By Mrs Martin (Head of Year 5)

This week in Year 5, our new Unit of Inquiry, How We Organise Ourselves, began not with answers, but with noticing. 

The girls explored real communities around the world who struggle to access essential goods and services because of the environments they live in, from isolated mountain villages to flood-affected areas. Rather than jumping straight to solutions, they have been encouraged to pause and observe carefully: What is moving? What might be pushing or pulling? What is stopping movement? 

Using images and short video clips, the girls practised a See–Think–Wonder routine, learning that careful observation is a key scientific skill. They began to describe movement using simple language such as push, pull, slow and stop, laying the foundations for our work on forces in the coming weeks.

What stood out was how naturally the learning extended beyond science. The girls quickly began to think about people, access and fairness, recognising that transport is not just about vehicles, but about connection. A powerful reminder that learning often starts by slowing down, looking closely, asking better questions, and taking time to understand the world before trying to change it.