Download Into the Darkness

Science Challenge
Keep a ‘sky at night’ journal for a
whole week. Write about everything you can see in the sky. You
could draw a picture of the moon
every night. Does it change over the
course of the week?
DT Challenge
Science Challenge
Create your own space themed
top trumps cards.
Bake your own space themed
cookies or biscuits. They could be star,
rocket or planet shaped. They could even
include space rocks such as popping
candy! Write the
recipe you used. Feel free to share your
biscuits with your teacher!!
Home Learning Activities
History Challenge
Science Challenge
Create a character profile of Neil
Armstrong or any other famous
space explorer.
NASA are recruiting for their next space
mission. Write a letter of application for
a job to NASA, justifying why you should
be chosen as a Space Scientist or astronaut.
Art/DT Challenge
Literacy Challenge
Make a 3D model rocket with a
parachute to aid re-entry.
Create a story about one of the
constellations.
Year 5 Topic Overview
Autumn Term 2
HOOK
Rich Read
Learning experiences
‘Into the Darkness’ takes the children
on a journey into space. We are
launching the topic with a fantastic
visit from a mobile planetarium, taking
the children on a tour of the solar system and beyond with incredible 360
degree panoramas of space.
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We will then spend the day transforming the Year 5 area into our own planetarium! Throughout the day, the children will be creating stars, button
moons and making their own marshmallow constellations.
During the day, the children will be
introduced to the book ‘Cosmic’,
written by F. Cottrell.
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Topic Words
Space Cosmic Galaxy Planet Universe
Earth Science Gravity Solar system
Forces Journey Explorer
Main Focus
The topic will focus upon:
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Space Dome
Creating a planetarium
Investigations
Listening to and composing music
Group work
Role play
Computer animations
Making 3D planets
Writing newspaper reports
Writing their own science fiction stories.
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Literacy (journalistic writing and Science-fiction stories)
Science (explore and investigate Space and forces)
Art (creating 3D planets)
Music (composing music linked to ‘The Planets’ by Holst)
ICT (animations)
Outcome
Throughout the topic, the children will gradually
contribute further resources to their planetarium. This includes 3D
planets, projections of computer
animations, ‘planets’ music playing in the background, newspaper articles and scientific reports.
They will then share this with Year 3 buddies at the end of the halfterm as well as inviting Forest Park into visit.
Learning Behaviour Focus:
Learn from mistakes + Manage distractions
If your child
enjoys Cosmic,
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