Dear all,

Are we really almost at the end of November already? The weeks continue to fly by but I’m pleased to say that the good work is continuing and though we will be into December by this time next week, there will be no taking our feet off the pedal just yet.

In English next week, we will be starting to put together a plan for our pages about our own creatures before beginning to write the various pages about them.

In maths, we will be continuing with our work on fractions by multiplying and dividing improper fractions and mixed numbers.

In science, you will be continuing the work started on the circulatory system by finding out how the heart functions.

Geography will continue by looking at what birth and death rates are (and we will probably have another peak or two at the global population clock to see how much the global population has risen by again).

In D & T, we will investigate the different stitching types as we look at creating neat hems and seams.

Homework for this week is some maths work on fractions or addition and is to be done on the sheets that I have given out. As ever, these are due to be returned by Monday. Please also remember to log-in to Sumdog when you can. I want to say another huge congratulations for coming 18^th place nationally –hopefully we can smash the Hertfordshire challenge next month and get the 5000 coins each!

The final thing I have to share with you all this week is a link that Mrs Lawrence has put together for you all to practise singing the carol concert songs at home: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWc1g5zqMrQ 

Many thanks and have a good weekend everyone!

Mr Gradwell

Dear Year 6,

Sorry that this blog is a day late, but better late than never.

We had a very productive week this last week with some excellent discussions taking place as part of anti-bullying week. Remember that, as your teachers, we are here for you during school time if you need to talk about anything that might be bothering you, but more importantly, your family are always there for you and I would strongly urge you to talk to them if any issues of bullying arise at any point of your school-life. ‘Make a Noise’ -don’t stay silent!

It was nice to see you all getting to come to school in your own spotty clothes yesterday, helping to raise money for what is a very special cause –Children in Need. Thank you for all of the money that you donated.

In English next week, we are continuing with our series of work based around the book, Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to The Fantastical World Around You, by looking at how hyphens are used before putting them into a poem and focussing on making links within and across paragraphs.

In maths, we will be adding and subtracting mixed numbers before solving multi-step problems involving fractions.

In science, linked to healthy living, you will be looking at how the heart works and carrying out an investigation about the pulse rate.

In D & T, we will begin our new topic by looking at and trying out different stitching techniques.

In geography, we will be starting our new topic on population change by looking at the reasons for changes over time.

Homework for this week is to complete pages 16, 17 and 18 of the CGP Reading Non-Fiction book as a minimum and as an extension, I would like some of you to complete pages 19, 20 and 21 as well -anyone is welcome to complete these pages.

As I discussed with you yesterday also, I have now set your half termly project (due to be returned by Monday 18^th December). This project will involve you finding out as much as you can about coastal erosion (put into your own words, not just copied directly from the internet) and to present this in as creative way as possible. Remember that I have set a challenge as part of this for you to write a newspaper article based on the collapse of the Holbeck Hall Hotel in Scarborough in 1993, though even if you choose not to write the article, I would still like you to find out all about the event, including watching the clip of the chimney stack falling down on live TV.

Finally, remember that the Sumdog competition also began yesterday so try and complete as many of the 1000 questions as you can between now and Thursday to get us on the leaderboard.

Have a great weekend

Mr Gradwell

Hi Year 6,

It seems like it was only yesterday that I was writing my blog to say how I would see some of you at the firework display and now here I am a week later sitting down to write something similar again. I’m pleased to say once again that there has been some good learning that has taken place in the class though and I look forward to seeing this continue next week.

As part of Anti-Bullying week next week, Monday will see us wearing odd socks and there will be a number of lessons and activities throughout the week related to this. On Friday, we then have our mufti day for Children in Need with the theme this year being ‘Spotacular’, meaning that we all need to wear something spotty as we donate at least a pound each to the very worthy cause.

In English next week, we will continue with our unit of work based on the text, ‘Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You’, by looking at a range of clause structures and active and passive voice which are both used throughout the book.

In maths we will be comparing and ordering, and adding and subtracting, fractions.

In science, you will be starting a new topic looking at and learning the parts of the circulatory system. You will also be writing up the conclusion of your mould experiment.

Your homework for this week is in two parts. The first is a piece of maths which is due to be returned on Monday. You can work and answer directly on the sheets. The second piece is the feelings/emotions sheet on which you will need to list your emotions twice a day between now and next Friday.

Have a good weekend.

Mr Gradwell

Dear all,

I hope that you all had a lovely half term break. This half term has begun just as the last one finished –it seems like the week has just flown by!

In English next week we will continue our unit of work related to the fantastic text, Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide… by writing letters to Mrs Custis about our concerns for a new child in the class (don’t worry –this is about an imaginary child!) and we will be writing our own captions for pages from the text.

In maths we will be looking at addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers as well as exploring decimal fractions.

In science, you will finding out about the scientist Edward Jenner and what he discovered.

We will conclude our history topic next week by exploring crime and punishment in the Victorian era.

Computing/Art will be finishing off the photomontages.

As I mentioned to you all already, I will be at the fireworks tomorrow (in a fetching high-vis vest) so if you are coming please look out for me and say hi.

Have a good weekend.

Mr Gradwell