English
We linked our Geography topic on Japan to the book in order to discover more about Kensuke and his earlier life.
We used our research skills, using non-fiction books as well as the internet, to find out more about sharks!
We have used the text to explore the changing relationship between Michael and Kensuke.
Kensuke's Kingdom tells the story of a eleven-year old boy named Michael, whose family decides to sail around the world after his parents are made redundant from the local brickworks. They family set off with their dog, Stella Artois, in Southampton.
Initially their voyage goes well and Michael's family visit several exciting locations, including Brazil, South Africa and Australia, where they stay with Michael’s distant uncle, Uncle John. After leaving Australia however, the weather becomes perilous, and their yacht is damaged. Michael's mum is also sick with severe stomach cramps. On one deceptively calm night, Stella Artois appears on deck, and given that she had previously fallen overboard in the Indian Ocean, Michael tries to retrieve her. A sudden wind takes hold of the yacht, and both Michael and Stella are washed overboard.
Alone and clinging to a football for buoyancy, Michael is convinced he will drown……
We created a range of genres.
The dreaded plague doctor!
Children of Winter is a historical time-slip novel set in the Derbyshire village of Eyam. Three siblings have to survive alone in a barn during the Great Plague of 1666. They long to know what is happening down in their village. Must they stay away?
We begin a new journey into the past………
We have really enjoyed this book! We have listened with total captivation!
The Heart - we listened to the beat of a heart and wrote our own style of poetry. We are very good at poetry!
We stood outside and truly listened to the sounds around us - just like Mina asked Michael to do in Skellig.
We developed our use of figurative language by exploring natural items found in Mrs Bell’s garden. We then created a free style poem called......”Nature’s Garden”.
Nature’s Garden - A Group Poem
We researched blackbirds and then used this knowledge to write our own Haikus!
We learned that Mina, one of the main characters in the story, loves poetry, birds and nature.
We read newspapers and identified key features of the text type before we wrote our own articles.
What is that in the shed!
What is that in the shed!
What is that in the shed!
What is that in the shed!
We have now moved onto our new text - Skellig by David Almond. This book will take us through many areas of learning: evolution, poetry, art, Greek myths, angels, friendship and caring for others!
When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister's illness, Michael's world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. Then, exploring a ramshackle garage with new-found friend Mina, he finds something magical. A strange creature - part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's help if he is to survive.
Skellig
We will soon be finishing Eye of the Wolf. We will be writing our own narratives from the viewpoint of a different character. Our writing this term has shown very clear and pleasing progress. We regularly look at the features of a given text type (genre), are provided with a model sample text to analyse and apply this knowledge to our own work.
For our first Year 6 debate, we did really well. We used our group discussions to aid our viewpoints. We demonstrated very good speaking and listening skills and waited for the right moment to speak!
Debate: Should Aunty have given Africa to Toa?
Retelling the Story Through Role Play!
The Rescue of Shiny Straw!
Look Out Blue Wolf!
In our narrative writing, we have demonstrated empathy.
Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Developing and Modelling our Figurative Language
In English, we have been reading "Eye of the Wolf". This story is about a wolf who has lost nearly everything on his journey to the zoo, including an eye and his beloved pack. The boy too has lost much and seen many terrible things. They stand eye to eye on either side of the wolf's enclosure and, slowly, each makes his own extraordinary story known to the other..........
Master storyteller Daniel Pennac weaves a tale that is magical, mysterious and utterly unforgettable.
Hook - The Importance of Eye Contact
