Oak Tree Class Blog
Oak Tree Class Blog
Week 1, ending 24 February
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
I have decided that each week from now, I will include the winners of the weekly certificates in my blog.
Reader of the week – Lillian
Special Mention – Violet
Well done, girls! Keep up the fab work! Come on boys – raise your game!
In this first week back, we have been welcomed into class each morning by the sounds of K-Pop. Mixed opinions about that genre of music, I can assure you!
In Maths, we have finally completed the second unit on fractions, but I am certain we will keep recapping this important aspect of arithmetic as the year progresses. In English, we have been getting really stuck in to researching for our new text type: balanced arguments. One learning objective in Y5 is to create questions to aid understanding, so homework this week is for the children to research (internet) answers to their self-created questions. It would be very helpful if you could ensure they have some access to a device to be able to find this information. The children know that this work is needed in school on Monday, as we start to plan our writing then.
In RE, we have nearly finished our learning on Values and we have made some really thoughtful bunting to decorate our classroom on the theme of ‘peace’. An activity that seemed especially poignant this week as we mark the one year anniversary of the troubles in Ukraine.
I hope you have a lovely weekend – remember, it’s World Book Day on Thursday and I would love it if the children could bring in their favourite book on Weds/Thursday to help us with the t-shirt decorating.
Yours,
Mrs Amos
Week 6, ending 10 February 2023
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
What a busy week! It’s been a very full week for Oak Tree class, including two Parents’ Evenings - and it has been lovely to see so many of you.
Country music has welcomed us in each morning on this week of Internet Safety. We have enjoyed a variety of safety activities, including lots of discussions, drama and reading. Hopefully, the children have begun to take in the message (if they hadn't already) about talking to someone if they see/experience something troubling on the internet. For more information on this topic, go to the following website: https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
We have finally finished Multiplication and Division for the term – yippee! But it’s back to Fractions, when we return, so do please keep practising those valuable times tables at home.
Our rainforest topic will continue for a short while after half term, but we will soon be moving on to learn all about The Maya. (This could be something the children research over half term, if they would like to.)
In French, we have now learned the vocabulary for Fruits and Vegetables – this has been a lot of fun! Check your children’s knowledge – see what they have remembered.
Have a lovely half term and we shall see you on Monday, 20th February.
Mrs Amos
Week 5, ending 3 February 2023
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Each morning, we have been listening to pop/rap music in Oak Tree Class this week and, along with our singing sessions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and our regular Ukulele lessons, we have definitely been experiencing a Music-Fest! It has been a lot of fun learning the songs for Joseph – I am sure many of our parents will have experienced this fantastic school show, too. RPPS auditions have started this week.
In our maths lessons, Miss Smith has been teaching us more about Multiplication this week and next week, we move into Division. Please continue to practise those times tables – it seems to be the 6s, 7s and 8s that cause us the most stress!
The children have used their knowledge of the layers of the rainforest to write a rhyming poem in English. This task has given us many opportunities to connect two (or even three) subject areas together. Often, we find that when children can revisit a concept (eg Science) in another subject area (eg English), the knowledge stays with them for longer. In Y5, I am trying to encourage them to hang onto as much knowledge as they can! (Like how to multiply by a 2-digit number). This skill becomes increasingly necessary for the children, as they move up through Y6 and into high school. (Eeeeeek!)
Our science sessions link somewhat with our topic this term, as we are looking at plants and animals in their habitats. This week, we have looked at different types of mammals. (Note: I have learned a brand new word this week in science! See if your child can tell you what it is and what it means. Some days we are teachers and some days we are learners!)
Hopefully more and more of you have paid for the World Book Day t-shirt – this promises to be a lot of fun! – and here are the details of what we are intending to do again.
Finally, a reminder about our plans for World Book Day which is coming up in March. We recently sent a letter to all parents detailing our plans to hold a decorate a t shirt theme for the first time. We kindly ask that all financial contributions are made by next Thursday (Thursday 2nd Feb) to allow us an appropriate length of time to order t shirts and the resources required to decorate them (and of course to give the children chance to decorate them before WBD!). We have received some queries this week regarding sizing for t shirts - please note all children will receive an oversized t shirt as this will give them much more space for their book cover design and ensure every child in school has a suitable t shirt to wear.
I hope you have a lovely weekend – February at last!
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Week 4, ending 27th January
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
A slightly shorter week for the children, but one in which we have crammed much in! We have begun to further our knowledge of Multiplication and Division in Maths and it is still quite clear that for some children, their lack of times table fluency is holding them back. Please spend some time this weekend (and over the next few weeks) practising these vital bits of maths – their helpfulness is undeniable.
In English, we have learned more about poetic devices (such as similes, metaphor, personification, alliteration and rhyme) while looking at a variety of poetry. This preparation will help us write our own poems about the rainforest. We need to learn a Rudyard Kipling poem by the end of this term, so look out for that coming your way!
Topic this term will be/has been mainly geography skills and the children have done brilliantly well learning about the equator, hemispheres and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Why not ask them if they can recall what these terms are?
Finally, a reminder about our plans for World Book Day which is coming up in March. We recently sent a letter to all parents detailing our plans to hold a decorate a t shirt theme for the first time. Please check bags, if you have yet to see it! We kindly ask that all financial contributions are made by next Thursday (Thursday 2nd March) to allow us an appropriate length of time to order t-shirts and the resources required to decorate them (and of course to give the children chance to decorate them before WBD!). We have received some queries this week regarding sizing for t shirts - please note all children will receive an oversized t shirt as this will give them much more space for their book cover design and ensure every child in school has a suitable t shirt to wear.
As it's the Big Bird Watch this weekend, I've sent home a sheet of common birds you might spot and asked the children to do this instead of Maths! Please report on rspb.org.uk/birdwatch Most seemed pleased....spellings, as normal though.
Have a lovely weekend,
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Week 3, ending 20 January
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
This has been an exciting week, as we have finished Fractions in Maths – hurray! (But we do revisit them a little later this term….) I have been really proud of the progress the children have made in this area of Maths – it is very tricky in Y5 and to hear the children talk about how to convert fractions so that they have the same denominator has been really encouraging. Do ask your Y5-er to explain this to you! We have also published some amazing writing on the Layers of the Rainforest during our English sessions. I am hoping to send home a copy of this to you,
We have learned another song to strum and play to in Ukuleles – George Ezra’s Green Green Grass, It is amazing to see (or to hear) how far everyone has come in learning this instrument.
Our movement session with Hannah this week, again on the theme of the Rainforest, is building up to a fantastic class piece – when everyone plays their part, it looks splendid. I will try to record some of the final piece in the next couple of weeks. Because the Hall was being used this week, our Gymnastics lesson was postponed, so Oak Tree children used the session to try to run a mile, complete some circuit-style activities AND attempted two Go-Noodle work outs!
We still need cardboard boxes for DT work this term – cereal boxes would be perfect.
Appointments for parents' evenings can be booked on the online system. I am really looking forward to speaking to parents/carers and sharing the progress children have been making so far this year.
Have a super weekend – do remember, school is closed for a Staff Training Day on Monday, 23 Jan.
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos