^{Welcome to the Silver and Bronze Class page!}

2023-24

English - w/b 15.04.24

Our text for this term in English lessons is Rose Blanche. Set during World War Two in Germany, the story follows Rose as she lives with the realities of war. In one of our lessons this week, we worked in small groups to create a freeze frame for a particular part of the story. We had to think about what actually happened, and what the characters might have been thinking or feeling. That way we were able to choose appropriate facial expressions and body postures for the freeze frame.

Art - w/b 25.03.24

Our art topic this term has been inspired by a portrait, “No woman, no cry”, by Chris Ofili. We looked closely and carefully at his painting, discussing what we could see, and what emotions the work evoked. We also learnt the background to the portrait. It was made by Chris Ofili in 1998 when he was living and working in London. The title of this work is the name of a 1974 song by the Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley that entreats a female listener not to be sad. The crying woman depicted is Doreen Lawrence (now Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE), the mother of Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered as a teenage boy in an unprovoked racist attack in London in 1993, and the photographs inside the tears in this work are all images of Stephen.

We went on to choose a strong emotion and to create a background in a colour reflecting that emotion. Then we drew our own portrait outline on the background; the final stage will be to paint the detail  of our self-portrait.

Mathematics in Action - w/b 18.03.24

We had an amazing day out in central London yesterday, putting our practical mathematics skills into action!  From using train timetables to calculate our journey, to estimating distances between locations, estimating the capacity of the fountains in Leicester Square, approximating the quantity of butterflies in an immersive AI installation and working out the lifespans of artists at the National Portrait Gallery, we really made our trip one which was using all of our social, cultural and academic learning so far!

Computing - w/b 11.03.24

Our topic in Year 6 is all to do with creating web pages. We have spent time, this term, looking at how web pages are designed, what needs to be considered, and how content is arranged so that users can navigate around the website quickly.

Each of us has chosen what our website will be about, and have spent lessons creating the content and adding things like hyperlinks so that users can go from one section to another efficiently. Every so often, we preview our web pages, evaluating what they look like on different types of devices. That way, we are constantly making refinements, which hopefully improve our website.

French - w/b 04.03.24

We have a great time together when we learn French. Miss Werrin makes sure our accents are impeccable, or pronunciation perfect and we remember what we have learned already, from numbers to pastries, to buildings, with movements and quizzes!

Nous passons de bons moments ensemble lorsque nous apprenons le français. Miss Werrin veille à ce que nos accents soient impeccables ou notre prononciation parfaite et nous nous souvenons de ce que nous avons déjà appris, des chiffres aux pâtisseries, en passant par les bâtiments, avec des mouvements et des quiz !

Reading - w/b 26.02.24

As it’s Book Week this week, we are doing something different in every DEAR Time. On Tuesday, half of each class swapped over and we shared books with each other. We gave each other a synopsis of the plot, explained whether we were enjoying the book, and then actually read a few pages to our partners. It was great to be able to spend a relaxing time talking about books and listening to each other read.

RE - w/b 19.02.24

For our RE Day, Year 6 considered the similarities and differences religions and worldviews share. We thought about it mainly from the perspective of community, and what religions and worldviews teach about the way people should treat each other. We discovered that a common element is what has been called the Golden Rule: treat others how you would want to be treated. For part of the day, we had to present to the rest of the class some of our thoughts, using our oracy skills so that everyone could understand us clearly.

PHSCE - w/b 05.02.24

Mental Health week is a week dedicated to the mental health of children regarding our school and the whole borough of Newham.This article is all about year 6’s mental health week.

This mental health week included us writing about our favourite dates for example, someone’s birthday or the new year. Every day this past week, students meditated using ‘Peace Out’. This is an easy way to rest your mind and put yourself in a serene state of mind. Also on Monday we attended an assembly by the well-respected Anti-bullying ambassadors. The assembly focussed on spreading a vital message.

“MY VOICE MATTERS”

By Kevin and Navid 

Silver Class

Mathematics - w/b 29.01.24

We’ve been having a brilliant time starting to explore the world of Algebra!  Algebra is a bit like being a detective,  you have to solve challenges where there are missing bits of information which you find out by appling your mathematics skills.  This week we’ve looked at algebraic formulae, notation and equations!

History - w/b 22.01.24

Our history topic in Year 6 is Crime and Punishment, and we have learnt about crime, and how it was punished, during three historical periods: the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Victorians. For our learning about the Victorians, we experienced four hard labour tasks that prisoners would have to endure. Although our tasks weren’t exactly the same, we were able to think about what prisoners in the Nineteenth Century went through, and we considered the effectiveness of such punishments.

Reading - w/b 15.01.24

In Guided Reading, we have been reading  a book called Silas Marner, written by George Elliot (which was a fake name - or pseudonym - because female authors in the nineteenth century often found it almost impossible to get their work published. Her real name was Mary Ann Evans.). In the story, there is an ominous figure called Silas who was thought to be controlled by the devil. He was a happy member of a church but was betrayed by his best friend, William Dane.

One of the important skills we need is being able to identify the main idea of paragraphs, chapters, and whole books. As well as talking about this, we use a range of other ways to make sure we understand what the main idea of a text is.

Shakeel

English - w/b 08.01.24

We’ve been having a blast in English this week with Monday’s Victorian day starting off our story planning. We’ve started reading a story called ‘Street Child’ which is based on a real life character from history, Jim Jarvis and his life as a destitute orphan under the reign of Queen Victoria. Our immersive experience didn’t just benefit our writing so that we could empathise with some of the experiences of the children in the Victorian era who we will be depicting in our work (we’re writing an ending to the novel in three chapters), but we also did Victorian Maths, P.E., Reading and Oracy!  

Christmas - w/b 11.12.23

Today, we thoroughly enjoyed a pantomime about Peter Pan. This was extremely fun and funny. We were all intently watching and it felt like the one hour went by in two minutes! The actors were engaging with us and entertained us wonderfully! On the whole, I (and I am sure many others) loved the pantomime and it was sad to see that this was the last pantomime in primary school. On a positive note, it was a wonderful one hour and I really enjoyed this pantomime. Thank you to the amazing actors who really made our day!

Aarththy,

Silver Class   

Science - w/b 04.12.23

We’ve been delving further into the topic of light this week and swapping reflections for refraction.  After having posed our own investigation questions relating to how we could prove refraction was taking place, we formulated our method and got stuck into our investigations which ranged from trying to make our own rainbow to making arrows change directions!  Ask us what we observed when we were conducting our scientific exploration and have a go at something similar at home:

https://coolscienceexperimentshq.com/light-refraction/

Science - w/b 27.11.23

We’ve been looking at the topic of light in Science and most recently what a reflection is and why, and where we see them. In order to depict what a reflection is, and what it is not, we used differing materials and a painting by the celebrated American artist, Norman Rockwell to inspire us. Have a look and see where you can see a reflection in the scientific context but also how the objects around Rockwell are a reflection of his culture, interests and beliefs.

If you want to explore light at home, have a look here for some brilliant at home investigation ideas: 

https://explorify.uk/teacher-support/helpful-reads/explorify-at-home-light

Geography - w/b 20.11.23

In geography lessons, the pupils in Year 6 have been learning about our local area. As part of this, we carried out fieldwork during a walk from school to Valentines park in Ilford. We made observations about geographical features such as land use and transportation, recording them in fieldwork notebooks. While in Valentines Park, we thought about the similarities and differences between it and our part of Manor Park. We also enjoyed seeing a lot of wildlife that we don’t normally see, such as moorhens and geese.

After our walk, we collaborated with a partner to create a sketch map of the route we took. 

PHSCE - w/b 06.11.23

We’ve taken our Personal, social, health and citizenship education to the pool over the last two weeks- we’ve been learning and developing our swimming abilities at the Olympic pool in Stratford, and enjoying time celebrating our achievements together in a wonderful building designed by the inspirational architect Zaha Hadid.  We’ve also been participating in Parliament Week- the time when we stand for election as MPs, give manifesto speeches to our classmates, cast our democratic vote and the prefects get to run the polling stations and count the votes.  We’ll find out the results on the 10th November, so watch this space to find out who will be representing our classes for the rest of the year!

RE - w/b 30.10.23

In Year 6, we explored how Christians express their faith through the arts. We thought about the way that music and movement are used as part of Christian worship, as well as the aspects of the religion being expressed. After that, we spent time looking at how art and colour have been used, and created our own modern icons, depicting something connected with Christianity. For part of the day, we learnt how drama is also used, for example the passion plays that are often performed at Easter time. By the end of the day, we had learnt that Christians have used the arts in lots of different ways to express various aspects of their beliefs.

PHSCE - w/b 16.10.23

During PHSCE we have been learning about Martin Luther King Junior. We have looked at his well-known speech. My favourite thing I learned from his speech was to never give up on standing up for your rights. Martin Luther King Junior did not only talk about himself, he also talked about the upcoming generation. The part of the speech that stood out the most was,

“I had a dream that one day little black boys & little black girls would hold hands with little white boys and little white girls and one day be brothers and sisters. I had a dream that one day my four little children will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of the character.” well spoken words.

Written by Farez & Dhanyal.

Art - w/b 09.10.23

In Year 6, we have been learning about two artists, Stephen Wiltshire and John Virtue, both of whom depict cityscapes, but each using a different style and technique. We learned that Stephen Wiltshire creates extremely detailed pictures, which can be described as ‘low energy’. John Virtue, on the other hand, uses ‘high energy’ to create  more abstract, less detailed depictions of cityscapes.

We have experimented with both styles, depicting the same scene, in order to be able to choose how we want to create our final piece of art for this topic.

Science - w/b 02.10.23

In science we have been learning about the theory of Wallace and Charles Darwin. We have learned about  evolution, natural selection and the survival of the fittest. An easy way that we used to learn was listening to raps/songs and poems.

Written by Farez.

The favourite part of our learning was when we listened to the rap about camels and polar bears.

Written by Navid.

Reading - w/b 25.09.23

This week, in Guided Reading, we are reading a poem by Robert Burns, entitled ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’. The poet extols the Highlands, a place that he loved greatly, and explains that no matter where he goes, his heart will always belong to that beautiful part of Scotland.

After reading the poem, we worked in small groups, answering three key questions about the poem, which meant we had to use our reading and oracy skills. We enjoy talking about what we have read as it gives us the opportunity to hear other people’s opinions.

Mathematics - w/b 18.09.23

My favourite topic in mathematics so far in year 6 is negative numbers. I like negative numbers because you can subtract a large amount. In year 6 we have been rounding large amounts, negative numbers, place value to 1,000,000 and carried out some really fun investigations and raps linked to our learning . 

By Aayat, 

Silver Class

English - w/b 11.09.23

In our English lessons, we have been reading poems by Joseph Coelho, from his book Overheard in a Tower Block. After analysing the poems, talking about  techniques and themes, we worked in groups to perform one of them. We had to decide how we were going to do it, and how we could use our voice and gestures to convey the meaning of the poem to the audience. Everyone worked hard, and produced some great performances.

Welcome Back! w/b 04.09.23

Pupils in Year 6 have made a fantastic start to the new academic year. Everyone was happy to be back at school on Tuesday, and it was fun catching-up with what our friends had been up to during the summer break. It wasn’t long, however, before we settled down and focused on the tasks we had. Year 6 is our last year in primary school, and we are all determined to make the most of every minute!

^{Welcome to the Silver and Bronze Class page!}

2022-23

Art - w/b 10.07.23

In an exciting art project, Year 6 students have delved into the captivating world of renowned artist Justin Diggle and the mesmerizing technique of intaglio printing. This hands-on experience allowed the children to unleash their creativity and imagination by designing and printing their own peculiar creatures.

Intrigued by Diggle's work, the Year 6 students embraced the challenge of designing their own odd creatures. Armed with scissors, glue, and an array of animal images, the children engaged in the art of collage. Once the students had crafted their extraordinary creatures, the next step was to etch their designs onto foil card to create a printing plate. Using specialised etching tools, they carefully traced their collaged creatures onto the foil card, pressing gently to create precise lines and textures. This technique allowed the students to translate their ideas from the realm of imagination into tangible, tactile forms.

With their printing plates ready, the Year 6 students were introduced to the printing press, a powerful tool in the world of intaglio printing. They carefully aligned their plates on the press, ensuring precision and accuracy, and then positioned blank sheets of paper on top. Applying gentle pressure, they rolled the press, witnessing the magic of transformation as their designs transferred onto the paper. The joy and excitement were palpable as each student unveiled their printed creations bringing their unique visions to life.

Year 6 Visits Manor Park Christian Centre - w/b 03.07.23

On Friday 30th June, Year 6 walked to Manor Park Christian Centre, having been invited to take part in a special event. We were welcomed by some very friendly volunteers, and then spent the afternoon thinking about the importance of Jesus to Christians, but also considering differing views about him. We were encouraged to voice our own thoughts and opinions and had the opportunity to ask questions, too. Our time there was really enjoyable, and helped in our learning about different beliefs.

Art - w/b 26.06.23

During Art Week, the Year 6 children found themselves captivated by the incredible work of Esther Mahlungu, an esteemed artist known for her contributions to the Ndebele tribes' artistic style. Through in-depth research and engaging discussions, the students delved into the rich history and cultural significance of Ndebele art, discovering the vibrant patterns, bold colours, and geometric shapes that characterise this unique style.

"Art has the power to bring people together, to bridge cultures and break down barriers."

Inspired by Mahlungu's talent, the children embarked on their own artistic journey, crafting clay pots and adorning them with intricate designs reminiscent of the Ndebele tradition. Their creativity flourished as they skilfully incorporated the essence of this ancient art form into their own creations, resulting in a remarkable display of talent and cultural appreciation.

Mathematics - w/b 19.06.23

Year 6 students have recently embarked on an exciting mathematics project called White Rose Bakery. This hands-on experience has allowed them to delve into the world of baking, where they have identified ingredients, calculated costs, and explored packaging. By meticulously creating shopping lists, they applied mathematical skills such as measurement and estimation. Through researching prices, comparing values, and calculating total expenditures, they honed their budgeting and financial planning abilities. Additionally, by analysing packaging options based on geometry and measurement, they combined creativity with mathematical thinking. Year 6 have discovered the captivating intersection of mathematics and baking, fostering practical skills and a lifelong appreciation for the subject.

RE - w/b 12.06.23

Year 6 students recently embarked on a powerful educational journey as they delved into the historical significance of World War II. As part of their immersive learning experience, the students had the opportunity to watch a captivating play that vividly portrayed the events and emotions surrounding this tumultuous period. The play served as a catalyst for further exploration, as the children eagerly participated in workshops that focused on creating artwork centred around the experiences of Jews during World War II. Through their artistic expressions, the students gained a deeper understanding of the struggles and resilience of individuals affected by the Holocaust, fostering empathy and cultivating a profound appreciation for the importance of remembrance and human rights education.

Reading - w/b 05.06.23

One of the important reading skills we all need to develop is that of proof reading: the ability to spot mistakes in our writing. In Year 6, we have been spending time reading other people’s writing, using our proof reading skills to spot things that need correcting. We have also looked carefully at other ways to improve our writing, such as thinking about the vocabulary we use, and the way we express ourselves.

Working with others has certainly helped us as writers!

Writing - w/b 22.05.23

Year 6 students have embarked on a remarkable writing journey, showcasing their growth as writers and their love for storytelling. By carefully selecting their favourite pieces from the year and engaging in the redrafting process, these young authors have created awe-inspiring works that reflect their resilience and attention to detail. From imaginative narratives to persuasive letters, their refined pieces demonstrate the power of creativity and the impact of deliberate revisions.

These redrafted pieces are proof of the effort and success of Year 6 pupils. Their polished works make them proud and show that they can take feedback and make their writing even stronger. We're celebrating their incredible talent and progress, and we're excited about what the future holds for these young writers. Their passion for storytelling will keep growing and inspiring others.

Art - w/b 15.05.23

Year 6 students have been putting their artistic skills to the test by creating their own portraits of King Charles III. Taking inspiration from official photos, the students have added their own personal touches by incorporating items of interest to the monarch. For example, they have replaced the St Edwards crown with a unique one made from leaves, which showcases the King's love of gardening and his commitment to the environment. The students have also used techniques such as graphite transfer to aid them in their creations.

In addition to their impressive artistic endeavours, the Year 6 children went the extra mile by creating a captivating wash for the background of their portraits. With careful consideration, they selected colours to evoke specific emotions, taking inspiration from the renowned artist Chris O'filli's iconic piece, "No woman no cry." This attention to detail further enhances the depth and meaning behind their artwork, showcasing the students' exceptional talent and artistic expression. These portraits are a wonderful example of the creativity and imagination of our young artists.

Coronation Celebrations - w/b 08.05.23

Year 6 students took part in a tea party celebration, marking the upcoming coronation of King Charles III. With great excitement, our Year 6 students dressed in their finest attire, with the colours of the Union Jack, and embraced the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of royalty. Amidst a delightful ambiance of laughter and cheer, the young participants indulged in a delectable array of treats. This enchanting event not only provided a joyous experience but also served as a valuable educational opportunity for our Year 6 students to delve into the history and significance of royal ceremonies, fostering a deeper appreciation for their country's rich heritage.

Moreover, the festivities were elevated by a series of engaging games that captivated our Year 6 students' attention. From the classic musical statues to an exhilarating round of royal trivia, our young learners eagerly embraced the challenges, showcasing their knowledge and enthusiasm. These games offered a platform for interactive learning, further developing their social skills and promoting teamwork, all while creating unforgettable memories. The tea party, along with the thrilling games, proved to be a resounding success, leaving our Year 6 students with cherished moments and a profound sense of anticipation for the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III.

English - w/b 01.05.23

Year 6 students have been hard at work crafting a newspaper article inspired by the thought-provoking book, "Rose Blanche" by Christophe Gallaz and Roberto Innocenti. The book follows the journey of a young German girl, Rose, during the tumultuous time of World War II. Intrigued by the events unfolding around her, Rose embarks on a quest to help the children in a nearby concentration camp. Despite her good intentions, her actions come at a great cost.

The children in Year 6 have been exploring the themes of the book and learning about the historical context of World War II. They have been honing their writing skills by researching and drafting their articles, and have also been developing their critical thinking skills by considering different perspectives and sources. Through this activity, the children have gained a deeper understanding of the impact of war on individuals and communities, and have been able to express their thoughts and opinions in a thoughtful and engaging way.

Getting Ready for SATs - w/b 24.04.23

With SATs fast approaching, Year 6 are working hard to prepare for the tests. We have been practising the types of questions that will be in the tests, and thinking about what we can do to make our answers the best we can.

We have also been helping each other, revising together and using the skills and knowledge from our learning throughout KS2. 

One of the most effective techniques we've learned is called spaced repetition.

Spaced repetition involves reviewing material at specific intervals to reinforce your memory of it over time.This technique is particularly useful for learning and retaining large amounts of information, such as vocabulary or formulae.

Another technique we've learned is called active recall.Active recall involves testing yourself on material to strengthen your memory of it. This technique can be done through flashcards, quizzes, or other types of practice exercises.

We've also learned about the importance of setting goals and creating a study schedule to help us stay on track. By breaking down our revision into smaller, manageable chunks, we can make the process less overwhelming and more achievable. Additionally, we've learned about the value of taking breaks and getting enough rest to help us stay focused and productive. We've also practised using visual aids such as mind maps and diagrams to help us organise information and make connections between different concepts. 

Finally, we've learned about the importance of practising past papers and seeking feedback from teachers or peers to identify areas where we need to improve. By incorporating these revision techniques into our SATs preparation, we feel more confident and prepared for the upcoming exams. We hope that these tips can be helpful for others who are preparing for exams or looking to improve their study habits.

English - w/b 17.04.23

During an English lesson this week, we read some more of the story, Rose Blanche. We discussed what is happening, and how the text and illustrations complement each other as they tell the story. Then we worked in small groups to create a freeze frame depicting a key scene. We had to be ready to share our character’s thoughts, using what we had read to help us and our ability to empathise with characters.

Art - w/b 27.03.23

Art Inspired by Chris Ofili

Our art topic this term has taken inspiration from ‘No Woman, No cry’, a portrait by Chris Ofili. We learnt about the background to the painting: how the subject of the portrait, Doreen Lawrence, lost her son to racial violence, and how she went on to be a community campaigner.

Our work started with a recap of colour mixing with paints, before we created a background for our own portraits, choosing a colour that reflected strong emotion and using a sponge instead of a brush.

We now have to paint ourselves on to the backgrounds we created.

Mathematics - w/b 20.03.23

In maths, year 6 have been learning about area and perimeter of triangles and quadrilaterals. Area is the amount of space inside a shape, and perimeter is the distance around it. We’ve been learning how to find the area and perimeter of all sorts of shapes, like rectangles, triangles and quadrilaterals. We’ve also been learning about measurements: metric and imperial measurements and how to convert measures between different units, like centimetres and inches.

Finding out the area of a triangle is the same as a rectangle where you multiply the length and width however for a triangle you would need to divide your answer by 2. To find out the area of a triangle, you need to look for a right angle to identify the base and perpendicular height which you multiply together before dividing by two.

We have been exploring drawing a range of rectilinear shapes and triangles of given areas or perimeters and looking for any relationships between these shapes. Did you know that the perpendicular height is equal to the vertical height sometimes? We learned about patterns in the area of a triangle.

Learning about area and perimeter is important for us since it helps us to understand the world around us. For example, knowing the area of a room can help to decide how much carpet to buy, and knowing the perimeter of a field can help to figure out how much fencing is needed.

Written by Hameem in Bronze Class

Library Visit - w/b 13.03.23

On Tuesday 14^th March, Year 6 visited Manor Park Library.

We were reminded of the way a library is organized, and how fiction books are arranged in alphabetical order of the author’s surname. Non-fiction books are arranged differently: the Dewey classification system uses numbers for every subject. Then we had the opportunity to browse the books, sit and read, or use our library cards to borrow books if we wanted to. 

Geography - w/b 06.03.23

During our geography sessions this week we used the information we had gathered over the past weeks relating to famous rivers around the world to aid our writing of a persuasive letter. The letter was written to the leader of the country in which the river of our choice was situated and the purpose was to convince the leader that the river should be protected from pollution and its harmful effects.

We had to include the geographical information we had found out as well as ensuring we had used persuasive features in our writing. We checked each other’s work, identifying the structure, language features and key persuasive features before editing and uplevelling our work. Finally, we published our letters with the intention of sending them to the various leaders around the world.

RE Day - w/b 27.02.23

During R.E. Day, Year 6 explored the question, ‘What are the sources of the story about what happened on Easter Sunday?’ We looked at the accounts of the resurrection of Jesus in the bible, and discussed who was involved, and how reliable they were as witnesses. We also created freeze frames for part of the Easter Sunday stories. Then we went on to think about Pentecost, when Christians celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, again using the accounts found in the Bible. Throughout the whole day, we kept coming back to the texts, considering what they actually told us.

Oracy - w/b 20.02.23

This week in PSHCE we played a game called Just A Minute which is an 'oracy' based game. The aim of this game is to get as many points as possible. We can talk about any subject we want for a minute. The topic we spoke about was the person that means the most to us. We received 1 point for every second we spoke for, that’s not as easy as you may think though because if you hesitate or pause it is the opponent's turn. Also if you say the same word two times, you lose a point. The aim of this game is to help people learn their 'oracy' skills and get more confident. Also children should also know how to think of things faster about a certain subject.

Written by Ibrahim from Silver Class

PHSCE - w/b 06.02.23

We always start our PSHCE lessons with something to focus our thoughts and still our minds before our learning. We often use a Cosmic Kids meditation to help us do this. It’s a great way to calm ourselves, and is particularly helpful this week, during children’s mental health week, in reminding us how we can keep our minds working well, so that we make the most of every day.

Design Technology - w/b 30.01.23

In today's DT session we have been learning about kites as we are soon going to make one for a particular client. During the session we began by looking at where and when kites originated and we were able to research all about kite world records and the structure of kites. Another thing that we were looking at was how kites fly, the materials used and how they can turn swiftly in the air. We looked at a young 16-year-old boy called Homan Welsh who assisted in the creation of the Niagara Falls bridge using a kite. We have understood the parts of a kite such as the spine, reel, bridle, cover, flying line, spar, frame and tail.

One of the most interesting things I learnt in today’s lesson was that some adults have kite fights where they try and cut the reel of another kite, therefore meaning the owner can no longer control the flight of their kite. 

Written by Ashaz – Silver Class.

Reading - w/b 16.01.23

At Sir John Heron, we are allocated days where we are allowed to go to the school library and on certain days at DEAR time, our class goes to the library or the reading garden. I really enjoy when we get to go to the library as we have a huge array of books we can choose from, which is much larger than the choice of books on offer within our classrooms. Not to mention, Sir John Heron students remember to complete an AR quiz every term to decide our reading level, this is supported by our quizzes we complete each time we finish an AR book to check our understanding of texts. Reading is an important skill and part of life because we read on a daily basis to help us learn information, read contracts, find new jokes or even scripts for TV shows and movies. 

By Arohi in Silver Class

English - w/b 09.01.23

During this lesson, we read chapter two of ‘Street Child’. After talking about what happened, we worked in small groups to create a freeze frame for part of the chapter. Based on our reading of the text, we had to think about how we could depict each character effectively through our body posture and facial expression. We also had to think of a suitable caption for our freeze frame.

Christmas Fayre Preparations - w/b 05.12.22

Christmas Fayre Preparations Are Underway!

Year 6 will, as usual, run the Christmas Fayre. We have sorted out teams, captains and vice-captains, so now need to make things to sell.

We have started with our ever-popular handmade notebooks. Each one is unique, and will be sold either individually or as part of a set. The team selling the notebooks still has to fix prices, and think about advertising, but we’re all excited to be getting things ready for the big day.

Computing - w/b 28.11.22

Our topic this term is “We are interface designers”. Over the past several weeks, we have designed an original app. and considered what each page would look like. Although our app. could be on any theme, such as sports, religions, or SATs revision, the main consideration was ease-of-use and accessibility. After drawing out our ideas (called wireframes) we started using Google Sites to create our app. Although we are not finished, we are very happy with what we have created so far. 

Design Technology - w/b 21.11.22

We have just started our new D.T. topic - Pizzas. We will eventually be designing and making our own pizzas, so to start thinking about possible toppings, we tasted a variety of fruit and vegetables. After tasting each one, we had to discuss the taste, texture, smell and appearance with our partner. This helped us to think about which tastes we could combine for our pizza. We all enjoyed tasting the fruit and vegetables, although lots of us weren’t sure about the celery!

Oracy - w/b 14.11.22

In Year 6, we like to do as much talking as possible, because this helps us in our learning. In Guided Reading, we always spend one lesson each week discussing the three key questions for the text we are reading. To help us structure what we say appropriately, we use a range of sentence stems when we begin speaking and responding to others. We have found that using sentence stems like these helps to keep the discussion going, which lets everyone say what they want to.

English - w/b 07.11.22

Throughout this week Year 6 have used the short story ‘Amelia and the Long Armed Killer’ written by Joseph Coelho as their inspiration and stimulus to begin planning and writing their own mystery story. The children have focused on ensuring they have a theft or crime which has taken place, a courageous detective, adequate details of the suspected culprits and even a red herring within their story. From vocalising their ideas to each other and their groups, the children then began creating the world in which the mystery story took place, making sure to have a contained location which therefore limits the amount of suspects for the crime which has taken place. We are looking forward to delving deeper into our stories and making sure the reader is on tenterhooks for a cliff hanger in each chapter written.

English - w/b 31.10.22

During English this week, we have been reading a short story from the collection ‘Happy Here’. The story we have been unpicking is called ‘Amelia and the Long Armed Killer’ written by Joseph Coelho. During the tale, the protagonists are stuck on a cruise ship when a terrible storm and terrible incident occurs, Amelia and her friends try to seek out the truth. We worked on our summary skills by discussing the main parts of each chapter as well as creating thought showers about each character and their personality with evidence from the text. 

'So far I have enjoyed reading how Amelia was very helpful and determined to help find out who the criminal was and how she enlisted her friends and family to investigate their theories.' - Justine and Rayann, Silver Class

Art - w/b 17.10.22

In our art topic this half term, we have focussed on cityscapes. We looked at the work of two artists, Stephen Wiltshire and John Virtue, discussing their differing techniques and the overall impact of their pictures. Then we used their techniques for ourselves, experimenting with using low energy and high energy as we created images. We then spent time looking at perspective, and how shadows can create depth in pictures. Finally, we made marks by covering black card with white charcoal and using an eraser to remove varying amounts of charcoal so that different effects were created. For our final piece, we used that same technique to created part of a cityscape scene. We were all very pleased with what we had accomplished!

RE - w/b 10.10.22

During R.E. Day, Year 6 explored the question, “How do people express their faith through the arts in Christianity?”. Throughout the day, we considered the way Christians have used art, music, drama and dance to express aspects of their faith. As we learnt more, we added to a large mind map we created in our books. After looking at examples of how art has been used, we created our own modern-day icons. We also listened to some examples of Christian music, and discussed what was being expressed, and how different styles of music might affect the listener. We finished the day by using everything we had learnt, in a piece of writing explaining how faith is expressed through the arts in Christianity. We had a very busy, but rewarding day!

Science - w/b 03.10.22

Our science topic this term is ‘Evolution and Inheritance’. We have started to explore the idea of adaptation in animals and plants (which describes the way animals and plants adapt in order to survive their habitat), and have explored the way Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution. We used Now Press Play to enter the world of Darwin, amongst others, and think about how the idea of evolution impacted scientific thought.

Reading - w/b 26.09.22

In Guided Reading this term, we are reading poems connected to landscape. This week, we read ‘My heart’s in the Highlands’, by the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. We have talked about some of the vocabulary Burns used, making sure we understand what it means, and have spent time discussing three key questions about the text. This gave us lots of opportunity to explore the meaning of the poem by using our oracy skills. We also used the theme of the poem to think about places that are important to us.

Mathematics - w/b 19.09.22

During Mathematics in the last few weeks we have learned all about place value and how to add and subtract using a variety of methods. We have also learnt about negative numbers and how these are used in real life such as within a thermometer when measuring temperature, money in bank accounts and even basement floors in a building. In today’s session we have been practicing how to use counters to add and subtract, especially when trying to find missing numbers. Some of the trickier questions included exchanges which you had to look out for before completing the question. We must check our answers so that we know the correct solution. I would like to use this information when we work through decimal and fraction work. 

Ibrahim – Silver Class

English - w/b 12.09.22

We have started this term’s English lessons by reading poems by Joseph Coelho, from his book, Overheard in a Tower Block. After reading and discussing the poems, we worked in small groups to create a performance of one of the poems. We had to think about what the poet was saying in the poem, and how to get that across to the audience through the way we used expression, pace and volume. Some of us also decided to include actions to emphasise words or phrases within the poem. We were pleased with our performances, and look forward to using our performing skills in the future.

Welcome back! - w/b 05.09.22

This week we arrived back at Sir John Heron in Year 6 and created pieces of work to display in our classroom to showcase our personality as well as our artistic selves. We have also been learning about Ancient Greece, its effect on modern day life and how it comprises thousands of islands. In our ‘Now Press Play’ session we were acting as Athenians and learnt that Spartans declared wars in other states in Greece. We also pretended to pay for items in a market using Ancient Greek money called drachmas. Soraiya mentioned how much she enjoyed this experience as she felt like she was able to see what life was like in Ancient Greece.

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Year 5

2021 - 2022

Design and Technology - w/b 11.07.22

In DT we have created musical instruments based on the book ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’. In the book, the main character, William, has bad anxiety so the purpose of our instruments is to calm him down. We therefore had to consider what kind of noises would be soothing and how we could create something which would make a soothing noise. After designing our instruments we then selected everyday materials to create them. We experimented with different methods and refined our designs until they fit the brief. In the end we think they turned out very well!

French - w/b 04.07.22

This term in French, we have been exploring the patterns and sounds of language through songs, rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words. We have learned to speak in sentences using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures. Our focus has been the beach scene. We are now able to construct a sentence in French that describes the setting of a beach. We are able to describe the colours, the weather, the number of people and what month/date it might be.

Science - w/b 27.06.22

This week in science we tested the boats we built to see if they match the criteria for a racing boat. We chose the design and materials based around whether they were buoyant (floated) and streamlined for speed. We raced our boats to see whose design best fit the criteria and then evaluated our final products afterwards. We had a lot of fun testing them out to find who had the fastest boat.

Reading - w/b 20.06.22

This week in guided reading we have been exploring the legend of Hercules defeating Cerberus, the three headed hound of the Underworld. We demonstrated our understanding of the story through summarising the story with a haiku poem, and acting out the scene of Hercules capturing Cerberus with a freeze-frame. 

Mathematics - w/b 13.06.22

In this lesson, we learnt how to make triangles within a circular pegboard. It was a problem solving activity that challenged our ability to think outside the box and find multiple solutions to making as many triangles as we possibly can. To help us solve this problem, we made the triangles using a peg board and elastic bands. Once we understood the concept of how to make the three-sided shape, we were able to replicate our findings by drawing it.

English - w/b 06.06.22

This week in English, we have been familiarising ourselves with the main characters of ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’. To do this we have been creating roles on the wall for Tom and William to explore the facts and emotions attached to each character. We then made inferences about the characters based on the text and wrote these on post-it notes.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations - w/b 23.05.22

This week was Jubilee Week! In honour of the Queen, we have dedicated an entire week to celebrating her and her success as our monarch for the last seventy years! 

We began our week in style, having a tea party with our classmates. We made some tasty treats for the occasion: scones, fruit salad, jam sandwiches and banoffee pie. It was absolutely delicious! 

The next day, we designed and made our own coronation dresses and used the Queen’s coronation dress as inspiration. We did this using cards, newspapers and masking tape. The final products were incredibly chic. 

Finally, we have made a wire mobile that represents all the best things about being British.

Art - w/b 09.05.22

In art this week we have been preparing our etching plates for our intaglio printing. To do this we came up with our own hurricane patterns based on zentangle and Shoo Raynor patterns. We then traced these onto our foil etching plate before etching them deep into the foil using nails. We had to make sure it would be deep enough for the ink to go into the grooves and transfer onto the paper.

Mathematics - w/b 02.05.22

Today in Mathematics, we learned how to use our logical reasoning skills to help us solve a problem. We first recapped our prior knowledge of square numbers, multiples and factors. This knowledge helped us with solving a problem that involved multiplying and dividing. We represented our solutions using manipulatives which helped us visualise our steps in solving the problem.

French - w/b 25.04.22

Our unit this term in French is: Je suis le musicien (I am the music man). In this lesson, we recapped our knowledge of nouns: all French nouns are either masculine or feminine. We practised pronouncing the names of six instruments and wrote the masculine ones in blue in one column (le piano, le saxophone, le violon) and the feminine (la guitare, la batterie, la clarinette) in red in another. We then split as a class into two groups: one for masculine nouns and one for feminine nouns. Each group had to repeat their nouns. We played an animation, pointing out that the masculine instruments are preceded by du (je joue du piano/du saxophone/du violon) whereas the feminine instruments are preceded by de la (je joue de la guitare/ de la batterie/de la clarinette). 

Later in the lesson, we consolidated our knowledge by playing snakes and ladders. The rules were: 

• Take turns to throw the dice and move your counter from Départ to Arrivée. 
• If you land on a square with a question, your partner asks you the question and you must give the correct answer, or else move back two squares.
• If you land on a square with a heart, say if you like the instrument or not. Move back two squares if you can’t say it. 
• If you land on a ladder, move your counter up. 
• If you land on a snake, slide your counter down. Example: A Tu joues du violon? B Oui, je joue du violon. / Non, je ne joue pas de violon. h? J’aime le piano. / Je n’aime pas le piano.

Mathematics - w/b 18.04.22

This week in year 5, we have been introduced to decimal numbers. To understand the place value of decimal numbers, we used a place value chart and counters to make numbers. We then learnt how to add fractions using the place value chart. We now understand that ten tenths make one and ten hundredths make one tenth. We must remember to exchange when we have ten or more in one column. 

Science - w/b 28.04.22

This week in year 5 we have been learning about the physical and internal changes that occur in old age. We learnt that not all changes can be seen. For example, an elderly person has a weaker immune system than those in the stage of adulthood. Their weaker immune system means that they are more vulnerable to diseases or illnesses. However, a baby’s immune system is also just as fragile as an elderly person. This is because they are still in the process of developing their immunity. To help us consolidate our knowledge, we created a table to sort the physical and internal changes of the elderly. Then some of us wrote a short, persuasive letter to convince an elderly person to make healthy lifestyle choices in their diet. 

English - w/b 21.03.22

This week in year 5 we have been writing our narrative piece based on the book we are reading: The Varmints. We have been building up to this over the last couple of weeks by writing setting descriptions which explore how the Varmint feels in his surroundings at the beginning and middle of the story. We have been learning lots of new vocabulary such as ‘serene’ and ‘bucolic’ in order to write interesting and descriptive narratives. 

Reading - w/b 14.03.22

This week in year 5, we have been doing a range of reading activities. We have visited our amazing school library, gave book recommendations during DEAR (drop everything and read) time and compared and contrasted different types of vertebrates. In guided reading, we are focussing on non-fiction texts that explore the wonders of animals and nature. We now know the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded vertebrates. For example; Amphibians are ectothermic creatures, who rely on sunlight to regulate their body temperature whereas mammals are endothermic and rely on their fur. 

RE - w/b 07.03.22

We have had some very exciting RE visitors in Year 5. In RE we have been learning all about Christianity and were lucky enough to have a priest visit us to explain how the teachings of Jesus have shaped his life. We then had a visit from a Humanist to show us an alternative viewpoint and we were able to discuss how there are some similarities and differences between Christianity and Humanism.

RE - w/b 28.02.22

This week, year 5 had a visit from Faith in Schools. We met a vicar from our local church in Manor Park: Father Lee and our Faith in School’s worker: Eguolo. In our session, we learned about the significance of Easter to Christians and how they show their devotion to their religion and God. Father Lee demonstrated the importance of following the acts of Jesus by washing the feet of Eguolo. We were told that Christians sometimes perform this act to remind ourselves that we are all equal in the eyes of the lord.

Geography - w/b 21.02.22

This week in geography we have been learning about climate change and its effect on extreme weather in the UK. We looked at the links between climate change, pollution and global warming and  took notes on everything we learnt. 

We used these notes to hold small group debates about a number of hot topics. We discussed: whether all plastic should be banned, if everyone should become a vegetarian and ways of cleaning up our oceans. 

To help us become good debate partners we followed the Oracy Guidelines and gave feedback to our peers about what we did well and how we could improve next time. We also assessed our own progress, the risks we took and which debating skills we could improve on to become better at debating in the future.

Design and Technology - w/b 07.02.22

This week in DT, year 5 have been baking sweet and savoury scones. Over the last couple of weeks we have learnt about nutrition, seasonal foods and the history of scones. We have also written up our recipe ready for the big day! We were lucky enough to have a Michelin star chef, Gavin Gorden, visit us to teach us how to bake delicious scones and together we followed the recipe and had a lot of fun baking! Our scones looked great and tasted even better, we have all had a wonderful time learning about scones in food tech.

Computing - w/b 31.01.22

This week in computing, we have been looking at the effects of online bullying. We discussed a scenario in which someone accidentally sent a mean text message to a group chat and considered how we would respond as each of the characters in the scenario. We also discussed the difference between a bystander and an upstander and how we could take action to be a supportive bystander. We shared our ideas in our table groups and recorded our responses on a sheet.

Mathematics - w/b 24.01.22

In mathematics, we have started our new topic: Multiplication and Division. So far, we have worked on multiplying two, three and four digit numbers by one digit number. We used counters and place value charts and the column method to help us understand how multiplication works. Through this, we are now able to make exchanges in more than one column when needed and can demonstrate this with the use counters.

History - w/b 17.01.22

This week in history we have been learning about the ancient Round City of Baghdad. We learned all about the architecture and design of ancient Sasanian cities and how this inspired Al-Mansur to design his own Round City, which would become the capital of the Islamic Empire. We planned our own ancient city of Baghdad by studying a birds-eye view drawing and city designs which helped us to draw our own design. Using biscuits and icing sugar we built our impressive reconstructions of the Round City of Baghdad.

English - w/b 10.01.22

We have been introduced to our new book, Skellig by David Almond. Through discussion we have empathised with the characters and can recall key events that have occurred in the story. To help us recall the events, we used freeze frames to capture each key part of the story so far.  

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! - w/b 13.12.21

Year five was visited by a soon-to-be Vicar: Mr McLeod Senior. He delivered a great discussion about the meaning of Christmas in Christianity. It was interesting to find out that no matter the denomination within Christianity, all Christians believe in one God and one spirit. We were given the opportunity to ask questions at the end and were very satisfied with Mr McLeod’s answers. 

In addition to learning about Christmas, we also learnt about Pentecostal and Ascension day. Pentecostal Day celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit and Ascension Day celebrates the Holy Spirit going back to heaven upon a cloud. 

Computing - w/b 06.12.21

In computing we have learned how a search engine works. We are now able to explain why Google is a popular search engine and understand how to effectively filter our searches online. In our lesson, we were learning how to identify which web page has the highest amount of links and explain why.

Science - w/b 29.11.21

This week in science we have been learning about the relationship between air resistance and gravity. We carried out an investigation to discover whether objects with different mass fall at the same rate by creating a parachute out of everyday materials and dropping a range of objects from the same height. We used a stopwatch to measure how long it took the objects to land. We discovered that Galileo’s theory that all objects fall at the same rate in the absence of air resistance was correct, by comparing the time it took for an object to fall without a parachute to the time it took with the parachute. 

We had a lot of fun creating our parachutes and timing the falling objects.

Year 5 and 6 Little Ilford Football Competition w/b- 29.11.21

It was great to have our year 5 and 6 boys and girls representing us at Little Ilford Football competition this week. Both played 3 matches against very strong teams and you could see them improving as a team every game. Our boys team finished with a total of 4 points overall to finish in second place. Our girls team finished in third place overall after some fantastic performances. Well done to everybody! 

RE - W/B 22.11.21

This term in RE, we have been learning about a Christian custom of making Christingles during Advent. Christingles originated from Germany in the 1700s and is now a tradition in Protestant churches within England. After learning about the historical context behind the Christingle, we then learned about symbolism behind the Christingle and what it means to a Christian. We then made a Christingle and labelled each part, explaining each part’s meaning.

• The orange represents the world. 
• The ribbon represents the blood and sacrifice of Jesus.
• The candle represents Jesus as the light of the world. 
• The four cocktail sticks represent the four seasons. 
• The dry fruit or sweets symbolises God’s creations.

Mathematics - w/b 15.11.21

In Mathematics, we have been learning about squared numbers and cubed numbers. Using multi links, we realised a cube number can be made into a perfect cube. The notation for cube is ³. We now know that this symbol means we must triple the number or multiply it three times. For example: 3³ = 3 x 3 x 3.

Reading - w/b 08.11.21

Today in guided reading, we did an exciting activity using oil pastels to represent our inferences in the form of abstract-expressionist art. The objective of the activity was to make it look colourful with many designs. We also had to use the technique ‘shading’ to add extra effects to our work.

The colours were picked in a special way, we analysed the language of a poem and picked key words from a colour word bank to help us make inferences and explain the mood and tone throughout the poem.

The colours and words we used to make inferences and describe our poem were:

Red:                                                                          Purple:

Love                                                                              Wisdom

Passion                                                                         Mystery

Aggression                                                                   Problem-Solving

Fire                                                                                Creativity

Blue:                                                Yellow:

Reliable                                                                          Friendly

Soothing                                                                        Happiness

Stability                                                                          Joy

Trust                                                                                Inspiration

Orange:                                             Brown

Warmth                                                                           Green

Attention                                                                         Pink

Comfort                                                                           Black

Enthusiasm

English - w/b 01.11.21

In English, we have been introduced to our new book: Happy Here. Happy Here is a one of a kind anthology, as it is made up of ten books written by 10 black authors and illustrated by black illustrators. One of the stories that we are looking at is called ‘Wake’ by Jasmine Richards. In the story, our main character Eva discovers a golden mask that was kept in a compartment within her Grandma’s sacred box. The mask reminded her of the happier times of when Eva and her grandmother would go to the Carnival. As a class, we learned about the historical context behind carnival and what it represents. Then to enrich our learning and make the book come alive, we made our own carnival masks.

French - w/b 18.10.21

In French, we have been learning how to describe our journey to school. Over the term, we have been learning key vocabulary and phrases to help describe the directions and landmarks that we may pass when on our route to school. In our final week of this unit, we wrote a few sentences in French that map out our route to school in the morning. 

RE - w/b 11.10.21

In year 5, our unit is: ‘What do religions believe about God?’ This week we learned how Hindus show worship within their faith. We now have a basic understanding of the beliefs of Hinduism, particularly the art of drama and dance. Through dance, Hindu's can bring to life the mythology stories of their deities (Gods and Goddesses). Dance in Hinduism has been developed over the last 2000 years! After watching some performances of Hindu dance, we worked in groups and acted out the mythology story of Rama and Sita through dance and mime.  

Science - w/b 04.10.21

This term in science, we have been learning about our solar system. 

So far on our learning journey, we have: 

• Identified and named the planets.
• Created a solar system poster where we ordered and named the planets.
• We have also learned the difference between geocentric and heliocentric movements and discussed the movement of planets in relation to the sun and moon (orbit affects seasons, day and night). 
• Finally, we took part in a ‘Now Press Play’ session where we looked at the wonders of Mars and acted this out as a class. In this session we met Neil Armstrong; maintained a space shuttle; walked on Mars and had an encounter with a Martian dust storm!

Mathematics - w/b 27.09.21

In year five, we have begun our new topic of addition and subtraction in mathematics. To help us have a better understanding of this concept, we used our place value counters so we can work out addition problems in a practical way. The main concept that we were learning about today was exchange. Exchange happens when there are more than ten counters in a column. When there are more than ten counters in a column, we need to exchange the ten counters for another counter that is ten times greater. For example: ten ones would be exchanged for one ten; ten tens would be exchanged for one hundred and ten hundreds would be exchanged for one thousand. Once we had a better understanding of this process, we then applied our knowledge of addition with exchange in the form of the column method.

English - w/b 20.09.21

This week in English, we have been looking more closely at John Agard’s poetry. The poem we focussed on was: ‘The girl who married the iron stove’. 

It is based on a 17th century German fairy tale about a princess who is lost in the woods and comes across an enchanted stove who promises to help her get home in exchange for marriage. Out of desperation, the princess agrees. We explored the language of the poem and looked at the hidden meanings associated with the stove. We then used our poem as a stimulus to perform a conscience alley. Using ‘conscience alley’, we had one side arguing against the union and one side that was encouraging the princess to marry the enchanted stove. 

Reading - w/b 13.09.21

This week in Guided Reading, we have been looking at the poem: ‘The Tyger’ by William Blake. It focuses on the impact of the industrial revolution in the 18th century. We carefully considered and discussed the choice of language used by Blake and how certain words conveyed a strong sense of meaning. In the poem it mentions there is an ‘immortal’ being and this immortal being created the tiger mentioned throughout the poem. We decided to act this out by spreading rumours about this creator. Who is this creator? Where does this creator come from?

W/b 06.09.21 - Back to school!

Pupils in year 5 had a very strong start to the school year. They already produced a redrafted piece of writing called 'Pigeon Impossible' and returned their homework projects to school. 

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Year 4

2020 - 2021

Mathematics - w/b 12.07.21

This week in mathematics, we have been learning how to determine how many minutes there are past the hour; record time in digital format; convert analogue time to digital time and use key vocabulary to describe our learning.

PHSCE - w/b 05.07.21

In PHSCE this week, we explored our new topic of ‘Changing Me’. We completed our KWL grid based on aspects of what we know and what we wanted to learn. We then considered the changes and differences we have experienced so far in life. Once we discussed this, we explored ideas based on our future aspirations. Finally, we completed a polygon net which consisted of statements based on our achievements and accomplishments.

History - w/b 28.06.21

In history, we have been learning about WW2 and the impact it had on our local area of East London. We looked at the many reasons as to why East London was targeted, as well as the devastating consequences it had on the capital. Once we discussed this, we created a timeline of the key events which included the Blitz and the dreaded Black Saturday. 

Let the Olympic Games begin! - w/b 21.06.21

This week we have been learning about the Olympics. We attended a workshop about this topic and learnt many facts about this popular event. Did you know that the first Olympic event started in Greece? This workshop was helpful in enabling us to deepen our knowledge as well as retrieving/consolidating information which we have learnt in guided reading.

Diversity Week - South Africa - w/b 14.06.21

This week, year four learned all about South Africa. We learned how to greet one another in Afrikaans as well as the meaning of the flag and what each colour represents. We also learned about a revolutionary- political leader, Nelson Mandela. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. We were so fascinated by Mandela’s achievements and what he had overcome, that we made non-chronological reports about him. Later in the week, we made a traditional dish called Chakalaka, which was very yummy indeed! We also painted black silhouettes of African animals in an African savanna. 

Mathematics - w/b 07.06.21

This week in mathematics we have been learning to recognise that hundredths arise from dividing one whole into one hundred equal parts. We now understand and can see that one tenth is also ten hundredths. We also are confident in counting in hundredths. We used diennes to help support our learning and understanding of this concept. Throughout the lesson we used key vocabulary including: place value, tenths, hundredths, equal parts, split and number line. 

English - w/b 24.05.21

In English, we have been creating letters in the role of the main character from ‘Fly, Eagle, Fly’. In order to successfully complete this, we first considered the main features of a letter and used emotive language to persuade the reader. We used ambitious vocabulary such as urge, compel, injustice to help with justifying our reasons. Finally, it was important to structure our work carefully so that we could present our ideas in a thoughtful and clear manner.

Get Active! - w/b 17.05.21

Everyday, we take part in a ten minute Get Active session. We do this first thing in the morning to help stimulate our minds and get our bodies moving. As we know, lockdown has prevented many of us from being active so fitness and keeping healthy is at the very top of our agenda here at Sir John heron. Starting our day with Get Active has made our mornings much more fun and has made our learning much more productive. 

PHSCE - w/b 10.05.21

In PHSCE this week, we have been learning about the effects alcohol can have on our health. We furthered our understanding of how drinking excessively can affect our organs such as the liver and how alcohol can affect our brain and decision making. During this lesson, we also considered the reasons why some people may drink alcohol and how we can resist from others (peer pressure). To put our learning into context, we created poems based on this topic and performed these to our class.  

Art - w/b 04.05.21

In art this week, we focused on colour mixing. Specifically, we looked at creating a spectrum of tints using pure hues. Firstly, we created tints using a darker colour (prussian blue) and then moved onto other primary colours such as vermillion red or cobalt blue. In order to do this effectively, we gradually added white to each of the hues to lighten the hue until it became almost white.  Next, using a colour wheel we began to mix primary colours to match the colours used in Seurat’s Eiffel Tower painting. We created a variety of shades which complemented his pointillism art piece. 

Falconry Workshop - w/b 26.04.21

Reading - w/b 26.04.21

Over the last two weeks, we have been reading ‘The Lost World’ by Arthur Conan Doyle. We have read the first few chapters and completed a range of tasks that focus on making predictions and inferences. This week, we have focused on describing one of the main characters from the text, Mr Challenger. Mr Challenger is a peculiar character, as he is bold, unapologetic and fiery. We wrote character descriptions and used evidence from the text to justify our answers.

Mathematics - w/b 19.04.21

This week in mathematics, we have been learning about equivalent fractions. We have explored the meaning of what is meant by equivalence, as well as beginning to identify patterns. The lessons involved embedding key vocabulary linked to fractions, as well as looking at a range of representations including bar models and number lines. In this particular lesson recorded, we focused on looking to find missing fractions on a number line. We applied our knowledge of multiplication and division in order to correctly find the many equivalent fraction pairs. 

Easter Holiday Homework Projects - w/b 19.04.21

During the Easter holiday, pupils were asked by their teachers to design and make a model of a 3D pyramid, ancient Egyptian jewellery and a headdress. Pupils used cardboard boxes; foil, paper, crepe paper, paint, sequins, beads, pipe cleaners and even pasta to created these models. Have a look at some of the wonderful models created by our artistic year 4 pupils!

English - w/b 29.03.21

Today in English, we acted out a part of the novel we have been reading this term. We chose parts of the story that we favoured the most and performed in front of the class. After weeks of annotating, making inferences and describing events in the story, we thoroughly enjoyed playing the parts of the characters we have grown to love. 

Computing - w/b 22.03.21

This week in computing, we were learning about the technical aspects of how the internet makes the web possible. We now understand the hidden meanings of URLs and are able to distinguish what each part of a URL means. We learned many acronyms that are used to form web pages and can now recite and explain their meanings.

Now Press Play! w/b 22.03.21

On Thursday, Year 4 travelled back in time to relive Ancient Egypt using a program called 'Now Press Play'. They started their journey in the school hall, where they received a set of earphones each. They became a character who travelled back to a time when pharaohs ruled over Egypt. During their visit, they discovered pyramids, hieroglyphics and mummies. It was very enjoyable and pupils were also able to use the knowledge they already had of the ancient Egyptians, as they studied this in History back in the Autumn term.

Have a look at some of the pictures taken during the session!

Science: The Digestive System - w/b 15.03.21

This term, we are learning about the human digestive system. So far, we have discovered how it works and have learned about all the different organs that are a part of our digestive system. We are confident in identifying, labeling and describing the function of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans. 

Back to School! w/b 08.03.21

We are very excited to be back at school, and made a great start! This afternoon, the year 4 pupils became fashion designers, when they used newspaper, masking tape, clothes pegs and scissors to design and create an outfit. After all the groups completed their designs, each class held a fashion show, showcasing their creations. The children did a great job working together in teams. 

Keep watching this space for more exciting learning!

PHSCE - w/b 07.12.2020

In PHSCE, we have been looking at strategies to help keep a healthy mind. We identified that there is a link between a healthy body and mind. For example, if you are anxious this can negatively impact your physical body by increasing your heart rate or making you feel nauseous. Just like a muscle, if we give ourselves positive affirmations on a daily basis we are strengthening ourselves and reinforcing the idea of having a positive outlook. This particular lesson focused on incorporating all of our learning to reflect on ways to keep calm. For example, we can embed techniques such as colouring for mindfulness or yoga and meditation.

This Week's Photo Moments - w/b 30.11.2020

RE - w/b 30.11.2020

This week in RE we have been learning about the Bible and what it means to Christianity. Each child in Year 4 has spent time interviewing a member of staff, who is Christian; looking at the Bible; ranking the ten commandments; reading parables and discussing the meaning of certain proverbs and interpreting them. After learning more about the Christian faith, we have concluded that the Bible gives Christians hope and reminds them that God is with them. 

English - w/b 23.11.2020

In English, we wrote instructions on how to make a spider. We focussed on embedding imperative verbs, fronted adverbials and adverbs. We made spiders using pipe cleaners and googly eyes. We chose to make spiders as a tribute to our book for this term, ‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B White.

This Week's Photo Moments - w/b 16.11.2020

Art/DT - w/b 16.11.2020

In art, we have been creating a relief sculpture based on our topic in history which was ancient Egypt. Initially, we sketched designs of our sculpture and then we began to create these using newspaper and masking tape. Once we had our 3D designs on cardboard, we used mod-roc to cover these. Today’s lesson focused on painting our relief sculptures. We used muted tones which resembled the sculptures from the ancient Egypt period. We ensured that we considered painting techniques in order to get the texture we needed for our reliefs. 

This Week's Photo Moments - w/b 09.11.2020

Mathematics - w/b 09.11.2020

During mathematics this week, we have been learning about division. We looked at a variety of methods including grouping, repeated subtraction for division (with and without a number line) and short division (bus stop method). We determined the efficiency of each method and found that short division can be helpful in most cases. During this particular lesson, we strengthened our mathematical vocabulary by determining the dividend, divisor and quotient. We worked in pairs to take turns to solve division problems and checked our answers by carrying out the inverse process.

This Week's Photo Moments - w/b 02.11.2020