P5 Newsletter
A very warm welcome to our Primary 5 newsletter!
Pull up a chair and let us tell you what we are learning this term. Lots of exciting things are happenening.
LANGUAGE
We are committed to reading in our class and read a variety of texts including fiction, non-fiction, reports and plays. Reading everyday improves our fluency and oral expression. This term we are reading a novel by Terry Pratchett called 'The Nation'. We are reading this as a class and will be doing a lot of drama and art work with this theme.
Our main writing lesson is on a Tuesday. This term we will be looking at writing letters ensuring we use the correct format. We will also be looking at imaginative writing with a focus on the action of the story. The children work in trios to provide each other with critical feedback. It is also a great way to learn from each other.
Spelling is taught on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and is also given as homework on a Monday. It would be great if someone at home could help their child with their spelling words for that week.
MATHS
We no longer set for maths which means that all the children stay in their own classes for their Maths lessons. All children have maths homework on Tuesdays and Thursdays which should be returned the following day.
We are learning our problem solving skills through all aspects of maths this term. This is a crucial skill which can be used in other areas of the curriculum!
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
This term we are learning about Scottish Inventors and all the fabulous inventions they have given us. We are hoping to have a trip to help us learn more about our studies. This topic will tie in with our artwork, writing, drama and spelling.
We have already got one trip planned which is on Thursday 5th February, to Dynamic Earth. We are going along with Primary Four to learn about changing climates. We hope that this visit will help us with our Eco-Focus week in school, which is the w/c Monday 23rd February 2009.
SCIENCE
Work this term centres on "Light and Sound". Practical activities focus on this as well as taking a close look at the ear to learn exactly how we hear sounds. We are also hoping to make our own string telephones linking with our discussion on Alexander Graham Bell. The children have also been concentrating on planning a fair experiment as well as carrying this out.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS 
The children are learning the techniques and skills of Gymnastics with Mrs Allenby. Towards the end of last term we focused has on styles of travelling and rolling as well as working together to plan creative sequences of movement. We will be able to apply these skills to uor development in Gymnastics.
The children get PE on a Tuesday so please make sure that everyone has their gym kit. In addition, as we are focusing on Gymnastics this term it is important that all children bring SHORTS and appropriate FOOTWEAR for gym. This will help us to learn about Gymnastics safely.
In music, we have been looking at solo work, songs performed in rounds and music sandwiches. Mrs Goodwin takes the music lesson for the class on a Thursday afternoon. We are focusing on Scottish songs and have been practising these for our Burns Performance.
In art, we will be concentrating on different techniques of drawing and painting and producing our own impressions of some of the inventors we have been studying. We also plan to turn our classroom into an inventors lab. We may also try to use different techniques to creat a frieze linked to our class novel.
It would be helpful if the children had an old T shirt or shirt that they could use of their Art lessons.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS
We are committed to celebrating children's success. Each week, several prizes are awarded. These include a 'Certificate of Excellence' and 'Star Writer'. The children also receive stickers for good behaviour and work which are added to their individual charts. When these are completed the children are allowed to choose a prize from the box.
Well done!!