This term, Year 5 will explore how actions and reactions shaped history, focusing on the Anglo-Saxon invasion and how the consequences of their actions led to the formation of kingdoms, laws, and beliefs. From crime and punishment in Anglo-Saxon times to scientific forces that shape our world today, children will develop a deeper understanding of how every action has a reaction—both in history and in their own lives.

The Anglo-Saxon Invasion – What Happened Next?

The Anglo-Saxons didn’t just arrive—they took over. But how? Children will investigate:
🏰 Why they invaded and what they wanted
🛡️ How their actions led to the formation of kingdoms
⚖️ The impact of invasion on laws, beliefs, and society

By exploring the long-term effects of the invasion, children will see how these early actions still influence life today.

Crime and Punishment – What Were the Consequences?

What happened if you broke the law in Anglo-Saxon times? Children will explore:
🚔 How laws were created and enforced
🪓 The brutal punishments of the past
💭 How ideas of justice have changed over time

By comparing past and present, children will think critically about how actions have consequences and how justice systems have evolved.

Choices and Consequences – How Do We Shape Our Own Future?

The Anglo-Saxons’ actions shaped history, just as our choices shape our lives. Through discussions and activities, children will reflect on:
✔️ How the choices they make affect themselves and others
✔️ The impact of being part of a community
✔️ How to make positive choices that lead to good outcomes

This will help them understand responsibility and how their own actions can lead to lasting change.

The Science of Action and Reaction – How Does the World Respond?

It’s not just history that has cause and effect—science does too! Children will investigate:
🪂 Gravity, air resistance, and water resistance – how forces act on objects
⚙️ Levers, pulleys, and gears – how they make work easier
🌍 The Earth’s orbit – how movement creates night and day

By linking these ideas to real-world applications, children will see how scientific forces shape our daily lives.

Bringing History to Life: Our Authentic Outcome

Children will create a Horrible Histories-style show where they:
🎭 Act out scenes of Anglo-Saxon life, laws, and inventions
⚙️ Demonstrate how pulleys and levers were used in Anglo-Saxon times
⚖️ Stage a courtroom case on Anglo-Saxon crime and punishment

This engaging and humorous performance will bring learning to life and help children showcase their knowledge in a creative way.

Leaving a Legacy: Making a Difference in Our School

How can we use what we’ve learned about actions and consequences to make a difference? Children will:
📖 Create a ‘child-friendly’ behaviour policy for the school, helping others understand how actions lead to reactions.
🏫 Work with the school council to ensure the policy is meaningful and lasting.
👶 Develop KS1 and KS2 versions so all children can understand and follow it.

By applying their historical and PSHE knowledge, they will make a real impact on their school community.

English

A high-quality text drives each of our enquiries and the texts are used to give knowledge and purpose to the enquiry. High quality texts can only be accessed through knowledge of vocabulary in different tiers. Explicit teaching of new vocabulary and using the classroom environment to showcase key vocabulary helps us to infuse rich and sophisticated vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. The texts are used as a stimulus for both English and cross curricular writing, ensuring high expectations of our children. Reading is interwoven into all aspects of the enquiry to encourage reading and language development and promote reading for pleasure.

Maths

In maths we follow the Power Maths programme to support children’s learning and to build a deep understanding of maths concepts. Power Maths is a curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in maths. It is built around a child‑centred lesson design that models and embeds a growth mindset approach to maths.

This term we are covering the following:

• Multiplication and Division

  • Multiplying up to 4-digit numbers by a 1-digit number using formal written methods.
  • Multiplying 2-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers using long multiplication.
  • Dividing 4-digit numbers by a 1-digit number using short division.
  • Interpreting remainders in different contexts.
  • Solving multi-step problems involving multiplication and division.

• Fractions

  • Identifying, comparing, and ordering fractions.
  • Converting improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa.
  • Adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator and with denominators that are multiples of the same number.
  • Solving problems involving fractions of quantities.
  • Multiplying fractions by whole numbers.

• Decimals and Fractions

  • Understanding the relationship between fractions, decimals, and percentages.
  • Converting between fractions and decimals (e.g., tenths, hundredths).
  • Comparing and ordering decimals up to two decimal places.
  • Adding and subtracting decimals within 1.
  • Solving problems involving decimals and fractions in context.

• Percentages

  • Understanding percentages as "parts per 100."
  • Finding percentages of amounts and quantities.
  • Linking fractions, decimals, and percentages.
  • Solving simple problems involving the calculation of percentages.

• Perimeter and Area

  • Calculating the perimeter of composite shapes.
  • Estimating and calculating the area of rectangles and rectilinear shapes.
  • Exploring the concept of area using square units (cm² and m²).
  • Comparing and solving problems involving the area and perimeter of different shapes.