Science: We are Biologists!
This week, our lively Year 5/6 classes took part in a fun experiment to learn how exercise affects our heart rate.
We started by measuring our resting heart rates before doing four rounds of exercise, including star jumps, running on the spot, and jumping jacks. After each burst of activity, we checked how our heart rates changed and were amazed to see how much faster our hearts beat as we exercised.
The most exciting part was seeing how quickly our heart rates returned to normal once we stopped moving. It was a fantastic way to explore how our bodies respond to exercise and helped us understand the important role our hearts play in keeping us happy and healthy.
Help at home: Ask your child about how the circulatory system is effected by exercise.
Topic: We are computer programmers!
In computing this week, we have been developing a pedometer. Pedometers are devices that track the number of steps you take. They contain an internal mechanism or arm that moves up and down in response to the motion of your hips. With each step, your body tilts to one side and your leg swings forward. As your body shifts the other way, your other leg moves forward as well. Each tilt of your hips, along with the forward swing of your legs, is counted as a step.
In our first lesson, we developed our code – the children needed to fix a few problems with their initial algorithms. We had to use decomposition to help us debug it. In the next lesson, we downloaded our pedometer code to our micro:bits and they worked! Following some success testing them in the classroom, we took them for a spin outside and had lots of fun along the way.
Help at home: Why not have a go at creating a program on Makecode?
Living and learning
Our living and learning statement this week is ‘I can give and receive compliments‘. As a class, we talked about what a compliment was and how it made us feel. We discussed that compliments should be less about what people look like physically and more about other aspects of our lives such as our personalities, our strengths and our learning behaviour. We spent some time moving around the classroom and writing compliments on each others compliment cards and at the end we shared our favourite comments. Everyone had a smile on their face at the end of the lesson as it made us feel good about ourselves.
Art Skills
In our art skills lesson, year 56 have been learning how to mix primary watercolours to create secondary and tertiary colours.
We are writers!
In writing, we are going to be poets! We are linking our love of writing with our love of sport. We have used some videos of children who have been inspired by their love and passion for a sport. They talked about their determination and resilience when playing a sport, how it has made them grow as a person and how it has improved their lives. The children will create their own poems based on a sport or another interest that they are passionate about. They will also include some figurative language. This is something we’ve been working on recently. Ask your child about their poem at home.
Here are a couple of the videos that have inspired us:
Performing Poetry
This week, we’ve been exploring a poem titled Girl Footballer by Jackie Kay.
Jackie Kay is a remarkable poet, known for writing both playful poems and serious ones that address issues like discrimination and equality.
Today, we performed the poem in pairs! We received some helpful advice from Michael Rosen and came up with a few R2s to enhance our performances:
- Varying tone
- Varying pace
- Varying volume
- Incorporating engaging actions
Help at Home: by reading some poems together!
Computing
We have had another week where we have been able to enjoy using the laptops and the micro:bits. Micro:bits are like small computers that can be programmed to create different outputs. They contain an LED screen and can also make sounds. We love them!
This week, the children built algorithms that made the micro:bit act like a Magic 8 ball. It would randomly, when shaken, display yes or no on the screen. In the next lesson, the children were able to turn the micro:bit into a counter. When one button is pressed, it adds 1 to the total. When a different button is pressed, it subtracts 1. The children built their algorithms well and are showing more confidence at debugging when something isn’t working. They were also fantastic at supporting each other.
I know we’re all the same and we’re all different…is our Living and learning statement this week .
In Living and Learning this week, we’ve been focusing on self-image, especially body image. This has involved identifying our own positive qualities and understanding that media portrayals don’t always reflect reality. The children enjoyed discussing positive body image and finished the session by recognising something positive about their peers.
Help at home: Ask your child what they’ve learned from these discussions.
World Book Day
In 5/6, children have been designing a new edition of their favourite book. We have also read some extracts of our favourite books, thought about what makes a good character and even had a zoom talk with one of our most popular authors: Pamela Butchart.
PE – rugby
We have moved on to a different sport this half term – rugby!
In this first lesson, the children were introduced to the idea of passing the rugby ball accurately. They used a point and pass technique and if they wanted to challenge themselves, they could try and put a spin on the ball. They applied this skill in a ‘piggy in the middle’ type game in which the children had to accurately pass the ball and also intercept. The children’s confidence definitely improved during the session and they were also able to develop their team building and communication skills.
