Literacy
This week, we have lots of activities to get through, and the children should really get into the swing of writing, through a variety of exciting lessons. We had some fantastic INSET training from an inspirational trainer called Alan Peat last week. The teachers are all really keen to use some of these ideas with the children and so all three classes will be using some of the ideas this week during our literacy lessons.
Just to give you a couple of pointers as to how you can help improve your child's writing, here are a few ideas for you to try...
2A sentences - Have they added 2 adjectives BEFORE the noun and 2 adjectives AFTER the noun? It was a house with a garden - becomes - It was an old, creaky house, with an overgrown weedy garden.
Similes - Her eyes shone like diamonds. These can be improved, by adding a WHERE and WHEN phrase after the simile.
Her eyes shone like diamonds, sparkling in the jeweller's shop window on a cold, crisp December evening.
Try to see if your child can find any of these in their reading books, which they could use in their own writing. Please ask them to record any that they find, in their reading diaries. It will help to provide them with a bank of ideas, that they can use for any writing that they are asked to do at home.
Science
We are continuing our topic of Forces this week. The children will be asked to name the different forces acting on a object, both in and out of water. They should be able to explain that the force pushing upwards on an object in water is called 'upthrust'. The force pushing upwards on an object in air, is called 'air resistance'.
The children will be expected to choose their own method of presenting their results, but also be able to tell a friend about what they have learned.
We will also be investigating whether or not all metals are magnetic. The children will be given the resources and the investigation question, but they will have to work out the best way of finding out the answer for themselves!
Geography
The children will be finding out about different mountain ranges across the world. By the end of the week, they will be expected to be able to name them, locate them on a map of the world and be able to name the country and continent that they are found in.
It would be a big help, if you were able to look at an atlas with your child. Some of the picture atlases can be quite basic at this level, but they are a good starting point for the initial location of the mountain ranges. It is also a good idea, to compare the more simple atlases with the more complicated ones, that show the variety of types of maps for each country.
Linked to this work, we will be asking the children to listen to music from around the world and suggest where it may have come from. They will also have the opportunity to have a go at recreating some of the music themselves, using percussion instruments and the keyboard! We can't wait to hear some of the finished compositions!
Just a few items for the diary for you this week:
Mrs Worrall will be on a course on Tuesday afternoon.
Miss Wilson will be following a Spanish course on Wednesday.
Mrs Millington has her AST outreach day on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Year 5 children will have week 5 of their dance course. In the afternoon, Year 6 will be taking part in the drama workshops by Mrs Robinson from St Gregory's.
Since the weather seems to have changed this week, it would be great if you were able to send in the children's outdoor PE kits. This can be any jogging pants and a sweatshirt. At this time of year, there are lots of demands on the hall, due to Christmas production rehearsals etc., and so it is important that the children are given as many possibilities to have their PE sessions. We will be going outside UNLESS it is raining. Thank you for your support with this.
Finally, we have a plea! For a number of weeks, we have had a dwindling number of children bringing their homework into school. As a reminder, Literacy and Numeracy homework is given on a Monday and Science is given on a Wednesday. In Year 5/6, we encourage the children to be as independent as possible, and so if they don't receive a homework sheet on Mondays, they MUST come and ask one of the staff for a copy the following day. This is an important part of their preparation for High School. If there any difficulties in completing the homework, or handing it in on time, then please do write a note in your child's diary, so we know that you are aware of it. Thank you to the parents who take the time to write notes to us about the homework in the diaries. It really does encourage us to know that the work we are going in school, is supported at home.
Have a good week!
Year 5/6 team
