Wednesday, August 29, 2007
NEW BLOG ADDRESS
Please remember that your new blog address is http://www.year56.blogspot.com/. You will find all the latest weekly information there from September.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
...and now the end is near...
As in the title of this week's blog, we are speeding towards the end of the school year, with tremendous speed. I can't believe how quickly this year has gone and how much we have managed to achieve in the year.
You will all have received your end of year reports last Monday and hopefully you will have enjoyed reading the contents. It would be great if you could spare a few minutes to send a comment back to us, using the sheets supplied in the envelopes. We do like to read them all and they provide a lasting memory for us, of each of our classes.
Even though it is the last week of term, it is probably the busiest one, so here goes with the diary for this week...
Monday
9.30am sees the 'Musical Medley' production in the hall. As always, entrance will be strictly by ticket only in order for us to comply with Health and Safety regulations. We are thrilled with how much effort the children have put into this, and have in fact, done most of the preparations themselves. From singing and dancing, to some fabulous musicians, there is something for everyone to enjoy and it will memorable end, for some, to their time at St.Vincent's.
Tuesday
As you will know by now, Sports Day has had to be cancelled for this year, due to the unseasonal weather we have had. The children and staff are disappointed, but mini-sports activities will take place during the day - one of which will undoubtedly be 'Shower-Dodging!!'
The evening performance will start at 7pm. We would be grateful if you could ensure that children return to school no earlier than 6.30pm, when the doors will be opened. Again, please ensure that you remember your tickets, as they will be requested on the door. Many thanks for your co-operation with this.
Wednesday
We're all going on a ... school trip!! Yes, it's the day many of us have been waiting for - the whole school outing to Gulliver's World! You will have also received a letter of the things to bring and the timings. We will return to school for 3pm in order for children to be collected in the normal way - please allow the children to return to their classrooms, so that they may be dismissed from there, rather than trying to collect them from the coaches. Please ensure that you have returned your permission slip by Monday - thanks.
Thursday
We will be finalising a few things in school today, but mainly we will be practising for the Leaver's Mass.
Friday
A very sad day for everyone - our Leaver's day. The most important part of today, will be our Leaver's Celebration Mass, taking place at 10.30am. You are most welcome to join us in the school hall, although please note that space is at a premium for this Mass. It is a very special occasion and a very fitting end to the school year.
As is tradition, the Year 6 children are allowed to bring in AN EXTRA shirt for their friends and staff to sign, as a keepsake of their time at primary school. From experience, a little tip is NOT to use permanent markers on the shirts, or else you could end up with what looks like 'mini-tattoos'!!
and finally...
As you all know by now, I shall be moving to Year 1/2 in September. I shall miss working with everyone in Key Stage 2, but will still see everyone in and around school! You will still be able to access this blog on the internet over the holidays, so you can look at past weblinks, but from September, Year 5/6 will have a new blog address http://www.year56.blogspot.com/ If you click on this now, there are no posts as yet, but you will still get your weekly updates from September.
Thank you for all the lovely comments I have had this week and the comments on this blog.
Good luck in Year 6 and 7 - you will be fantastic!!
Mrs Worrall, Mrs Millington and Mrs Morgan xxx
You will all have received your end of year reports last Monday and hopefully you will have enjoyed reading the contents. It would be great if you could spare a few minutes to send a comment back to us, using the sheets supplied in the envelopes. We do like to read them all and they provide a lasting memory for us, of each of our classes.
Even though it is the last week of term, it is probably the busiest one, so here goes with the diary for this week...
Monday
9.30am sees the 'Musical Medley' production in the hall. As always, entrance will be strictly by ticket only in order for us to comply with Health and Safety regulations. We are thrilled with how much effort the children have put into this, and have in fact, done most of the preparations themselves. From singing and dancing, to some fabulous musicians, there is something for everyone to enjoy and it will memorable end, for some, to their time at St.Vincent's.
Tuesday
As you will know by now, Sports Day has had to be cancelled for this year, due to the unseasonal weather we have had. The children and staff are disappointed, but mini-sports activities will take place during the day - one of which will undoubtedly be 'Shower-Dodging!!'
The evening performance will start at 7pm. We would be grateful if you could ensure that children return to school no earlier than 6.30pm, when the doors will be opened. Again, please ensure that you remember your tickets, as they will be requested on the door. Many thanks for your co-operation with this.
Wednesday
We're all going on a ... school trip!! Yes, it's the day many of us have been waiting for - the whole school outing to Gulliver's World! You will have also received a letter of the things to bring and the timings. We will return to school for 3pm in order for children to be collected in the normal way - please allow the children to return to their classrooms, so that they may be dismissed from there, rather than trying to collect them from the coaches. Please ensure that you have returned your permission slip by Monday - thanks.
Thursday
We will be finalising a few things in school today, but mainly we will be practising for the Leaver's Mass.
Friday
A very sad day for everyone - our Leaver's day. The most important part of today, will be our Leaver's Celebration Mass, taking place at 10.30am. You are most welcome to join us in the school hall, although please note that space is at a premium for this Mass. It is a very special occasion and a very fitting end to the school year.
As is tradition, the Year 6 children are allowed to bring in AN EXTRA shirt for their friends and staff to sign, as a keepsake of their time at primary school. From experience, a little tip is NOT to use permanent markers on the shirts, or else you could end up with what looks like 'mini-tattoos'!!
and finally...
As you all know by now, I shall be moving to Year 1/2 in September. I shall miss working with everyone in Key Stage 2, but will still see everyone in and around school! You will still be able to access this blog on the internet over the holidays, so you can look at past weblinks, but from September, Year 5/6 will have a new blog address http://www.year56.blogspot.com/ If you click on this now, there are no posts as yet, but you will still get your weekly updates from September.
Thank you for all the lovely comments I have had this week and the comments on this blog.
Good luck in Year 6 and 7 - you will be fantastic!!
Mrs Worrall, Mrs Millington and Mrs Morgan xxx
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Week beginning 9th July
Well, we begin this week's blog with an apology. Last week, we promised that the reports were going to be sent home this Friday. They are all ready to go, complete with envelopes...however, the SATs results for the Year 6's have not yet arrived in school. Unfortunately, this is completely out of our control, as we rely on external markers and assessors to return the marked scripts by the deadline. We hope to be able to able to send them out on Monday, so let's just keep our fingers crossed that Parcelforce arrive early!!
Production
You should have all received your tickets last Wednesday, apart from a few children who were absent due to 'bug' which seems to have infiltrated school. If you don't require tickets for a particular performance, please retuen them to school so that they may be utilised by another family. Again, please remember that admittance will be limited strictly by ticket only, to adhere to Health and Safety regulations. Thank you for your co-operation with this.
Although this Friday is 'Friday the 13th' (oh dear, better not say 'break-a-leg to anyone to wish them luck!) we will hopefully be performing the dress rehearsal for the rest of the school.
The children have also come home with lots of words to learn, so please indulge them the 'hairbrush in front of the mirror' technique for this weekend! They really are true performers, and they are really giving it some 'welly' (I had to get in some joke about this fabulous weather we are having!!)
Here I Am
During the rehearsals this week, we will be completing our final Here I Am topic this year of Special Places.
We will:
Recognise a place that is special for people from all over the world
Reflect on some other places that are special for people from all over the world
Reflect that many places from all over the world are regarded as special
We would like you to come armed with lots of photographs and stories of all the places that are special to you. The teachers might even bring some of their embarrassing holiday photos in...!
Numeracy
The year 6's will continue their transition booklets, whilst the Year 5's will be working on the second week of problem solving. Look on the websites from last week's blog and remember to apply the 3 step strategy.
Remember, you can also check on http://www.numeracybooster.blogspot.com/ for booster group sites. This week, you will be investigating fractions.
Other curriculum
Production
You should have all received your tickets last Wednesday, apart from a few children who were absent due to 'bug' which seems to have infiltrated school. If you don't require tickets for a particular performance, please retuen them to school so that they may be utilised by another family. Again, please remember that admittance will be limited strictly by ticket only, to adhere to Health and Safety regulations. Thank you for your co-operation with this.
Although this Friday is 'Friday the 13th' (oh dear, better not say 'break-a-leg to anyone to wish them luck!) we will hopefully be performing the dress rehearsal for the rest of the school.
The children have also come home with lots of words to learn, so please indulge them the 'hairbrush in front of the mirror' technique for this weekend! They really are true performers, and they are really giving it some 'welly' (I had to get in some joke about this fabulous weather we are having!!)
Here I Am
During the rehearsals this week, we will be completing our final Here I Am topic this year of Special Places.
We will:
Recognise a place that is special for people from all over the world
Reflect on some other places that are special for people from all over the world
Reflect that many places from all over the world are regarded as special
We would like you to come armed with lots of photographs and stories of all the places that are special to you. The teachers might even bring some of their embarrassing holiday photos in...!
Numeracy
The year 6's will continue their transition booklets, whilst the Year 5's will be working on the second week of problem solving. Look on the websites from last week's blog and remember to apply the 3 step strategy.
Remember, you can also check on http://www.numeracybooster.blogspot.com/ for booster group sites. This week, you will be investigating fractions.
Other curriculum
During the 'in-between' rehearsal times, we will be working on the Geography activities from last week's blog. Some children have even brought in some of their own research work from home, so we would love to see more!
If you would like to see some of the artwork we produced during our African week, have a look at the display in the junior area, complete with African Dan masks. A big thank you to Mrs Clancy, Mrs Riley and Mrs Hemmings who have worked their magic on making the display, complete with animal print background, look so fantastic!
And finally...
You will have read in the newsletter about the staffing changes for September. Just to clarify, the teachers will be:
Foundation Stage - Mrs Narraway
Year 1/2 - Mrs Worrall, Mrs Pinto-Edwards, Mrs Malone
Year 3/4 - Mrs Harding, Mrs Bethell, Miss Robinson
Year 5/6 - Mrs Morgan (Wilson), Mrs Millington, Miss Wright
Mr McGreal will continue to be the floating teacher, until Mrs Morgan returns from her maternity leave in February 2008.
Miss Wright has been into school to meet the children and staff, and she is delighted to be joining the team from September. I am sure she will be a great asset to the Year 5/6 team and we are looking forward to welcoming her to St.Vincent's.
Have a good week!
Year 5/6 team.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Week beginning 2nd July
For the next two weeks, we will be really focussing on our rehearsals for the End of Year production – a musical medley of songs and dances that the children have chosen from their time at St. Vincent’s. We have some very talented youngsters in our team and they can’t wait to show off their skills and abilities...complete with cockney accents!! The tickets for this should be going out this week, so please keep an eye out for them. Admittance into the hall will, as always, be strictly by ticket only. This is in order for us to comply with Health and Safety regulations. Many thanks for your co-operation with this.
You should also receive the words for the songs on Monday and it would be a BIG help, if you could help your child to learn these words. Don’t worry, even I know some of these words, so it shouldn’t be too much of a trauma!
So...that’s for the afternoons, but what about the mornings? Well...
Geography / Literacy / ICT
Much as I hate to say this, but the current ‘webbed-feet’ weather, has actually worked to our advantage! This week, we are looking at why floods happen and the effect they have on the environment.
It may seem hard to believe that a small, slow-flowing stream or gentle river could cause serious damage to people and the places in which they live and work, but looks can be deceptive! Rivers can be things of beauty and the historic lifeblood of a settlement. We will find out how we use flowing water to enhance life and living, whilst trying to contain its destructive powers when in flood, using the enquiry resources of the Internet!
Activities for you to try
We will be doing these activities in class this week, but have a go at home first – it will give you a great head start!
Identifying a river catchment - Use a map or atlas to identify a major river near to where you live, and use tracing paper to identify and draw its source (where it begins) and its mouth (where it ends). Then trace on the streams, brooks and smaller rivers that feed into your main river - these are called the tributaries. The source of each of these tributaries marks one point on the boundary of the river - joining these points up shows the approximate limits of the catchment area of your river.
Use an atlas to locate and mark Nottingham and the course of the River Trent on a blank outline map of the British Isles.
Try searching for information on how the Ancient Egyptians used the regular annual flooding of the River Nile to help their agricultural activities.
Why do you think that so many cities developed close to rivers despite the obvious risks?
Carry out a debate in the classroom presenting arguments for and against the damming of the River Nile.
What do people see as the advantages of the dam? What are seen as the disadvantages?
Investigate the factors which cause rivers to flash flood and why this is an increasing occurrence compared with past times?
Write a report on how the Thames Barrier works and why it was necessary to protect the city of London.
Locate Mozambique and mark the main rivers. How close are the main settlements to those rivers? Why?
Investigate what could have been done to avoid the devastating floods in Mozambique?
Find out how the world supported Mozambique in its struggle to cope with and recover from the devastating floods?
The following websites will be helpful when trying some of these activities:
http://www.mrdowling.com/607-aswandam.html information on the Aswan Dam
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/egypt/egypt2.htm the geography of the Nile
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/1797794/ flood warnings from The Environment Agency’s website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/662472.stm news story about the floods in Mozambique in 2000.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/655510.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/662847.stm
Numeracy
The Year 6’s will be working on their transition booklets, whilst the Year 5’s will be working on Problem Solving activities.
This is one of the most difficult areas of numeracy, and once you figure out the operation you have to use, the rest is easy (well, that’s the theory anyway!!)
A really good way of organising your problem solving, is to think in 3 steps:
Step 1 – read the question (obvious though it sounds, people often forget to read the actual words!)
Step 2 – highlight the information from the question using a highlighter pen, or just circle it with your pencil (if the question says ‘How much CHANGE...?’ remember not to write how much you have spent.) These are known as TWO-STEP or MULTI-STEP problems.
Step 3 – write down the calculation that you need to do to work out the answer
By then end of the week, we will have:
· Solved mathematical problems or puzzles, recognise and explain patterns and relationships, generalise and predict.
· Suggested extensions by asking ‘What if … ?’
· Known when all possibilities have been found and check for repeats.
· Organised the recording of possibilities, e.g. in an ordered list or table.
MUST: solve a problem by listing all possible answers in a systematic way.
SHOULD: begin to see how working systematically helps me make general statements.
COULD: find and prove that I have found all possible answers to a problem by checking against criteria.
These are some fun websites to help with problem-solving:
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM2/GSM2wp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM1/GSMwp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie2/Katie2wp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie1/Katiewp1.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/mathhoops_Z1.html
http://www.interactivestuff.org/sums4fun/nummaze.html
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/puzzlemaths/
http://www.transum.org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/index.htm
Also, remember to go to http://del.icio.us/amworrall/numeracy for lots of other websites to support your numeracy work.
http://www.freeducation.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=downloads&cat=mathspowerpoint has some great powerpoints fro numeracy, which will guide you through lots of key concepts on numeracy. Try out some of the problem solving ones and use the 3 step strategy to see if it works.
http://www.timetoteach.co.uk/booster6.html click on lessons 5 and 6 for the activities we will be using this week.
Reports
On Friday you will receive your reports. They are for you and parents to share as a celebration of your achievements. They will be sealed, so PLEASE try to avoid the temptation to open them on the way home. We know that you want to know your SATs results, but it is much better to sit and open them away from your friends at home. As I write this, they haven’t actually arrived back in school from the external markers, so even the teachers don’t know yet!! The results for may look a bit confusing at first, but you will get your ACTUAL results and something called TEACHER ASSESSMENT. These are the levels which your teacher thinks you have been working at through the year. St. Gregory’s get BOTH sets of results.
The year 5’s will also find out which teacher they will be going to next year and the results from your test.
There is also a comments sheet included with your reports, for your parents to send back to school. The teachers do love to read them, so please do remember to send them back into school as soon as possible.
Sports Day
As you may have gathered, due to the very wet weather over the last week, we have had to postpone Sports Day until the 17th July. Unfortunately, this is the only available date, so if it rains on this day, Sports Day will have to be cancelled.
Barbeque
There are still some tickets available for the FOSV ‘BBQ’ this Friday from 6 ‘til late! If you haven’t got your ticket yet, please send requests into school, or see any member of the FOSV.
Here’s to a dry week!!??!!
Year 5/6 team
You should also receive the words for the songs on Monday and it would be a BIG help, if you could help your child to learn these words. Don’t worry, even I know some of these words, so it shouldn’t be too much of a trauma!
So...that’s for the afternoons, but what about the mornings? Well...
Geography / Literacy / ICT
Much as I hate to say this, but the current ‘webbed-feet’ weather, has actually worked to our advantage! This week, we are looking at why floods happen and the effect they have on the environment.
It may seem hard to believe that a small, slow-flowing stream or gentle river could cause serious damage to people and the places in which they live and work, but looks can be deceptive! Rivers can be things of beauty and the historic lifeblood of a settlement. We will find out how we use flowing water to enhance life and living, whilst trying to contain its destructive powers when in flood, using the enquiry resources of the Internet!
Activities for you to try
We will be doing these activities in class this week, but have a go at home first – it will give you a great head start!
Identifying a river catchment - Use a map or atlas to identify a major river near to where you live, and use tracing paper to identify and draw its source (where it begins) and its mouth (where it ends). Then trace on the streams, brooks and smaller rivers that feed into your main river - these are called the tributaries. The source of each of these tributaries marks one point on the boundary of the river - joining these points up shows the approximate limits of the catchment area of your river.
Use an atlas to locate and mark Nottingham and the course of the River Trent on a blank outline map of the British Isles.
Try searching for information on how the Ancient Egyptians used the regular annual flooding of the River Nile to help their agricultural activities.
Why do you think that so many cities developed close to rivers despite the obvious risks?
Carry out a debate in the classroom presenting arguments for and against the damming of the River Nile.
What do people see as the advantages of the dam? What are seen as the disadvantages?
Investigate the factors which cause rivers to flash flood and why this is an increasing occurrence compared with past times?
Write a report on how the Thames Barrier works and why it was necessary to protect the city of London.
Locate Mozambique and mark the main rivers. How close are the main settlements to those rivers? Why?
Investigate what could have been done to avoid the devastating floods in Mozambique?
Find out how the world supported Mozambique in its struggle to cope with and recover from the devastating floods?
The following websites will be helpful when trying some of these activities:
http://www.mrdowling.com/607-aswandam.html information on the Aswan Dam
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/egypt/egypt2.htm the geography of the Nile
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/1797794/ flood warnings from The Environment Agency’s website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/662472.stm news story about the floods in Mozambique in 2000.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/655510.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/662847.stm
Numeracy
The Year 6’s will be working on their transition booklets, whilst the Year 5’s will be working on Problem Solving activities.
This is one of the most difficult areas of numeracy, and once you figure out the operation you have to use, the rest is easy (well, that’s the theory anyway!!)
A really good way of organising your problem solving, is to think in 3 steps:
Step 1 – read the question (obvious though it sounds, people often forget to read the actual words!)
Step 2 – highlight the information from the question using a highlighter pen, or just circle it with your pencil (if the question says ‘How much CHANGE...?’ remember not to write how much you have spent.) These are known as TWO-STEP or MULTI-STEP problems.
Step 3 – write down the calculation that you need to do to work out the answer
By then end of the week, we will have:
· Solved mathematical problems or puzzles, recognise and explain patterns and relationships, generalise and predict.
· Suggested extensions by asking ‘What if … ?’
· Known when all possibilities have been found and check for repeats.
· Organised the recording of possibilities, e.g. in an ordered list or table.
MUST: solve a problem by listing all possible answers in a systematic way.
SHOULD: begin to see how working systematically helps me make general statements.
COULD: find and prove that I have found all possible answers to a problem by checking against criteria.
These are some fun websites to help with problem-solving:
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM2/GSM2wp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM1/GSMwp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie2/Katie2wp1.html
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie1/Katiewp1.html
http://www.mathplayground.com/mathhoops_Z1.html
http://www.interactivestuff.org/sums4fun/nummaze.html
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/puzzlemaths/
http://www.transum.org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/index.htm
Also, remember to go to http://del.icio.us/amworrall/numeracy for lots of other websites to support your numeracy work.
http://www.freeducation.co.uk/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=downloads&cat=mathspowerpoint has some great powerpoints fro numeracy, which will guide you through lots of key concepts on numeracy. Try out some of the problem solving ones and use the 3 step strategy to see if it works.
http://www.timetoteach.co.uk/booster6.html click on lessons 5 and 6 for the activities we will be using this week.
Reports
On Friday you will receive your reports. They are for you and parents to share as a celebration of your achievements. They will be sealed, so PLEASE try to avoid the temptation to open them on the way home. We know that you want to know your SATs results, but it is much better to sit and open them away from your friends at home. As I write this, they haven’t actually arrived back in school from the external markers, so even the teachers don’t know yet!! The results for may look a bit confusing at first, but you will get your ACTUAL results and something called TEACHER ASSESSMENT. These are the levels which your teacher thinks you have been working at through the year. St. Gregory’s get BOTH sets of results.
The year 5’s will also find out which teacher they will be going to next year and the results from your test.
There is also a comments sheet included with your reports, for your parents to send back to school. The teachers do love to read them, so please do remember to send them back into school as soon as possible.
Sports Day
As you may have gathered, due to the very wet weather over the last week, we have had to postpone Sports Day until the 17th July. Unfortunately, this is the only available date, so if it rains on this day, Sports Day will have to be cancelled.
Barbeque
There are still some tickets available for the FOSV ‘BBQ’ this Friday from 6 ‘til late! If you haven’t got your ticket yet, please send requests into school, or see any member of the FOSV.
Here’s to a dry week!!??!!
Year 5/6 team
Friday, June 22, 2007
Week beginning 25th June 2007
Rich task week
This week is a multi-cultural week across the whole school, and as such we will be focussing on many different aspects of African art and music.
We don't want to give too much away (who am I to spoil the surprise?!), but here are just a few of the things we will be getting up to...
African Tribal Masks
You will need to bring in a 2 litre bottle of milk (an empty one!!) in order to make this one. Also, any 'junk' collage materials would be great to bring in, and would give you more materials to work with. If you click on the links below, there are some great photos to inspire you.
http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/what%20a%20performance/index.htm a great webquest, based on the art topic of what a performance!! – click on the African masks on the links section.
http://www.rebirth.co.za/masks4.htm click on this link to show some examples of the African masks you could make this week.
African art
There will be lots of opportunties to work with different art media this week, to create pieces of work for block printing, watercolours, charcoal, chalks and batik.
http://www.african-collection.co.uk/about.php click through the menus to see lots of images of African art
African music
We will have the opportunity to work on lots of musical performance skills this week, particularly looking at rhythms.
http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/index.html?genre=African this site has lots of examples of African music to download for free. We will be using this is class, so if you have had a chance to listen to it beforehand, you will have a real advantage.
Summer Concert
We will be rehearsing the songs for our Summer Concert this week. Please bear with us, as there are a lot of words to learn, in a short amount of time. Also, we have had lots of children coming forward to let us know about talents (such as dancers, musicians etc.) that they persue
outside school. Please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can include them in the concert. The cut- off will be Wednesday of this week, when the order of songs and acts will be finalised.
Housekeeping
There are lots of things going on this week, so here is running order of events...
This week is a multi-cultural week across the whole school, and as such we will be focussing on many different aspects of African art and music.
We don't want to give too much away (who am I to spoil the surprise?!), but here are just a few of the things we will be getting up to...
African Tribal Masks
You will need to bring in a 2 litre bottle of milk (an empty one!!) in order to make this one. Also, any 'junk' collage materials would be great to bring in, and would give you more materials to work with. If you click on the links below, there are some great photos to inspire you.
http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/what%20a%20performance/index.htm a great webquest, based on the art topic of what a performance!! – click on the African masks on the links section.
http://www.rebirth.co.za/masks4.htm click on this link to show some examples of the African masks you could make this week.
African art
There will be lots of opportunties to work with different art media this week, to create pieces of work for block printing, watercolours, charcoal, chalks and batik.
http://www.african-collection.co.uk/about.php click through the menus to see lots of images of African art
African music
We will have the opportunity to work on lots of musical performance skills this week, particularly looking at rhythms.
http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/index.html?genre=African this site has lots of examples of African music to download for free. We will be using this is class, so if you have had a chance to listen to it beforehand, you will have a real advantage.
Summer Concert
We will be rehearsing the songs for our Summer Concert this week. Please bear with us, as there are a lot of words to learn, in a short amount of time. Also, we have had lots of children coming forward to let us know about talents (such as dancers, musicians etc.) that they persue
outside school. Please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can include them in the concert. The cut- off will be Wednesday of this week, when the order of songs and acts will be finalised.
Housekeeping
There are lots of things going on this week, so here is running order of events...
- Tuesday - Year 5 Rugby afternoon
- Wednesday - Year 6 Visit to St. Gregory's - all day.
- Thursday - Science show in the morning; Mass at 2pm for Saint Peter and Paul
In order to help out with time etc., homework will now be sent on TUESDAYS to be returned on MONDAYS. Many thanks for you co-operation with this.
Here's to a fun-packed week!
Year 5/6 team
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Week beginning 18th June
Literacy
This week, we will be looking at how good we are at persuading people to come round to our way of thinking. We will be dividing the classes into half...one half will be animal rights campaigners – the other half will be circus owners.
By the end of the week, we will have covered issues such as bias and writing for different audiences.
While composing the pieces of writing, we will be focussing on the following:
Style: sentence construction
· Adapt or rearrange sentences in relationship to persuasive texts, using subordinate clauses to add information, to give reasons and to explain.
· Write complex sentences, selecting and using a wide range of subordinators.
Style: language effects
· Use well-chosen phrases and vocabulary to engage the reader.
· Use appropriate grammatical features for different text types.
Purpose and organisation
· Draw writing, both narrative and non-fiction forms, towards a defined conclusion.
· Use a repertoire of causal and logical connectives as well as those that signal time, e.g. however, therefore, next, meanwhile.
· In non-fiction, elaborate the basic structure of text types in order to make writing more effective in relation to audience and purpose.
· to construct an argument using note form or full text to persuade others of a point of view;
· to understand how writing can be adapted for different audiences and purposes.
· to construct an argument to persuade others of a point of view;
· to use connectives to link clauses within sentences and to link sentences in longer texts.
· to construct an argument to persuade others of a point of view;
· to use connectives to link clauses and sentences (see pp.130–1 Grammar for Writing);
· to investigate clauses.
When we are marking your piece of writing, we will using the following statements from the marking ladders:
· I stated my point of view clearly in the introduction and in the conclusion
· I backed up each argument with relevant evidence and detail
· My argument is mainly in the present tense
· I used conditionals
· I used connectives: to structure the argument: ‘first’, ‘finally’; to link ideas with in the argument: ‘because’, ‘consequently’
· I used persuasive devices such as: statistics, emotive language; rhetorical questions
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/writing/index.asp?topic=Persuasive mini lessons to help you get to grips with persuasive writing. Have a look at the teacher’s section too!
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/hotel.html although this is aimed at younger children, the questions that are asked via the ‘story machine’, will give you a few ideas for your own writing
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/poster.htm designing a persuasive poster. Maybe you could use your ICT skills to print your own design off?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/argument.shtml choose an activity and then argue against your partner’s point of view.
Numeracy
The year 6’s will continue to work on their transition booklets, whilst the year 5’s will be working on the following objectives:
· Express a quotient as a fraction or as a decimal when dividing a whole number by 2, 4, 5 or 10
http://teacher.scholastic.com/maven/virtual/index.htm solve the mystery by answering the multiple choice questions
http://nwlg.org/pages/resources/ma_num/swf/para002c.html click on the percentages which match the fractions in the top left hand corner
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/saloonsnap.html if you spot a snap, click on the bell, but you have to be quick!
http://www.ictgames.com/equivalence.html drag the fractions, decimals and percentages onto the correct place on the number lines
http://www.mathplayground.com/Matching_Fraction_Percent.html click on the cards to turn them over and see if you can find the matching pairs.
http://www.freewebs.com/weddell/FDP%20contents.html choose whether you want to convert decimals to fractions or vice versa
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/fracto.html play on the ‘decifractor’ to change a fraction into a decimal
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/decimals/fraction%20of%20amount.swf finding fractions of amounts
· Represent halves, tenths, and fifths as fractions and decimals
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/3_num_multiply/eng/Introduction/default.htm click on each of the lesson parts to take you through each section, step by step
http://www2.sherston.com/freebees/act/MSactivity/loadms.htm imagine that you are in the sandwich shop – this is a spreadsheet simulation, in which you have to calculate how much money your shop has made
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/short_multiplication/3x1contents.swf multiplying a HTU number by a single digit
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/long_multiplication/long%20multiplication.swf multiplying a two digit number by another two digit number. This shows you how to use the grid method to multiply numbers together.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/teachingresources/mathematics/nns_itps/multiplication_grid/num_itp_multi_grid_2_2.swf another example of the grid method for multiplication
· Use informal written methods to support, record or explain multiplications
· Identify and use appropriate operations (including combinations of operations) to solve word problems
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM2/GSM2wp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM1/GSMwp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie2/Katie2wp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie1/Katiewp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.mathplayground.com/mathhoops_Z1.html again, solve the word problems in order to win the basketball game
http://www.interactivestuff.org/sums4fun/nummaze.htmluse use your multiplication knowledge in order to move the circles around the grid
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/puzzlemaths/ how many of the puzzles can you solve?
http://www.transum.org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/index.htm look back at this site every day for a new word problem
By the end of the week, you could be able to:
· Represent the remainder as a fraction, using the divisor as the denominator
· Use the grid method for multiplying three-digit numbers by two-digit numbers or by numbers to one decimal place
· Identify the key words and select the appropriate calculation
Geography
This week, we will be reviewing our knowledge of the water cycle and describing in using the words evaporation and condensation. We will also be discussing how site conditions can influence the weather. We will be looking at the playground or school field and asking the children to note run-off – water collection areas – after rainfall. We will be identifying areas of poor drainage; measuring how puddles change over time; photographing and tracing changes; and carrying out controlled experiments in the classroom.
By the end of the week, we will have:
· drawn puddle maps to scale
· described what happens to rain water when it reaches the ground
· identified forms in which water occurs in the environment
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/water_cycle/rivers/index.shtml lots of information to refresh your memory about the water cycle. Can you remember all the vocabulary? Click on the animated diagram to show you step by step how the cycle works.
http://www.angliacampus.com/public/pri/geog/rivers/ lots of ideas and links for all things to do with rivers and how they are formed.
Look back at all the links for Rivers and Coasts from last week’s blog to help.
Design and Technology
The children worked really hard on the start of their Spanish Galleon last week and are ready to apply the flourishes this week. We have even christened the vessel the Santa Vincent!! A huge thanks to Mrs Lockett, without whom, this would never have got off the ground (or set sail!!) We have even heard a rumour that Foundation Stage children can’t wait to come and conduct the boat’s maiden voyage! Photographs will be put on the blog when it’s finished.
First Holy Communions
The children in Year 3 will be receiving their First Holy Communion this Saturday at St.Joseph’s Church. We and they, would love you to join them at 9.30am for their special day. Our prayers and thoughts will be with them and their families as they continue on their spiritual journey.
Future planning
For those parents who need to book time off work, the Leaver's Mass will take place on the last day of term, but now at 10.30am in the school hall. Thank you for your understanding with this.
Have a good week.
Year 5/6 team
This week, we will be looking at how good we are at persuading people to come round to our way of thinking. We will be dividing the classes into half...one half will be animal rights campaigners – the other half will be circus owners.
By the end of the week, we will have covered issues such as bias and writing for different audiences.
While composing the pieces of writing, we will be focussing on the following:
Style: sentence construction
· Adapt or rearrange sentences in relationship to persuasive texts, using subordinate clauses to add information, to give reasons and to explain.
· Write complex sentences, selecting and using a wide range of subordinators.
Style: language effects
· Use well-chosen phrases and vocabulary to engage the reader.
· Use appropriate grammatical features for different text types.
Purpose and organisation
· Draw writing, both narrative and non-fiction forms, towards a defined conclusion.
· Use a repertoire of causal and logical connectives as well as those that signal time, e.g. however, therefore, next, meanwhile.
· In non-fiction, elaborate the basic structure of text types in order to make writing more effective in relation to audience and purpose.
· to construct an argument using note form or full text to persuade others of a point of view;
· to understand how writing can be adapted for different audiences and purposes.
· to construct an argument to persuade others of a point of view;
· to use connectives to link clauses within sentences and to link sentences in longer texts.
· to construct an argument to persuade others of a point of view;
· to use connectives to link clauses and sentences (see pp.130–1 Grammar for Writing);
· to investigate clauses.
When we are marking your piece of writing, we will using the following statements from the marking ladders:
· I stated my point of view clearly in the introduction and in the conclusion
· I backed up each argument with relevant evidence and detail
· My argument is mainly in the present tense
· I used conditionals
· I used connectives: to structure the argument: ‘first’, ‘finally’; to link ideas with in the argument: ‘because’, ‘consequently’
· I used persuasive devices such as: statistics, emotive language; rhetorical questions
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/writing/index.asp?topic=Persuasive mini lessons to help you get to grips with persuasive writing. Have a look at the teacher’s section too!
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/hotel.html although this is aimed at younger children, the questions that are asked via the ‘story machine’, will give you a few ideas for your own writing
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/poster.htm designing a persuasive poster. Maybe you could use your ICT skills to print your own design off?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/argument.shtml choose an activity and then argue against your partner’s point of view.
Numeracy
The year 6’s will continue to work on their transition booklets, whilst the year 5’s will be working on the following objectives:
· Express a quotient as a fraction or as a decimal when dividing a whole number by 2, 4, 5 or 10
http://teacher.scholastic.com/maven/virtual/index.htm solve the mystery by answering the multiple choice questions
http://nwlg.org/pages/resources/ma_num/swf/para002c.html click on the percentages which match the fractions in the top left hand corner
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/saloonsnap.html if you spot a snap, click on the bell, but you have to be quick!
http://www.ictgames.com/equivalence.html drag the fractions, decimals and percentages onto the correct place on the number lines
http://www.mathplayground.com/Matching_Fraction_Percent.html click on the cards to turn them over and see if you can find the matching pairs.
http://www.freewebs.com/weddell/FDP%20contents.html choose whether you want to convert decimals to fractions or vice versa
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/fracto.html play on the ‘decifractor’ to change a fraction into a decimal
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/decimals/fraction%20of%20amount.swf finding fractions of amounts
· Represent halves, tenths, and fifths as fractions and decimals
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/3_num_multiply/eng/Introduction/default.htm click on each of the lesson parts to take you through each section, step by step
http://www2.sherston.com/freebees/act/MSactivity/loadms.htm imagine that you are in the sandwich shop – this is a spreadsheet simulation, in which you have to calculate how much money your shop has made
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/short_multiplication/3x1contents.swf multiplying a HTU number by a single digit
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/long_multiplication/long%20multiplication.swf multiplying a two digit number by another two digit number. This shows you how to use the grid method to multiply numbers together.
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/teachingresources/mathematics/nns_itps/multiplication_grid/num_itp_multi_grid_2_2.swf another example of the grid method for multiplication
· Use informal written methods to support, record or explain multiplications
· Identify and use appropriate operations (including combinations of operations) to solve word problems
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM2/GSM2wp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/GSM1/GSMwp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie2/Katie2wp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.actionmath.com/Katie1/Katiewp1.html solve the word problems for the baseball game
http://www.mathplayground.com/mathhoops_Z1.html again, solve the word problems in order to win the basketball game
http://www.interactivestuff.org/sums4fun/nummaze.htmluse use your multiplication knowledge in order to move the circles around the grid
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/puzzlemaths/ how many of the puzzles can you solve?
http://www.transum.org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_day/index.htm look back at this site every day for a new word problem
By the end of the week, you could be able to:
· Represent the remainder as a fraction, using the divisor as the denominator
· Use the grid method for multiplying three-digit numbers by two-digit numbers or by numbers to one decimal place
· Identify the key words and select the appropriate calculation
Geography
This week, we will be reviewing our knowledge of the water cycle and describing in using the words evaporation and condensation. We will also be discussing how site conditions can influence the weather. We will be looking at the playground or school field and asking the children to note run-off – water collection areas – after rainfall. We will be identifying areas of poor drainage; measuring how puddles change over time; photographing and tracing changes; and carrying out controlled experiments in the classroom.
By the end of the week, we will have:
· drawn puddle maps to scale
· described what happens to rain water when it reaches the ground
· identified forms in which water occurs in the environment
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/water_cycle/rivers/index.shtml lots of information to refresh your memory about the water cycle. Can you remember all the vocabulary? Click on the animated diagram to show you step by step how the cycle works.
http://www.angliacampus.com/public/pri/geog/rivers/ lots of ideas and links for all things to do with rivers and how they are formed.
Look back at all the links for Rivers and Coasts from last week’s blog to help.
Design and Technology
The children worked really hard on the start of their Spanish Galleon last week and are ready to apply the flourishes this week. We have even christened the vessel the Santa Vincent!! A huge thanks to Mrs Lockett, without whom, this would never have got off the ground (or set sail!!) We have even heard a rumour that Foundation Stage children can’t wait to come and conduct the boat’s maiden voyage! Photographs will be put on the blog when it’s finished.
First Holy Communions
The children in Year 3 will be receiving their First Holy Communion this Saturday at St.Joseph’s Church. We and they, would love you to join them at 9.30am for their special day. Our prayers and thoughts will be with them and their families as they continue on their spiritual journey.
Future planning
For those parents who need to book time off work, the Leaver's Mass will take place on the last day of term, but now at 10.30am in the school hall. Thank you for your understanding with this.
Have a good week.
Year 5/6 team
Friday, June 01, 2007
There's no business like...
Welcome back to the last half term before the long summer holidays. Maybe we will get SOME sunshine this time, rather than the constant drizzle we have just had! We may need to get ourselves ‘rust-proofed’ before long!
This half term is fun-filled, action-packed and certainly extremely busy! At the end of it all, will be a fabulous production, which we can now reveal is called ‘Olivia’. No, it isn’t a typing error, it really is a musical called ‘Olivia’, based on the more familiar tale of ‘Oliver’! Although the songs are beautiful, we may include one or two favourites from the original...’Consider yourself’....!!!??? We will cast parts for the play this week, so hopefully you should all know which part you are doing by Friday (fingers crossed!) We hope to keep the costumes fairly simple, so there is no need to rush out and hire anything.
Whilst the play will take over many afternoons, full curriculum will still continue up until the end of term. It will take on many forms, although there will be definitely be an ‘arty’ slant on it...you just can’t keep me away from a paint brush and glitter!
This week is a Rich Task week, where we will complete our History work on the Spanish Armada from last half term. We were so impressed by the standard of the work which was completed using the Bloom’s activities, we have decided to extend them into this first week.
In order to do this, we need you to bring in a medium-sized box (about the size of a crisp box) for Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. They will all be joined together and made into a Spanish Galleon. Hopefully, weather permitting, we will be able to construct our galleon on the patio.
More will be revealed on Monday!
The rest of the curriculum for this half term consists of:
Citizenship/SEAL
Children’s rights – human rights
In this topic, you will learn about every human’s basic rights and the differences between needs, wants and rights. You’ll learn that with rights come responsibilities, such as the responsibility not to infringe the rights of others and the responsibility to support others in their quest for rights. You’ll learn about the importance of honesty, trust, tolerance and respect for others. You find out about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and that it applies to all children, whoever or wherever they are. You will also learn how human rights apply in their school and in the local community. You will develop strategies for ensuring that rights are upheld and to promote equality in the classroom and playground, and you will learn how to encourage others to respect and care for one another.
By the end of this topic, you:
Must: know that we all have basic human rights. They take some responsibility in the classroom for ensuring the rights of others are not infringed. They consider the viewpoints of other children.
Should: understand that we all have basic rights (known as ‘human rights’) and that there are particular rights for children. They discuss issues of rights and responsibilities with others. They take responsibility within their own school community to effect positive change and to ensure the rights of others are not infringed.
Could: know what basic human rights are and can give examples of these. They are aware of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They recognise that with rights come responsibilities. They know about human rights issues, how these affect people in other places and how they affected people in the past. They know what action they could take to ensure rights are upheld in the school community. They assume responsibility for others in the classroom and playground.
Music
What a performance
The play...!!! Need we say more??
Geography
Investigating Rivers / Coasts
During this topic, through research, you will learn about rivers and the effects they have on the landscape.
The unit focuses on the components of the water cycle, how rivers erode, transport and deposit materials to produce particular landscape features and the characteristics of a river system in another part of the world
By the end of this unit, you:
MUST: offer appropriate observations about river features; identify how people affect the environment and recognise ways in which people try to manage it
SHOULD: recognise selected physical processes relating to rivers and begin to appreciate how these can change the character of places; draw on their own observations and secondary sources and use their awareness of river events to suggest geographical questions and raise issues that might be studied, eg floods, drought, pollution
COULD: use confidently a full range of skills and different kinds of maps and resources to undertake independent investigations; offer explanations for river features observed; relate local river work to generalisations about rivers elsewhere
http://www.old-glossop.com/flood2002/floodpages2002/indexflood2002.html These images record the dramatic events of 2002 when Glossop in Derbyshire was flooded. There are some lovely archived images of the same location during floods in the twentieth century.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1096&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers Find out about the way the river transports its load see waterfalls and ox bow lakes being formed.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1100&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers understanding flooding.
http://www.globaleye.org.uk/primary_autumn2001/focuson/index.html focus on rivers. A great site for background reading before we start the topic.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1091&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers click on this link to download a Powerpoint for information about rivers.
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?src=307/consultants_resources%2F_files%2Fgorge.swf a short animation which shows how a waterfall creates a gorge...remember gorge walking in Conway?
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?src=309/consultants_resources%2F_files%2Fmeander4.swf meander formation
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/geog/hydro_cycle/alt/alt_into.htm looks at the River Alt
http://www.swgfl.org.uk/rivers/ some good information if you want to do a project about rivers on your own.
http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/woodgate/activities/stream01.htm photographs of river features including pollution
http://www.angliacampus.com/public/pri/geog/rivers/ fantastic resources which poses questions for you to think about and then attempts to answer them.
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/contents.htm you might recognise the little avatars from Snaith Primary!
http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/rivers/index.html this provides a real challenge and is definitely a ‘could’! Locate the rivers using the keys and maps provided.
http://icteachers.co.uk/children/cyberhunts/riverhunt.htm great to use as a webquest
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConMediaFile.6373/Watch-the-Thames-rise-and-fall.html watch the River Thames in tide!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/whatis_river/index.shtml this is really good site, packed with useful information
HISTORY – TUDOR EXPLORATION
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/TudorExploration/NMMFLASH/index.htm love it! Click on the two rats at the beginning (aka Sir Walter Rodent and Sir Francis!) As you work your way through this site, you are sure to learn lots and smile throughout!
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/essentials/history/units/tudorexpl_bi.shtml
Literacy
This term, we will be looking at the following areas:
Poetry – work by significant authors
Authors and text – class model
Extended narrative
Impersonal writing
PE
Athletics
In this unit, you will focus on developing your technical understanding of athletic activity. You will learn how to set targets and improve your performance in a range of running, jumping and throwing activities.
As in all athletic activities, you will have to think about how to achieve the greatest possible speed, height, distance or accuracy. This will be great preparation for Sports Day!
By the end of the topic, you:
Could: show good control, speed, strength and stamina when running, jumping and throwing; adapt skills and techniques to different challenges and equipment; use good technique; pace their effort well; know the rules; organise and judge events and challenges well; identify activities that help develop stamina or power and suggest how some can be used when warming up; pick out the important features of a performance; make good suggestions about what could be improved
Here I Am
We are continuing our topic of Freedom and Responsibility with the Relate section. We shall be focussing on the idea of Forgiveness. You should be familiar with some of the reading that we will be looking at, as they were explored during your Reconciliation.
Forgiveness
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we learn about an important way of
loving other people, of setting them free. When the friends of Jesus
asked him to teach them how to pray, he taught them the ‘Our Father’.
A reflection
I wonder if Peter thought a lot about this prayer, especially the words,
‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’.
I wonder if these words puzzled him, if he did not quite understand what
they meant. We cannot expect God to forgive us, if we are not ready to
forgive others when they have hurt or harmed us. I wonder if Peter
thought as I sometimes do, ‘Sometimes when I forgive someone, they
just go and do the same thing again or something else that hurts me just
as much, or more’. I wonder if that is what led to a question Peter asked
Jesus. Read about this in the Gospel according to Matthew 18:21-22, or
read or listen to the simpler reading version on Copymaster A. Each time
we say the ‘Our Father’, we remind ourselves that we, too, must always
be ready to forgive.
This half term is fun-filled, action-packed and certainly extremely busy! At the end of it all, will be a fabulous production, which we can now reveal is called ‘Olivia’. No, it isn’t a typing error, it really is a musical called ‘Olivia’, based on the more familiar tale of ‘Oliver’! Although the songs are beautiful, we may include one or two favourites from the original...’Consider yourself’....!!!??? We will cast parts for the play this week, so hopefully you should all know which part you are doing by Friday (fingers crossed!) We hope to keep the costumes fairly simple, so there is no need to rush out and hire anything.
Whilst the play will take over many afternoons, full curriculum will still continue up until the end of term. It will take on many forms, although there will be definitely be an ‘arty’ slant on it...you just can’t keep me away from a paint brush and glitter!
This week is a Rich Task week, where we will complete our History work on the Spanish Armada from last half term. We were so impressed by the standard of the work which was completed using the Bloom’s activities, we have decided to extend them into this first week.
In order to do this, we need you to bring in a medium-sized box (about the size of a crisp box) for Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. They will all be joined together and made into a Spanish Galleon. Hopefully, weather permitting, we will be able to construct our galleon on the patio.
More will be revealed on Monday!
The rest of the curriculum for this half term consists of:
Citizenship/SEAL
Children’s rights – human rights
In this topic, you will learn about every human’s basic rights and the differences between needs, wants and rights. You’ll learn that with rights come responsibilities, such as the responsibility not to infringe the rights of others and the responsibility to support others in their quest for rights. You’ll learn about the importance of honesty, trust, tolerance and respect for others. You find out about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and that it applies to all children, whoever or wherever they are. You will also learn how human rights apply in their school and in the local community. You will develop strategies for ensuring that rights are upheld and to promote equality in the classroom and playground, and you will learn how to encourage others to respect and care for one another.
By the end of this topic, you:
Must: know that we all have basic human rights. They take some responsibility in the classroom for ensuring the rights of others are not infringed. They consider the viewpoints of other children.
Should: understand that we all have basic rights (known as ‘human rights’) and that there are particular rights for children. They discuss issues of rights and responsibilities with others. They take responsibility within their own school community to effect positive change and to ensure the rights of others are not infringed.
Could: know what basic human rights are and can give examples of these. They are aware of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They recognise that with rights come responsibilities. They know about human rights issues, how these affect people in other places and how they affected people in the past. They know what action they could take to ensure rights are upheld in the school community. They assume responsibility for others in the classroom and playground.
Music
What a performance
The play...!!! Need we say more??
Geography
Investigating Rivers / Coasts
During this topic, through research, you will learn about rivers and the effects they have on the landscape.
The unit focuses on the components of the water cycle, how rivers erode, transport and deposit materials to produce particular landscape features and the characteristics of a river system in another part of the world
By the end of this unit, you:
MUST: offer appropriate observations about river features; identify how people affect the environment and recognise ways in which people try to manage it
SHOULD: recognise selected physical processes relating to rivers and begin to appreciate how these can change the character of places; draw on their own observations and secondary sources and use their awareness of river events to suggest geographical questions and raise issues that might be studied, eg floods, drought, pollution
COULD: use confidently a full range of skills and different kinds of maps and resources to undertake independent investigations; offer explanations for river features observed; relate local river work to generalisations about rivers elsewhere
http://www.old-glossop.com/flood2002/floodpages2002/indexflood2002.html These images record the dramatic events of 2002 when Glossop in Derbyshire was flooded. There are some lovely archived images of the same location during floods in the twentieth century.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1096&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers Find out about the way the river transports its load see waterfalls and ox bow lakes being formed.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1100&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers understanding flooding.
http://www.globaleye.org.uk/primary_autumn2001/focuson/index.html focus on rivers. A great site for background reading before we start the topic.
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=1091&subject=Geography&topic=Rivers click on this link to download a Powerpoint for information about rivers.
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?src=307/consultants_resources%2F_files%2Fgorge.swf a short animation which shows how a waterfall creates a gorge...remember gorge walking in Conway?
http://www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.php?src=309/consultants_resources%2F_files%2Fmeander4.swf meander formation
http://www.nwlg.org/pages/resources/geog/hydro_cycle/alt/alt_into.htm looks at the River Alt
http://www.swgfl.org.uk/rivers/ some good information if you want to do a project about rivers on your own.
http://www.schoolsliaison.org.uk/woodgate/activities/stream01.htm photographs of river features including pollution
http://www.angliacampus.com/public/pri/geog/rivers/ fantastic resources which poses questions for you to think about and then attempts to answer them.
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/contents.htm you might recognise the little avatars from Snaith Primary!
http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/rivers/index.html this provides a real challenge and is definitely a ‘could’! Locate the rivers using the keys and maps provided.
http://icteachers.co.uk/children/cyberhunts/riverhunt.htm great to use as a webquest
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConMediaFile.6373/Watch-the-Thames-rise-and-fall.html watch the River Thames in tide!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/riversandcoasts/rivers/whatis_river/index.shtml this is really good site, packed with useful information
HISTORY – TUDOR EXPLORATION
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/TudorExploration/NMMFLASH/index.htm love it! Click on the two rats at the beginning (aka Sir Walter Rodent and Sir Francis!) As you work your way through this site, you are sure to learn lots and smile throughout!
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/essentials/history/units/tudorexpl_bi.shtml
Literacy
This term, we will be looking at the following areas:
Poetry – work by significant authors
Authors and text – class model
Extended narrative
Impersonal writing
PE
Athletics
In this unit, you will focus on developing your technical understanding of athletic activity. You will learn how to set targets and improve your performance in a range of running, jumping and throwing activities.
As in all athletic activities, you will have to think about how to achieve the greatest possible speed, height, distance or accuracy. This will be great preparation for Sports Day!
By the end of the topic, you:
Could: show good control, speed, strength and stamina when running, jumping and throwing; adapt skills and techniques to different challenges and equipment; use good technique; pace their effort well; know the rules; organise and judge events and challenges well; identify activities that help develop stamina or power and suggest how some can be used when warming up; pick out the important features of a performance; make good suggestions about what could be improved
Here I Am
We are continuing our topic of Freedom and Responsibility with the Relate section. We shall be focussing on the idea of Forgiveness. You should be familiar with some of the reading that we will be looking at, as they were explored during your Reconciliation.
Forgiveness
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we learn about an important way of
loving other people, of setting them free. When the friends of Jesus
asked him to teach them how to pray, he taught them the ‘Our Father’.
A reflection
I wonder if Peter thought a lot about this prayer, especially the words,
‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’.
I wonder if these words puzzled him, if he did not quite understand what
they meant. We cannot expect God to forgive us, if we are not ready to
forgive others when they have hurt or harmed us. I wonder if Peter
thought as I sometimes do, ‘Sometimes when I forgive someone, they
just go and do the same thing again or something else that hurts me just
as much, or more’. I wonder if that is what led to a question Peter asked
Jesus. Read about this in the Gospel according to Matthew 18:21-22, or
read or listen to the simpler reading version on Copymaster A. Each time
we say the ‘Our Father’, we remind ourselves that we, too, must always
be ready to forgive.
Competition
Have you seen the new Olympic logo for the London 2012 games? What do you think of it? Think you could do better? Well, you could have a chance of doing just that. Go to http://www.fubra.com/london2012/ to have a look at some of the alternatives that have been submitted. If you do have a go, we could submit them through school! Go on...be creative!
As you can see, we have so much to get through and to write your end of year reports too!
And finally...
Just as we have had a great holiday, Miss Wilson has also had a fantastic time in Cyprus for her wedding to Anthony. I am sure that we will all still call her Miss Wilson for ages,(sorry Miss!) but just in case you are fantastic with names, she will now be called Mrs Morgan. (This could get confusing when the other Mrs Morgan returns from having her baby!!) We wish her and her new husband every success as they start their married life together. xxx
Here’s to a successful end to the year!
Year 5/6 team.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Onward and Upward!
Well, we managed to get through what seemed like a VERY long week last week! At one point, we didn't think we would ever get to Friday afternoon and THAT CAKE! We were extremely pleased with how hard all the children worked during their tests and we know that they all tried their best. The papers have now been sent off to be marked, courtesy of those 'nice' Parcelforce people! We shall be eagerly awaiting their return at the beginning of July...as soon as we know, you'll know!
As the half term draws ever closer, we shall be tying up a few assessments in order for us to be able to plan the last half term's work. Can you believe that for some of you, this will be your last six weeks at St. Vincent's??!!
Material hunt
We were slightly ambitious last week in trying to get our Spanish artwork completed, so Monday and Tuesday will be Operation ART! We have some material already in school, but we need lots more. Any colour, texture or size is needed...just make sure you don't bring your mum's favourite dressing gown, as it will be cut up!
Creativity Week
Remember the Blooms activities that we did during our revision? Well, we have lots of them for you to have a go at this week. Each activity will have a number of points allocated to it, and you will be told on Monday the number of points you have to score, in order to complete the task.
Here's how it works...
As the half term draws ever closer, we shall be tying up a few assessments in order for us to be able to plan the last half term's work. Can you believe that for some of you, this will be your last six weeks at St. Vincent's??!!
Material hunt
We were slightly ambitious last week in trying to get our Spanish artwork completed, so Monday and Tuesday will be Operation ART! We have some material already in school, but we need lots more. Any colour, texture or size is needed...just make sure you don't bring your mum's favourite dressing gown, as it will be cut up!
Creativity Week
Remember the Blooms activities that we did during our revision? Well, we have lots of them for you to have a go at this week. Each activity will have a number of points allocated to it, and you will be told on Monday the number of points you have to score, in order to complete the task.
Here's how it works...
- On Monday, you will get a score card, on which you will collect your points throughout the week - don't lose it, or you might have to start again!
- You will be given a Bloom's sheets which contains about 25 different activities for you to choose from, each with a different number of points allocated to them; the harder the activity, the greater the number of points
- The activities you choose, will be up to you - writing, music, artwork - whichever way of learning suits you best
- On Friday, whatever you have made, learned, produced etc., you will need to share with the rest of your class.
This will be a great opportunity to show off all those creative skills and I can't wait to get the sparkly stuff out...(I'm sure I was a magpie in a former life!)
These websites will help you find out information when completing your Blooms Sheet. You will also have access to all of the text books etc. in class and in the library.
http://www.brims.co.uk/tudors/index.html
http://www.britainexpress.com/History/tudor/armada.htm
http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/background/span-armada.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/adams_armada_01.shtml
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Tudors/spanish_armada.htm
http://www.snaithprimary.eril.net/ttss.htm if you scroll down and click on the guitar on this one, you can hear some Tudor music!
http://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/walterraleigh.htm
http://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/francisdrake.htm
http://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/phillipofspain.htm
Numeracy
The children will be working on the key objectives for Year 5 (Year 6 children will be starting the transition units). As in previous blogs, there a number of sites that are really useful for this. These were stuck into the Y5 diaries, but just in case they have been misplaced, here they are again:
http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ click on the Key Objs tab at the top of the page and then select Year 5
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/x10x100/x10x100.swf a really useful site for multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/negnumorder.swf order a set of positive and negative numbers
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/decimals/tenths-hundredths.swf use decimal notation for tenths and hundredths
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/rounding/nearest1.swf rounding a decimal to nearest whole number
http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/fracto.html relating fractions to decimals - I love the name of this...The Decifractor!!
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/add_sub/sub%20large%20nos.swf can you calculate the difference between two large numbers mentally?
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/tables_backwards/tables%20speed.swf how fast can you do your times table? Be warned - the FAST is like lightening!!
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/short_multiplication/3x1contents.swf short multiplication
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/division/3x1%20division.swf short division - remember the bus stop method?
http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/shape/area/area.swf find the area of a regular shape
As well as all of these links, remember to have a look at the Delicious links for any area of numeracy.
Here I Am
We will continue the second week of our new topic 'Freedom and Responsibility'. The children will learn about the Commandments and how these help Christians to be free and responsible.
http://www.refuel.org.uk/curric/festivals/pentecost/index.html
http://www.request.org.uk/main/basics/rightandwrong/rightandwrong01.htm scroll down to read the excerpts from the Bible.
Forward planning
After the holidays, the first week back will be a rich task week - yes, more artwork!!! The children will need a fairly large box, (about the size of a large box of crisps) and an old one of dad's/ grandad's/ older brother's shirts for painting. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for fine weather, as we intend to make our very own Tudor Galleon on the patio area. We have even saved some large tubes to use as the oars! If anyone has access to any large cardboard carpet rolls (aka the mast) that would be great! Depending on the number of boxes brought in, we could even have our very own Spanish Armada!
ICT
I came across an on-line 'add-on' for Google, that some of you may be interesting in. http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.html This will take you on a tour of a word processor and spreadsheet that you can experiment with on-line. Why not give MSN a rest over the holidays, and use this to write collaborative stories with over the net. If you manage to save some, then we could post some of them on the school website!
Can you hear the bells?
Well, if you listen really carefully during the holidays, you may be able to hear the faint ringing of bells from Cyprus. What am I talking about you may wonder?! Well, Miss Wilson will become Mrs Morgan over the holidays! We wish her and her future husband all of our very best wishes and look forward to seeing the gorgeous photographs on her return.
Have a really restful holiday and enjoy the break! You have earned it!
Year 5/6 team.
Friday, May 11, 2007
SATs Week
Well, after all of the revision and preparation that has gone on for what seems like forever, the chance to show off has finally arrived.
I promise that I will try to keep this blog short this week, (ooh that'll be difficult!) so that you can spend some time relaxing in-between the tests. If you really can't resist the urge to do a bit of surfing, then either use previous week's blog entries, or have a look through some of the 'fun stuff' on http://del.icio.us/amworrall
Here's a quick reminder of the things you should bring with you on Monday morning:
I promise that I will try to keep this blog short this week, (ooh that'll be difficult!) so that you can spend some time relaxing in-between the tests. If you really can't resist the urge to do a bit of surfing, then either use previous week's blog entries, or have a look through some of the 'fun stuff' on http://del.icio.us/amworrall
Here's a quick reminder of the things you should bring with you on Monday morning:
- yourself (not an impersonator!)
- your pencils, pens, maths equipment, rubber and pencil sharpener
- a water bottle (with a sports cap)
- a SMALL good luck charm (not the biggest teddy in your collection!)
Remember you need to arrive in school in PLENTY OF TIME - set your alarm a few minutes earlier, so that you are up and awake before having a hearty breakfast. This is not the week for grabbing a piece of toast on the way out through the door - make time to eat properly!
The Year 6's have to follow a set timetable, which should have gone home on Friday. Just in case that piece of paper has shuffled off to where all letters in Year 6's bags go, here's a reminder of what tests you will be doing on which day...
MONDAY
- Science Test A and Test B
TUESDAY
- Writing (short and long papers) and the Spelling Test
WEDNESDAY
- Reading Test
THURSDAY
- Maths Test A and Mental Maths Test
FRIDAY
- Maths Test B (calculator paper)
The Year 5's will also be following this timetable as far as possible, to allow for staff to supervise tests for both year groups.
Because of all of the tests this week, there will be NO HOMEWORK for either Year 5 or Year 6 (is that a cheer I can hear??!!)
Final thought...
I came across this piece of writing, called Perspective, which does kind of make sense of what we have all been working towards over the past few months. It does have a 'hidden message', so you may need to read it a few times for it to make sense. Try showing it to your parents too!
Perspective by Katherine Kehler
“Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him’’” (Luke 4:8)
I had spent much of the week cleaning. It was very hot. We were having a group of people over for a barbecue. Because of the heat, it seemed better to serve the food in the garage rather than on the hot sundeck. So I washed the walls, washed the floor and painted it.
It did look a lot better – clean and pleasant and cool. But it took a lot more time than I expected. Just to take everything out of the garage, sort it all and put it back was a mammoth job.
On Saturday, as I was sweeping the sundeck and pavements, I began to wonder if all the work was worth the few hours they would be here. These thoughts came to me:
“Whatever you do, do it as unto me” and “Whatever you have done unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.”
Perspective! Christ was at the barbecue that night – in the lives of each one of the people who came.
Lord Jesus, You came to serve and not to be served. And we are to have the exact same attitude. Sometimes I forget. I get tired of serving and I become self-centered. Forgive me, Lord. Burn into my heart and mind the realisation that I am serving You, no matter what the job is or who the people are. Amen.
Wishing you all the very best of luck for this week - you will be fantastic!!
5/6 team.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
7th May 2007
This week, we thought that it may be an idea to go through each of the SATs subjects in a kind of ‘list’ of possible areas that could come up on the tests. Of course, you still have your revision books and the SAT Attack books for reference.
Before you start wading through the books though, remember that there is only one week left and it is important that you get enough rest, exercise, nourishment and sleep, in order for you to be alert enough to show off how much you know.
If you are planning to get the things that you need for the tests together over the weekend, here’s a list of what you need to bring each day:
3 pens and 3 pencils
A rubber
Pencil sharpener (the ones that have their own container built-in are really good!)
(All of these need to be in a see through plastic bag, as you aren’t allowed to take pencil cases into the hall on the day)
We do have all of this in school, but we know lots of you prefer using your own favourite pencil or pen! This is also the case with the maths equipment, such as calculators, protractors etc.
You can also bring a water bottle each day, but make sure it has a sports cap so that you don’t spill it all over your paper! Also, if you do have a lucky mascot (aka a SMALL teddy) you are allowed to have that on your desk too – just make sure you still have enough space to put your test paper on!
Of course all of this applies to the Year 5 children as well, as you too will be doing your tests the same week.
Literacy
http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jeather/writingfun/writingfun.html If you click on this link, it will give you the key features of all the genres listed below AND examples of what they should look like when they are written.
Here is a list of possible genres that you may either have to read or write about. Do you know the key features? What should each of them look like? Should you write them in the first or the third person? How should you end it?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/reading/typesoftext/index.shtml this site helps you to identify what each genre, or text type should include .
Click on each of the links to give you further information and some possible questions or examples.
Information Report
http://www.schooltrain.info/powerpoint/elephant_report.ppt you will need to have PowerPoint on your computer for this example. If you were editing this piece, what would you do to improve it?
Instructions
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/texttypes/instructions/
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/Literacy/Keystage2/Writing/Instructions/Introduction/default.htm
Recount
http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/non_fiction/war/index.htm
http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/english/activities/statements_opinions/state_opin_home.htm
Explanation
Persuasion
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/hotel.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/writing/index.asp?topic=Persuasive
http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/dragonsville/poster.htm making a persuasive poster – remember all those verbs you could use!
http://www.dragonsville.com/ a fun site to navigate around for lots of ideas to boost your writing
Discussion
Narrative
http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/Curriculum/Literacy.htm scroll down to Key Stage 2 Fiction and there are some fantastic links there for you to use.
Diary
http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/diary.htm
Autobiography
http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/autob.htm
Description
Poetry
http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/fiction/narrative/index.htm
http://www.lancsngfl.ac.uk/curriculum/literacy/lit_site/html/fiction/my_monster/index.htm
E-Mail
Letter
http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/formalletter1.htm
Invitation
Newspaper Report
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/big_news/eng/Introduct/default.htm
http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/swf/main_launcher.htm we looked at this one last week, and you wrote some fantastic reports about the Pelican Tooth Puller!!
http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/english/activities/playscript/play_home.asp click on this link to write your own play. You have to choose your own setting, scenario and characters, but it gives you some fantastic ideas of how to really get to grips with a play.
Numeracy
Calculating – using all four rules
Counting and Understanding number – multiples, decimals, fractions, estimating, greater than and less than, percentages, place value, partitioning, ordering fractions and numbers, ratio, positive and negative, functions, rounding
Handling Data – classifying and sorting, line graphs, bar graphs, discrete data graphs, mode, median, mean and range, probability
Knowing and using number facts – times tables, number bonds, division, doubling and halving,
Shape – 2D and 3D shape, angles, co-ordinates, symmetry, position, movement, tangrams
Using and Applying – decimals problems, money, fractions, puzzles,
Measuring – area, perimeter, length, mass, time, temperature, volume, capacity
Science
Living Things – habitats, plants and animals, sorting and keys, life processes, life cycles, micro-organisms, food chains
http://www.planetarkive.org/games/designAHabitat.html build your own habitat for your chosen animal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/interdependence.shtml BBC science clips - we love this one!
http://www.planetarkive.org/habitats.html this is a lovely site! Just click the habitat you want and then remember to click again on the picture of the chosen habitat. There are some really good photographs on this site!
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/minbeasts/eng/Introduction/default.htm drag and drop the minibeasts into the correct jar, by selecting main part of the lesson 1.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=lcycles5b label the life cycle diagram of a flowering plant
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=lcycles5b label the part of a flower
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2science.html lots of great interactive activities which are particularly good at labelling diagrams in science.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/ the great plant escape!!!
http://www.buginvestigators.co.uk/ everybody loved this one in class!
http://www.acocksgreen.bham.sch.uk/sciencezone/science/lifecycles/LifeCyclesQuiz.html make your own food chain by clicking on the downward arrows
Humans – moving and growing, health, teeth, smoking, drugs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/moving_growing.shtml
http://www.acocksgreen.bham.sch.uk/sciencezone/science/ourbodies/KeepingHealthyInfo.html some revision questions to help with the keeping healthy topic
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=teeth label the teeth, but can you say what the function of each of the teeth are?
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/need_my_teeth/eng/Introduction/ why do you need your teeth? This is quite simple to follow.
Materials – sorting and properties, rocks, solids liquids and gases, changing materials
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/material_matters/index.htm find out about properties of materials by clicking on the dartboard.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/rocks/eng/Introduction/default.htm exploring rocks
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/phase4_20030801/Wales/Science/Keystage2/Lifeprocessesan/Anonlinesoilexp/Introduction/default.htm investigating properties of soil
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/9_10/gases.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/solid_liquids.shtml
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/Science/Keystage2/Materialsandthe/Floatingandsink/Introduction/default.htm testing the thickness of a liquid and finding out if this affects the ability of an object to float in it
http://www.acocksgreen.bham.sch.uk/sciencezone/science/changingstate/MaterialsInfo.html changing state revision
Physical Processes – electricity, earth and space, light and shadows, sound, forces
http://www.acocksgreen.bham.sch.uk/sciencezone/science/earthmoonsun/EarthMoonSunInfo.html earth and space revision
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/earth_and_space/eng/Introduction/default.htm you might be starting to realise that there are some great resources on this website!!
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/WalesSynd_20030219/Science/Keystage2/Physicalprocess/Shadows/Introduction/default.htm this site will take you through some of those important comparative questions – the ‘ER’ questions!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/see_things.shtml can you remember which materials are transparent, translucent, or opaque? Remember when drawing arrows on diagrams, the arrow has to point FROM the light source TO the object!!
http://www.seekscience.org/interact/ click on any of the light, sound or forces adventures for your revision. We have used these since Year 3 in class, so you should be really familiar with them!
Phew! By no means do we expect you to go on all of these sites, but we thought that it may help to have some of the links we have used in class this year in one, easy to find place.
You have all worked extremely hard over the last year (well, since Foundation Stage really!) and now is your chance to shine! If you do have moments of panic and ‘I can’t remember anything’, come and speak to any of the teachers and we will do our best to help. The important thing to remember is, that we want you to do your best...after all, that’s all anyone can ask.
There were lots of people without PE kit last week, in particular correct footwear. Unfortunately, due to Health and Safety reasons, we are not able to let you take part in PE lessons in your school shoes. Pumps or trainers have the correct soles for outdoor use, so please ensure that you have the correct kit and footwear in school every day. Because of the fine weather, we may be able to use the field and outdoor area on more than just our designated PE days, so please remember to have your kit in school every day.
Correct kit for the summer term is:
White T-shirt
Royal Blue shorts
Black Pumps or trainers
Also, remember that there should be NO JEWELLRY worn during PE sessions.
That’s all for this week, in what feels like the longest blog ever!
Year 5/6 team
Thursday, April 26, 2007
30th April 2007
Well, we only have two weeks before the SATs and we are on our final revision push. We are SO pleased with all the time, dedication and effort that you have out into your revision, and it will show when you get the fantastic results you deserve! Remember, they may be called 'tests', but they are really a chance to show off how much you know!
This week's blog, is a guide to how you can make the most of those last few pages in the SAT Attack books and how to tackle the planning and questions in the tests. Remember, you can come and have a chat with any member of staff in school, who believe it or not, have felt exactly the same way as you do right now ( and yes we DO remember that long ago!!)
Literacy
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level3/level3reading.htm level 3 reading comprehension
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level4/level4reading.htm level 4
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level5/level5reading.htm level 5
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/reading/index.htm simple comprehension exercises that could be used for speed practice in completing questions in a set time
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/engindex.html scroll down for lots of reading exercises
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/setting.htm choose a picture of a setting as a writing stimulus
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/planning.shtml planning a story. This is also a fabulous site for all Bitesize revision topic areas.
We are also focussing on different types of reports in Literacy this week, as part of our revision programme. As our History topic is the Tudors, I came across a great website which links the two areas together:
http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/#
Just click on 'Start' and then select the Tudors. We will be looking at Tudor Exploration, so the New Land Found paper is a great one to start with. You can even interview witnesses such as Sir Walter Raleigh!
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/big_news/eng/Introduct/default.htm This is really good site at explaining about the key features of a newspaper.
This week's blog, is a guide to how you can make the most of those last few pages in the SAT Attack books and how to tackle the planning and questions in the tests. Remember, you can come and have a chat with any member of staff in school, who believe it or not, have felt exactly the same way as you do right now ( and yes we DO remember that long ago!!)
Literacy
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level3/level3reading.htm level 3 reading comprehension
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level4/level4reading.htm level 4
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/online/2005/read/level5/level5reading.htm level 5
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/reading/index.htm simple comprehension exercises that could be used for speed practice in completing questions in a set time
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/engindex.html scroll down for lots of reading exercises
http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/setting.htm choose a picture of a setting as a writing stimulus
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/planning.shtml planning a story. This is also a fabulous site for all Bitesize revision topic areas.
We are also focussing on different types of reports in Literacy this week, as part of our revision programme. As our History topic is the Tudors, I came across a great website which links the two areas together:
http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/#
Just click on 'Start' and then select the Tudors. We will be looking at Tudor Exploration, so the New Land Found paper is a great one to start with. You can even interview witnesses such as Sir Walter Raleigh!
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/big_news/eng/Introduct/default.htm This is really good site at explaining about the key features of a newspaper.
Science
http://www.coxhoe.durham.sch.uk/Curriculum/Science.htm The one-stop shop for lots of science links, Just scroll down past all the 'blurb' and select an area that you want to revise.
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/systems.html when you stop giggling at the voice on this site, can you put all of his organs in the right place?
http://www.secondary-zone.com/demosz/sample1/ks3_trial_schoolzone_menu.html go on! Have a challenge!! This is really for Key Stage 3, but some of you could make a really good go at this!
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/closet/movies/how_the_body_works_interim.html turn the sound down if the voice over annoys you too much!
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?subject=Science click on the links for whatever section you feel you need more practice in.
The links from previous weeks and from http://del.icio.us/amworrall still stand and are really useful. Remember to scroll back to the very first page for the 'big' list of numeracy sites which show you which area of numeracy to revise.
Newsletter
Dates for your diary - 14th-18th May is SATs week for Year 6. Year 5 will also be doing their optional tests this week too.
Cake Sale - The Friends of St Vincent's are holding a cake sale on 3rd May at 3.00pm in the school hall.
International School Award - Our school has been awarded an International Schools Award by the British Council and the Department for Education and Skills. This has been awarded to us because of all the work we have been doing in languages and across the curriculum. They were really pleased with how we have linked with our partner school in Malaga and are looking forward to when we can work with all the teachers and pupils.
Think that's all for now!
5/6 team x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)