Sharing our learning and achievements
Following on from our learning about Leonardo Da Vinci and sketching the Mona Lisa this week, Ospreys today made portrait plaques from clay. Julie first showed us how to mould a face shape and shoulders. We then added eyes, nose, mouth and other features as the portraits gradually took shape. Pupils then added various hairstyles and background decorations to their work, and finally two holes to attach a hanger to the plaque. Once the claywork has been fired in the kiln, pupils will paint them.
Ospreys were visited by Mr. Cantoni this afternoon to learn some Italian words and phrases. Pupils learned to recognise the the numbers one to ten, and then played a game to practice remembering them. We then learned to say some everyday greetings, such as hello, goodbye, and ‘how are you?’ We were soon able to hold a mini-conversation. We also learned how important it is to use your hands to express yourself when talking Italian!
Grazie, Signor Cantoni! 
Today Ospreys welcomed Mr. Castle, who used his military experience to put the pupils through their paces with some drill practice this morning. Ospreys have been learning about how the superior organisation and discipline of the Roman army enabled Rome to build and extend the Empire. Pupils stood to attention and got into in columns, before marching in formation. They learned to follow commands, such as ‘right turn’, ‘left turn’, and ‘HALT!’. Ospreys then got the shields they had made in DT this week, to march, turn, and then drop to a defensive formation, as if to thwart an attack from Saxon bowmen. The activity showed how effective the organisation and leadership of the Roman legions would have been for moving such a large army. Many thanks to Mr. Castle from everyone in Ospreys! 
Tuesday 17th October
As part of our World Awareness theme of Italy, Rome and The Coliseum, Ospreys today looked at five key paintings from the Italian Renaissance. We focused in particular on Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, using it as a study for sketching. We carefully used very light pencil marks to mark out the page, before drawing in details and backgrounds. Once sketches were complete, we used water colour paints to add colour. We will finish the paintings on Friday.
Monday 16th October
Ospreys today carried on with their World Awareness DT project. Pupils began by putting a first coat of paint onto their shields. They then finished constructing their daggers, making a handle grip, before painting them. Not everyone chose to make a gladius, or dagger; we also have a number of spears and a few tridents, as well as one fearsome looking mace. This afternoon we put the decoration details and Roman motifs onto our shields, and made handle straps secured with split pins. Most people got everything finished by the end of the day. There will be a class photo of all the gladiators, armed and ready for combat, by the end of this week.
Friday 13th October
Homework this week is to find out at least ten facts about Leonardo da Vinci. This will link with our activities in Art and Claywork next week.
Friday 13th October
Finally, after all our rehearsals, the day came for our final performance! Ospreys all got into their costumes, and before the whole school and assembled parents performed our own version of the Indian folk tale, The Story of Rama and Sita, which we have been learning about in Literacy, and also in R.E. Everyone played their role really well: the narrators, the King of Kosala, Evil Step Mother, Princes and Princesses, Monkey King Hanuman and his legion of Monkeys, demon King Ravana and his enchanted golden deer. Afterwards, we all gathered in the amphitheatre for a photo of the cast!
Friday 13th October
Ospreys today put their design plans into action, and began making their Gladiator shields and battling weapons, linked to our World Awareness theme of the Coliseum. We cut shield bases from cardboard and then things got very sticky as we layered them with papier mâché. Pupils each had a length of wood to transform into a gladius, or dagger, or some chose to make a spear. We started by sanding the wood into a smooth point, and then next attaching a hilt and handle grip. On Monday we will be painting Roman designs onto our shields, and finishing off our daggers. 
Thursday 12th October
Ospreys did their Maths Passports mental recall test a day early this week, as Friday will be dedicated to making gladiator shields and our class assembly. Each week, pupils are given 6 minutes to complete 60 mental recall questions against the clock for the continent that they are working on. We did not have anyone moving continent today, but some pupils came very, very close to completing all their targets within the time limit. So, watch this space!
Thursday 12th October
This week’s spellings words are all related to our World Awareness theme of Rome, The Coliseum, and gladiators. Completed spellings homework sheets should be handed in by next Thursday. Remember that names of places (proper nouns) need capital letters!
Year 5/6 @ Gastrells
A flying start to a life of learning.
Year 5/6 @ Gastrells
A flying start to a life of learning.
Ospreys @ Gastrells 