Autumn Term: What is solubility?

Recently, Birch class have been learning about solubility. We learnt that the molecules of one substance (liquid) and combine with the molecules of another (solid) to create a solution.

But, we wondered: Are all solid soluble in water? There was only one way to find out…

Once we knew how to make a solution, we still had more questions. Can a solute and a solvent be separated after they’ve been mixed to create a solution?

We investigated the answer to this question by leaving a saltwater solution in different spots around the classroom to see if the water would evaporate to leave the salt molecules behind.

Autumn Term: Vicious Vikings

Later this term, Birch class began learning about the Vikings and their invasion of Britain in 865AD. As part of our creative curriculum, we linked our history learning to Design and Technology and began a project to design and build a Viking longboat from recycled materials.

Over the course of three lessons, the children worked in small groups to create their longboat from their design. The children carefully selected the materials and tools they needed for each step of the making process and worked collaboratively to share tasks between group members. Skills used included cutting, measuring, and assembling, as well as problem solving when the product did not fit the design brief.

 

Autumn Term: Computer Game Creation

To start our new computing topic, children in Birch class were introduced to maze games. The children had a chance to explore existing maze games on Scratch and share what they liked and disliked about different games.

The children went on to design their own maze game on paper, using images of swords, shields and Anglo-Saxon warriors to link to our history topic.

 Over the following weeks, Birch class learnt how to code their own computer game using the programme ‘Scratch’.

The children learnt about how to code the movement of their sprite so that it could be navigated around their maze. We discussed any problems we were having and found solutions to them by adjusting the coding sequence. We learnt that this is called ‘debugging’.

We especially loved swapping computers and playing each other’s games! It was so fun to play against each other and then help our partner by giving them an evaluation on their game.

Autumn term: What can we learn from materials?

Birch class were busy this term investigating different materials and learning about their properties.

We gathered classroom resources made from different materials and tested them to see if they were magnetic, flexible, electrical conductors or insulators.

Fantastic teamwork was shown by all the groups.

Next, we learnt about how some material are conductors of heat and others are insulators. In Birch class, we love hot chocolate! So, that got us thinking: Which material would be best at keeping hot chocolate warmer for longer?

Here we are testing a range of materials to see which were insulators (good for keeping drinks warm) and which were conductors (not so good). We measured the temperature using a thermometer and tested our materials at intervals over a 10 minute time period.

Which material do you think was the most effective insulator?

Later on in the term, we mixed solids and liquids to make mixtures and solutions. Then we wondered, if we can mix them together can we separate them out again?

We tested different methods of separation such as filtering, sieving and picking by hand to see which was the best for separating our mixtures.

Autumn Term: Awesome Archaeologists!

In our first term in Birch class, we learnt all about the Anglo-Saxons. We worked as archaeologists to excavate precious artefacts found buried on the Sutton Hoo estate in Suffolk.

We made sure to wear gloves and carefully brush away the soil so that we didn’t damage any of the fragile objects!

Then we pieced together what we had found and tried to guess what each artefact could be and who they would have belonged to. Were they rich? Were they powerful? Were they religious?

What do you think?

What's going on in London?

Our learning this half term revolved around our topic London: past and future. We started off by learning about the differences between physical and human geography features, and then went exploring around the school grounds and at Forest School seeing which features we could find.

We also continued our RE learning about Buddhism by visiting the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green.

In Computing, the children worked hard to develop their architectural design skills on SketchUp. They imagined building new houses in London and designed what they would want them to look like.

Space Explorers

This term’s learning centred around space exploration. We started it all off with a space-themed WOW afternoon, where the children made constellations out of marshmallows and used watercolours to paint the planets.

Later in the term, we got to visit the Science Musuem and see an exciting workshop about the science behind space travel!


We also worked really hard on our DT project, which involved designing and creating a marble run out of recycled materials. There was lots of great teamwork as well as testing and revising our designs to make sure they hit the brief.

Nelson Mandela: Hero or Criminal?

Lots going on this term in Birch class. This term we have been focusing our learning around the enquiry question: Was Nelson Mandela a hero or a criminal?

We started our learning journey looking at historical sources linked to Mandela’s life and tried to piece together a timeline of his life.

We then debated the two sides of the argument using ‘Conscience Alley’, making sure we used formal language when explaining our ideas. We followed this up with some artwork creating anti-apartheid posters with ink and rollers.




Finally, this term we also learnt about forces. In groups, we created parachutes to test whether the size of an object falling affects the amount of air resistence, and therefore the speed!




Vicious Vikings and Magnificent Materials

Birch class kicked off this half term with our Viking WOW day. The children learnt how to write their name in Viking runes. Then they enjoyed making their own Viking helmets and Viking necklaces with tin foil.

In Computing, children in Birch have been learning all about Blogs. They researched existing blogposts and planned their own on a topic of their choice. They used a blog writing platform to write and publish their blogpost, and then read and comment on others’ posts. Check out their work here! https://birchclassbloggers.edublogs.org/

In Science the children learnt all about the properties of materials. Check out these photos of them mixing and separating different substances.

Which ones are soluble? What’s the best method of separation?

Anglo Saxon Adventures

Our first half term in Birch class is over and what a great half term it has been!

We began this year learning about the Anglo Saxons and their arrival in Britain. We became archaeologists and historians, hunting for artefacts around the classroom, and used them to make conclusions about Anglo Saxon society.

Here we are during our Anglo Saxon WOW Day, searching for clues in the classroom to solve the mystery of the Sutton Hoo discovery.


Later in the term we used our historical knowledge of the Anglo Saxons to help us to create our own Anglo Saxon shields! We made sure that our shields were round and designed using appropriate colours - just like the real thing.


Finally, we learnt about the Anglo Saxon conversion to Christianity. This knowledge inspired us to design and create crosses decorated with Anglo Saxon designs.



London, swimming and the wild.

This half term has been a busy one! With so much going on, our topic of London will be continued into next half term. Here are some highlights from our trips to the swimming pool and our amazing forest school residential.

Space, glorious space.

What a wonderful universe we live in! It was a joy to explore the vast and empty space that we live in. To begin our journey into the unknown, we mapped out our very own solar system which took us from one edge of our playground to the other. We then helped real scientists classify distant galaxies and celestial objects (https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/zookeeper/galaxy-zoo/ ) before writing our very own space adventure stories. In science, we learned all about why days are days, years are years and even why the Earths tilt causes the seasons… Finally, we presented all of the information using our computer skills to the class.

Freedom, human rights and Nelson Mandela

What an amazing half term we had! We had really important and mature conversations about human rights and some of the awful things that have happened through history. The most important thing we learned is that we can make a difference and it is important to stand up for what you believe in. This tied in really nicely with the teacher strikes as we were able to bring our topic into the real world and discuss ways we can make a change.

Vikings

This half term we looked at the impact of the Vikings on Britain - learning about their arrival and the conflict arising from their invasion. We learned about their way of life, religion, clothing and housing, as well as their weapons and warfare. Among many highlights, the children particularly enjoyed researching, designing and making Viking shields, and then using them in a Viking invasion of the Berger playground!

Anglo-Saxons

This half term we learned all about the Anglo Saxons. As part of this topic, we explored a famous burial ground called Sutton Hoo where lots of artefacts were found. We also created some amazing pieces of art!

Here are some water colour paintings we did of an Anglo-Saxon longboat sailing out to sea.

Here are some Anglo-Saxon bowls we created using traditional techniques.

Here is a timeline we created showing the key events in the Anglo-Saxon age.

Year 5 swimming at the Aquatics

Year 5 have been lucky enough to have an intensive two week course of swimming at the London Aquatics Centre.

All children made great progress. We ended it off with lunch in the Olympic Park.

Summer 1 - London

The children really enjoyed learning about London this half-term. They had an engaging and informative boat ride on the River Thames; they made clay structures of famous London landmarks and were able to answer the enquiry question: “What makes London a desirable place to visit?”