Owls Y4/5

Brightstorm w/b 1.6.20

Maudie and Arthur have started their journey on board the sky-ship Aurora and are heading towards South Polaris. They have begun building relationships with the crew on board the Aurora, especially Captain Harriet Culpepper and good-hearted Felicity Wiggety. As they make their way across to the Third Continent, what will happen?

Home Learning w/b 1.6.20

I hope that everyone had a relaxing May half term and managed to enjoy the gorgeous weather! 

As many of you may be aware, children from YR, Y1 and Y6 will be back in school from now on. Although I will be in school teaching Y1 every day, I will still be setting home learning for you to be doing until you are also back in school. Because of this, I may not be able to answer any emails or respond to the blog as quickly as before, but I will try to get back to you as soon as possible! I am really missing you all and I can't wait to see you all soon. It has been fantastic seeing what you have been getting up to and I am really proud of you all for what you have achieved and how you have coped in these strange times!

Attached below is this week's learning. Let me know if you need any help with anything and I look forward to seeing how you are getting on :)

EDIT: I have had some technical difficulties over the past couple of days and so this weeks Maths learning is going to look slightly different until I can get it fixed (hopefully not long!)

Stay safe,

Miss Costar :)

Maths

This week we are continuing to look at shape, but with a further focus on co-ordinates (Y4) and angles (Y4 & Y5). 

Y5 Monday - if you do not have a protractor at home simply skip question 3.

English

Topic

Other

Brightstorm

As promised, every day, I will be uploading an audio file of our new class reader, 'Brightstorm' by Vashti Hardy, where I have recorded myself reading the chapter (don't judge my terrible voices too much!)

Home Learning w/b 18.5.20

I hope that everyone is doing okay, being safe and keeping happy. This weeks learning is below - remember to send an email through the office or post on the blog if you are stuck and need any help! I seem to have gone slightly crazy this week with the number of different documents I have uploaded, so I have attempted to organise it to make it easier to follow!

See you soon,

Miss Costar :)

Maths

English

Topic

Other

Brightstorm

Home Learning w/b 11.5.20

I hope that everyone enjoyed last weeks VE Day project and was able to experience some of the celebrations on Friday. Attached below is this week's learning - please contact me if you need any help/have any questions.

Stay safe,

Miss Costar :)

'Brightstorm' by Vashti Hardy

I have gone off topic for our next book and chosen something that I have come across many times before but never had the pleasure of reading. As before, I will upload an audio file of myself reading a chapter each day, but unfortunately, as I have had to buy the book on my kindle to save time, I will not be able to upload a written copy of the chapter. Here is the front cover and blurb:

Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word that their father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. But a mysterious clue leads the twins to question the story they've been told, and they join the crew of a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth. Will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?

Home Learning w/b 4.5.20

It was absolutely wonderful to talk to the majority of you over the phone last week and I am really glad to hear that you are doing okay. For those of you that I haven't managed to catch up with yet, I am hoping to do so this week, so don't worry!

Unlike other weeks, this week Mrs Angio has set a project for the whole school. As Friday 8th May is VE day (a day to celebrate the end of the fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe during World War 2), this week will be slightly different. There are a series of different activities that you could do throughout the week, including researching what life was like for British soliders during WW2, building your own Anderson shelter, learning a dance called the Lindyhop, creating a piece of art to depict the Blitz and many more.

As you have been set a project for the week, I have not uploaded 'normal' learning packs for Maths, English, Topic, etc. However, I have still uploaded Spelling for the week and, new this week, Mental Maths (this will simply be the strips that we usually do in school) if you wish to work on this.

Let me know how you are getting on by emailing me what you have been getting up to or uploading pictures/descriptions up onto the blog.

Have a wonderful week and I shall see you soon,

Miss Costar :)

Malamander 27.4.20

Four chapters to go - we're so close to the end! I will upload an audio file and PDF version of the chapter for you to listen to/read yourselves each day. Enjoy!

Home Learning w/b 27.4.20

I hope that everyone is keeping safe, sane and spending quality time with their families. Attached below is this week's learning - please contact me if you need any help/have any questions!

Miss Costar :)

Malamander w/b 20.4.20

With only seven chapters to go, things are getting interesting and I for one can't wait to see what will happen! As before, each day I will be uploading the chapter in both audio and written form for you to listen to/read yourselves. Enjoy!

Home Learning w/b 20.4.20

I hope that everyone has had a relaxing, fun but most importantly safe Easter holidays.

This week's learning is below - remember there are no new skills to learn, you are simply practising, but this does not mean that you might not get stuck on something so contact me if you need any help! 

Stay safe and keep smiling,

Miss Costar :)

Malamander 30.3.20

As promised, we will be continuing to read our class reader 'Malamander' by Thomas Taylor. Every day, I will be uploading a chapter and an audio file where I have recorded myself reading the chapter (don't judge my terrible voices too much!) You may read it yourself or listen to me, it is up to you :)

Home Learning w/b 30.3.20

I hope that everyone is staying safe, keeping happy and spending quality time with their families. Well done to those of you who have discovered the class blogs and kept us updated with how you are getting on at home! If you haven't already, I would like to either hear from you via the blog or via email to see how you are getting on.

This week's learning is below - remember there is no new learning, but this does not mean that you might not get stuck on something so contact me if you need any help! 

Stay safe and keep smiling,

Miss Costar :)

Owls Information Texts

Well done to Luke W, George, Oscar, Madeleine, Daniel, Charlie and Izzy for your information texts on Owls, they look really good!

Malamander 23.3.20

As promised, we will be continuing to read our class reader 'Malamander' by Thomas Taylor. Every day, I will be uploading a chapter and an audio file where I have recorded myself reading the chapter (don't judge my terrible voices too much!) You may read it yourself or listen to me, it is up to you :)

For those who were absent last week, here are a few updates from our book:

• We discovered that the Boathook Man is working with Sebastian Eels, although this partnership seems forced (almost as if the Boathook Man is trapped in the arrangement)
• The Malamander is real! Herbie and Violet see him at the museum - he was looking for his egg.
• Violet's Dad (Peter Parma) believed in the Malamander and was writing a book all about the tale. Sebastian Eels strongly disagreed and they decided to make a wager where they would go and try to find the creature and whoever was right (whether it was real or not) would stop writing their book. However, they came back the morning after their adventure completely changed and no one knows why (there's definitely a story to tell here!)
• The Captain of the Leviathan (the shipwreck) discovered the Malamander's lair over a century ago and the captain of the ship, Captain K, stole the Malamander egg. His ship was attacked by the Malamander and he wished to live forever so that he would survive the attack.
• The Boathook Man is actually Captain K! He has been cursed as he lost the egg and he is doomed to live forever.
• Lady Kraken is the Boathook Man's granddaughter and she wants to find the Malamander egg to break his curse.
• Lady Kraken believes that Violet is working with Sebastian Eels to steal the egg and has convinced Herbie that Violet is not telling him everything that she knows!

(If I have forgotten any updates Owls, post it onto our class blog!)

Home Learning w/b 23.3.20

First off, I hope that everyone is feeling okay, adapting to staying at home and keeping themselves and others safe!

I have already shared some of this information with those who were still in school last week, but here is an update about a few things going forward for those absent & to parents:

Class Blog

You may have noticed that a recent addition to the website, under the banner of 'Children', is a 'Home Learning' section where each class now has their own blog. On here, I will be sending you messages as a class and you will be able to ask questions/communicate with me through this. I would like you to upload images/videos of what you have been getting up to at home as I am really interested in seeing this! You will be getting your own personal usernames/passwords to access this (they should be with you soon). I know that some of you have already been at home for a little while and if you have done anything interesting, then the rest of us would love to see/hear all about it!

Expectations for Learning

While you are at home, you will be expected to complete a certain amount of learning each day. I will never make this more than 2 hours per day and it will be a variety of Maths, English, Spelling and other areas that we have looked at this year. Furthermore, this learning will only be a recap on things we have already covered, there won't be any new learning until we are back at school all together. If you are stuck with anything at all, I am still here for you and you can contact me through the class blog or through emailing the admin office and I will try and help as much/as soon as I can!

When you are not doing the online work set for you, I would suggest spending time with your family, safely going outside, keeping fit and exercising, accessing different online resources and generally keeping yourselves busy.

Usernames/Passwords

You should have all of your usernames and passwords for various sites such as TTRS, Spelling Shed and Purple Mash. On top of this, I have set up accounts for Sumdog (where you can play a variety of Maths, Spelling and Reading games). You should also have taken home two blank exercise books which you can complete any of your work in. 

If you don't have the usernames/passwords, please email the admin office and we shall get more sent through to you! For those of you who were self-isolating last week, these usernames/passwords and blank exercise books will be getting sent to you within the next few days.

The most important thing at the moment is for you to keep safe and happy. I am here (although virtually) for anything that you need help with and I would love to hear how you are all getting on!!

Keep safe,

Miss Costar :)

Owls Home Learning w/b 16.3.20

Below are a series of both learning that is happening in class and activities that the children can complete independently.

I will update this page continuously as we cover things in class, but the level of work set for the children will be simpler than I would expect the children to do in class, simply because I am not there to support them. Of course, if the children would like to challenge themselves further, then they are free to do so!

Additionally, online sites such as TTRS, Spelling Shed and Purple Mash are there for you to use. If you have lost your log-in details, email the office and I shall get them sent through to you.

I hope that everyone is feeling okay and I look forward to seeing you all soon! 

Miss Costar :)

River Trip

Owls class had a brilliant (but damp!) morning along the River Meon today. We adventured through muddy fields, under bridges and past cows before learning lots about our local river. We calculated the speed of the river by playing an adapted version of 'pooh sticks', measured the depth of the river at various points, delved through weeds to find unusual creatures and put our observational drawing skills to the test. Overall we had a great time and hopefully the children will be keen to tell you all about it!

Thank you so much to the parents who helped out, you were all amazing and we honestly couldn't have done it without you!

Mayan Headdresses

For our optional homework this half term, the children were asked to create a Mayan inspired headdress. I would like to say a big well done to the 6 children who decided to complete this extra homework. Each child used different materials and it made their finished products unique. Below are some pictures of the children with their finished products:

Christmas Decorations

We used our developing knowledge of 3D shapes to create Christmas decorations. We began by looking at the nets of different 3D shapes before drawing our own nets to create Christmas themed decorations using card.

It's Christmas!

This week we have been creating festive tunes using Scratch. We looked closely at sheet music for 'Jingle Bells', 'Silent Night' and 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas', carefully looking at the notes that were used and the duration of each, before inputting this information onto Scratch.

Mayan Hot Chocolate & Tortillas

As part of our topic, we have been looking at traditional Mayan recipes. We looked at a few recipes, adapting them, before creating our own hot chocolate (including a pinch of chilli powder, cinnamon or honey!) and tortillas. We took our ingredients outside to cook on an open fire. I, and the children, would like to say a massive thank you to Mr Radford, who without we would not have been able to do this in such a fun and creative way!

Festive Light Decorations

Although slightly too early in the year (even for me!) we have been designing and creating Christmas light decorations, using our knowledge of electrical circuits. The children designed their decorations, incorporating various lights and motors to make them look really effective. They used a range of skills and equipment (such as hacksaws and glue guns) to create their designs before adding electrical circuits. This was particularly tricky as the children needed to carefully balance the number of components with the number of cells to ensure that their circuits worked. After some trial and error and adaptation of their designs, the children finally finished and showed their designs to the rest of the class. As I'm sure you will agree, the children's finished products look really good and I would definitely be buying them if I saw them in a shop!

Electrical Circuits

In our Science lessons, we have been looking at electricity, and how we can power things using batteries (cells). Below are some pictures of the children building their circuits, using different components such as: batteries, bulbs, wires, motors and buzzers.

Mayan Masks

During this topic, we have been looking at Mayan masks. We learnt that there were three types of mask worn by the Maya: event masks, battle masks and death masks. Below are a selection of our finished masks:

3D maps

As a part of our homework this half term, Owls class had an optional extra, where the children could create a 3D map of their local area. I would like to say a big well done to the 6 children who decided to complete this extra homework, as their creativity has really shone through, with each child approaching their map in a different way. As I'm sure you will agree, the maps of their local area look absolutely amazing!

Topological maps

As a part of our Geography this half term, we looked at the land types that were found in Mesoamerica (where the Mayan's lived) using a combination of atlases and Google maps. We then used this information to create our own topological maps of the area, showcasing the highland and lowland:

Harvest Art

For our Harvest Assembly, we created pieces of artwork inspired by the theme of Harvest. We looked at an artist called Katie Gastley, who created a piece of artwork for a jungle calendar using typography decorated with different fruits and foliage. We adapted her design to suit our needs and our final designs are shown below. I'm sure you'll agree that they look amazing!