Oak Tree Class Blog
Oak Tree Class Blog
Summer 1, wk 1, ending 21 April
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Welcome back to school, after a lovely two weeks off. I hope you had some fab family time.
Well done to these pupils!
Reader of the Week: Archie
Special mention Pupil: Ted
The children have returned to school in a really sensible manner – and we have spent some time discussing how this is the final term before they move up to Year 6. We have been talking about the qualities of a Quality Y6 child and decided that everyone is well on track to be a mature, reliable, and hardworking student in Y6!
In English lessons, we have focused on three specific skills: retrieval, deduction and inference. These are the main skills that demonstrate a clear understanding of texts read. No longer are pupils expected to retrieve simple facts when they read. Instead, they are asked to ‘explain thoughts’, ‘show how you know’ and ‘give an opinion’. These would be helpful strategies/questions for parents to employ and encourage when hearing your child read. Please remember that at Rufford Park, we do encourage children to read to an adult at least three times each week. Even in Year 5!
In Maths, we have looked at how we are expected to round decimals numbers – to the nearest who number and to a certain number of decimal places.
Our French vocabulary on the Weather is increasing each week and in science, we explored the how micro-organisms can be both harmful AND helpful in our daily lives.
Homework continues in the Summer Term – once again, spellings and maths revision. If you know that your child still struggles with certain times tables (7s and 8s seem to be the pesky ones for Oak Tree pupils!), please spend some time (in the car, on the bus or even at the supermarket!).
Have a great weekend!
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Week 6, ending 31 March 2023
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Super efforts from these children this week!
Reader: Kadie
Special Mention: Oliver
Reading Ambassador: Charlie
And we’ve made it!
Never has an end of term been so welcome – this term seems to have been very long indeed. After all the excitement of Joseph, it has been a lovely calm end to the term, where we have been able to focus on some work in the classroom. The Easter story has featured quite heavily – and not just for Easter treats(!) as the children have spent time in Assemblies and in class, learning about the significance of this festival for Christians around the world.
We have also furthered our learning of decimals in maths and enjoyed a science lesson, where each small group, using their knowledge of classification. created their own imaginary creature. Then another group classified their curious creature against the criteria we have studied.
The highlight of our week has to have been the Easter Egg Scramble - what a marvellous tradition! But sadly, we said 'Goodbye' to Miss Hanna too, as she moves on to another role in another school. We are very sad, but we wish her well.
I hope you have a really happy holiday – enjoy the break!
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Week 5, ending 24 March
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Special well done to these two pupils this week:
Reader: Anesu
Special mention: Maisy
It has been quite an odd week in many ways as we have not only been planning and performing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, but we have been doing our termly assessments too! I have been really impressed with how calm the children have been while we have been doing these assessments, given the background of our very exciting show!
The Joseph performances have been splendid and the cast and crew have totally ‘raised their game’ for Show Week. I am a very proud teacher this week.
As well as this, we have drawn detailed images of sloths, read even more of our class reading book, The Explorer, and begun an exciting story writing unit in English.
Many thanks for all your support during the lead up to Joseph – it is very much appreciated!
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Week 4, ending 17 March
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Happy St Patrick's Day to you all!
And a well done to these two pupils this week!
Reader: Sheldon
Special Mention: Oscar
We had a very special visitor in our school this week - Dr Diane, who is the leading archaeologist in Britain on the subject of the Maya. This is the new part of our topic this term and in just one morning the children learned so much about the Maya, from an actual expert. Dr Diane said she was very impressed with how willing the children in Oak Tree class were to ‘have a go’ at deciphering clues about Maya artefacts. Some budding future archaeologists, she said!
In Maths we have continued our learning on decimals (tenths, hundredths, thousandths etc) and we have also spent some time practising our songs and words for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Thank you to everyone for helping put costumes together for the show – they looked fantastic when we tried them on!
We cannot wait for our performances on 22 and 23 March – hope you have booked your tickets already. (A copy of the letter was on Mr Cooke’s newsletter last week.)
Hope you all have a good weekend,
Yours,
Mrs Adrienne Amos
Some Joseph stuff
Mrs Amos (a.amos) on: Oak Tree Class Blog
Here are the lyrics for the three songs we need a bit more practice on! (I am trying to work out how I can attach an audio clip - I may be some time!!)
- Joseph’s Coat
Jacob : Joseph's mother, she was quite my favourite wife
I never really loved another all my life
And Joseph was my joy because
He reminded me of her…
ALL: Through young Joseph, Jacob lived his youth again,
Loved him, praised him, gave him all he could, but then
It made the rest feel second best,
And even if they were
Brothers: Being told we're also-rans
Does not make us Joseph fans
Narrator: But where they had really missed the boat is
Brothers: We're great guys but no-one seems to notice
ALL: Joseph's charm and winning smiles
Failed to slay them in the aisles
And their father couldn't see the danger
He could not imagine any danger
He just saw in Joseph all his dreams come true.
Jacob wanted to show the world he loved his son
To make it clear that Joseph was the special one
So Jacob bought his son a coat
A multi-coloured coat to wear
ALL: Joseph's coat was elegant,
The cut was fine
The tasteful style was the
Ultimate in good design
And this is why it caught the eye
A king would stop and stare
And when Joseph tried it on
He knew his sheepskin days were gone
Such a dazzling coat of many colours
How he loved his coat of many colours
In a class above the rest
It even went well with his vest
Such a stunning coat of many colours
How he loved his coat of many colours
It was red and yellow and green and
brown and blue.
Joseph's brothers weren't
Too pleased with what they saw
Brothers
We have never liked him all that much before
And now this coat has got our goat
We feel life is unfair
ALL: And when Joseph graced the scene
His brothers turned a shade of green
His astounding clothing took the biscuit
Quite the smoothest person in the district
Joseph I look handsome, I look smart
I am walking work of art
Such a dazzling coat of colours
How I love my coat of many colours
All
It was red and yellow and green and brown
And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn
And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve *
And cream and crimson and silver and rose
And azure and lemon and russet and grey
And purple and white and pink and orange
And blue
- Joseph's Dreams
ALL: Joseph's coat annoyed his brothers
Brothers But what makes us mad
Are the things that Joseph tells us of the
Dreams he often had
Joseph: I dreamed that in the fields one day,
At corn collecting time.
Your eleven sheaves of corn
All turned and bowed to mine
And then I saw eleven stars,
The sun the moon and sky
Bowing down before my star,
It made me wonder why
Brothers
The dreams of our dear brother are
The decade's biggest yawn
His talk of stars and goldens sheaves
Is just a load of corn
Not only is he tactless but
He's also rather dim
For there's eleven of us and
There's only one of him
All: The dreams are more than crystal clear,
The writings on the wall
Means that Joseph some day soon
Will rise above them all
The accuracy of the dreams,The brothers did not know
But one thing they were sure about
The dreamer had to go.
- Pharaoh’s Dreams Explained/Stone the Crows
Joseph: Seven years of bumper crops are on their way
Years of plenty, endless wheat and tons of hay
Your farms will boom, there won't be room
To store the surplus food you grow
Joseph: After that, the future doesn't look so bright
Egypt's luck will change completely overnight
And famine's hand will stalk the land
With food an all-time low
ALL Noble king, there is no doubt
What your dreams are all about
All these things you saw in your pyjamas
Are a long-range forecast for your farmers
ALL: And I'm sure it's crossed your mind
What it is you have to find
Find a man to lead you through the famine
With a flair for economic planning
But who this man could be I just don't know
(who this man could be I just don't know)
Who this man could be I just don't know
(who this man could be I just don't know)
Who this man could be
I just don't know.