Hello, P4/5W.
If you would like to share anything you have been doing this week or have a query, my twitter handle is @BishopmillMrsG and my Glow email is gw15berkeleycaroline@glow.sch.uk
“When VE Day dawns on 8th May 2020 it will be 75 years since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. Years of carnage and destruction had come to an end and millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved ones and to hope for the future, but not forgetting those still in conflict until 15th August when it was announced that Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II.
The 75th anniversary will provide our nation, and our friends around the world, with an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period.” – veday75.org
This week, to commemorate this important, historic event, our work will be focused mainly around VE Day. But what is VE Day? Watch this short video by the BBC to find out;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/history-ks2-ve-day/z7xtmfr
Maths
Rationing
Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during World War Two?
Rationing began on 8th January 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also ‘on the ration’.
Ordinary people survived on strict rations, although those who produced their own food were able to have that little bit extra.
You might be wondering how this was even possible.
Rationing was a means of ensuring the fair distribution of food and commodities when they were scarce. It began after the start of WW2 with petrol and later included other goods such as butter, sugar and bacon. Eventually, most foods were covered by the rationing system with the exception of fruit and vegetables.
Ration books were given to everyone in Britain who then registered in a shop of their choice. When something was purchased the shopkeeper marked the purchase off in the customer’s book. Special exceptions made allowing for some groups of people who required additional food like underground mine workers, members of the Women’s Land Army and members of the Armed forces.
by Stephen Wilson (historic-uk.com)
For a bit of fun, and as part of your maths work this week, please complete this rationing activity: Ration Book Shopping List
(This activity is for World War One, but the concept of rationing is the same)
For the second part of your maths, I would like you to complete this word problem:
VE Day was 75 years ago. How many years are there between the year you were born and VE Day?
I would love to see your answers and working on Twitter or through my Glow email.
Continue to use Sumdog and Heinemann Active Maths – get in touch if you need your password reset or reminded of your login.
Literacy
Following on from last week’s diary entry about your life in lockdown, I would like you to write another diary entry. But, this time, an imaginary one, from the perspective of a child on VE Day.
Imagine that you are a child whose world has been turned upsides down for the last six years during World War 2.
Watch this video on life as an evacuee;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SYDBJAwYCI
Imagine that you had been through everything that Mrs Campbell has been through during the war. Think about how she would have felt – was she excited about getting to live on a farm and with other children? I bet she was sad at leaving her Mum, but she still got to see her on the weekends. So many emotions!
Then think of VE Day, the day war in Europe was over. How would Mrs Campbell have felt? She could go back to live with her mum again without the fear of the war. They no longer had to feel so scared all the time and life could start returning to a new normal. But would she miss the people who had been looking after her for the last few years? Would she miss the countryside and the farm? How would you have felt? Nervous? Excited? Happy? Anxious? All of those emotions?
Write an imaginative diary entry as though you were a child in WW2 and the war had just ended. You were getting to go home to your family and no longer had to live in fear. This week, I would like you to include lots of different feelings and emotions – try to think of different, more exciting words rather than ‘happy’ or ‘worried’. You could use a thesaurus to help you.
Here are some things to think about when writing your diary entry;
– Include the date
– Remember to write in the past tense
– Use words like ‘I’, ‘we’ and ‘my’
– Write about events in the order they happened
– Include how you felt
– Use time words like ‘first’, ‘next’ and ‘then’
– Maybe draw a picture to go with your diary entry
You should continue to read for enjoyment – magazines, story books, non-fiction books, whatever you prefer.
Audible have lots of free audio books to listen to while the school are off too.
Two authors I love and who are doing online resources during this time are David Walliams and Roald Dahl – visit their websites to see what they have;
www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/
www.roalddahl.com
Here is a reading comprehension activity about VE Day.
I have included two – one for P4 and one for P5, but you might find that the P4 one is more suitable for your child, or vice versa.
Primary 4 – VE Day Reading Comprehension – P4
Primary 5 – VE Day Reading Comprehension – P5
Health and Wellbeing
Check out Miss McNab’s section of our school website and her twitter page @MissMcNab2020 for PE challenges and updates.
Some online PE/dance/fitness classes you can do at home are;
- Kimberley Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls who is doing children’s dance lessons on her Instagram every Wednesday and Friday at 10am
- Sarah Du-Feu, known as ‘The Ballet Coach’ who is doing primary school level ballet classes on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4pm and on a Saturday morning at 10:30am
- Joe Wicks Workout – 9am live on Youtube
- Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell and Youtuber Joe Sugg are doing live dance sessions at 10:30am everyday on Dianne’s Instagram
Mrs McLeod was telling me that the P5s were supposed to be going to the academy this term to make biscuits as part of the ‘Take the Biscuit’ challenge. She has, very kindly, shared her PowerPoint with me so that, although you are unfortunately missing out on the experience as a class, you (and the P4s!) can have a go at home. Thank you, Mrs McLeod!
Music
Mrs Taylor also now has her own section on our school website with music activities and resources.
Mrs Allen has shared another recorder activity for her P5 pupils –
Recorder Challenge – Week 4
Some super, online music classes are;
- ‘Music with Myleene Klass’ on Youtube every Monday and Friday at 10am
- ‘Body Beats’ online body percussion workshops on Youtube every weekday at 11am
- Fischy Music Live Assembly at 11am on a Monday through both Facebook and Youtube
- Rock Kidz – ‘Learning Life Lessons Through Music’ on daily at 11am on their YouTube channel
Putting on my favourite music always makes me feel better. This week, try putting some of your favourite songs on and dancing around your bedroom. You could even get our family involved and have a family dance party! Making yourself smile and looking after your mental health is so important at this time.
Hope you have a great week, P4/5W and I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what you have been doing at home. Best wishes, Mrs Gee.
