| Teacher | Mrs Mountjoy |
| Teaching Assistant | Mrs Crittenden |
| Latest timetable | Timetable |
| Latest newsletter |
Haiku
On Monday, year 5 learned how to write a Haiku. We looked at different examples of a haiku and how they can be used during the Olympic and Paralympic games in Tokyo 2020. Children have enjoyed investigating Tokyo, as well as the Olympic and Paralympic games. They also explored the structure of a haiku. We looked at where Haiku poems came from and their significance. Using key facts about the Tokyo Olympic games, we created our very own haiku to be entered into a competition. One child responded that they were learning this in order to promote the Olympic values and to get more people to support the Olympics games.
Children examples.
Triumph, dreams and hope,
People giving it their all,
Let the games commence!
Don’t stop believing,
Until you achieve your goal,
Until you triumph.
Fleet Street comes to St-Laurence-in-Thanet Junior Academy
The news bug has hit local school St-Laurence-in-Thanet Junior Academy, Ramsgate. A group of enthusiastic Year 5 journalists have put together the very first edition of the new school newspaper, the “St Laurence Flame”. All articles are chosen, researched and written by the children before the final edition is published and sent to families to enjoy. Brimming with school news, local news and those all-important burning issues for primary-aged children these days (“Why is there a sudden invasion of spiders?!”), the new newspaper has given the young reporters a great insight into how journalists hook their readers in and keep up interest in current affairs. Paige, one of the budding reporters, said, “I like writing for the newspaper because it is really fun, and it helps me learn a bit more about things that I didn’t know. It is important that children learn about the news because it can stop us repeating mistakes from the past.” English Lead Teacher Dr Manson, who set up the St Laurence Flame, said, “Not only is the newspaper a great way to encourage children to write, but the other children love reading the articles – they know they have been written by their friends so they find reading them even more appealing. I’ve been so proud of how committed and passionate about news writing my new reporters have been.” With the first edition a huge success, the reporters are currently working on the Christmas edition, which will be filled with top tips to enjoying a Covid Christmas and reports on the school’s many Christmas activities.
Ayes to the right! St Laurence-in-Thanet pupils have lesson in democracy
This week, Year 5 at St Laurence-in-Thanet Junior Academy took part in a UK Parliament webinar. Dawn and Kate, who work in the Houses of Parliament’s education department, taught the children all about how laws are introduced and debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
After a tour of the two houses, Dawn and Kate challenged the two classes to a debate around the proposed new law “Should diesel and petrol cars be banned?”. They taught the children that “aye” meant “yes” in Parliament and about how MPs shout “Here, here” when they agree with something someone has said. The children also perfected their grumbles of disapproval when they heard something they disagreed with!
Townley Class were the governing party, campaigning for an outright ban on polluting cars, whilst Dickens Class were the opposition, raising objections and challenging the government. Would electric cars be affordable for all? What would happen to those working in the petrol industry? Having considering all the arguments for and against, the votes were cast and the ayes had it – petrol and diesel cars would be outlawed subject to two amendments proposed by class teachers Baroness Manson and Baroness Mountjoy, who were representing the House of Lords.
The event was organised to help the children learn more about the rule of law in Britain and as part of the school’s commitment to teaching British Values. Mrs Manson said, “The children took their roles very seriously, considering the different impacts that their proposals would have on the greater public. It was brilliant having experts from the UK Parliament talk directly to us. I think myself and Mrs Mountjoy are quite keen to keep our Baroness titles as well!”
As well as a serious look at democracy, the children learnt some fun facts about law, such as it’s illegal to carry a ladder or plank of wood on the pavements of London!
Year 5 Team Games
Year 5 have been creating their own team games ready to teach the rest of the class next week in PE. The focus is on team building and communication.
Relative Pronouns
Townley class also had a visit from their Relative Pronouns as well. Dr Who, Granny Whom, Mrs Which, Auntie That, Cousin Whose and Where Dog all popped in to say hello on Friday afternoon. Granny Whom enjoyed her blue hair so much, that she wore it for the rest of the afternoon!
Global Advocacy
As part of St Laurence in Thanet Junior Academy’s commitment to developing children’s personal and social education, both Year 5 classes have chosen a charity to support over the coming year. Dickens class chose The Cinnamon Trust, which is a specialist national charity that supports elderly pet owners, enabling them to keep their beloved pets at home with them for company. Townley class opted for The Red Cross, who help people in crisis all over Britain and the world, responding to emergencies and helping communities to recover after disasters.
To raise money for our charities, the Year 5 children enjoyed a film and popcorn afternoon on Friday 23rd October, "purchasing" an entry ticket to see a film of their choice. Our first fundraising event of the year raised almost £100 for our two charities - a truly amazing total indeed!
Over the course of the year, the classes will put on fundraising events and come up with ideas to promote their chosen charities.
Amy from Townley
"Helping people who are less fortunate than us and who need support is the right thing to do. Raising so much money is amazing as it will help so many people."
Megan and Phoebe from Dickens
"It is important that we look after the elderly and their pets because they could be too weak to walk them and feed them. Pets help them not to be lonely. It is exciting to bring snacks and watch a movie knowing that we are helping people."
Art and DT
Following on from our work in English on Michael Morpurgo’s The Wreck of the Zanzibar, which is set on the Isle of Bryher and tells the tale of a shipwreck, Year 5 held two special, creative days. Design and Technology Day saw us researching, designing and constructing model sailing ships – it’s amazing what you can do with milk bottles, cereal boxes and a whole lot of imagination! Children worked in pairs to build their ships according to a list of criteria based on their research, with masts made of paper straws, wool rigging and even figureheads from intricately moulded tin foil. At the end of the day, each group came up to the front for the all-important test…would their finished model float or would it be doomed to face the same fate as Morpurgo’s Zanzibar?!
The following day was dedicated to exploring the art of British artist Kurt Jackson, famed for his seascapes and focus on natural history. Before lunch, children worked step-by-step through an art skills workshop, learning how to use different techniques to build up texture in their paintings. They were shown how to use sponges, cardboard, stippling, finger painting, dabbing and blending to add details to their final seascape painting. Putting all these skills together, the children then produced their own seascape creations of which they were rightly very proud.
Townley - code makers
St Laurence Church
Year 5 went to the church as part of their RE lessons. They spent time looking at the features of a church to think about how they help Christians worship.
Forces
Year 5 making boats out of plasticine. We have been looking at forces and the children were challenged to make a boat that floats.