This half term, Merlin Class will be embarking on a fascinating global journey, travelling from the icy landscapes of sub‑zero regions all the way to the vibrant, humid world of the tropics. Through an exciting blend of Geography, Science, English and the Arts, pupils will explore how different climates shape the plants, animals and people who live there.

In English, pupils will start the term by exploring poetry inspired by rainforest environments. They will examine how poets use language and vocabulary to create imagery and communicate important messages before writing their own rainforest‑themed poems. Later in the term, children will apply their scientific understanding to write clear and well‑structured explanation texts about an animal’s life cycle using technical vocabulary, factual detail and labelled diagrams.

In Maths, Year 4 pupils will focus on fractions and decimals—ordering, comparing and calculating with mixed numbers and improper fractions before moving on to dividing by 10 and 100. Year 5 will deepen their understanding of decimals and percentages and apply them in real‑life contexts, as well as developing skills in area, perimeter and reading statistical data.

In Science, children will discover that living things have different life cycles depending on their type and the biome they inhabit. They’ll explore how mammals grow from live young, how amphibians transform from tadpoles into adults, how birds hatch and develop from eggs, and how plants make and disperse seeds. Throughout the topic, they will investigate how these life cycles help species survive in their unique habitats.

Our Geography learning focuses will link to our science learnig, focusing on climate zones, biomes and vegetation belts. Children will compare the physical and human features of places such as the rainforest and explore how natural resources—like water, minerals, food and energy—are distributed around the world. Pupils will begin to explain how climate and environment influence how people live, work and use the land.

Our PSHCE theme this term is Healthy Me. Year 4 children will learn about healthy friendships, group dynamics, and the risks associated with smoking and alcohol. Year 5 will explore healthy food choices, body image and emergency first aid, including practising the recovery position.

During Computing, pupils will become video‑game designers, exploring what makes a game successful before planning, building and evaluating their own digital games using sprites and interactive features.