What Have We Been Up To
English
This term we are exploring the text 'Colour of Hope' and working towards creating a piece of descriptive writing based on the different colours and a retell which will include a variety of skills, such as:
Figurative language
Show don’t tell
The use of short sentences to create tension.
The use dialogue to convey a character and advance the action.
Rhetorical questions to engage the reader.
Parenthesis to add extra information
ISPACED openers
Science
This term in science we how some materials can change state. We have been conducting scientific experiments to know and explain how a material dissolves to form a solution, to know and show how to recover a substance from a solution , to know and demonstrate that some changes are reversible, and some are not  and to know how some changes result in the formation of a new material and that this is usually irreversible. We also visited the MAGNA Science Adventure Centre where we took park in a special workshop all about solids, liquids and gases.
MAGNA Science Adventure Centre
How can some materials change state?
Working scientifically
Art
In our art lessons this half term, we have designed our own Mayan gods which we then created out of clay using techniques such as: carving, smoothing, rolling and pinching.
Mayan God sculptures
DT 1.mp4
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DT 2.mp4
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DT 4.mp4
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DT 5.mp4
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DT 6.mp4
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DT 7.mp4
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P.E
This term in P.E, year 5/6 are learning all about dance. We will be practising a range of techniques including: cannon, tutting and dynamics.
Last term in P.E we focused on gymnastics which included the use of a range of: travel styles, balances and rolls. We performed to our peers and listened to feedback to help improve our sequences.
P.E
History
In history this term, we are looking at significant turning points in the history of Britain and are going to consider how significant the English defeat of the Spanish Armada was as a turning point in British history. We are going to conduct our own research and examine a range of primary and secondary sources whilst also considering bias.
JIGSAW (PSHE)
This term in JIGSAW, year 5/6 are going to be looking at dreams and goals. This will involve: looking at a range of different careers, appreciating the opportunities that learning
and education can give us and understanding how this can help us to build our own futures.
Last term, year 5/6 looked at diversity and celebrating differences. We also looked at our rights as children, the protected characteristics and explored our school's code of conduct and values.
JIGSAW
Drawing
In Year 5/6, children have been exploring different sketching techniques, including, hatching, cross-hatching, contour hatching, stippling and blending. They looked at and had a go at drawing different textures such as wood, bricks, marble and rock. They used different sketching pencils to explore tone and shading in their sketch-books. They looked at images of The Heydar Aliyev Centre which is a building complex in Baku, Azerbaijan designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive architecture flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles before following a step-by-step plan to re-create a sketch of the building. Children were then inspired by Stephen Wiltshire, a famous cityscape drawer, and drew their own two-point perspective cityscapes.
Visit From an Architect
As part of our art and design unit we were fortunate enough to have a visit from Mr Drewello (parent/architect) who spoke to all of our year 5/6 students about the art and science of designing a range of buildings from start to finish.
Music
Last term in Music, year 5/6 focused on the song: Happy by Pharrell Williams - a Pop song with a Soul influence about being happy. We learnt how to listen to and appraise the song Happy and a variety of other songs in different styles about being happy. We took part in a range of musical activities to help us learn and/or build on our knowledge and understanding about the interrelated dimensions of music through:
- Warm-up games
- Learning to sing the song
- Playing instruments with the song
- Improvising with the Song
- Composing with the Song
Finally, we performed the song and shared our learning.
Please follow the link below to see an early performance from Willow Class.
https://www.dukenorfolk.co.uk/what-we-have-been-up-to-11/
Geography
Last term in Geography, year 5/6 explored how earthquakes and volcanoes have changed the landscape of Iceland. As part of this unit we looked at how earthquakes and volcanoes are formed, located Iceland on a world map and learnt that the capital city is called Reykjavik. We also examined the events of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption (2010) and how it changed the landscape.
Geography
Bikeability
In the Autumn term, Year 6 took part in some Bikeability sessions. Bikeability is the government's national cycle training programme. It helps children to learn practical skills and understand how to cycle on today's roads.