Year 5
Here you will find useful information and reminders related to our general routines and activities, as well as links to helpful websites and online resources.
This is also a space where we will share and celebrate some of the interesting and exciting activities we carry out at school.
Spring Term Class Information
Welcome back to a new and exciting term at Pen y Fro Primary School. The Year 4, 5 and 6 topic for this term will be ‘Our Wonderful Welsh Landscapes’. Throughout the term, the children will be learning about the local area of Dunvant, as well as exploring the wider Welsh landscape and how it has changed over time. As always, the children will be involved in planning aspects of our topic work, and their ideas will help shape our learning.
Our work will link across the six areas of learning: Languages, Literacy and Communication; Mathematics and Numeracy; Science and Technology; Humanities; Expressive Arts; and Health and Well-being.
In Mathematics and Numeracy, the children will explore data handling in a range of real-life contexts. They will learn how to gather information through surveys, record results using tally charts and present their findings clearly using bar graphs. This work will help develop their understanding of how data can be collected, organised and interpreted.
In Languages, Literacy and Communication, the children will take part in a wide range of speaking, listening, reading and writing activities linked to our topic. They will develop their ability to structure and present ideas effectively through persuasive writing tasks, including writing letters about the local area and creating adverts encouraging people to visit Wales.
For your information, PE lessons will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons up until half term. After February half term, PE lessons will continue on Tuesday, and swimming lessons will take place on Friday afternoons, replacing the Wednesday PE session. Please ensure that children bring an appropriate PE kit in a small bag on these days.
Homework will continue to be issued on a Friday via Teams and should be handed in by the following Wednesday. As part of their homework, children will be expected to write spelling sentences each week. All children will be given a paper copy of their spelling words, which will also be available in the Files section of Teams. Spelling tests will continue to take place on Fridays. Each week, there will also be an additional homework task, alternating between a maths task and a topic-related task from the homework grid. The new topic homework grid will be available in the Files section of Teams. We will also continue to use MyMaths for some maths homework activities. Weekly reminders of homework expectations will be posted on the Teams chat.
Further information about events taking place this term and any forthcoming clubs can be found in the school newsletter and on the school website.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Mr Rhodri Jenkins
Year 5 Homework Activities
Numeracy Week – The Potato Olympics!
This week at Pen y Fro, Year 5 have been celebrating Numeracy Week with a fun and creative challenge – the Potato Olympics! Each child has brought in their own potato, decorated it as a unique character, and will be taking part in a series of exciting events. From measuring distances in the potato shot put to timing races in the potato sprint, the children will be using their numeracy skills to record, compare, and analyse results. It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm and teamwork on display, and we can’t wait to see which potato takes home the gold!
Diwrnod Shwmae
Shwmae Day, celebrated on October 15, is a day dedicated to promoting the Welsh language by encouraging everyone to greet each other in Welsh with a cheerful "Shwmae" or "Su’mae." It’s an opportunity for people across Wales to connect with the language, whether they’re fluent speakers or just beginning. At Pen y fro Primary School, the Year 5 children joined in the celebration by creating vibrant posters featuring "Shwmae" and other Welsh phrases. Through their artwork, they promoted the joy and inclusivity of using Welsh, proudly contributing to the school’s Welsh language culture and encouraging everyone to try a bit of Welsh in their everyday conversations.
Children's Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week 2025
From 3rd to 9th February, we are taking part in Children’s Mental Health Week 2025, with this year’s theme Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. The aim is to help children develop self-awareness and understand how knowing themselves can build resilience and confidence. The initiative, supported by The Walt Disney Company and Place2Be, encourages children to explore emotions through characters from Inside Out 2.
In Year 5, children have been creating their own characters to express different emotions, helping them to reflect on their feelings in a fun and creative way.
Find out more at Children’s Mental Health Week website.
St David's Day - Dydd Gŵyl Dewi
St David's Day is a special day in Wales that is celebrated on 1st March to honour the country's patron saint, Saint David. Saint David was a Welsh bishop who lived in the 6th century and is recognised for spreading his message of kindness, compassion, and being a good person in Wales. He also shared his Christian teachings with the people he met.
At Pen y fro, we celebrate St David's Day with an Eisteddfod, which is a traditional Welsh festival. During this event, our children showcase their talents and hard work by performing various traditional Welsh songs, reciting literature, and presenting artwork.
The Eisteddfod is a wonderful opportunity for our children to learn about and appreciate Welsh culture, as well as the positive values that St David embodied. We are proud to celebrate St David's Day with our children every year and to recognise the impact he had on Wales and its people.
World Book Day
World Book Day is an annual event that celebrates the joy of reading and promotes literacy across the world. It is a great opportunity for children to explore a range of literature and discover new books and authors.
On this special day, children can also dress up as their favourite book characters, sparking conversation and inspiring creativity. By participating in World Book Day, children can develop a love for reading that will stay with them for life.
At Pen y fro, we encourage all our Year 5 children to participate in this exciting event and discover the magic of books. We hope that this celebration will inspire them to become lifelong readers and learners.
Class Displays
Useful Links