From our Year 5 reporters and paparazzi this week:
Ever-expanding universe?
In Topic, we have been learning about the expansion of the Universe and its origins. We began by talking about Edwin Hubble and Henrietta Leavit. The two discovered that the Universe is expanding because they were noticing red shifts in light coming from the galaxy. Then we began talking about the Big Bang and how the Universe might end. One would be keeping on expanding and eventually tear things apart. Two, it would stop expanding and begin contracting. Finally, it could stop expanding and reach equilibrium. Personally, I think it that the Big Crunch might be the most common case scenario because the Universe is gaining gravity as it expands, and eventually the gravity might ‘crunch’ everything together.
Monday Neuroscience
The nervous system is vital to our body. This week, a group of neuroscientists, [people who study the brain] COMMIT, shared with us some of the things they do and some amazing facts about our body. The nervous system controls our actions, feelings and reflexes, and usually works fine. But in some cases, I can take serious damage and that’s where neuroscientists come in. They work their best to find answers to brain injuries.
So far, in their work they have created a sensor to monitor the nervous system of people with damaged brains, and have revealed that it has less chance of human errors, and is a faster way to keep track of what is happening inside the patient.
Three of the scientists from COMMIT told us about their jobs. The brain surgeon [someone who operates on the brain], an analyst [someone who analyses the findings] and a nanotechnology expert [someone who is in charge of the technology] told us that it takes years of specialist training to become a brain scientist, but it is definitely worth it all.
If you want to learn something about preventing head injuries, go to www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/prevention.html
Space information texts
This week, we have been writing our space information texts. We had a choice from The Hubble Space Telescope, The ISS or Project Starshot.
Measuring Maths
In Maths, we have been learning about number lines and we had a go at making our own meter sticks to measure stuff around the classroom and outside. We then went up against our classroom window and stood in a line measuring from the classroom to the arena! Consolidation of addition on Mathletics would be a helpful home task this week, or alternatively, explore https://wild.maths.org/ for creative mathematics activities.
French
Salut! This week was our first week in Year 5 of learning French! It was very exciting. We learnt how to say ‘Hello’, ‘What’s your name?’ ‘How are you?’ and ‘How old are you?’ and the replies.
Next week:
Monday to Wednesday: School as normal.
English: Publishing information texts
Maths: Fibonacci, STEM (Science/Maths)
Topic: The Space Race
Reading: The Jamie Drake Equation
Thursday: Staff research day, school closed.
Friday: School closed.
Learning conversations take place on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
As part of our commitment to promote physical health and wellbeing, we wanted to share with you these home opportunities and experiences to encourage the children to stay active.
1. Free after school sport club opportunity: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/AfterSchoolSportClub, #YSTAfterSchool. The Youth Sport Trust will deliver a free virtual after school club as part of a national response to the second lockdown. The 30-minute club will take place at 5pm each weekday on YouTube Live and be led by a different member of the YST’s Athlete Mentor network. Aimed mainly at primary-aged children, a different theme has been assigned for each day of the club – Adventure Monday, Tuesday Play, Wild Wednesday, Thinking Thursday and Fun Friday.
- British Orienteering – get active this autumn. Free downloadable activities for families to do at home, in the garden or in your local green spaces. https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/get_active
3. You could also follow this dance activity connecting it with our Space theme: Space Adventure.