MrJennings

We have had a busy, but enjoyable, end of term.

We have had our Y5 and Y6 Christmas Concert which was called The Xmas Factor which we performed to the rest of the school on Wednesday 15th December and to parents that evening and on the Thursday evening the day after. This week we had our Christmas party on Monday with the other Year 5 and 6 classes and, today, we had a carol service. Groups from our class read a set of Christmas Haiku with the other Year 5 class. (Other year groups read a poem or sang a song and Year 3 also acted out the Christmas story as Year 6 children gave the Bible Readings.)

In class we have concentrated on trying to finish off work (such as our Mr Men stories). We have also done some maths work on time and had a test on the maths we have been learning this half-term. Finishing off our woven panels has taken some time in the last couple of weeks and, having completed these, they were cut off the weaving frames and the warp threads tied off. The panels were then mounted on card to make Christmas cards. We have had time for other Christmas activities including Christmas crosswords and quizzes, making other Christmas cards (including an origami Father Christmas) and making 2011 calendars to take home.

This week we have spent some time preparing for our Christmas production. This will take place on Wednesday and Thursday next week. We had our first dress rehearsal on Friday.

We have also made progress with our weaving and our RE topic on faith in the arts. In this study, we have looked at the paintings of different artists on the theme of the annunciation, comparing the symbolism used in the pictures and identifying similarities and differences between them. We have also thought about the symbolism of the Christingle. Most of us as well into the creation of our pictures on our woven panels. Another significant piece of work in technology was the design and making of our own bodkins. First we looked at the different bodkins we had bought. Then we discussed the features of these and identified the key features that would be essential for usable bodkins. Everyone produced between three and six different designs for bodkins before choosing a favourite one to make. Some of us began with lolly-sticks, others with dowel and others with pipe-cleaners or wire. After we have used them for weaving, we will do an evaluation of our products.

The snowy weather has meant a rather curtailed week for us as the school was closed for two days. We have had some time to continue our Mr Men stories and, in maths, have done some more word problems and revised multiplying and dividing numbers by 10, 100 and 1000. In addition we have had PE and French sessions on Tuesday afternoon and today, we started our woven panels in technology. We also spent some time making a few props for our Christmas play and did some singing.