What a relaxing week we had for this year's Sleep Week.
As always we completed our sleep week diaries and carried out lots of research into the importance of sleep, how many hours we should be getting each night, relaxing bedtime routines and the importance of a calm and tidy sleep environment. We also learnt about lots of interesting sleep disorders in our Guided Reading session. We carried out lots of mindfulness and yoga style/relaxation practises throughout the week. Mrs Vaughan led a relaxing story massage session where she read a calming story and we massaged our partners backs with moves linked to the story. We planted bulbs and seeds to take home and completed our sleep week with some smelling and tasting of herbal teas followed by a pyjama day!
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We discussed what choices we are required to make on a daily, weekly and annual basis and how significant these choices are. We then considered who affects the choices and decisions we make. We ranked these people/things based on how much influence they have on us and discussed that as we get older different people and things will start to influence us more. We discussed how it is important to also think for ourselves and not just follow the crowds or allow ourselves to be influenced when we don't wish to be! We researched Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution and natural selection. We found out about Darwin's finches theory. We then carried out a practical investigation into whether the shape and size of a bird's beak effects the amount of food it can collect. We used tweezers, scissors, a spoon and a peg to mimic different shaped and sized bird beaks. We then had a selection of different food types - elastic bands (worms), cocktail sticks (caterpillars) pom-poms (berries) and paper clips (insects) to collect. Each person in the class chose one beak type and collected as many food items as they could in 30 seconds. We then calculated the average amount of each food type collected by each beak and recorded our data as a bar chart. It was clear that the spoon beak was most effective at collecting paper clips and pom-poms and so, this bird was best suited to living on an island with insects and/or berries available. The tweezer beak collected the most elastic bands, so this bird would be most suited to living on an island with an abundance of worms. The peg and scissors beaks, although not the most effective at collecting one particular food, were able to collect all food types in nearly equal amounts so would be best living on islands with diverse food options available. They would manage to survive by eating a mixed diet. Charles Darwin found similar results: We visited St John's Ambulance and read their advice on treating minor and serious head injuries. We then considered what we would do in the following scenario...
We watched an NSPCC video called 'Lucy & The Boy' in which a young girl shares a photo of herself on social media and starts messaging someone she doesn't know who likes the picture. The 'boy' turns out to be a grown man and tries to meet up with Lucy in person. NSPCC Share Aware Lucy & The Boy... - VideoLink We took notes as we watched the video and discussed stranger danger. We then discussed as a class rules for staying safe online.
After our Mantle of the Expert session, meeting Henry Tudor, we imagined ourselves as Henry the night before the battle of Bosworth. We considered what Henry may have been feeling and thinking and wrote a diary entry as if we were Henry Tudor on the eve of the battle. Ameeka's Diary Entry Jess' Diary Entry
In Spring 1 Shamrocks travelled back in time to the Tudor era, right back to The Battle of Bosworth in 1485. A young Henry Tudor had arrived in Wales from his exile in France and trekked across Wales, into England to challenge Richard of York for the throne of England. On his way to Bosworth battlefield Henry VII passed through Shrewsbury and stayed at The Henry Tudor Inn. In our Mantle of the Expert session we witnessed Henry (Mrs Griffiths as adult in role), approaching a door in Shrewsbury and waiting to be let in. We considered Henry's body language and actions and thought of questions we would like to ask Henry Tudor. Henry then thought out loud so we could hear what was going through his mind at the time. We discussed why he might be feeling nervous and what might happen to him if a loyal supporter of King Richard answered the door to him! Luckily the person who answered the door (Mrs Edwards as adult in role) was a supporter of Henry, a friend not a foe! Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and are ready to learn in the Spring term. History This term we will be learning about Tudor Shrewsbury. Through our Mantle of the Expert we will be discovering when and why Henry VII visited Shrewsbury and learning more about the Battle of Bosworth. We will be finding out more about how Tudor buildings were made and exploring what life was like for everyday people in Tudor Shrewsbury. Geography In the second half of the term we will be studying Mountains of the World where, as part of our Mantle of the Expert, we will become a Mountain Rescue Team, studying how mountains are formed and the dangers of the mountains. Art In the first half of the Spring term we will be researching Tudor portraits, finishing portraits of Tudor Monarchs and creating our own self-portraits. Design Technology In the second half of the Spring term we will be creating a Mechanical Pop Up Book which uses a mixture of structures and mechanisms (using sliders, pivots and folds). Science During the first half of the term we will be discovering all about Inheritance and Evolution, including the work of Charles Darwin. In the second half of the term will be learning about light. Literacy In Literacy we will cover a range of fiction and non-fiction reading and writing genres which will be inspired by our History and Geography topics, including diary writing, balanced arguments, recounts, and suspense writing. HOMEWORK READING Regular reading at home is incredibly important for your child. Your child will be asked to read and talk about their book with an adult at home regularly. This will be your child’s weekly homework. A reading record will be sent home for the children to sign and make comments about the book they are reading when they have read independently. Adults can also sign the reading record and make comments when you have read with your child. We encourage you to ask questions about the book as this helps your child with their understanding. TT ROCKS Your child will continue with weekly times table practise homework on TT Rocks - this helps with the recall and fluency of multiplication and divisional facts. PE Our timetabled PE sessions will be alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning on Thursday 11th January and Tuesday 16th January. Children are to bring their PE kit (shorts, t-shirt, trainers and jogging bottoms) to school and change in school, before PE every week. We are looking forward to a fantastic term. If you have any concerns, please know that my door is always open for a chat. Kind Regards, Mrs Holmes
After our visit from Doodle Deb and practising on cardboard we were ready to complete our final window designs! Shamrocks classroom has been brought to life by the children's winter themed art!
The hard work, effort and determination from all of you has blown me away and I think you'll agree that Shamrocks looks wonderful! Shamrocks have worked hard to create an Advent calendar for the school hall (one window to open on each of the whole school assemblies in December).
We broke the Nativity story down into eight parts and each group chose one part of the story to illustrate. We then copied sections of the Nativity story (told through poetry) in our neatest handwriting to accompany each scene. As each scene is revealed in assembly, we read out the accompanying poem for that part of the Nativity and so the story of Jesus' birth is recounted throughout the month of December, piece by piece, like a jigsaw. As we reveal each section of the story I will update the blog! Keep watching! |
AuthorThis is the blog of Shamrocks' Class (Year 6) Archives
April 2024
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