Year 5: How do organisms change as they go through their life cycles?

This term, Year 5 children have been exploring the fascinating question: "How do organisms change as they go through their life cycles?" The children have studied the life cycles of various organisms, including plants, mammals, birds, and insects, with a special focus on the butterfly life cycle. We have been closely observing caterpillars as they metamorphosis into chrysalises and we eagerly anticipate seeing beautiful butterflies upon our return in June (don't worry we will release them into the wild). As part of our museum learning, the children have examined artefacts, including butterfly and moth taxidermy, and observed bird eggs of varying sizes.

In Geography, the children participated in a virtual fieldwork experience of the Himalayas, enriching their understanding of diverse ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them. They were able to identify the 7 summits in each continent, identify the features of a mountain and even looked at how they form. The children looked at different rock types; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic that can be found on mountainsides. In English, we have been reading the book- When the mountains roared by Jess Butterworth. The children have written their own persuasive letters to the Indian Government to help with the conservation of leopards in the mountains and to stop poachers. As part of our High Stakes project- the children have created pop-up books in DT, that they read to the Year 1 children. They designed and built their own mechanisms using levers, showcasing their creativity and engineering skills whilst telling a story.

The children also took part in a workshop for Religious Education (RE) led by Nirmal Singh, who discussed how Sikhs show commitment to their religion. This workshop wrapped up the three enquiry questions we have studied over the year about Sikhism. The children found this session insightful and incredibly enriching.

Well done, Year 5!