YEAR FIVE: SUMMER TERM

OUR YEAR FIVE DURING SUMMER TERM

OUR CORE INTENTION IN ACTION

SUMMER TERM 'WHEN I GROW UP...' THEME: VICTORIANS-ON-SEA

A 'When I Grow Up' Summer Summary

We wanted to bring a study of the Victorians together with a focus upon birth and growth of our locality and in particular the Fylde Coast's place as one of the most important seaside destinations in the country. Hence, our Victorians-on-Sea theme was born! What a great hit it was with the children. This History and Geography driven theme started with a Stunning Start visit from Mayor John Bickerstaffe (the first real-life mayor in nearby Blackpool). He gave the children the brief to create a new seaside town fit for the workers of the central Lancashire mill towns. He called it: Project 1890. His return for the celebration event three months later would mean the children would present their plans, designs and projections for this project. 

The children then quickly moved into study of primary and secondary sources to research into the popular aspect of Victorian seaside towns. They studied the important of the natural landscape and the perceived health benefits of being 'at the seaside'. They studied the highly important issue of social class in Victorian society and how so much of the ideas of the time were built upon this. We moved into a study of race and inclusion and its depiction for entertainment purposes in Victorian society and this raised many questions with the equality and Black Lives Matter movements of today. This seemed to be a really pertinent theme to study and there were many surprised looks and strong views when we considered how 'difference' was used and highlighted over 100 years ago. This was easily our most powerful PSHE learning of the academic year and ran alongside our planned work relating to keeping safe, healthy and personal identity.

Our Science work was driven - literally - by forces. We linked our studies to the necessary movement needed for our tram design in Design & Technology. Studying in particular air resistance and friction as part of our investigative work. The results helped our design work as we built transport fit for our Victorian town. 

We applied and developed our Computing knowledge to design an advertising campaign with tourist brochures for the new attractions within our model Project 1890 seaside towns. Whilst our Design & Technology work was a major focal point as we created both a model town and a prototype tram fit for the travelling hundreds moving across our seaside attractions. This subject really captured the interest of the children and a was a really purposeful way to bring history to life. A real highlight of the term's work! We composed our own seaside fanfare fit for the Project 1890 opening ceremony during Music. They worked in groups to create a number of compositions before evaluating which was the most effective in order to make this the adopted fanfare.  During Art, we focused upon watercolours to create a seascape so often featured on late 19th and early 20th century railway advertising material. Inspired by the work of Matthew Palmer, the children then created their own final seascape after a number of refine and polish attempts. 

In addition to the extensive Victorians-on-Sea theme, we continued with our stand alone work in Physical Education. Developing our fielding and striking work within our team games, whilst developing our Outdoor Athletic Activities during the second half of Summer Term. Our Religious Education studies compared the ways in which Christians and Sikhs show their commitment to God. Whilst we studied weather terminology during our French unit. We learned terms for rain and storm very quickly as we felt it may be needed quite a lot in any traditional seaside town! We also studies terminology for schools. 

The Mathematics work this term has focus upon decimals, properties of shapes, position and direction and converting units of measurement. We spent a good deal of deal looking at decimals in relation to place value and reinforced the relative values of numbers as they move. The shape work allowed to move into a different area from number and enabled the children to show their varying strengths. 

Our English units were driven by our Victorians-on-Sea theme. Our report writing studied pastimes and pursuits from this age in relation our new town. From there, we created period persuasive pieces to promote some of our new attractions, whilst our final newspaper article reported on the grand opening of the project upon completion. 

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