This week in Year 5, we have been analysing an information text about the PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It encouraged an incredible amount discussion and debate amongst the class and it was lovely to listen to the conversations they were having, filled with such enthusiasm, energy and an itch to investigate this controversial topic in more detail.

We started off the week by highlighting the text and making detailed mind-maps in pairs, collating all of the information and quotes together that we found interesting or shocking . This provided us with a bank of facts that we could refer back to all week and ultimately use as an evidence provider when we completed our writing task at the end of the week.

The first challenge for the children was to construct an answer to the following question...

The children were asked to  use their inference skills to gather four examples of opportunities, stated in the text, that described opportunities for 'a 30 year old mother,' to act and help reduce animal cruelty. The key was to ensure that the evidence they selected was specifically relevant to this audience, a mother.

Once we had discussed possible quotes to use in our answers and debated their relevance, we then started to developed our reasoning.

JAZZ!

Once we had mastered 'picking out' quotes for a 30 year old mother, I gave each of the children a teacher within school.
E.g.  

The children had to write a letter to the teacher they had been given, informing them about animal cruelty and persuading them to do something about it! The challenge was that the children had to ensure that the letter perfectly suited their teacher's specific character traits and lifestyle.
For example, if they were a vegetarian, finding a quote that discussed reducing the amount of meat they eat, would be inappropriate for that particular teacher.

'There is nothing on this earth, more to be prized than true friendship.'

Year 3

Year 3 made some acrostic poems and researched a wide range of adjectives to describe someone in the class! The children came up a fantastic bank of vocabulary to make sure that each word perfectly suited their peer.

​Year 4

In Year 4 they stuck post-it notes on a Winnie the Pooh and Piglet picture, explaining who they were lucky enough to call their friend within the class and what made them a good friend.
​

​Year 5

In Year 5 we made a word bank of adjectives that describe what makes a fantastic friend. We also looked at what they do for us and what we can do for them to show our appreciation.
To display our work and ideas, we created 'The Perfect Recipe for Friendship' which depicts our true feelings and appreciation for the people we care about the most.
​

​Year 6
In year 6, they focused on what friendship means to them and how it can make you feel!
They wrote incredible poems and raps to communicate their feelings and emotions in a creative and innovative way!  Some of the groups used rhythm, pitch and teamwork to bring their work to life!​

Please listen to some of our work and let us know what you think!

Angus, Aidan and Jake!

Libbie, Leah and Grace!

Luke D, Taylor and Alfie

Jed and Jordon

​​What is National Storytelling week?

Over the past 24 years, The Society For Storytelling has achieved so much in its mission to promote the oral tradition of storytelling, the very first way of communicating life experiences and the creative imagination.

At High View, we are huge advocates of reading in general and promote it every day! However, this week gave us, and the children, the opportunity to show off our expression, imagination and incredible speaking and listening skills!

Telling stories to children enables them to learn the art of listening, in an age when many are lacking this skill. Encourage them to tell stories and they will gain confidence, improve their vocabulary and their literary skills.
​

Year 1
“Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” 
– Robert McKee​

In year 1, they used the  story, 'How the Bear Lost His Tail,' as a hook for the lessons that week. The children read half of the story up to the point that the bear got his tail stuck in the ice, this wintery tale immersed the children in a frosty setting, oozing with cute characters, fun and adventure. The children then had to think of a creative solution to the bears problem.

                         How could he possibly get his tail out of the ice?

To record their conclusions to the story, the children used their drawing skills, drama techniques and beautiful ideas to construct some incredible sentences!
​I think you will agree they are pretty stupendous!
​

Year 2
“Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in heart forever.”

 In year 2, they brought in their own stories that both the teachers and the children read. Following on from this, they were then given the challenge of changing that story which stimulated their own imagination and ignited their creative flare for story writing. 
Once they had written the introduction to their story, they then videoed themselves on the iPads reading their stories to a partner with expression.  
To mark the finale of National Storytelling week, they watched the videos together and talked about how they could make them even better... although they were pretty amazing already if you ask me!
​ 

Year 3
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
— Dr. Seuss

In Miss Williams' class, the children were given a fun character named 'Arthur the Alligator'. The children were asked to sit in a circle and contribute a little section of the tale to progressively build up an adventure story for Arthur. 

In Miss Berry's class, the children were asked to write a fictional story. This young lady, Skye, decided to write hers about a naughty class! Her language choices and ideas are amazing!! They then designed front covers and wrote blurbs ready to be laminated and shared with their friends in the classroom reading area!

Year 4
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
– Walt Disney

In Year 4, during National Story Telling Week, not only have they spent a lot of time reading their favourite stories to each other, but they have also been writing their own science fiction stories about the Invasion of Triton! The children then told their stories to their friends and then they worked together to make some improvements to their writing! 
(See the other post for videos of their Invasion of Triton lesson)

Year 5 
“Great stories happen to those who can tell them.”
​– Ira Glass

During National Storytelling Week, Year 5 built a den!

We decided that we wanted to create a cozy, warm environment to enjoy our stories in, whilst listening to calming music and sitting with our friends. We were also lucky enough to listen to a story read to us in Polish by the newest member of our class, Maria!
It was great fun to hear the difference in language, pitch and tone and we were so impressed with her expression and intonation whilst reading.