredients back to the plants and animals they come from.

Your child will study how land use changes over time and how human activity can help or harm the environment. They will consider issues such as sustainability, food miles and responsible consumption, using evidence to form and explain their ideas. They will explore how communities depend on farming and how global trade connects producers and consumers across the world.

To end the project, your child will reflect on the importance of farming in their own lives and discover how the choices we make today can shape the future of our food, our landscapes and our planet.

Memorable Expeirence - Art In Nature

Etna Class headed into our forest school area and transformed the outdoors into a space for creativity and expression. Using only natural materials they discovered such as, berries, leaves, sticks, stones, moss and lengths of grass they crafted striking pieces of land art inspired by the wintery landscape around them.

The children experimented with pattern, texture, colour and creating structures. Their teamwork, focus and imaginative thinking shone through as they arranged their finds into thoughtful, eye catching designs.

Although their artwork was temporary, the sense of wonder, curiosity and connection to nature made the experience truly memorable.

 

Maths	Multiplication and Division; Fractions; Decimals and Percentages; Area and Perimeter; Statistics.
Reading	Boy in the Tower, The Hobbit
Writing	David Attenborough, The Explorer, Moth, Varmints
Memorable Experience	Term 3: Art in Nature building experinece Term 4: Visit to Cogges Farm
History	History of Farming in Britain
Science	Human Reproduction and Ageing
Design and Technology	Eat the Seasons
Art	Nature's Art
PE	Term 3:  Gymnastics (Monday) Tag Rugby (Thursday)
RE	Term 3: What would Jesus do? Term 4: How did Jesus create a 'New Covenant'?

PE days: Monday and Thursday

Home Learning: Homework will be set on a Friday. Activities and reading logs can be accessed via our online learning platform, Learning with Parents. Times Table Rockstars Ready? Set? Go? Maths books (Year 6) have been issued to children but are available from class teachers. 

 

 

Term 1 and 2 project - Dynamic Dynasties 

In Dynamic Dynasties, your child will learn about periods of ancient Chinese history. They will explore a timeline of the first five Chinese dynasties and learn about the legends surrounding the beginning of Chinese civilisation. They will take a deep dive into the history of the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty and explore evidence found in the ancient city of Yin. They will study oracle bones, learn about religious beliefs and explore bronze artefacts that set the Shang Dynasty apart from other civilisations. They will also study the hierarchy of the Shang Dynasty and discover who was powerful and who was powerless. They will look at warfare and find out how bronze technology gave the Shang Dynasty an advantage over their enemies. They will learn about the life of the great military leader, Fu Hao. The children will then look at significant aspects of life after the Shang Dynasty, including the work of Confucius in the Zhou Dynasty, the short but significant reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty and the importance of the Silk Road created by the Han Dynasty. To end the project, your child will find out how ancient China’s lasting legacy can be seen in the world today.

 

Memorable Experience

Classes Fuji and Etna recently visited the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford for an immersive day of historical exploration. During the Ancient China workshop, pupils examined ancient artefacts up close, even handling genuine objects to deepen their understanding of early Chinese civilisation. They then explored the museum’s Chinese galleries and other exhibits through a self-led tour, making connections across cultures and time periods. From Egyptian relics to classical sculpture, the children showed curiosity, independence, and thoughtful engagement throughout.

Maths	Place value; Four operations; Fractions
Reading	The Nowhere Emporium
Writing	The Nowhere Emporium; The Refugees; The Snowman; When a Monster Calls
Memorable Experience	Ashmolean Museum Visit - China and Shang Dynasty Worskshop
History	Ancient China; Timelines and chronology; Shang Dynasty; Sources and artefacts; Oracle bones and religious beliefs; Bronze Age in ancient China; Historical enquiry; Significance of jade and silk; Power and social hierarchy; Everyday life; Warfare; Significant individual – Di Xin; End of the Shang Dynasty; Bronze Ages around the world; Life after the Shang Dynasty; Legacy
Science	Forces and Mechanisms: Contact and non-contact forces; Gravity; Mass and Weight; Discovering gravity – important scientists; Friction; Air resistance; Water resistance; Mechanisms – levers, pulleys, gears; Investigating forces and mechanisms; Working scientifically – Identifying and classifying, Observing changes over time, Comparative tests, Research, Pattern seeking Earth and Space: The Solar System; Scientists of the past who discovered how the Solar System works; The Earth, Sun and Moon; Planets and stars are spherical; Daytime and night time; Sundials; Day length and the seasons; Times of the day around the world; The phases of the Moon; Lunar and solar eclipses; Working scientifically – Identifying and classifying, Research, Changes over time, Pattern seeking
Design and Technology	Moving Mechanisms: Pneumatic systems; Joining and finishing; Iterative design process; Building pneumatic machine prototypes
Art	Colour in Landscapes: Mixing tints, shades and tones; Exploring landscapes; Sketching and painting landscapes Taotie: Taotie motifs; Casting methods; Watercolour
PE	Football; Dance
RE	Hinduism: What is the best way for a Hindu to show commitment to God?   Christianity: Was Jesus the Messiah?

PE days: Tuesday and Thursday

Home Learning: Homework will be set on a Friday. Activities and reading logs can be accessed via our online learning platform, Learning with Parents. Times Table Rockstars and Complete Maths Tutor logins have been issued to children but are available from class teachers.