500 word challenge

6R have been working on their 500 word stories for the BBC Radio 2 competition. Here is the first part of Madison's writing - what features can you identify?

As you silently creep towards an abandoned, antiquated cottage in the far away woods, the branch of a dead tree screeches in agony while it falls to the ground. You open the creaking, wooden door. Standing still as a statue, you wait for any booby traps to pop out in front of you. No traps await you, so you continue your quest. The first room looks as if a bomb has gone off; it is unbelievably messy: glass is shattered everywhere; cobwebs hang from almost every single crumbling corner. You stagger amongst the sharp shards of glass and you discover another door; it is a metallic colour with a stiff handle and mostly all of the screws have been yanked out of it. 

5C Explanation Text

Below is an extract from Ellie.N's explanation text about volcanoes. We have focussed on using technical vocabulary in order to inform our readers of the features of a volcano. 

Where are they found?

Volcanoes occur because the earth’s crust is broken into 17 rigid tectonic plates that float over the earth's mantle (the rocky inner layer above the core). As a result of this, volcanoes are generally found where tectonic plates are diverging  or converging . For example, 75% of the world’s volcanoes are located in the vast Pacific Ocean along the borders of the Pacific Plate. This extreme area of volcanic activity is known as the Ring of Fire. 

Explanation Texts by 5G

Below is an extract from Erin's explanation text about volcanoes. We have focussed on using technical vocabulary in order to inform our readers of the features of a volcano. 

Volcanoes

Volcanoes are mountains which contain vents through which magma is pushed up from underneath the earth's crust.

What is a volcano?

A volcano is normally seen as conical mountain or hill.It is a  rupture on the crust of a planet. A vent inside the volcano allows lava, hot vapour and gases to exit the magma chamber. The word 'volcano' finds its origins in the name 'Vulcan'.Vulcan was the Roman god of fire, when volcanoes errupted the Romans believed it was due to the anger of Vulcan.

Why do volcanoes occur?

Volcanoes occur because there are 17 tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust, they float on the hotter layer of mantle. Where the plates come together or pull apart, volcanoes are formed. The famous Pacific Ring of Fire was made by tectonic plates converging. 

A famous eruption

One notable eruption was that of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was an ordinary summer's day when all of a sudden, birds ceased to sing, the sun clouded over, and without warning, ash and lava tumbled down from the mouth of the volcano. 

1st Person Narrative - 6F

For our writing assessment, we watched an interesting short film about a boy who seemingly can make objects levitate. This was our inspiration for writing a first-person narrative. Melanie tried to draw the reader in with an intriguing opening.


It was my birthday! ... It may be exciting for any other person … but to me, it was my worst nightmare. The curse would strike once again; just as it would do every year. The worst bit was – if people knew about it, it would spread like butter on toast. It would start off with one person…then my whole neighbourhood… then the whole city… and then eventually, the entire world! No doubt scientists would try to use you and if they sensed that you were too dangerous to be around, they could even execute you! If you are under a curse like mine… BEWARE…

6B Spelling!

This week we have been learning about homophones and homonyms. Do you know what the difference is?

We went outside to compete in a spelling challenge... Here's what happened!

5E's Explanation Text

This week in Year 5 we have been writing explanation texts. We focused on using causal connectives to explain how and why volcanoes occur. Below is Alfie's text:

What is a volcano?

     Volcanoes (such as Damavand, Fuji and Paricutin) are unique types of mountains that all have a conduit that leads into a magma (lava when it’s underground)  chamber. Underneath the Earth’s crust lies the mantle, a sea of molten (melted) rock, which is the result after the core melts the rock in 7500 degrees centigrade. Occasionally, because of continental drift, some volcanoes are submerged in seawater. Also, the noun ‘volcano’ originates from the island ‘Vulcano’, which in Roman mythology, is the home of Vulcan, the god of fire.

Where are volcanoes found?

     Volcanoes are usually found between tectonic plate boundaries, some examples are : the Pacific plate, the Atlantic plate and the Eurasian plate. Most of the volcanoes are found around the Ring of Fire. Volcanoes, though mostly seen above ground, could be beneath us at any moment. Luckily, the last volcano in Britain last erupted 50 million years ago!

How do volcanoes erupt?

     Firstly, as the plates are pulled away from each other, magma seeps through the crust and solidifies creating a cone, a shield shape or a flat hole, then ash billows out of the crater.

Instructions to borrow an e-book (6F)

Interested in borrowing e-books from your local library? Follow Mathusha's instructions and you'll have access to lots of great titles on your tablet, kindle or computer!

How to borrow an e-book:

1. Go to google and type Herts E-library for kids.
2. Once you go on the website, press sign in, which is near the right hand corner.
3. After you press sign in, you need your library card number and your pin.
4. Once you have signed in, the first thing you will see is books!
5. If you cannot find the book you are searching for, go to the search section – which is below the sign out button and type the book you are searching for.
6. Once you have searched for the book you want, click on it.
7. Then, you can borrow it or you can read the sample.
8. You can borrow the book for: 7, 14 or 21 days.
9. You can change how long you want the book for by clicking: Change your lending period.
10.  After you have clicked that, you have chosen of how long you want your book for.
11. Ta-Da! You have officially borrowed your book; however don’t worry, if you forget to return your book, it will go away by itself! You won’t have to pay any fee at all!
12. If you want to, you can rate how many stars your book was.
13. Don’t forget, the maximum books you can borrow are 5!

This is how you can borrow a book on the internet. It is completely free and it will be much easier instead of going to the library and paying loads of money because you forgot to return the book.

Go to this website –which is down below - and there is where you can get you e-books:

_{http://herts.lib.overdrive.com/714119B3-B843-43B4-8038-1932C8C1B108/10/45/en/default.htm}