Year 5/6 had a fabulous trip to Bessie Surtees House!!
As part of our Shakespeare topic this term, we went back in time to the Tudor Era - where we discovered some interesting facts and people along the way... Take a look at our photostory below - try not to laugh!!
Year 5/6 treated parents, carers and relatives to a musical extravaganza this week. Everyone was a star as they sang and danced their hearts out. Their performances have apparently attracted the attentions of Simon Cowell, who is to take time out from his busy schedule to view a video of the performance. How many of our children will he launch into stardom?
However, rumours that he would headhunt Miss Hamill and Mr Gormley to choreograph and direct the next series of X Factor have disappointingly been proven false.
View some photos from the performance by clicking below.
On Monday 22nd November, a group of Eco Warriors from West Lane visited Gateshead CLC to design their very own Eco friendly school, in a competition hosted by Open City, the architecture education organisation.
The children were given a series of tasks to complete, using a wide range of computer programs, using designing, drawing and writing skills. So busy and engaged were they, they didn't even ask for a morning break!
The children were given a series of advice sheets to help them with their designs.
Children and staff were delighted to welcome Gillian Cross, the acclaimed children's author, to our school on Monday. Best known for the Demon Headmaster series which was also televised, Gillian held workshops with many of the children from Key Stage 2.
Using role play and simple props, like a scarf or a pair of glasses, Gillian stimulated discussion and some excellent writing. Examples of the children's writing will be added to the website over the next few days, so keep your eye out for them appearing.
Check out some other photos of the day:
On Friday 12th November, as part of our book celebrations, we had a fancy dress day, when children were encouraged to come dressed as a book character. How many can you recognise?
Our latest book activity was to pair up classes across the school, with older children reading to younger children. This has always been a favourite activity of the children and this year was no exception. Everyone in the school took part, from Nursery to Year 6.
See some more images here:
All age groups met this morning to take part in the great West Lane book quiz.
Tensions were high as the competitive spirit of children (and staff) became apparent.
As the excitement rose, the quizmasters, Mr Gormley and Mrs Exley, made an excellent job of keeping the team captains under control.
Scores were close all the way through until, with the answer to the very last question, we had a winner - Alnwick!
Final scores were: Alnwick 34, Bamburgh 32, Chillingham 31, Durham 31
Thanks to everyone for a magnificent quiz.
Now have a try yourself.
To kick off our fortnight of book activities, children brought in a range of books to swap, which proved to be a popular idea for all age groups. There was a lot of serious haggling before those swaps were made! We will be sure to repeat this enjoyable activity.
Issy photographed with the Mayor of Gateshead.
Continue reading "Gateshead Short Story Writing Competition Winner" »
Year 5/6AT's class assembly was about France.
It was a great performance by the class in front of the school and parents.
They were brilliant!
Here are a few words from the children about their assembly
As part of our book week activities, KS2 children visited the nursery, reception and the KS1 classes to share some reading time.
Every year Film Education organises a nationwide film festival called National Schools Film Week. It is the biggest event of its kind in the World with 400,000 children watching over 200 films at 2,300 screenings in 560 locations throughout the UK!
As Year 5/6 is currently focusing on film based narratives, we took the opportunity to take part in this festival. Year 5/6 visited the Odeon cinema where they watched Bolt and Bridge to Terabithia.
Everyone really enjoyed both films and they provided plenty of discussion and opportunities for follow up work. It also highlighted just how much can be gained from being together and having fun outside of the classroom setting.
All the hard work put in by Year 6 pupils and staff finally paid off yesterday when Year 6 entertained family and friends with their end of year production called School Daze.
SATs Guide
http://www.satsguide.co.uk
A website that contains how-to's on nearly every subject and tips that will help you improve your score and make studying for SATS enjoyable.
ICT Teachers
http://www.icteachers.co.uk/children/children_sats.htm
The ICT Teachers site has lots of KS2 SATs practice questions.
BBC Bitesize
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/
Resources from the BBC covering English, Maths and Science.
Woodlands Junior School
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/revision/
Includes sample questions taken from past Key Stage 2 SATs papers, as well as a whole host of interactive tests/quizzes.
Science Essentials
http://www.channel4learning.net/sites/essentials/science/index.shtml
Find out loads more about science by investigating the three areas: Choose Life, Material World and Get Physical.
KS2 Maths Tutor
http://www.legend.yorks.com/~calverms/contents.htm
Shape, Space and Measures revision.
Spell It
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/spellits/activities_y5/activity1.shtml
Interactive online activities and printable resources which teach spelling strategies, rules and patterns.
Today Year 5 made the most of the beautiful spring day by creating poetry inspired by their springtime surroundings.
They spent time outdoors and every child was encouraged to take a digital photo of a verdant symbol of the season.
"Death shall come on swift wings to him that toucheth the tomb of Pharaoh."
So reads a totally imaginary inscription supposedly in the tomb of Tutankhamen. This is one of a number of curses that Year 5/6 AT looked at when finding out about Ancient Egyptian curses. The children enjoyed reading the curses so much that they decided to have a go at writing their own.
Read the curses if you dare!
As part of their literacy lessons, Year 4 looked at forms of poetry. They studied several different forms, including:
• Rhyming couplets
• Shape or concrete poetry
• Haiku
• Epitaphs
• Limericks
• Narrative poetry
They then tried to write poems using some of the forms we have studied. Have a look below and see what you think.
As part of their work on language play, Year 3 recently wrote some riddles. Riddles play with language by giving clues about what it is describing without saying what it is.
Mrs Haughton modelled writing a riddle first then the children thought-showered what they could write their own riddles about before writing them up.
What do you think?
This term Miss Taylor’s English group have been busy exploring and performing poetry.
They spent time reading and evaluating a range of poems before moving onto creating their own. They decided that Homer Simpson was a great subject for their poems and had lots of fun thinking up verses to describe his favourite pastime – eating.
The children then worked in small groups to plan, organise and create a poetry presentation of their Homer Simpson poem. They then used actions and sound effects to enhance their poem’s meaning.
Miss Taylor captured the performances on camera . Make sure you check the website over the next few days and you will be able to view the videos of the young poets in action.
