Reading and Music: Sounds Like A Story
Today, we welcomed back Liz from the British Library to do another workshop with us.
This time, we linked together reading and music. It started with us listening to The Phoenix of Persia by Sally Pomme Clayton. As Liz was reading, we had a soundtrack playing in the background; each page had a different song.
Afterwards, we were then able to practise with instruments and then in small groups, create our own soundtrack for the rest of the book. 
Art: Our Sculpture Show
At the end of last term, we had a sculpture show to showcase our amazing sculptures. If you were unable to make it, here are the final pieces of artwork.
Help at home: Discuss how your child’s sculpture related to Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Family of Man’.
Carols in Moortown
Today, Y5 and Y6 ventured into Moortown to bring some festive cheer to our community!
We blasted out some Christmas classics such as Frosty the Snowman and fan-favourite Feliz Navidad!
Oracy skills certainly played their part – we projected our voices loud and clear (and our adults did too!).
Can you spot Rudolph anywhere?
Thank you to all who came to watch us and support. We hope you enjoyed it.
Have a lovely, happy and healthy break and we’re excited to welcome you back in the new year.
Miss Goswami, Miss Wilson and all the 5,6 staff
Art: Sculptures
This week, Year 5 have started their art skills lessons where they have started to create their very own sculpture inspired by Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Family of Man’. Firstly, the children got into small groups to design their sculpture. The brief was to sketch something that related to them, whether that be a hobby, their family, a sport or a pet.
Once the maquette (a sculptor’s initial model or sketch) was finished, the children started to let their ideas come to life. They showed a lot of perseverance and determination when cutting into their boxes.
After their shapes were complete, they then took to covering their boxes in scrunched tissue paper to help create a patina texture.
Then, Year 5 painted their boxes white to create a consistent neutral base on to which they can apply the colour to next week.
Help at home: Discuss the inspiration of your child’s sculpture.
Living and Learning: I can recognise mental health is important.
For the past three weeks, we have been focussing on mental health in our Living and Learning lessons. This week, we discussed how to identify worry and actions that a person can take if they feel worried.
Year 5 identified how our bodies might feel if they are worried: a strange feeling in someone’s stomach, chest, head or throat; a faster heartbeat; dry mouth; sweaty palms; fidgeting; or difficulty concentrating.
We then focussed on different things that can be done to help relieve the worry:
- taking deep breaths
- talking to friends or family
- reading a book
- mindfulness activities
- playing a sport
- writing it down
Help at home: Discuss how Lauren in the following scenario can relieve her worry: ‘Lauren has got a test coming up at school. She is feeling nervous and finding it hard to concentrate.’
Guided Reading: Week 6
With the end of term fast approaching, Year 5 should be nearing the end of their guided reading books. Each guided reading group – if they haven’t already – should be reading to the end of their book before next week. Their book should be returned back to class before Friday 22nd December.
Basketball new year camp
City of Leeds Basketball Club, who run our basketball after-school clubs, are running a new year camp. Details can be found below.
Guided Reading Week 5
Here are the target pages for this week’s guided reading. These need to be read by Friday 15th December.
Extra Time: end of book.
Flood and Fang: up to chapter 15/page 183.
Dirty Bertie: up to page 187.
Kensuke’s Kingdom: end of book.
If your child is in ‘The Boy and the Tiger’ group, they will have finished their guided reading book for this half term so can complete their reading record activity on a book of their choice.
Leeds Schools Sport Association Cross Country
A number of children have recently represented school and competed in the Leeds Schools Sport Association Cross Country races.
The date of the next race is Saturday 02 March 2024 at Woodhouse Grove.
In the meantime, have a look at our physical activity guide to see how to get involved in athletics.
Write like a poet workshop
Year 5 had a visitor this morning from the British Library to do a ‘write like a poet’ workshop. We started off by introducing ourselves with actor voices and actions.
We then spent some time talking about the British Library and found out that they have a copy of every book that has ever been published (magazines – with toys included – and newspapers too). In addition, we found out that robots look after all of their books so, of course, we too became robots ready to look after the books.
Then, we looked at how poems need to change over time. The author James Berry wrote “ You will need to revise it, make it better, polish it, make it better, make it become into the shining spirit of your idea. And making.”
The children practised their oracy skills: fluency and pace; voice projection; and tonal variation.
Next, we looked at poet Grace Nichols. We discussed unknown vocabulary and talked about the meaning of the poem. We identified that the whole poem is a metaphor! The disco is actually describing our solar system.
The children then had a brilliant time playing word association to help prepare them for their own poems. We battled 1 vs. 1.
After the excitement, we had a relaxing time writing our very own first draft of a poem.
Help at home: Find and read 3 poems from different poets.