Stingrays Class Blog

Week commencing Monday 9th March 2020

Week 24

It had been great to see a fantastic week of learning completed by the Year 6 Stingrays! Well done!

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been studying 2D and 3D shapes.  Looking at the nets and solving problems with area, perimeter and volume of shapes. We have also been learning about the different names of 2D and 3D shapes.  

In our English lessons, we have continued our book, 'Journey to Jo'burg.'  We have explored what it would be like for the characters to live in the grasslands of South Africa, through to the urban city of Johannesburg. The children have published a fantastic piece of writing of the journey!

We have continued with our boosters in the afternoon, the children are really enjoying the fast pace of these sessions - we are already seeing an impact in the morning lessons with the children applying their new skills!

During the week, we have also celebrated British Science Week. The children have taken part in a fun Science workshop on Monday and a drama workshop on Thursday to explore a range of scientists.

Week commencing Monday 2nd March 2020

Week 23

We have had a brilliant week of learning.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been looking at areas, perimeters and formula.  The children have explored these concepts in many different ways and using practical equipment and explaining the different methods in various ways.

In our English lessons, we have started our new book, 'Journey to Jo'burg.'  We have explored what it would be like for the characters to live in the grasslands of South Africa, through to the urban city of Johannesburg.

We have continued with our boosters in the afternoon, the children are really enjoying the fast pace of these sessions - we are already seeing an impact in the morning lessons with the children applying their new skills!

On Thursday, we celebrated World Book Day, the children read plenty of stories, shared their favourite stories, and read with children from FS2 and Year 1 - a great time was had by all!

Week commencing Monday 24th February 2020

Week 22

We have had a fantastic week first week back after half term. The children have been as focused as ever.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been looking at roman numerals and various reasoning patterns.

In our English lessons, we have started our new book, 'Journey to Jo'burg.'  The children have some brilliant ideas about what this books is about and we are all excited to start reading it.

We have had a trip to Manchester Science and Industry Museum but also celebrated 'International Womens and Girls in Science Day'

Week commencing Monday 10th February 2020

Week 21

What an excellent week to end a fantastic half term of learning! Year 6 have been fantastic in everything they do - it is clear that they are trying so hard to succeed!

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been re-capping all of the topics that we have currently covered to check we are comfortable before moving on.

In our English lessons, we have continued to read War Horse. We have published our war time poem based around a famous war poet Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est".

During our Encompass Topic, the Americas, we have looked at a school in America and started to write our letters to our pen pals. We have also looked at the difference between a city (New York) and somewhere rural.

Week commencing Monday 27th January 2020

Week 19

We have had a very fun and busy week of learning - with all of our children being filmed for Bee Active TV.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been learning all about pie charts and how to read and interpret them. We discussed how many different types of questions could come up around pie charts - ask your children to tell you!

In our English lessons, we have continued to read War Horse. We have published our own discursive argument about whether animals should be used in war? This has created some brilliant discussion and the children are including the year 6 features in there writing.

During our Encompass Topic, the Americas, we have looked at a school in America and started to write our letters to our pen pals. We have also looked at the difference between a city (New York) and somewhere rural.

Week commencing Monday 20th January 2020

Week 18

Once again we have had a fantastic week of learning in the year 6 Stingrays class.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been learning about fractions, percentages and decimals.  We have been working out how to find the whole when given a fraction or percentage of a number, such as 'What is the original number when 15% is 6?'

In our English lessons, we have continued to read War Horse. The children have started to plan there own discursive argument. Should animals be used in war? This has created some brilliant discussion and the children are including the year 6 features in there writing.

During our Encompass Topic, the Americas, the children have been on a road trip across America, locating some of the famous landmarks and looking at the geographical features of Yellowstone National Park - Wow hat an amazing place!

Week commencing Monday 13th January 2020

Week 17

It has been a brilliant week of understanding, questioning and learning in Year 6 this week. The children have produced work that shows a greater depth of understanding but also shows how keen and eager they are to understand concepts.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been learning about ratio and proportion. The children have been using the process of concrete, pictorial and abstract. On Friday, we look at reading coordinates and working out missing coordinates with polygons.

In our English lessons, we have continued to read War Horse. The children have produced there first published write - a letter to persuade lads to join the army. They would have certainly persuaded me to join the army with some of the promises they included!

During our Encompass Topic, the Americas, the children have been on a road trip across America, locating some of the famous landmarks and looking at the geographical features of Yellowstone National Park - Wow hat an amazing place!

Week commencing Monday 6th January 2020

Week 16

All of the children have come back with a brilliant attitude and settled back into producing some brilliant pieces of work.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have changed our timetable so we now complete arithmetic before break, varied fluency and problem solving after break and then reasoning after lunch.  This will enable the children get a really deep understanding of each objective.

In our English lessons, we have changed our text to War Horse.  The children have been really inspired by the start of this text and have already started to produce some very thoughtful work.

We have also started our new topic - The Americas.  The children have been locating the Americas and finding some very interesting facts about this part of the world.  We used our VR headsets to really engage the children in the topic as our WOW activity.

Week commencing Monday 16th December 2019

Week 15

And that's it for 2019! Wow! What a truly brilliant first term we have had in year 6.

The children have completed some revision on the topics that they got incorrect during there mock SATs and have developed a love for independent learning.

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been consolidating all of our learning from September to now, covering everything we have been learning. It was great to see every child recall all of there learning.

The children also had one day! Yes ONE day to rehearse for the winter production! Wow they really were fantastic! They sand Jingle Bells in French!

I wish all of you a very happy Christmas and enjoy the break!

P.S Keep an eye on SATs Companion and complete your other homework!

Week commencing Monday 9th December 2019

Week 14

It is very nearly the Christmas holidays but this hasn't slowed down our learning in the Stingrays class!

We have had our second mock SATs week this week - the children really see these as just the norm now and are performing to such a high standard already! Well done!

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been consolidating all of our learning from September to now, covering everything we have been learning. It was great to see every child recall all of there learning.

In our English lessons, we have finished out writing on Wonder with a brilliant published write! It was fantastic and so many of the children were including Greater Depth features already!

We have finished off our Science and Encompass topics this week in readiness for our new topics! The children have learnt so much about these topics... please ask them! We will be asking the children in about 6 weeks, what they can re-call about these topics.  

Week commencing Monday 2nd December 2019

Week 13

We have had a fantastic week of learning.  The children have really excelled in all areas, every single moment. Keep being superstar Stingrays!

Throughout our Maths lessons this week, we have been looking at how decimals can be multiplied by 10, 100 and 1000 but also how to solve problems and reasoning questions to apply this skill.

In our English lessons, the children been looking at the features of a third person narrative but using a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) and WABOLL (What A Bad One Looks Like) to help identify what is useful in a re-tell.

As this is our Art Week - the children have produced some brilliant art (again!) around the Vikings. See the pictures below!

There are also some pictures from the workshop the children had with Steve about the Vikings and looking deeper into the settlements and raids the Vikings carried out.

Week commencing Monday 25th November 2019

Week 12

The children have been truly phenomenal this week and have really produced some fantastic work.

In our Maths lessons, we have been going deeper with our fraction knowledge and applying our knowledge to a range of questions that also include the four operations and percentages.

We have completed our formal letters to Mr Tushman from the view point of Jack Will.  Again, the children have really excelled and produced some fantastic pieces of writing with a lot of Greater Depth features.

Please some of the pictures  below from our working walls and some brilliant examples of the work completed throughout the week.

Week commencing Monday 18th November 2019

Week 11

We have had a fantastic week of learning this week! The children have been asking some great questions to really deepen their understanding.

Throughout of maths lessons this week, we have still been focusing on fractions but looking at the decimal and percentage equivalents. The children are really starting to develop a great understanding of how all of these topics interlock.

We have continued our book in English, Wonder.  We have been looking at a range of formal and informal letters to help decide which letter would be best to write to Mr Tushman.  

We were very lucky to have a Viking workshop on Monday - See the brilliant pictures below!

Week commencing Monday 11th November 2019

Week 10

This week the children have been truly phenomenal and have had a fantastic week of learning.

Throughout of maths lessons this week, the children have been focusing on fractions.  The children have a great understanding of fractions and are now able to solve a range of problems that include simplifying, equivalent and mixed number fractions.

We have continued our book in English, Wonder.  Ask the children about the writing they have completed using the books storyline to really help them. 

The Viking topic has also continued to engage the children and the work they are producing is of a high quality.

The pictures below are from the Anti-Bullying workshop the children participated in on Wednesday. They discussed a range of issues and the main topic was how to bounce back, some take longer than others, as long as we all bounce back.

Week commencing Monday 4th November 2019

Week 9

All of the children have come back this half term with a real thirst for learning and settled back into school with a really positive manner.

Throughout of maths lessons this week, the children have been focusing on fractions.  We have looked at simplifying fractions, comparing and ordering fractions.  We have also been solving problem and reasoning with fractions throughout the week and this will continue. See the pictures below on how to simplify fractions.

We have started a new book in our English, Wonder.  This has really engaged the children and they are really showing a fantastic understanding of the features used and the author's craft to help create the story.

We have also launched our new topic, Vikings.  The children have previously studied the Vikings in Year 4 but will be going a lot deeper and will be conducting a lot more independent research.

Week commencing Monday 21st October 2019

Week 8

The children have been truly incredible this week - even though it is the last week of the half term, the children have remained focused and continued there fantastic learning.

During our English lessons, the children have published there own tale based on the three brothers story in Harry Potter. Some of the writing is completely out of the world and already showing most of the Year 6 features.

Throughout our maths lessons we have consolidated our learning from the first eight weeks.  Wow the children really do remember what they have been taught and are able to apply it to a range of contexts.

In our Encompass lessons the children have innovated and really demonstrated what they have learnt from our topic (Africa) this half term.  All of the children have thoroughly enjoyed this topic.  

Week commencing Monday 14th October 2019

Week 7

We have had a fantastic week. 

We have been working on the features of a tale and different grammatical features. We have also continued to read our book this half term, A Monster Calls - the children are really enjoying this.  We have produced some fantastic writing linked to the book. The children are getting really creative.

During our maths lessons, the children have gained a fantastic understanding of shape, their properties and sorting them in various ways.

Week commencing Monday 7th October 2019

Week 6

The children have been phenomenal this week. 

The work they have produced across the curriculum has been to a very high standard and it is clear that children are gaining so much from it. 

We have been working on the features of a tale and different grammatical features. We have also continued to read our book this half term, A Monster Calls - the children are really enjoying this. 

We also performed and displayed our fantastic Harvest poem and artwork. We hope you were able to see it! 

On Friday, the children finished their D & T week by producing some great 3D work with clay, producing a rural village in Africa.  Also, having the opportunity to cook three traditional African recipes. 

Week commencing Monday 30th September 2019

Week 5

The week has been brilliant! The children have really excelled across the curriculum, whether it be in writing, reading, maths or afternoon curriculum. 

During our English lessons, the children have now, drafted, edited and up leveled the edit to produce a 'master piece.'  I am really looking forward to seeing the published writes on Monday. 

In our maths lessons, the children have really grasped long division and have a secure understanding of it. See below the example! 

In the afternoons, we have continued to look at Africa and the different folk tales from across the continent. 

Week commencing Monday 23rd September 2019

Week 4

This week, the children have really been absorbed in their Art week for the topic this half term 'Africa'  The work they have produced is incredible and every child has a least one piece of artwork on display. 

During our English lessons, the children have been looking at different narrative stories and how their setting descriptions can help them re-tell the part of the story where Conor meets the monster from the graveyard.

In our maths lessons, the children have been learning to use the four operations confidentially and applying them to problem solving.  

During the afternoons, the children have really focused on African art. You can see some brilliant examples of the art work beloew but also the fantastic team work between all of the children. 

Week commencing Monday 16th September 2019

Week 3

The children have really settled into Year 6 and the work they are producing is of a fantastic standard already! Well done! 

During our Maths lessons, we have been looking at rounding and negative numbers. We have spent some time looking at adding and subtracting negative numbers - some of the children were getting very confused by this but we were able to overcome our barriers and understand the process. 

We have continued to read our book for this half term, A Monster Calls, and the children have produced some wonderful writing from this.   Their are some amazing phrases and vocabulary in the book which has helped the children to plan and draft their own setting description.  We have published our piece of writing on Friday. 

During our Encompass lessons, we have used our ratio skills to work out the ingredients for different recipes and also looked at the different materials and services Africa exports and where to. 

We were also very lucky to visit Hanley Fire Station, to take part in Safe and Sound 2019 - the children took an awful lot away from this experience and also displayed fantastic behavior

Week commencing Monday 9th September 2019

Week 2

We have had a fantastic second week back.  The children have really settled into routines and learning. 

In Maths, we have looked at improving our place value knowledge with numbers up to 10 million! Also, rounding number to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000. 

We have continued to read our book for this half term, A Monster Calls, and the children have started to produce some wonderful writing from this.    Their are some amazing phrases and vocabulary in the book which has helped the children to plan and draft their own setting description. 

During our Encompass lessons, we have found out some facts about Africa, its location in the world, the different continents and oceans around Africa and the music across Africa.

In Science, we have looked at the key vocabulary and the children have explored the meaning and researched about what the words mean.  

Week commencing Monday 24th June 2019

Week 36

Wow what a really crazy and enjoyable week!

We have had visits from the RNLI, Staffordshire Low Land Rescue and the local PCSOs.  

We have also made visits to Tree Top Nets in Manchester, Dovedale in Derbyshire and YMCA in Hanley. These have been incredible visits that the children have really embraced.  They have had some fantastic experiences that will stay with them for a very long time. 

We have covered some skills required for Year 6 in our English lessons at the start of the week - looking at essential and non-essential relative clauses. 

In Maths, the children have been working really hard on solving problems with missing numbers. 

Week commencing Monday 17th June 2019

Week 35

The children have really been fantastic this week. 

During our English lessons, we have drafted, edited and published our diary entries written in the perspective of Robert.  These were brilliant. Some of the detail, language features and description was incredible.  

During our maths lessons, we have been looking at how to interpret line graphs but also how to how to construct single line and double line graphs. 

Across the afternoon curriculum, the children have started to now look at different mountain ranges from around the world and locating them on a range of maps as part of our Misty Mountain Sierra topic. 

Week commencing Monday 10th June 2019

Week 34

We have had a great week of learning this week, with plenty of opportunities to really develop the children resilience and problem solving skills. 

During our English lessons, we have been continuing to read our book 'Cogheart' and planning our writing around this.  We have planned our diaries from the perspective of Robert. 

During our maths lessons, the children have been learning all about Prime Numbers and solving problems with them. 

Across the afternoon curriculum, the children have started to now look at different mountain ranges from the UK and locating them on a range of maps as part of our Misty Mountain Sierra topic. 

Week commencing Monday 3rd June 2019

Week 33

Wishing everybody who celebrates Eid a very happy Eid and hope you all enjoyed those special moments with your family.  In school, we have completed lots of different activities to look at Eid and Ramadan.  The children completed some fantastic independent research and created some lovely writing from this.

We also had a fantastic opportunity on Thursday to attend the 'Festival in the Factory' at Emma Bridgewater.  The children in the Whales class went with some of the children from FS2 and got the opportunity to listen to the author, Lauren Child, most famous for creating the Charlie and Lola series. 

During our English lessons, we have been looking at how diaries are written and the different features required. 

During our maths lessons, the children have been learning all about Roman Numerals and the key rules and understanding the system. This has proved tricky but we have some handy clues and tips that we are all sharing to make it easier. 

Across the afternoon curriculum, the children have started to now look at different mountain ranges from around the world as part of our Misty Mountain Sierra topic. 

Week commencing Monday 20th May 2019

Week 32

Throughout the week in our English lessons, we have been looking at a range of poetry from different poets and different styles. The children also looked at different vocabulary such as: pattern, repetition, simile, sound, metaphor, rhythm and adjectives. 

During our maths lessons, the children have been learning how to convert between different metric measures. This has helped the children to then solve various problems with converting between cm to m; ml to l; g to kg. 

Across the afternoon curriculum, the children were able to showcase what they have learnt in there Local History topic about Stoke-on-Trent.  This was truly amazing and clear that the children have a greater understanding of their local area. 

Week commencing Monday 13th May 2019

Week 31

In English, the children have used there planning to draft, edit and publish there own story based on Cogheart.  We decided that the published write should be called our 'Master Piece' and they truly were amazing. The creativity and imagination the children have is fantastic and they create real powerful images using words. 

During our maths lessons, the children have continued to look at solving problems with percentages, decimals and fractions. 

In our afternoon curriculum, the children have explored how electricity was invented and how to stay safe around electricity.  Also, we continued to discover more about our local area and how it has changed over the past 100 years. 

Week commencing Monday 6th May 2019

Week 30

In English, the children have been planning their own story based on Cogheart.  We have used the start of the story to help give us inspiration and then taking the story in all different directions. 

During our maths lessons, the children have been looking at solving problems with percentages, decimals and fractions. 

The children have thoroughly enjoyed a trip to Emma Bridgewater to look at how the pottery industry works and they even designed and painted their own plates! We will be collecting the plates in a couple of weeks once they have been glazed and fired.  

Week commencing Monday 29th April 2019

Week 29

This week, the children have settled back into their learning and everyone has come back with a fantastic attitude. 

In English, the children have been looking at different types of narrative stories, finding the different features, language choices and structures. 

During our maths lessons, the children have been working with decimals, percentages and fractions. 

The children have really enjoyed the start of our short local history topic. We are going to Emma Bridgewater next week to look at how pottery is produced and then have the opportunity to design and make their own plates. 

•  

• Week commencing Monday 8th April 2019

  Week 28

  This week, the children performed their assembly to KS1 and over 20 parents! It was enjoyed by everyone - I've got to say you were AMAZING!  It was all about the Titanic and what we have been learning over the past term. 

   

  The children have been writing their own Play Script about the book we have been studying this term.  All of the children have produced some wonderful, inspiring writing. 

   

  Below is the creative homework to be completed for our next topic - Local History. 

   

   

  Creative Homework

   

  Research the local area that we live in, and re-create this scene.

  For example, this could be:

  - Bottle Kilns

  - Pottery factories

  - Historic places

  - Canals

  - Stadiums

  - Spitfire

  We look forward to seeing what you can create.

    `

Week commencing Monday 1st April 2019

Week 27

This week, the children have really shown what they have learnt over the last few weeks and applying many of the skills to complete their learning. It has been a fantastic term of learning and all of the children have made excellent progress.  

In Maths, we have looked at area and perimeter.  The children have a fantastic understanding and were able to apply the skill to varied fluency, problem solving and compound shapes. 

The 'Stars of the Week' for this week was: Emaan and Tajrain, Well Done to both of you! 

Next week, the children will be writing their own Play Script about the book we have been studying the term.  

Week commencing Monday 25th March 2019

Week 26

This week, the children have completed a lot of learning! From planning, drafting, editing and publishing their own newspaper reports, to working out the area and perimeter of various compound shapes! 

In Maths, we have also looked at a range on division problems to ensure that we are confident in applying the skill that we have learnt to word problems and varied fluency. 

During Science, the children have been completing experiments to investigate which materials are soluble and insoluble. 

It was our last week at swimming this week.  The children have been putting in a great effort over the previous weeks and this has been clear by the amount of children who have gained their Beginners badge, length badge and also 2 children achieving their Elementary badge. 

Week commencing Monday 18th March 2019

Week 25

Once again the children have risen to every challenge given to them and have excelled at it. I have been very impressed with their ambition and resilience. 

We have started to look at the different features needed for newspaper articles.  Next week, the children will start to plan, draft, edit and publish next week! A busy week ahead!  

In Maths, we have looked at division through learning new skills, problem solving, verbal reasoning and fluency. 

In our P4C session this week, the children had a fantastic discussion on how plastic in damaging the environment and oceans. 

Week commencing Monday 11th March 2019

Week 24

We have had another great week in the Whales class! Lots of learning completed but also time for some fun activities on Thursday, as it was our workshop for British Science Week! 

The stories that the children have been writing using our book 'The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods are incredible, all include Year 5 features and most of them have year 6 features included.  This book has really gripped the children and adults alike! Really excited to see what the children produce next week. 

In Maths, we have looked at multiplication and problem solving.  The children have really mastered the skill of long multiplication. 

Week commencing Monday 4th March 2019

Week 23

Wow, what another fantastic week in the Whales class! Lots of learning completed but also time for some fun activities on Thursday, as it was World Book Day 2019! 

Please see the pictures for what the children got up to over the day. 

We have also been creating our own mystery story, similar to our book, The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods.  This book has really gripped the children and adults alike! Really excited to see what the children produce next week. 

In Maths, we have looked at multiplication and problem solving.  The children have really mastered the skill of long multiplication. 

Week commencing Monday 25th February 2019

Week 22

This week, in English, we have been looking our brand new book for the next half term; The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods.  All of the children have enjoyed the first two chapters and trying to solve the mystery that is unraveling before them. 

In Maths, we have been focusing on our timetables but also the division facts linked to our timetables. We have also looked at reading tables and timetables. All of the children have a very good grasp on answering these questions now.  Next week, we are moving on to multiplication, using the written method, to solve a range of problems. 

During the afternoons, we have started to debug our games that we have developed during computing, this will ensure that they work correctly for the user.  Also, during our Encompass lesson, we look at explorers going n expeditions to Antarctica. 

Week commencing Monday 11th February 2019

Week 21

Game on

On Monday, we had some visitors from an organization called 'Game on'.  Throughout the day the children completed many different tasks and activities that included role play, working as a group, debates and lots of discussion. 

All the of the children gained so much from the day and were very mature about the topic of debate, British Values. 

Please see the pictures below from the day. 

Week commencing Monday 4th February 2019

Week 20

This week, in English, we have been looking at informal and formal letters.  You could ask the children what the differences are between them!  

In Maths, we have been focusing on our timetables but also the division facts linked to our timetables. We have also started to look at line graphs, interpret them and answer a range of questions.  Next week, we are only going to have a table of data and draw our own line graphs. 

Thank you to all of the parents who attended the parents consultation day on Thursday, it was very productive and all of the children were very keen to show off there work. 

Week commencing Monday 25th January 2019

Week 19

Wow, what a fantastic week of excellent learning. 

This week, the children were looking at non-chronological reports about a character in The Wind in the Willows.  The children made some fantastic notes about Toads, and were then able to sort their notes into subheadings and turn their notes into a great non-chronological report.  

In Maths, we have been focusing on our timetables but also the division facts linked to our timetables.  Everyone is becoming much more confident and making progress with the timetable they are learning. 

On Friday, we had NSPCC Number Day, the children all came dressed either in black and white, or an item of clothing that had a number on it. During the morning we had a special launch assembly, then onto  reading the story '365 Penguins'.  After that the children were given lots of different mathematical problems linked to penguins.  I've uploaded one of the problems below, have a go yourself or see if your child solved it the same way you did. 

Week commencing Monday 21st January 2019

Week 18

This week the children have continued to look at The Wind in the Willows. We have been looking at non-chronological reports and the children have started to plan their own non-chronological report about Toads.

In Maths, the children have been looking at a range of skills, that include x10, x100, x1000 and ÷10,÷100, ÷1000.  Also, the children have really mastered how to find common factors! Ask them how to do this..Clue….venn diagrams. 

During our Computing time, we have started to design our own computing game. 

In our Encompass lessons, the children have been looking at Global Warming and the effects on wildlife.  

Week commencing Monday 14th January 2019

Week 17

This week the children have continued to look at The Wind in the Willows.  We have read the first few chapters. We have written our own diary from the viewpoint of one of the characters in the story (mainly Mole or Rat) and retold the many adventures they have gone on.  Next week, we are looking at non-chronological reports about the characters in the story.

In Maths, the children have been looking at multiples, factors, multiplying and dividing.  We have been problem solving and going deeper to really get a great understanding of the concept.

During our Computing time, we looked at the Hour of Code and how we could create our own computer game over the next few weeks.

Week commencing Monday 7th January 2019

Week 16

This week the children have been looking at The Wind in the Willows.  We have read the first chapter and looked at the various character and setting description that is included.     In Maths, the children have been revisiting Place Value. Ordering, comparing and really understanding numbers to 1 000 000.  We had a WOW day to launch our new topic on Tuesday, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.  We looked at the vocabulary that will be needed throughout the term, completed some art work, a Science experiment and developed our senses through vocabulary and phrases. 

Week 13

This week the children have been planning and writing narrative fiction based on the Harry Potter character Bellatrix Lestrange.  We have been working to add tension to our writing.  In Maths the children have been working with decimals.  Adding, subtracting and comparing numbers with up to 3 decimal places.  In Science the children have been investigating water resistance.

Week 12

This week the children have completed their character descriptions about Bellatrix Lestrange.  The children worked hard all week to produce some brilliant published pieces of writing on Friday.  In maths this week the children have worked with the vocabulary and concepts of prime and squared numbers in different contexts.  Our science this week has included an investigation into friction.

Week 11

This week the children have been planning some character based writing inspired by the Harry Potter books.  The children have planned writing using a range of features to show the reader their character's key traits.  In maths we have continued to work on the skills of multiplication and division in different problem solving and reasoning contexts.

Week 10

This week the children have completed their non chronological reports about fantastic beasts.  In maths, the children have been using formal written methods of multiplication to solve problems involving multiplying large numbers by 2 digit numbers.  This week the children have also prepared and performed a series of remembrance assemblies to the class.  It has been wonderful to see the children work together to produce the resources and ideas required to perform their assemblies the remember the centenary of armistice day.

Week 9

It has been a busy week back at Waterside for all of the children in Whales class.  The children have been planning a non-chronological report based on Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.  We have been researching different magical creatures and planning our writing.  In maths, the children have been multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1000 in different contexts.  We have then been applying these skills to solve problems involving conversions between different units of measure.

Week 8

The children had an extremely busy end to the half term.  In our encompass lessons the children worked in groups to begin to plan their own remembrance assemblies which they will perform for the rest of the class throughout week 10.  The children worked brilliantly in groups to think of different ways we could remember together.  Work on these assemblies will continue during the first week back in school after half term.  In English the children produced some excellent setting descriptions using a range of year 5 skills, with a particular emphasis on relative clauses.  

Week 7

This week the children have been working hard on their re-write of The Piano.  We have worked hard to incorporate flashbacks and changes in tense into our writing and the final published pieces show off a wide range of year 5 skills.  Maths this week has focused on using rounding for estimation and using the inverse operation to check our answers to questions.  In Encompass this week the children produced a piece of art work and a musical composition using the garage band app on the iPads linking our WWI topic to questions about remembrance.

Week 6

This week the children have started some writing based on the short animation, 'The Piano'.  We have been planning the use of flashbacks and figurative language to create strong imagery in the mind of the reader.  In maths this week the children have begun work on addition and subtraction using concrete, pictorial and abstract apparatus.  We have also done some Harvest Festival work and investigated the origins of different foods from around the world.

Week 5

This week the children have completed their newspaper reports based on the UFO sighting in Aquila.  It has been wonderful to see the children develop the appropriate tone and language required for a newspaper report.  Maths this week has focused on the skill of rounding numbers up to 1,000,000.  The children have shown a great deal of resilience, particularly in relation to their reasoning and explanations of their answers.

Week 4

This week in English the children have been developing their non-fiction writing skills by investigating and planning a piece of journalistic writing based on our class text, Aquila.  The children have worked very hard to develop an effective journalistic style in their writing and we are beginning to see some excellent news stories coming together.  We are excited to see where our journalistic writing will take us next week.

In maths the children have continued to master the skills of counting back through zero and counting forwards and backwards in multiples of 10, 100 and 1000.  We have had an increasing emphasis on problem solving and reasoning this year and it has been excellent to see and hear the children discuss and explain their understanding of mathematical concepts.

Week 3

This week the children have continued with their narrative writing in English.  On Friday we published our first published piece of writing of the school year ready for assessment.  Next week we will begin with some journalistic writing.

In maths, the children have continued to work with place value.  The children have worked hard to solve problems in a variety of contexts including concrete, pictorial and abstract varied fluency and a wide range of reasoning and problem solving questions.

In our Encompass lessons this week the children held a debate, discussing the questions, "Is war ever justified?"

Our science lesson this week provided children with opportunities to apply their maths skills to scientific investigations involving bar charts and line graphs.  It was wonderful to see the children applying their mathematical skills to the wider curriculum in the afternoon.

Week 2

The highlight of this week was the year 5 and 6 trip to the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

The children had a brilliant time discovering artefacts from the first world war and gaining an greater understanding of the lives and sacrifices of men and women during the war.  The children took part in the ministry of memory workshop at the museum did a brilliant job of representing our school.

In English this week the children have been planning their writing based on our class text, Aquila.  We are now all set and ready to produce some excellent writing next week when recounting the opening of the story.

Maths lessons this week have focused on place value and solving problems in different contexts with varied fluency.  

Week 1

It has been an excellent week back at Waterside for all of the Whales Class.  We have settled into our new classroom, set out our expectations and introduced our new topics.

The children have began their Fallen Fields topic and created a set of research questions to investigate throughout this term.

Over the holiday a number of the children have produced some excellent homework and I am looking forward to seeing some more of this homework next week.