6K's inspirational maths learning

In Year 6, we have been focused on open-ended maths problem solving, where children work as a group with different roles and solve challenging problems. Below are some images of this learning.

Trench Tales

In 6E we read the diary of a soldier in WW1.  We then used his ideas to write our own WW1 diaries.  Here is Milana's.

October 29^th 1915

I have just arrived in France. There are not many soldiers here. Everyone tells me that the German soldiers keep killing ours; I feel kind of scared now.

On the boat, on the way here, I met a kind guy named Charman. We were both terrified and excited. Our sergeant is Sergeant Lightning, who is a bit more terrifying than death.

I hope we will have a good place to sleep in. Sometimes I think it will never be like I think it’s going to be. I hope I will go home soon. It is terrifying here.

-Squirt

November 1^st 1915

The sky has been a dark shadow for as long as I can remember; I don’t even think I can remember when it started. At night, crouching in a ball, I remember the great times I had in the British summers. Last summer I ate ice cream with my family; I really wish they were with me right now. Now I can only taste my disgusting breath in my mouth.

Charman is developing trench foot. Each day it is getting worse and worse. When he takes off his shoe you can see his slimy rotten foot falling apart. I don’t think he will survive much longer.

-Squirt 

6K's WW1 Narratives

This week in Year 6, we have been drafting our second versions of our WW1 narratives. Below are excerpts from various children's work:

Mya: 

Hector proudly admired his well earned medals. Compare to his fellow soldiers ,he looked amazingly dressed. His eyes glowed and glimmered ,as he lead the trop with bravery.

Hunched with the relief of his near death ,he could hear the disturbing yelling and the ricocheting gun shots. He could also hear the screeches of innocent soles fading away. Squinting at the hope of survivors ,he rammed his food down his hollow tube. On the battlefield ,clouds of gun power cloud through the air and forgotten lungs were swamped around and had already become a death for some.

‘’Can you help me please ? I cant work this bomb ’’ Quivering with a ecoey voice a soldier appeared infront of me . As he peered at the boy infront of Hector took in a quivering form. Although he towered over the boy , he thought he could be as brave as he said he promised himself.

Meekly, the boy blinked through his sleep-instructed eyelashes, as he caught Hectors attention . Marching in the trench the trop gulped a breathe of intoxicating gas and were in too much pandemonium.

Katie:

Cowering in a puddle, Scott heard echoing booms, he could hear the screeches of innocent soldiers and the firing of frightening gun shots. He shivers as he squinted at the hope of team mates. Constant booms struck and destroyed what ever they could see. On the battle field the sky was blood shot red and the left out pieces of shrapnel lingered all around.

“Please, sir, I need to no how to work my gun. ”A intimidating voice caught Scott`s eye .As he marched towards a soles human, he saw that it was poring with blood .Despite the fact that in his opinion he is brave his shoulder’s were quivering with fear.

Connor: 

Pacing impatiently, BANG Dom heard booming bombs dropping from the sky. Dom was worried. Hearing the scraping of metal, Dom said to himself “I believe in us toms. We will beat the Germans!” Approaching a new recruit, he went to exchange tips.  He could see flashing light as soldiers practised sword fighting. Bullets and bombs descended from the sky as the horrible German’s throw them at the British.

“Please private can you assist me?” A timid voice caught Dom’s ears. He glanced at the new recruits uniform, which was squalid,. Although he was the newest recruit, his uniform was impure and he was in pandemonium in addition this told the nameless boy his trench life wouldn’t be easy.

After a while, the recruit’s eyelashes blinked with sleep in them as he bowed his head, catching Dom’s attention. The nameless soldier asked Dom to help him with his large gun because the trigger of his gun was as stiff as concrete.

After moving into place, the new recruit was gone; he didn’t take his stuff. Private Dom barked “right men “as he pivoted around the room and the men listened carefully. He also growled” we are the Toms and we are the best!”

Chanel:

“Let’s go get some jeries ! righted the sergeant , pivoting to his heel.

“we’ll show them war!” bellowed the men.

However, one person was trembling. To the thought of war  . After the ranting, they travelled to battle . Suddenly, a blur of words were thrown at the scared soldier . But who. He thought could be saying these things.

Then what seemed to be an ominous shadow, grabbed him by the arm Viciously . His arm was throbbing with so much tribulation that at some point he wouldn’t be able to bear the pain.

Olivia:

Frantically, Will pulled at his leg, yet every time he did it was reminiscent of hell ripping at his flesh. It was then that he could see two men walking towards him. Hopeless. Will realised his arm was stuck in some barbed wire he could not run from this.Tears of fear trickled down his face. The blood was flowing out of Wills leg in a deadly show of horror. Due to Wills weak body a blanket of heat covered his skin.

Tabitha:

Pacing perpetually to and fro in the trench, Jack collected the sounds of the early morning tumultuous battles; groans and grunts. He could hear the scuttling feet of the lice along the trench walls beside him. He peered over the blood-soaked trench parapet, desperately trying to find the ‘kind German’ like a Where’s Wally page. Intermittent fractals of light shined through the trench off a newly polished gun reflecting on a mud puddle. On the battlefield, broken bullet shells, flecks of bloodstained grass and strips of threadbare uniform flew through the air.

            “Halt!” it had been that exact voice that had come from ‘the kind German’. When he took the first glance at the man before him, his shoulders barely contained in his uniform. Despite his stereo-typical sinewy soldier form his eyes to a wanting for peace and a hatred of war. 

War Woes

In 6E we have been writing narratives about WW1. Here are some excerpts:

Deprived of life-saving food, Charles glared down at his undead body. His tattered, scruffy uniform brought previous battles to life. Tears of fear meandered down his crusty, swollen cheeks.- Caleb

Sean entered the soggy trench. He trembled with fear. For the first time he felt his young, tender age of 17 years. He wished he hadn’t lied about his age as he heard gun shots and bombs booming.
- Ellie H

Overwhelmed at his surroundings, Indiana Jones looked into a knife and saw his family.  His uniform, which was made one year ago, had started to get scruffy. He felt abandoned.
 
Crashing down too close for comfort, Indiana heard cannons firing. He whined. Death followed Indiana as he stumbled up and down the trench.
- Liam

Lockers Galore

In 6E we are using our growth mindsets to solve maths problems. Here is one we investigated this week and some of our discoveries.

A college has 1000 students and just off the entrance hall there’s a bay with 1000 lockers, one for each student. On the first day of term, the lockers are all closed but student no 1 arrives early in the morning and straightaway opens the doors of all 1000 lockers. Student no 2 arrives and closes the doors of all the even-numbered lockers (ie 2, 4, 6, 8 and so on). Later, student no 3 turns up and he focuses on all the lockers numbered with a multiple of 3 (ie 3, 6, 9 and so on), opening those which are closed and closing those which are open. Student no 4 arrives and goes along lockers 4, 8, 12, 16 and so on (multiples of 4), again opening those which are closed and closing those which are open.  During the morning all the student arrive in turn and they each change the state of hose lockers numbered with multiples of their id number.

The problem is : How many lockers will remain open when all 1000 students have visited them?

Dulce et decorum est

In year 6 we have been learning about The First World War.  We have read a range of war poetry and then we wrote our own.  Here is Josie's from 6E.

Dulce Et decorum Est

Standing stiff and wearing camouflaged coats

We soldiers fear haunting bullets the most

While we plod through the mist

As thick as oozing mud

Searching but not finding

Our distant rest

Trudging to the unknown

Trudging to death

Flickering flames of hope dance

Waiting for my presence.

Enemies! Enemies! Quick hide!

A flurry of fear

Stumbling to hide

However someone was still in range

Still out there. BANG!!!

Through the hazy mist we spot him

Floundering like a man in fire or lime

Guttering and spluttering

We load our fallen comrade

If your dreams

Were as horrifying as this

His face withering wildly

Scares of mystery covering his body

The way his blood-spewing back is almost

As though his life is being sucked out of him

My friend if you could see this

 You wouldn’t tell your children

Wanting glory

The old lie:

Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori

Patrick's WW1 poetry

This week, we took inspiration from Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est poem. After studying the poem, we wrote our own versions.

Here is Patrick's from 6D:

One more war

Crossed over uncomfortably

Howling like wolves

In pain and sorrowfully,

The soldiers try to

Convince the leader

To be let go but no

The menacing men march

Through the sludge as  

 The sun passes by.

Only darkness only shadows.

The soulless soldiers suffered

With sacks strapped to their

Pain full backs.

Toxic gas! Toxic air! Toxic everywhere

Reload! Reload! Quick…

And fast.

All crumbling and

Dropping like flies!

Soon they start to question themselves.

“Why oh why do we do these

Things?”

They ran to the trench to try

And avoid the swarm of gas.

Screaming like kids

Playing in a field

Full of death.

No way! No way!

How can this be.

The trenches are full of

!RED!

A sorrow, dead body.

Dead human flesh decays

Before your very eyes.

Hear the scream inside your head!

!The destruction is true!