Autumn 1 Learning
Our first half-term of learning
Have a look below to see examples of the amazing learning the children have been doing during the first half term.
STEM - Computing
The children in year 5 and 6 used the online tool Purple Mash to design a net of a 3D vehicle. The children used their digital design skills to produce a creative array of nets.
These were then printed and the children formed them into 3D models. We hope that these skills inspire and enable some of our children to move into the world of computer design and 3D printers!
STEM - Science
This half-term's learning was all about performing practical investigations into light. Below, you can track our learning journey:
1. The children discovered how light travels in straight lines by designing an investigation with three holes and three pieces of card. Some children performed a test by blocking the light to show how it does not go around an object.
2. Next, we discovered how we see objects when light reflects off a surface and into our eyes. It was fun finding the right angle of reflection so we could see each other!
3. The children then used their understanding of reflection to design and make an object that changes the direction of light multiple times. Being able to see around corners was a great ability to have!
4. Following on from this, the children designed their own fair tests to measure the relationship between an object's distance from a light source and the height of its shadow. We recorded our observations and considered how similar the shape of the shadow is to its object, depending on the angle of the light source.
5. The children used their understanding of how light travels (and reflects) in straight lines to understand how the human eye works. They made pin-hole cameras to model this and recorded their observations of the surrounding area.
6. Finally, after all of their hard work, the children got to create rainbows in the classroom! The children learnt that white light is composed of multiple colours and can be dispersed using prisms, or an underwater mirror.
Islamic Art
Our art topic complimented our history learning about Early Islamic Civilisations. They learnt about common themes in Islamic art, such as geometric and vegetal patterns, calligraphy, and a typical 8-sided star and cross tesselation. The children had opportunities to apply their learning and created this classroom display, showcasing their work:
All of this learning was then applied to prayer mat designs. You might spot many of the patterns above within their designs.
History
The children conducted a study of the early Islamic civilisation, focusing on its achievements and lasting impact on the world. You can follow their learning journey below:
1. The children gathered sources from around the building and classroom to discover the many ways in which the early civilisation spread quickly. The children then considered these reasons before concluding which they thought was most influential.
2. We studied the first capital city at Baghdad, looking at its design and trying to imagine what it would have been like. Some children built 3D models out of cardboard and lego; others chose to write a short narrative or sketch pictures to bring the city to life.
3. In the next couple of lessons, we focused on trade. The children used their research and analytical skills to study a range of sources and discover which goods were traded and with which other civilisations. Once the children found where these goods were traded, they added it to the map.
5. The children used their 3D Viking longhouse models from last year to compare and contrast life in an affluent Islamic city (Cordoba, Spain) to typical English farmers and settlers. Some wrote letters home as a traveling Viking, others recorded what life would have been like in Cordoba for early Muslims.
6. Ultimately, the children considered six major contributions made by Early Islam and wrote arguments to persuade others about how theirs was the most important. These included medicine, mathematics, astronomy, literacy, science and technology. They took part in a structured discussion and made their points convincingly!
Religious Education
Our focus this half-term was on Sikhism. We read and discussed traditional stories, considered their meaning and evaluated which has the most significant impact for ourselves today. Here is the children's learning journey through this topic:
1. The children first learnt about a Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. They learnt about how it is treated with great respect.
2 & 3. We began our study of Sikh stories about Guru Nanak. The children read and summarised the meanings of two stories before making clay pots as a way to focus their reflection on the story morals.
4. The children broadened their range of Guru Nanak stories by studying two more with different morals. These were then contrasted to the stories from the previous lesson.
5. We learnt next about Vaisakhi, Sikh new year, and the story of the first Sikhs. We looked at ways in which Vaisakhi is celebrated and talked about its importance for Sikhs in our community and the wider world.
6. Finally, we recapped all of the stories, summarising their teaching and thinking about their meaning for us today. The children then concluded which story was the most relevant to them and wrote a short explanation.