Look at us learning

On this page you will find the exciting experiences we have had so far this year.

Summer 1

English 

During our English lessons, we took a journey to the river sea (Amazon River) with Maia , who in 1910 went to live with distant relatives who own a rubber plantation along the Amazon River. We discovered,  brightly colored macaws, enormous butterflies, and "curtains of sweetly scented orchids trailing from the trees. Following our studies,  we wrote an adventure story of our own, based in the Amazon Jungle. 

English

During our English lessons, we listened to the novel Aquila. We were able to summarise main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph and identify key details which support this. We could  Justify opinions and elaborate by referring to the text and discuss how authors develop characters and settings. This helped us to develop the characters and settings for our own stories based on Aquila. 

Maths

Y5 used their mathematical skills during, 'Enterprise Week' to decide what product to make/service to offer,  conducting market research, the  costing out the materials needed for each product/service, how much did your item cost to make and how to make their product/set up. 

The children were very successful and made a significant profit!

Science

For our, 'Brilliant Beginnings' lesson Y5 went on a creature hunt to locate,and identify creatures and their habitats within the schoolground. We also re-stoked the school's bug hotel to encourage more wildlife into our garden. over the next six weeks we observed and compared the life cycles of plants and animals in their local environment with other plants and animals around the world (in the rainforest). We went on a virtual trip to the Amazon, down the Amazon River. We made observational drawings and compared them to our drawings of plants we found in school. We then drew life cycles of creatures we had learnt about in previous years and used this sticky knowledge help us study the life cycles of plants. 

Geography 

Computing

Spring 2

Science

During our science lessons, we learnt all about light and astronomy.

For our Brilliant Beginnings lesson ,  we used this video, produced by UCLAN which helped us to learn a mnemonic for remembering the planets in our Solar System in a really fun way. We improved the dance and turned it into a skipping activity. Follow this link to teach someone in your family https://youtu.be/auTVs9ufCuM 

Next,  following our own questions and research, we could discuss and describe the movement of the Earth, and other planets, relative to the Sun in the solar system using digital models, clips and diagrams.

Then, we used a globe and spherical items to describe the movement of the  Sun and Moon relative to the Earth.

Finally, the children produced light and astronomy display, which included lots of facts about the Solar System along with abstract representations of each of the planets, as part of their Art and Design unit, looking the artist Jackson Pollock.

Computing

During our computing lessons we used iprogram-unit 2  to learn how to create a world and control a character using the Kodu programming environment. First we  used conditional statements in computer programs (When..Do) to program an object to move towards another by sequencing statements. Callum demonstrated his knowledge confidently, using the program-Scratch

Next, we  amended a computer program to accept user and then  programmed objects to move along paths.

Then, we understand that computer programs need to be design .

Finally, we discussed what to think about when designing a computer program and designed computer games using a design and plan as a basis. Errise spent extra time at home creating games on Scratch and demonstrated his skills and knowledge confidently,  to the rest of the class, which really helped the children to edit and improve their own games. 

Art and Design

During our Art and Design lessons, children to explored abstract painting and created their own abstract paintings for imaginary planet surfaces. First, we investigated abstract painters such as Jackson Pollock, Kandinsky and Peter Thorpe. They  researched and examined existing images of planet surfaces and made drawings and notes . Next,  they experimented using secondary and territory colours in the  style of the different artists using a range of sizes. finally the children produced their own abstract paintings, which were displayed on the Science wall outside the Year 5 classroom. 

Music

The children really enjoyed  learning to perform the 1980's Hip Hop song, 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'!

they were able to use their sticky knowledge to find and keep an internal pulse, copy back rhythms and pitches, responding rhythmically and melodically through question and answer activities
Next,  we practised singing  and rapping,  in unison or in parts with an awareness of other performers, following the directions of a musical leader and sing/rap a Hip Hop song from memory.
Then,  we played a 2 note instrumental part accurately and in time, both by ear and from notation (D + A or G + A), improvise using instruments within the context of a song (2 given notes: D + E) on the glockenspiels. 

Finally, performed our Hip-Hop rap accompanied by the glockenspiels. 

Spring 1

English 

During our English lessons, we read the novel Oliver Twist . We really enjoyed learning all about the Victorian era though and the life of Oliver Twist. We used this to write stories of our own with an historical theme. We also used this theme to read and write playscripts and poems, which we performed in class . 

Science 

During our science lessons we learnt all about , forces and their effects on movement. We could explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object. we identified the effects of air resistance, which slow down moving objects by researching , designing and making parachutes to save Hippo!

Autumn 2

Science

During our science lessons we investigated how  some materials will dissolve in liquid to form a solution, and described how to recover a substance from a solution. We used our knowledge of solids, liquids and gases to decide how mixtures might be separated, including through filtering, sieving and evaporating. We then demonstrated that dissolving, mixing and changes of state are reversible changes. We learnt that, changes can occur when different materials are mixed and some material changes can be reversed and some cannot.

DT

The children followed a design brief to make a pop up book, neatly, with focus on accuracy during Autumn 1. They made mechanisms and structures using sliders, pivots and folds to produce movement for the pages in their book. The children included  layers and spacers to hide the workings of mechanical parts for an aesthetically pleasing result. During our Christmas Week the children read their books to Year 1 who loved them and enjoyed listening to the story. 

Computing

Music

During our music lessons we used the song, "Livin on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi to discuss our knowledge of instruments they used and  learn all about the rhythm, pulse and tempo. We then learnt and performed the song during our TTRockstar Day, we looked really cool!

During our P:E lessons we used the song to perform a warm-up dance. 

P:E

During our dance lessons we developed control, coordination, balance, poise and elevation in the basic actions of travelling, jumping, turning, gesture and stillness through a series of warm ups, games and routines. We performed movements and patterns, including some from existing dance traditions through paired and group work which included balanced freeze frames. The children enjoyed exploring moods and feelings to develop their response to music through dances, by using rhythmic responses and contrasts of speed, shape, direction and travel

History

During our history lessons we learnt all about the Anglo Saxons. We found out who they were and where they came from. We enjoyed learning all about village life and we even made Anglo- Saxon houses for homework and created a village!

Following learning about how the Anglo-Saxons ruled, we used our drawing skills to draw Anglo-Saxon kings and the Bayeux Tapestry which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings in 1066

Autumn 1

English

Through our English lessons, this half-term we have explored the thoughts, feelings and actions of characters using drama techniques such as freeze framing, thought tracking (in role as characters, children speaking their thoughts aloud), role play and conscience alley. The children examined incidents from the viewpoint of different characters within the story, 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret'. They linked them to short writing opportunities – diary entries, internal monologues and letters. In the following weeks, the children completed their own action scenes and stories based around an invention that went wrong. 

Maths

During our Maths lessons we have been using concrete materials such as place value discs, place value charts, number cards and cubes to help us understand a range of mathematical concepts . 

 P:E

As you can see we have really enjoyed our outdoor activities this half-term, especially the running track! We have also enjoyed: yoga, den building and trust games. 

History

During our history lessons we learnt all about an ancient civilisation in Mesopotamia? What does civilisation mean? We learnt to write using the ancient  cuneiform writing system  and questioned why is it was so important. We really enjoyed learning all about Baghdad,, during the Golden Age,  and the most amazing inventors of its time. 

Art and Design

This this half-term,  the children have developed their understanding of the human form. By extensive drawing , their understanding of human proportions have been developed and then challenged  by creating a 3-D form in sculpture. We explored both historical and contemporary artists such as Alberto Giacometti and Patricia Coates,  who inspired and guided the  children from the initial drawing and investigating stages to developing their sculptures. The children  also developed their understanding of how to use a journal as an investigative tool.

During our Little Amal week the children used their knowledge of sculptures, the human form, and action to produce individual sculptures and a life size sculpture of Little Amal. These sculptures were then celebrated and displayed in our end of term, whole school Art Gallery!