May 2023
The Primary 5s have been working hard all year and are now getting ready for the transition into Primary 6 and thinking about summer!
Literacy
Primary 5 have been working hard to identify the difference between fact and opinion. They have been able to identify common language used to help us identify facts vs opinions and are able to state the difference. This has been particularly useful as we have been using both facts and opinions in our persuasive writing. The pupils have been able to explain why and when you will use different features of persuasive language to help convince your reader. They have also worked hard to create eye catching adverts using persuasuve skills to convince people to "buy" their new snack.
The class has also loved our class novel The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. They have enjoyed finding out more about the characters, predicting what will happen next and answering a range of HOT question types. During one of our sunny afternoons we went outside to read a chapter and then the pupils used to descriptions of the characters and animals to draw them with chalk. Some of the pupils also drew a very large wardrobe so all the class would be able to "fit" into Narnia.
The pupils were using their persuasive skills to create their own adverts.
Some of the artwork the pupils created when we were outside. Along with some reenacting Lucy going into the wardrobe
Numeracy
We have been powering through our Numeracy topics recently.
Some of our pupils were developing their confidence with using a protractor to measure and draw their own angles. They were able to identify where angles are used in real life and why it is important that we can measure them.
They have also been developing their confidence with addition and subtraction; dealing with multi-step word problems where they need to identify which operation is required along with missing number problems. Missing number problems can help to deepen their understanding, as they need to be able to work back through the calculation and use the inverse operation to find the answer.
One of our groups has recently moved onto questions focusing on Time. Time tends to be a topic that some pupils find quite challenging, continue to make sure that pupils have plenty of practice at reading analogue and 24 hour clocks. Bridging forward and backwards in hours, minutes and seconds and calculating how long different activities will take. All of this work will continue to strengthen their understanding.
Another area that is commonly found to be more challenging than other is percentages, fractions and decimal fractions. Identifying where these are used in real life on a frequent basis will help develop their understanding along with practising identifying different amounts.
PE
During our PE the class have been developing their team work, hand-eye coordination and their stamina. They have loved playing rounders and have been working hard to improve the strategies used and their overall performance. Teamwork has been a big focus as they have realised that they need everyone to join in to be able to win, so they have been trying to identify their classmates strengths and areas they need some support.
Debates
Primary 5 have been using their persuasive skills that they have been learning in literacy to help them develop their debating skills. They have been learning about where and why debates are held along with learning about the UK Parliament. We have played a range of games to help them develop their confidence when having to argue their opinion like our Hot Air balloon debate: the pupils pretended they were a famous celeb and had to argue why they should be kept on the hot air balloon.
They have been able to practise the RULEs of debating like they use in the House of Commons and have learned how to structure their argument using the PEEL structure: Point, Evidence, Explain and Link. They have had the time to research evidence arguing for and against different topics and will present their finished arguments to the class and their classmates will decide who has the strongest argument.
The pupils had to use their researching skills to be able to find useful information and facts to use in their arguments.
Thanks to Mr Milligan the pupils were able to join in different activities to help them learn about the rights they are entitled to. The activities were based off the right to play, clean water, shelter and education and they all had a blast!