Our last term of the year in Oak class has been a VERY busy one, with lots of visits and enrichment experiences to end the school year in style!

We have continued with our Summer Term topic – The Mystery of the Maya – by learning about Maya society, how they wrote using hieroglyphics, and how they worshipped. We used a wonderful book called ‘Rainplayer’ to inspire our English work and wrote instructions for the game of ‘Pok-a-Tok’, which is one of the oldest ball games in the world. The children in Oak have extended their learning about the Maya with some amazing and creative learning logs this term, including head-dresses, temple sculptures, stories and fact files.

      

In maths, Oak class have been revisiting and revising some of their basic number skills through games, investigations and problems. They have completed various challenges including working out how maths can be magic! They have also investigated the Maya number system and other number systems from around the world, spotting similarities and differences.       

In our science work we have continued learning about light, including reflection and refraction. It was great fun making our own periscopes! We also had a fantastic science afternoon at John Ferneley College, learning to use Bunsen burners and carrying out a range of investigations.

     

    

n RE, Oak have been learning about how people of different faiths mark the important events in life. The class were lucky enough to visit a Hindu temple in Leicester and see the preparations for a wedding, which was fascinating.

In PSHE the focus has been on safety and the changing body. We have looked at online safety - how to navigate online relationships and be discerning about what we share online and what we believe that we see online. We have also spent some time thinking about the changes that are starting to happen to both bodies and emotions during puberty.

For PE this term, Oak spent some time working on their Athletics skills ahead of sports day, and have ended the year with some fun games and rounders.

Our art this term has been about identity and the class produced some wonderful clay sculptures which combined their faces with other elements of their identities to create something completely unique. We have also been enjoying trying out ‘God’s Eye’ weaving linked to our Maya topic – it is very relaxing!

      

As well as all that learning in the classroom, we have been out and about learning outside the classroom lots this term too. Year 5 and 6 had a fantastic residential experience at the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, taking part in a range of activities including kayaking, high ropes and archery. We also went on a whole school trip to Rushcliffe Country Park, spending the money that classes raised in their Spring Fair enterprise project on a day of outdoor fun (and ice lollies!) Year 5 met the author Ben Davies at a literacy event with other schools in our trust, we opened the new classroom at the Severn Trent water treatment plant in Melton, year 6 have been to the Harry Potter Studios as their end of year treat, and we have taken part in several sporting events including Tag Rugby and Orienteering. Phew!

          

And, on top of all of that, we put on a fabulous performance of ‘Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies’ to families and friends. We may be a small school, but our children certainly do not miss out on any opportunities. As the school year draws to a close, our thoughts are with our wonderful year 6 children as they spread their wings and move on to their secondary schools. We hope that the time they have spent at Somerby Primary School will stay in their hearts forever – we certainly won’t forget them.