Literacy and English
This week we finished reading our shared class text, War Horse. What an incredibly heartbreaking and powerful story with an emotional and uplifting ending. The air was thick whilst we read Chapter 21 on Thursday afternoon!
We have been working on our comprehension and trying to analyse the text at a deeper level. During Chapter 18 and 20, we took notes on key events before using this information to help us tackle some initial literal questions. Having done this, we then used inference to think more deeply about what had been read before answering some evaluative questions by offering our own opinions and viewpoint. We must remember to read each question carefully and use the wording to form our responses whilst drawing upon evidence and examples from the text to build detail.
Additionally, we studied how Morpurgo used tension, atmosphere and expectation to create a sense of foreboding. The main examples we found were when the reader knew something the characters weren’t aware of, revealing details gradually and using dialogue as the characters uncovered the truth. There were some really impressive observations, ideas and suggestions from everyone.
Numeracy and Mathematics
In Numeracy and Mathematics this week we have continued to tackle some Etsi Mysteries. These related closely to our work on multiplication, and more specifically, multiples and factors as our clues were revealed.
We are now aware of the difference between multiples (e.g. multiples of 10 – 10, 20, 30, 40, 50…) and factors (e.g. factors of 10 – 1, 2, 5, 10) and can explain this clearly. We learned that prime numbers can only be divided by itself and 1, for example 13 or 17, and any other number is called a composite number, for example, 4 or 12.
Having mastered this, we moved on to identifying highest common factors, highest common multiples, lowest common factors and lowest common multiples. This was easy to do so when we created lists for each number given, and we were able to establish the answer required quickly.
Next week we will be extending our learning to look at the inverse operation of multiplication, division.
P.E
We have now started our block of handball in preparation for our cluster festival in January. This week we focused on preventing progressive fouls and passing the ball effectively between our team. Attacking teams in basketball must be seen to be progressing up the court and showing a willingness to score goals. We ensured that our passes were forward at all times and that we were using space effectively. We were quick to realise that passing is quicker than running with the ball and more inclusive of those within our team. Next week our focus will be on shooting technique and accuracy.
Science
Our volcanoes we constructed must be active, as this week they erupted without warning! We placed a test tube inside the vent of our volcanoes before adding orange paint, bicarbonate soda and vinegar to create an ‘eruption’. Have a look at our Twitter feed for photos and videos of this (@SpringfieldP5).
Alongside this, we have been writing science reports. We began by stating our aim and hypothesis. A hypothesis is “what we think is going to happen” as Isla correctly told us. We then listed our materials, applied our instructional writing from last week to write the method, noted the results and discussion points before ending with a conclusion. Our learning points were to use more than 100ml of vinegar, ensure the vent is big enough to hold a test tube, use a squeezy, plastic bottle rather than glass and use less viscous food colouring rather than paint to stop a paste being created. Have a look on Twitter to find out who our Star Writer is this week…
Our News and Achievements
- It was Eva’s birthday last weekend, a big Happy Birthday to her from P5! She was excited about her new Fitbit.
- Jude was pleased to have had some of his family visit from Hull last weekend.
- Freya told us what she’d been up to celebrating Mum’s birthday.
- Mairi D, Eighlin, Cori and Ella sold raffle tickets at a Hallowe’en party and made a total of £25.
- Christoper has been working hard at Cubs and has earned 3 new badges.
- Sarah was super excited about attending a Little Mix concert at the Hydro.
- Jack S has also recently started Cubs and we look forward to hearing about it.
Coming Up
- 4.11.19 – Homework grids for Term 2 to be sent home, due for 13.12.19
- 4.11.19 – Rugby taster session (2), sports gear to be worn to school
- 5.11.19 – Golf session (1) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
- 6.11.19 – Open Morning (Number Talks) at 09.00
- 8.11.19 – Remembrance Day Assembly
- 11.11.19 – Rugby taster session (3), sports gear to be worn to school
- 12.11.19 – Golf session (2) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
- 18.11.19 – Rugby taster session (4), sports gear to be worn to school
- 19.11.19 – Golf session (3) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
- 19.11.19 – Learning Showcase event at 14.00 – 15.00
- 26.11.19 – Golf session (4) with Stephen Gallagher Foundation at Kingsfield
- 6.12.19 – Christmas Fayre event at 09.30 – 12.00
- 17.12.19 – Christmas Church Service at St Michael’s
- 20.12.19 – Christmas Carol singalong event
- 21.12.19 – 6.1.20 – Christmas Holidays
We’ll finish with a wee story this week. Mr Logan delivered Team Ceem’s letter and £300 cheque from the Dress Down Day they organised to St Michael’s Hospital on Thursday. The nurses at the ward were absolutely staggered by the generosity and said it “gave them faith in the future generations”. One of the nurses was crying and incredibly touched by the gesture. The charge nurse asked if the girls would like a small sweetie to say thank you, and obviously, the reply was yes. She returned from the office with a full box of Celebrations for each of Team Ceem!
It does pay to be kind, but don’t eat them all over the weekend…
P5 and Mr Logan
