What’s happening in Year 5

Maths – designing nets for packaging

This term, Year 5 have been investigating three-dimensional objects and their nets as part of our Mathematics learning. Students explored how two-dimensional shapes can be folded to create three-dimensional objects. They examined diagrams to determine whether they were valid nets of closed 3D objects, sketched their own nets, and identified prisms and pyramids from different net representations. These activities encouraged students to think critically about how shapes connect and fit together in space.

To apply their learning in a real-world context, students took part in a creative packaging design challenge. Working as product designers, they were tasked with inventing a product and then designing suitable packaging to contain it. Students carefully considered the size and shape of their product, selected an appropriate three-dimensional object for the packaging, and created a net that could be folded into their final design.

Science – Greenhouse effect

This week, Year 5 students deepened their understanding of the greenhouse effect through a hands‑on experiment using two glass jars, two thermometers, plastic wrap and carbon dioxide. Both jars were placed in direct sunlight one open, and one sealed with plastic wrap and filled with added carbon dioxide.

Students observed that sunlight easily passes through clear materials and warms the inside of the jar. The warm surface then releases heat as infrared energy. In the covered jar, the plastic wrap and carbon dioxide trapped more of this heat, just as greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

By comparing the thermometers, students saw the covered jar heat up more quickly, giving them a clear, practical demonstration of how increased carbon dioxide leads to rising temperatures.

Exploring Genre in Year 5 English

This term, Year 5 are exploring genre through their study of Bright New World by Cindy Forde and Bethany Lord, a text that blends informative, persuasive and entertaining elements. Students are learning how authors use different genres and language features to communicate ideas in powerful ways.

To begin the unit, students took part in a ‘genre walk,’ examining a variety of texts placed around the classroom, including picture books, novels, posters, letters and digital texts. They considered questions such as: How would you categorise this text? Could it belong to more than one genre? This activity helped students see that genre is flexible and that many modern texts combine features for different purposes.

Year 5 are already showing thoughtful insights, and we look forward to seeing their understanding deepen as they continue analysing Bright New World throughout the term.

Ms Stephanie Yiorkas, Ms Wendy Anetter, Ms Alison Di Ciaccio, Ms Monique Taylor, Ms Tiffany Anderson
Year 5 Teachers