Middle School - Year 5 and 6

Middle School - Year 5 and 6		Back to Middle School home page

Sonnets Years 5 & 6 have been investigating the sonnet form, focusing on the English or Shakespearean sonnet, which remains the most influential and important verse form in the history of English Poetry. The children have been introduced to verse in Shakespeare and the use of iambic pentameter. They have applied their understanding of the sonnet form to the composition of their very own sonnets. The process has been extensive and has stretched the children’s imaginations, their use of language and vocabulary and has given them a platform for creative self expression. All the children were encouraged to explore their own individuality through their writing, which has resulted in all the sonnets being totally unique. The children presented their sonnets to their parents in an informal showing which began with a ‘lesson’ on the sonnet. They also performed dramatic workings of Sonnets #29 and #123 by William Shakespeare, which included choral speaking. The performance was a great success. The 'question and answer' session, following the lesson to the parents, was fun and informative.	Current Activities Light, Sight, Victorians and Animation After such a long Autumn Term, this short Spring Term has almost taken us by surprise! Our science work from last term, the Human Body and the Senses, formed the opening work to the term – we knew we had to explore light in order to focus on ‘sight’ (pun intended). Light is a difficult topic – our awareness of it all too often exceeds our ability to describe its substance and behaviour. Surprisingly, however, it is possible to find out some very important facts about light by using some very ordinary materials. For example, we used a foam tube to show that light must travel in a straight line! The last of our investigations into the Senses took us on a journey through the eye, from the outer corneal layer, through the aqueous humor, lens, vitreous humor and finally the retina itself. We learnt about how the image is formed on the retina and discussed the special tasks which the brain must perform to interpret the data received along the optic nerve. Meanwhile, we were also travelling back in time to discover the world as it was for the Victorians. Through research, image making and construction, we are exploring the period of Victoria’s reign, exploring all aspects of Victorian life from crime and punishment to entertainment and education. In the second half of the term we have been learning about animation. This has proved to be a very exciting project for everyone involved. Click on the link below to find out more and don’t miss the Victorian’s panel on the left.
	link to more
Being in Years 5 and 6- What we think.... ‘I like Year 5 so far because it makes me feel so grown up… We have to work much harder now and if we don’t finish in time ‘da da daa’ the class moves on.’ ‘You have to take responsibility for yourself.’ ‘We are built up physically and mentally because we do ice skating, trampolining, rock climbing, badminton, kayaking and sailing.’ ‘After all the years of being at Dallington School I have always wanted to step into the garden without being chased off by year six – now I can!’ ‘It is quite relaxed but it requires some responsibility.’ ‘In Mogg’s Group for some reason I feel free.’ ‘When I first got into Mogg’s group I was very excited but anxious... you start to feel like a member and it gradually starts to get easier. I think you would like it if you tried it.’ ‘Mogg is a great teacher… it is really fun… I also like the projects we do… I have been here since I was three years old and I still enjoy it.’ ‘It is fun because we get to mix with different ages, 9-11.’ ‘We even get to make web pages.’ ‘Being in Year 6 has its ups and downs.’ ‘The delight of Year 6 is that you are in charge of Upper Mogg’s Garden in the corner of the playground.’ ‘The school has recently bought lots of new flat-screen computers which help everyone to get a better education.’ ‘We do loads of different work, from the history of Clerkenwell to learning how to knit!’ …and on exams ‘Before your exams you have to buckle down but afterwards it feels like you are not at school… you are so relaxed… you feel eight years old.’ ‘In the middle of the exam you can’t help thinking “this means we have to leave, doesn’t it?”, so you just can’t help feeling a bit sad.’ ‘Thinking of the word exam is probably more scary than actually doing the exam itself!’ ‘It was only when I realised how little time I had left that I became nervous.’ ‘The hard bit, being patient.’ ‘The City of London exam was enjoyable.’ ‘Afterwards I did have a few worries but I felt better after reviewing the whole incident. The worst shock was that they gave you a sick bag!’ ‘In the maths, there was nothing that you had never seen before.’ ‘If anyone who has done an exam is reading this now, it makes you nervous listening to your parents going on about them.’ ‘The exam was relatively easy.’ ‘Whenever anyone mentioned exams I would shiver all over and get very nervous and worried but I just have to say that I am glad it’s all over.’ ‘When I did my first exam I got a tummy ache from being so scared. I really wanted to run away because people had said it would be very hard.’ ‘When you are doing the exams you realise how much you love Dallington.’
top