Summer Term 2

Reading and Writing

This half-term, our English work will be closely linked to the playscript The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Pupils will explore the play’s key themes, characters, and dramatic conventions, developing their understanding of Shakespearean language and storytelling. Building on this, they will create their own narratives inspired by the events and characters in the play. In addition to this, our non-fiction focus will centre around The Window by Jeannie Baker—a powerful visual text that highlights environmental change over time. Using this as a stimulus, pupils will research and evaluate the impact of plastic use in supermarkets, culminating in the writing of balanced arguments that encourage critical thinking and informed opinion on environmental issues.

Maths

In Mathematics, pupils will begin the term by consolidating their understanding of measurement, with a particular focus on converting between a range of units, including metric units for length, mass, and capacity. They will apply this knowledge to real-life contexts, enhancing their problem-solving skills. Following this, the focus will shift to position and direction, where pupils will explore coordinates in all four quadrants, translate and reflect shapes, and develop a deeper understanding of movement on a grid. The term will conclude with a unit on statistics, where pupils will interpret and present data using a variety of graphical methods, such as bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts, and draw conclusions based on their findings.

Science

In Science, pupils will be exploring the life cycle of humans as part of their study of living things. They will learn about the key stages of human development, from birth and infancy through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. The topic will also cover physical and emotional changes that occur during each stage, including a scientific look at puberty and ageing. Through a combination of practical investigations, discussion, and multimedia resources, pupils will deepen their understanding of how humans grow and change over time, and will be encouraged to make links to their own experiences and observations. This unit supports pupils in developing empathy, self-awareness, and a greater appreciation of the human body and its development.

Geography

In Geography, pupils will carry out an in-depth comparison between their local environment—the New Forest—and the Amazon Rainforest in South America. As the New Forest is a familiar and accessible location, pupils will be encouraged to draw on their own experiences and observations to explore its physical features, climate, wildlife, and land use. They will then contrast this with the vastly different ecosystem of the Amazon Rainforest, examining its tropical climate, dense biodiversity, and the global issues it faces, such as deforestation. Through map work, fieldwork opportunities, research, and the use of digital tools, pupils will develop key geographical skills and a broader understanding of how environments vary across the world. This topic will also highlight the importance of conservation and how human activity shapes different landscapes, both locally and globally.

History

In History this half-term, pupils will undertake a local history study focused on the influence of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings on Southampton and the surrounding areas. Through a combination of historical enquiry, map work, and the analysis of local evidence, pupils will explore how these early settlers shaped the region. They will investigate changes in settlement patterns, place names, language, culture, and daily life, and consider how the legacy of these periods can still be seen in the local area today. This topic will help pupils develop key historical skills such as analysing sources, drawing comparisons, and understanding continuity and change over time, all while fostering a deeper connection to their local heritage.

Art

This half term in Art, children will be taking their previous learning about installation art (sculpture), and trying to create some of their own. Their artworks will be inspired by artists such as Dale Chihuly and Yayoi Kusama, and their goal will to contribute their own creations to a whole year group art installation.

Spanish

In Spanish this half-term, pupils will be exploring the topic La Escuela (The School). They will begin by revisiting and consolidating key vocabulary introduced in Year 4, including classroom objects, subjects, and basic instructions. As their confidence grows, pupils will progress to forming complete sentences to describe different aspects of school life, such as the subjects they study, classroom routines, and opinions about their lessons. This unit will place a strong emphasis on both spoken and written communication, encouraging pupils to practise accurate pronunciation, sentence structure, and grammar. Through interactive activities, role-play, and written tasks, pupils will develop their ability to express themselves more fluently in Spanish while gaining insight into what school life is like in Spanish-speaking countries.

PSHE

The theme for PSHE this half-term is ‘Growing and changing’

Computing

In computing this half term- we will be programming buttons using the ‘crumble’ hardware.

Music

This half-term, as per Mrs Normington's letter (sent in January), the children will be learning to play the recorder.