Sketches, Sculptures & Maquettes
In Art, this week and last week, we have moved away from Art History and turned our attention to our own art projects.
We sketched a maquette which is the first stage in our sculpture process.
Next, we came together as a group to create a joint maquette which is the final stage of our planning process.
Help at home by discussing the visual and tactile elements of art that they’ve used in their maquette such as line, shape and composition.
Living and Learning: mental health
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 6 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
Last week, we discussed different self-care techniques surrounding grief, which is the name given to the feeling of pain when experiencing a loss. There can be lots of different types: a family member moving away, a breakdown in friendship, or loved one dying.
Similar to how worry can affect us, grief can impact us in a wide variety of ways.
We decided that one of the best self-care techniques was to talk to someone and explain what’s happening.
Help at home by discussing what else would be useful, immediately after and a longer time after experiencing a loss.
Reading – to summarise
This week’s reading skills lessons have been about summarising.
Help at home by discussing the R2s for summaries!
We’ve been thoroughly enjoying our class novel: Holes by Louis Sachar. Today’s task was a little different to normal – we had to summarise the main points of the chapter using small key pictures.
Take a look how we got on!
Challenge your child to retell the chapter to you using the summaries above!
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.
We’re great writers!
Inspired by our trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, we’re going to write a narrative about one of the artworks coming to life!
First, we discussed what makes a good narrative and read an example.
We did some drama to get into the mind of the sculpture awakening from its deep slumber. How would it move? Where would it go? What are some consequences?
Help at home by discussing what types of figurative language your child knows. Can they give you an example of each? How could they use it in their upcoming writing?
We will also aim to use expanded noun phrases and more complex punctuation like semi colons.
Leeds Coding Day
Today, Y6 joined an online coding class! We used Scratch to make a game where a Sprite had to cross a canal whilst avoiding the barges.
We used lots of computing skills that we’ve practised in the past such as variables, repetition and selection.
“It’s really fun. I liked it because I’m quite good at Scratch and I love practising it,” said Evan.
“It was very difficult and confusing so we had to be resilient!” explained Sienna.
“The best thing about it was creating your own code!” said Theo.
Maths – we’re resilient!
Today, Y6 looked at some multi-step addition and subtraction questions involving fractions.
We worked in teams and had some amazing discussions about our thought processes and workings out.
Lots of 8 Rs had to feature in today’s lesson:
- remembering – we’ve learnt lots of skills over the last couple of weeks and we had to put in to practice today
- resourceful – we had to use our knowledge and skills plus the knowledge and skills of others in order to succeed
- resilience – lots of questions required a lot of brain power and the ability to keep going!
Edith said, “I liked how we’ve been using what we’ve learnt recently and completing questions that we’ve struggled with in the past! If you get past the tricky words, the maths is much simpler so that was good.”
“One question took me about twenty minutes and one I could do in my head so you had to be ready to be resilient!” explained Penelope.
Cross country stars
*UPDATE* Four of our Year 3 runners have qualified for the Leeds School Games cross country final!
On Friday, twenty two Key Stage 2 children took part in the Leeds North East School Games Cross Country festival at Roundhay High School attended by 900 pupils.
We had a great start from our Year 3 runners with 4 children coming in the top 10! After that, we saw some excellent efforts from the rest of the children throughout the afternoon with great support and encouragement from the other pupils.
Well done to all the children who took part and represented the school. We are sure there will be some qualifiers for the next race, the Leeds final. Watch this space!
Thank you to the parents who came along to help and support at this event.
It was a brilliant event. The Team Moortown spirit was very strong.
If you’re child would like to take part in cross country, have a look at our physical activity guide for details of local running clubs and junior Park Runs.
Living and learning: online safety
Our key take-always from this week’s Living and Learning lesson were:
– websites use cookies to keep information about us which can be useful (saved log in) or unhelpful (targeted ads)
– pop ups can try and persuade us to click on them
– games and apps are trying to make us stay online for as long as possible
We made posters to teach others how to stay safe.
Living and Learning: new school charity
Every year, we vote for a new school charity to support and this week is the start of the selection process.
Our new charity will replace our current school charity St Gemma’s Hospice. An amazing £1500 has been raised for this great, local cause.
Whole school homework this week is to consider the following shortlist of charities.
The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
The main objective of the charity is to enhance the quality of care and support available to babies, young children and adult congenital cardiac patients, who are treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, based at Leeds General Infirmary. https://www.chsf.org.uk
Zarach
We receive referrals through our network of schools. We deliver a bed bundle for every child in the household that requires it; this includes a brand-new Bed, Mattress, Duvet, Pillow, Bed Sheets, Pyjamas and Hygiene Kit. We work with local partners to include Food Parcels and, if needed, a school uniform. We can also mediate between families and their support services, as well as making referrals. https://zarach.org/
Leeds Hospitals Charity
To further any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the general or any specific purposes of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust or the purposes of the National Health Service. https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk
Simon on the Streets
Objectives are to: 1) prevent and relieve hardship and need and distress amongst those who are homeless and rootless by the provision of practical and emotional support, in particular but not exclusively to those who are sleeping rough or who are unwilling or unable to accept existing provision; 2) educate the public concerning the problems of social isolation and homelessness. https://simononthestreets.co.uk/
Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. www.trusselltrust.org
Mind (The National Association for Mental Health)
We provide information and support, campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with independent local Minds, develop and provide local services. https://www.mind.org.uk/
The charities will be reviewed in class on Thursday 23 November. Each class will vote for one charity which will be brought to the Junior Leadership Team who will have the final vote on Friday 24 November.