999 - emergency maths

Is it always, sometimes or never true that when you multiply a number by 9, the sum of it's digits is also 9?

Prove your answer with as many examples as you can!

What do you know about Jo'burg?

In Topic, Year 5 have been researching all about Johannesburg, as it is one of the settings in our key text this term.

What are the most interesting facts you can find out about Jo'burg?

Black authors: Crystal Swain-Bates

Reading is a great way to relax and unwind. During lunchtime, I love sitting on cosy cushions in my book corner, putting my feet up and reading a nice short story. A book I recently read was Big Hair, Don’t Care! by Crystal Swain-Bates. The book is about a little girl called Lola with a really big 'curly afro', who tells everyone just how much she loves her hair.  I particularly enjoy this story because it is a nice reminder that it’s okay to look different and that ‘kinky, coily, curly hair’ is great fun too!

What books make you smile?

What book have you read recently that teaches you something? 

What book do you think I should read during my lunchtime next? And why?

Simple subtraction?

This subtraction calculation has four missing digits. It looks like it might be simple, but I'm not sure if it is...

Can you work out which digits can replace the question marks?

Is there more than one answer? How can you be sure?

What I'm reading: Good Dog Lion

Reading has always been a way of relaxing for me. There is nothing quite like sitting back and getting stuck into a gripping novel. With our topic being Black History Month in school, I have had the pleasure of immersing myself in Good Dog Lion by Alexander McCall Smith.

In the story we follow a young boy Timmo, who, along with his mother, is struggling with money. However, despite all their woes and difficulties in life, all of Timmo's efforts are directed at finding himself a dog. I particularly love this story because it makes me think of dog I had growing up. When books make you remember things from what has happened in the past, it is called being nostalgic.

Has a book ever made you feel nostalgic?

We love words

These are 6 Red and 6 Blue's favourite words.

Can you spot your favourite word on the picture?

Some words are fun to say, some look great on the page, and some make you think of happy thoughts. Why do you like your word?

Tins of toms

Miriam and Alan each buy 12 tins of tomatoes.

Miriam buys three packs each containing four tins. A pack of four costs £1.40.

Alan buys two packs each containing 6 cans. A pack of 6 costs £1.90.

Who gets the most change from a £5 note?
How much do they get?

0 - 9 that's fine!

Year 5 had great fun today trying to figure out different combinations to this puzzle:

You can only use 0 - 9 only once to fill in the spaces in this multiplication sum. 

 _ _ _ _

x          3

_______

 _ _ _ _ _ 

So far, we have found two different combinations - can you find any more?

Travelling through Africa

We have been reading Journey to Johannesburg as our key text and I am really interested in hearing what you think is going to happen.

How do you think they will get to Jo'burg?
What dangers might they face?
What will happen once they are there?
How will the story end?

NO SPOILERS! (If you are super keen and have read the book)

A new city

Imagine you have just arrived in London It is a city far away from home. You have never been here before.

Write two paragraphs describing this unfamiliar city. What can you see, hear, smell? How does it compare to your hometown of Lagos, Nigeria?

Tugging at my heartstrings

Last week we dissected lamb hearts to find out how they work.

What was surprising about what we found? What was like you expected?

Can you remember how which blood vessel (or tube) is an artery and which is a vein?

Slippery Shoes

Imagine that winter has come early and it has started to snow in Brixton. You have a choice of shoes to wear, shoe A or shoe B. 

Using what we have been learning about in our science lessons, what pair of shoes would you choose to wear on a snowy day and why? 

Shoe B

Shoe A

Life in the tropics

Image you have finished a long, hard day at school in Jamaica. On your way home, you decide to take a rest on the beach. 

Write one or two paragraphs all about what you saw and how you felt. You should focus on describing the setting using all your senses (see, hear, smell, feel).

1,000 is the magic number

How can you generate a number closest to 1,000 using the numbers shown in the picture? 

Remember: you must use the column method and you can only use each number once!

Myself and other animals

Year 5 have been extremely interested in animals this term and have learnt that there are 5 main classifications - each have them have different characteristics which are what make them different.

What is your favourite animal?

For example, since the arrival of the Hill Mead chickens, my favourite animal is definitely now a chicken! I know this is a bird because they lay eggs, they are warm-blooded (you can feel how warm they are when you hold them!) and they have feathers.

Tell us your favourite animal and explain how you know what animal classification they fall under.

Paradise found

What do you know about the Caribbean?

What are the most interesting, obscure, strange or funny facts you can find out about the 700 plus islands that make up the Caribbean?

Have you thought about books set in the Caribbean, the different countries and their histories, the animals and vegetation found there and the food and culture?

The number ends in ...

Is this pupil correct Year 3? Remember to always explain your answer.

Good vibrations

Year 4, what do you know about sound?

Can you explain how sounds are made and how they travel to our ears?

Sequential steps

Year 4, two pupils are correct, can you work out which ones?

Black authors: Floella Benjamin

I often hear people say that they are too busy to read, but can never understand what they mean. On my way to school I often read while waiting for the bus and carry on when I climb onboard and take a seat. Come to think of it, there are so many places that I love to read: sitting on a bench in the park, lying on the beach, lounging on the sofa and most of all, just before I go to sleep in bed.
Where do you like to read the most?

At the moment I'm reading Coming to England by Floella Benjamin. The book is an autobiography about the hardships Floella and her family went through when she immigrated to England as a 10 year old child in 1960. Floella was a popular children's TV presenter when I was a boy, so I really wanted to find out about her life.
What books by black authors are you reading in class at the moment? 
Do you like them and why? 
Who are your favourite black authors?

Five alive!

Can you answer this pupil's questions all about place value?

读书须用意, 一字值千金

Super sixers! Who can post the most logical estimation?

Blog for victory!

Welcome to the new Key Stage 2 (KS2) Hill Mead blog for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. This year we have decided to have just one blog for the older children in the school. One place where we can share all the exciting things that happen in our school. Each Year group will have a blogging supremo, who you can go to for all your blogging needs. So start thinking about ideas for new posts. They could be about the Maths, English or Topic work you are doing in class. Mr Amiss, Mr Highman, Miss Rek and Mr Ashworth are all really looking forward to reading your comments and sharing all your ideas and work online. So ...

Ready, Steady, BLOG!