Much ado about something

1. Why were London theatres closed in 1593?
2. What was the name of Shakespeare's theatre and who built it?
3. What type of play was Richard II?
4. Which Queen reigned during Shakespeare's time?
5. What was the main type of poem that Shakespeare wrote?
6. How many sonnets did Shakespeare write?
7. What type of play is Romeo and Juliet?
8. How much did it cost to see a play in Shakespeare's theatre?
9. What type of Shakespeare play always has a happy ending?
10. Where and when was Shakespeare born?

Let's see how quickly we can answer these questions together. Once all the questions have been answered, have a look at the challenge below.

Challenge
Blog the most unusual and interesting fact you can find about William Shakespeare.

2017 in numbers

What can you tell me about this number?

Think about it's properties and how it is calculated.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Last term Year 6 did an investigation based on the book Spaghetti and Meatballs for All. We looked at how tables can be arranged to create different areas and perimeters.

What other real-life contexts might you need to work out an area? 

What about a perimeter?

Terrible Tudors

This term our topic is the Tudors. 

What do you know about this time in British history?

What would you like to know about the Tudors?

What's your New Year resolution?

Jim and the Beanstalk

In Year 3 we have been combining our learning on measurement with reading Jim and the Beanstalk by Raymond Briggs. 

In the story Jim is constantly running around to get different items of clothing measured for the giant.

Can you think of any other examples in life where measurement is important?

Is Rumpelstiltskin appropriate for children?

Letter from Mrs Lawrence

Dear Year 6,

Thank you for your fantastic letters recommending stories to include in the anthology. You make some very good points relating to each story. I am just making a final decision as to what stories I will include and then I will inform you of my choices.

This, however, is not the main reason for me writing to you today. Sadly Miss Waters and I have had a disagreement around the inclusion of Rumpelstiltskin and as this is your anthology we thought you may be able to resolve it.

Miss Waters thinks that Rumpelstiltskin is far too scary for small children to read and that it would give children nightmares. I, on the other hand, think that Rumpelstiltskin tearing himself apart is obviously fictional and the children will see the amusing side to it.

For me, the moral of the story is clear. I think Rumpelstiltskin very clearly shows children that greediness is not a good thing and can only lead to heartbreak whereas Miss Waters feels that because the king does not get punished in the end that the children will not learn the lesson.

Finally, we both believe that every story should have a baddie in it but that there is some confusion over who the baddie is in this story. I would have to agree with Miss Waters that it is quite discombobulating for an adult to recognise let alone a child. What are your thoughts? Who do you think is the bad character?

Thank you for taking the time to consider our conundrum. We look forward to hearing your thoughts as we know they will have the best interests of our young children at the source.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Lawrence. 

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with Mrs Lawrence?

Math Curse

Year 5 based some Maths lessons on a book called Math Curse by  Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. 

The story was about a pupil being affected by the Maths curse and seeing Maths problems everywhere.

What maths problems can you create about every day life?

I'm eight

A child came into class today and told me that it was their birthday and that they had turned eight years old. This got me thinking about all the different ways we could make eight using our mathematical operations.

I'm sure most of you could do several for addition or subtraction like 6 + 2 = 8 or 10 - 2 = 8. However, I wonder how many of you can use multiplication, division or even apply the fraction work we have doing lately to get the answer eight.

Blog the most creative ways you can think of making eight using multiplication, division or your knowledge of fractions.

Hansel and Gretel a new version ...

In Year 3 we have been reading and writing about several different versions of Hansel and Gretel.

Now it is your chance to write your very own interpretation of what really happened.

You can change the story in any way you like.
Whether it be the setting, the characters or the witch's house, it's your story to take complete ownership of.

Flying above expectations

On Thursday, Year 5 had the treasured experience of going to watch Peter Pan at the National Theatre.

Year 5s (and anyone else who has watched the play), what was your favourite part and why?

Try and use your knowledge of complex sentences - something we have been learning about this week

Blogger of the month - November

This month the blogging was so impressive we have two stars!

Twenty cards, six piles

I have twenty cards with the numbers from 1 to 20 on. I want to put them in six piles.
It doesn't matter how many cards are in each pile.
But I want the sum of the numbers in each pile to be the same (so when you add the numbers in a pile together you get the same for each pile).

Which cards go in which pile?

A million seconds

How long is a million seconds? That's 1,000,000 seconds.

What about a billion? 1,000,000,000 seconds.

Predict what you think the numbers will be.
Will you measure it in minutes, hours, days, or years?
Then work it out!

How close were your predictions?

Top 10 fairy tales

Message from Mrs Lawrence to Year 6

Dear Year 6

I want us to create an Anthology of Bedtime Stories for Year 2 to encourage them to read and give them opportunities to explore classic texts. I would like you as Year 6 pupils to compile a list of fairy tales that you think would be suitable for the anthology. I need you to tell me why you think your story choice must be in the anthology: what lessons does it teach? What information does it give? How does it allow our imaginations to run wild? What makes it a wonderful story?

We will only have space for ten stories. We want to find the very best ones!

Thanks
Mrs Lawrence

Protests Turn Violent In Soweto

Year 5's have been writing newspaper articles set in 1976 about violent clashes between black demonstrators and police during the times of apartheid in South Africa.




Year 5 Red and Blue - write out your articles to share with the rest of the school.


Perhaps other pupils have a reflective comment to make and will state what they like about one of the articles.

The breadcrumb trail ...

Hansel used breadcrumbs to help him remember his route through the forest. Think back to our trip to Sydenham Hill woods and imagine you are Hansel or Gretel. 

How are you going to find your way back? 

What important landmarks did you see on the trip that might help you find your way home?

Below are some landmarks to help you. Can you think of anymore?

Convince the centaur

Finally you have found Chiron the centaur. 

In role as one of the servants, convince Chiron to take Jason and look after the future King.

Challenge

What if Chiron says, "If I take Jason, Pelias will surely kill me."