Year 5 is a good time to revisit measuring length accurately using a ruler, as well as calculating missing lengths in 2D shapes.

Two aspects of angle are important in Year 5. One is being able to measure and draw angles using a protractor. Before children begin to measure angles using a protractor it is very important that they are able to recognise types of angles, especially less than 90 degrees, more than 90 degrees and more than 180 degrees. Once having done a rough estimate of an angle it is much easier to read the correct number of degrees on the protractor. Watch out in particular for children who read the scale on the protractor the wrong way round, for example, thinking that a 120 degree angle is 60 degrees.

Secondly, as well as measuring angles, children will begin to calculate them, especially angles on a straight line and round a point. They will also learn the sum of the angles of a triangle and begin to work out the angles of a quadrilateral. We have some great pages to help with all of this.

Symmetry is important in Year 5 as there is little time to return to it in Year 6 before the SATs. By the end of Year 5 children should know and be able to read, write and use the following words:

Mirror line, line of symmetry, line symmetry, symmetrical, reflect, reflection, translation, axis of symmetry, reflective symmetry. They should be able to test for symmetry using a mirror and by folding.

Children should be able to sketch the reflection of a simple shape in a mirror line where none or only some of the edges of the shape are parallel or perpendicular to the mirror line. We have some great worksheets containing the types of question that often come up in SATs at the end of Year 6 and often prove to be one of the questions that large numbers of children get wrong. A mirror is very useful for this.