Year 5 Weekly News 28.11.24

This week, we've been busy honing our skills and expanding our knowledge across a variety of subjects. Let's take a moment to reflect on all the fantastic learning we've done!

In Maths, with Miss Griffiths, we continued our journey with fractions, tackling the challenge of comparing and ordering them, even when the denominators are different. Your focus and determination have been brilliant to see!

Over in English, you became authors! Using everything you've learned over the past few weeks, you wrote your own cliffhanger narratives. It was thrilling to read your stories -- they had me on the edge of my seat! I really wish there was a chapter two, as I'm dying to find out what happens next.

In Book Club, with Miss Griffiths, we began exploring a classic by a famous Victorian author. Here's a clue: it's a story about ghosts and Christmas. That's right--it's A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We read extracts together, analyzed Scrooge's character, and discussed the chilling atmosphere Dickens creates.

In RE, we turned our attention to the enchanting Christmas story. We began by sharing what we already knew, then located its two versions in the Bible--in the books of Matthew and Luke. Comparing these, we discovered how the nativity story we know is an amalgamation of both accounts.

Our D.T. lessons this term are all about textiles, and we've been working on designing and creating stuffed toys. To inspire our ideas, we explored picture books, studying characters that sparked our imaginations. It's been amazing to see your creativity shine as you began designing your own unique toys. After drafting your designs, you created templates, carefully cutting them out of felt with impressive attention to detail.

In Geography, we've started learning about trade. This week, we explored what trade means and how Britain imports and exports goods. A fascinating moment was discovering where our school uniforms come from--places like Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, and India. It's incredible to think how connected we are to the world through trade!

Our Science lessons took us on an exciting adventure with air resistance. Partnering up, you released parachutes into the air and observed how different designs impacted their descent. It was wonderful to see you experimenting and learning through hands-on investigation.

In HeartSmart, we began our new unit, Don't Forget to Let Love In. This reminded us of the powerful message in Mark 12:31: "Love your neighbour as you love yourself." During our second lesson, we reflected on how we speak to ourselves when frustration arises, learning how to transform negative self-talk into positive affirmations.

In Music, we continued learning to play the ukulele. Splitting into two groups, some of you played single notes while others focused on open strings. Working in pairs, you supported one another to perfect your timing and improve your playing--it was fantastic teamwork!

Finally, we explored the world of filmmaking in our second Computing lesson. You embraced techniques like 'long shot,' 'mid shot,' and 'high angle shot,' stepping into the role of directors and bringing your ideas to life. Your enthusiasm and creativity were a joy to watch!

What an incredible week of learning we've had. I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved weekend.

See you on Monday!

Miss Pennance