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. 

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.

6F Explanation Text - Trench Warfare

Year 6 have been looking at writing explanation texts. This week we wrote in the context of WW1 and focused on 'trench warfare'. See if you can learn a thing or two from Rosieanne's first couple of paragraphs.

What is trench warfare?

Trenches

A trench is a barrier from the enemy, to keep soldiers safe. Trenches, the temporary home of soldiers, were most commonly seen during World War One. Opposing sides would launch attacks across no-man’s-land (the space between the two front lines). Surprisingly, the first trench line was completed in November 1914 and by the end of that year it had stretched 475 miles, starting at the North seas. Soldiers dug into the ground, in times of war, to protect them from the horrid weather conditions, which could be appalling.

Construction and design

During WW1, soldiers would initially dig a 1 metre by 2 metre hole, to act as somewhere to hide. Then trench boards were placed on the ground to help with drainage. Eventually, a ‘fire step’ was cut into the walls to shoot from. At last, sandbags would be laid down to stop the trench from caving in on itself. Also barbed wire was rolled out to stop determined enemies from attacking. The front wall (the parapet) was about ten feet tall. The rear wall (the parados) was lined with sandbags as well. However, in extreme weather, some sand bags would fall over. 

6B Explanation Texts

Today 6B wrote a report about trench foot, an awful disease that soldiers contracted during WW1.


Here is an extract from Regan's work.


How do soldiers contract trench foot?
Trench foot is a condition that effects soldiers who were in WW1, WW2 and the Vietnam War. This condition is also known as hyperhidrosis and is normally most severe during the winter months. Is affects people when they have been outside for a long period of time. Although it is most commonly related to World War One, it was first recorded in 1812 by Napolian's army, nearly one hundred years before the Great War.


What are the symptoms?
Despite this being a dreadful disease, it isn't fatal. Commonly, your feet go numb and not long after the feet turn red - erythrosis-  or blue  - cyanosis. Also the sufferers develop a decaying odour, where they smell foul. Sometimes the soldier's feet became so swollen and engulfed with blisters that they couldn't take their boots off! In the worst case scenarios trench foot led to the casualties needing to have their feet amputated.

Explanation texts - 6R

The children in 6R have been independently writing explanation texts about a topic of their choice. Here is an extract from Maya's text about why we need to eat and drink.

Why do you need to eat and drink?

Many people from all over the nation, eat and drink every day, eating three to five times a day and drinking often. However, in some parts of the world (for example in Africa and parts of India) this is not always possible. Some citizens of these areas eat and drink rarely and when they do it is dirty and unhygienic. This is why we should eat and drink, as for many humans like us we have the privilege to do so.

Drink
You need to drink because it is a vital area in your life. Recent studies have shown that if you don't drink your brain will shrink as the protection of your brain is filled with water so if you don't drink your brain will shrink which will lead to a loss of memory, and you won't want that to happen.

Eat
Eating is as important, despite the fact that you can last longer without eating than drinking. You should eat because you know it is right for you. But, also, because ti is a break and to refill your body for the further part of your day. Food is packed with many different vitamins. For example oranges are filled with vitamin C. Also carbohydrates, like pasta, give you energy so you can keep going.