Author: Mr Catherall

Asking questions about WW2

Before half-term, we were fortunate enough to be able to email Mrs Weekes’ dad, who was evacuated from Newcastle during WW2, and ask him lots of questions about his experience.

Today, we received a response and were fascinated to hear all about it! However, there was a problem. Somehow, all the answers and questions had been jumbled up so we had to use our comprehension skills to match the questions to the answers. Once we’d managed to do this we studied the responses – it was very interesting. In particular, we were amazed at how little children were allowed to take with them: only some clothes!

Then, we thought about the characters in our class novel. Max and Anna are German refugees so we discussed the difference between refugees and evacuees (help at home by asking your child about this and discussing this topic in more detail). Finally, we pretended to be Max and asked some of our own questions.

Here are some pics:

img_1020

On behalf of all of Year 5, I must say a huge thank you to Mrs Weekes and her dad for answering our questions.

14 October 2016

This week’s spellings are all homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings (and are often spelled differently).

Children should practise/practice spelling these words in preparation for a test on Friday 21 October.

In this example, it should be practise because it’s a verb (the action that is being done).

  • to practise = verb (eg I practise spellings every day…)
  • practice = noun (eg …because I need the practice.)
isle – aisle – I’ll
aloud – allowed
affect – effect
deaf – death
herd – heard
led – lead
steel – steal
altar – alter
assent – ascent
practise – practice

14 October 2016

As usual, we have two homeworks this week.

The first is Creative:

I can show multiply and divide means.

Children should complete the word study (on the sheet) as imaginatively as they can. We’ve done a similar word study in class so they should feel confident. This homework is due on Thursday 20 October.

The second homework is Talk Time:

I can learn my lines (and the lines around mine) for our class assembly. 

Children should learn their lines as soon as possible for our class assembly on Wednesday 19 October. 

 

What’s appeared in our classroom?

Towards the end of last week, this strange object appeared in our reading corner.

It’s a bomb shelter!

Here’s Sam explaining how he built the shelter with the help of Elias, Brandon, Archie and Oliver.

‘We used card, plumbing poles and some camo to build it. We painted some corrugated card grey to make it look like a real WW2 metal shelter. Then, we worked as a team to build it. We also put tins of beans and some torches in there to make it more realistic.’

Here are some pics:

img_0943 img_0944 img_0945 img_0946 img_0947

 

Independent Research Project

Yesterday, as part of our ‘Class Novel’ topic, we started our independent research projects.

Every child in Year 5 is completing a different project – wow! Some are making models, some are creating posters and some are making computer games! Each child is researching an aspect of life on the Home Front during WW2.

In our first session, we worked independently (and collaboratively at times) on our projects and made a fantastic start! Stay tuned to see how we get on.

img_0949 img_0950 img_0951 img_0952 img_0953 img_0954

 

07 October 2016

Homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. The English language can be very confusing and children often struggle to choose the correct homophone in their/there/they’re writing (it should be their!). For this week’s spelling activity, children should identify homophones they may come across. Then, they should give a definition and think of a way to remember which is which (not witch!). This would be best presented in a table.

e.g.

homophone meaning way to remember
stationary

 

stationery

 Not moving.

 

Writing and other office materials.

 Envelope has an ‘e’ in it and so does stationery.

07 October 2016

This week’s second homework is Creative and is due on Tuesday 11 October 2016.

To be able to present information about WW2. 

Although this week’s homework is Creative, we’re doing it slightly differently. Last year, Year 5 and 6 completed an independent research project. Year 5 would like to have a go at something similar so next week will be a week of independent project work linked to our topic.

Next week, you’ll be creating something independently about one aspect of living on the home front: evacuation, the blitz, air raids, women at war, rationing or anything else that piques your interest. Year 5 always create amazing Creative homework so what you actually choose to create is up to you. Here are a few ideas from me:

  • A magazine for a child living during the war
  • A project board (like we produced last year)
  • An information leaflet.
  • A game we can play

So, decide what you want to create and what it will be about. (You’ll have three hours throughout the week to complete it – think about that when making your choice.) Your actual homework will be to gather the information you need in order to complete the work in class. Do not create your independent project!

So that we can complete this project work during class time, this homework will be due on Tuesday 11 October.

07 October 2016

This week’s Mathletics homework should be completed by Thursday 13 October 2016.

Children have been assigned two tasks to complete:

  • Add three 3 digit numbers: regroup
  • 3 digit differences: 1 regrouping

As always, if you experience any problems logging on to Mathletics please come and see me. If the problem can’t be solved, children will be given time on a Wednesday lunchtime to complete the activities.

 

30 September 2016

‘able’ or ‘ible’

We’ve been focusing on learning how to spell words that contain the ‘able’ and ‘ible’ suffix. Children should practise spelling these words in preparation for a test on Friday 07 September.

identifiable
valuable
disposable
possible
legible
terrible
enviable
forgivable
edible
reversible