Hello from Singapore

Hello to my wonderful former class!

It has been a very, very busy last few weeks and I'm sorry for not writing a post sooner. I hope you are well and have had a great start to your new schools. Happy Eid Mubarak! Did you all have fun? How was Goose Fair? Have you all settled into Year 7 and made new friends? Most importantly I hope you are working hard and doing Forest Fields proud.

I've included some photographs where you will see me in Singapore when I went to Formula 1 race, getting close with my new friend Bob the Python in Australia and being attacked in by a monkey in Monkey Forest in Bali.

I hope you've had a great half term holiday.

All the best

Mr OB

Eid Mubarak

It must be getting very close to you all starting Secondary School. I hope you have had an amazing summer and have lots of stories to tell. I also hope you are all feeling nice and relaxed and ready to start the new term in a really positive way. Remember first impressions count - so make them great ones!

Well, I am here in sunny Singapore and it's a very nice place to live. Everyone is very friendly and helpful and I'm enjoying it (although I do miss my amazing class of 2011). Our school day starts very early - the children arrive at half past 7 and the school day starts at 7:50. Lunchtime is at 11:30, which takes a little getting used to. Our school day ends at 2:50 but almost all the children go to an after school club. So far I have helped out with the golf club and I coached some football today - it was very hot!

My new class are fun - they like football and there are lots of Arsenal fans (in fact Arsenal have a Soccer School based at my new school, which is exciting to see lots of coaches in official kit). Today, we did a bit of 'Let me see your bungalow' as I told them my old class used to like this game - it made all the other classes in the year group look at us like we were very odd.

Here's to a happy end of summer.

Missing you all lots and thank you, thank you, thank you very much for all of your comments - it's been lovely to hear from you.

Mr OB

Zak repost your blog address as I can't access it

Happy Holidays

Hi to all the (former) Year 6's.

I hope you are all having a fantastic summer. Post a comment and tell everyone what you have been up to. Mine has been quite hectic as I have moved out of my home, sold my car and tried to fit my life into two suitcases! It is not working very well and I wish I had small feet because my massive shoes are causing me problems.

I fly on Thursday 11th at 11:30 am so it's all getting very real now. I am very excited but also still very sad to be missing all my family, friends and all the wonderful and amazing and super talented children I had the pleasure of getting to know at Forest Fields. As I have said many, many times you are the best year group I have met and I still watch our Year Book which never fails to make me smile.

Here's to you all having a happy and safe summer. I will write a post when I am settled in and put some pictures up. Good luck to you all with your start to Secondary School, you will love it and within a few weeks your little primary school will seem like a distant memory (",)

Thanks for all your hard work this year - I am so proud of what you all achieved.

TERRATARS! AMROCKS! RULE!

Macbeth (in under 200 words)

Well done to Kayinat, Alvena and Sara for all of their hard work (and patience) in producing this film.

Well done

Class of 2011

It's an end of an era for our Year 6 children. Well done for your amazing effort and hard work at tonight's Macbeth performance. All of the teachers and your parents were so proud of you. It is an amazing achievement to perform Shakespeare - Well done to everyone.

Enjoy your Year Video - I hope it provides happy memories for years to come.

Mr O'Brien

Drayton Manor

Earlier this term, we went to the AMAZING Drayton Manor Theme Park for an awesome day out. We went on so many scary rides including Apocalypse, Storm Force 10 and Maelstrom. Everybody had so much - even the adults!

Sound Stations

Yesterday we worked with Year 1 and Year 2 and taught them lots of things about sound. We split off into ten groups and each station had set up a different science investigation focusing on sound. We have worked very hard on this task throughout the week, from experimenting and investigating ourselves, thinking about the activities we could carry out with the children and planning our lessons with lesson objectives, key questions and extension activities.

It was a really brilliant day full of learning and fun. We loved teaching the little ones and they enjoyed working at our stations. There were lots of brilliant activities led by the Year 6 children from Making Bonkos (from pringle tins), Blowing Bottles, Ear Gongs, Pitch and Percussion, Balloon Headphones, and Telephone Cups.

It was a great day and hopefully will become a Legacy of Year 6 to repeat it again year after year.

Macbeth: Theme Tune

Use the link below for inspiration to learn the words for our performance this year

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5df_1254429152

I can't seem to face up to the facts
I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire
Don't touch me I'm a real live wire

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away

You start a conversation you can't even finish it.
You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything.
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.
Say something once, why say it again?

Psycho Killer,
Qu'est-ce que c'est
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'estfa
fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better
Run run run run run run run away

Hola!!

Some of the children in Year 6 had a very special treat today as they Skyped a Primary School in Year 6. The school Arcipreste de Hita, located in El Espinar(60km north of madrid), Segovia, Spain.

First, we had to go onto Skype and signed in. Then, we video called the spanish school (Arcipreste de Hita).The school called us back saying they had a few problems with the microphone.Umar(pupil of Forest Fields Primary School)talked to a girl and he said "Hola Buenos dias, como te llams? ," (Hello good afternoon Whats your name?) The girl replied"Fiona y tu?,"(Fiona and you?) and Umar said"Mi llamo Umar,que es to deporte favoirta?(My name is Umar, whats your favourite sport?) Fiona answered"Natacion y tu?(Swimming and you?)Umar replied "futbal,"(Football) Fiona said " cual es tu equipo favorito?"(whats your favourite team?) Umar replied"Arsenal, Hasta luagos"(Arsenal Bye bye)


Finally, it was time to say bye and go back to class and there might be another conference next Thursday. It was a big success.

Legacy: Anne Frank

Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I've never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl. Oh well, it doesn't matter. I feel like writing, and I have an even greater need to get all kinds of things off my chest.

'Paper has more patience than people.'

Anne Frank's diary is important to many people and is a tremendous legacy. We can use Anne’s words to talk about feelings, about growing up and family relationships because Anne wrote about all of these things.

Anne’s diary remains an inspiration to people today because even though Anne knew what was happening to her Jewish friends and neighbours, and even though she was trapped in the 'Secret Annex' Anne always believed in the true goodness of people.

The words and ideals of this young girl from sixty years ago remind us that we need to respect each other and appreciate and understand each other's differences.

An interesting website to find out more information about Anne Frank and the time she lived in can be found here http://tinyurl.com/6dau6a3

Legacy

Listen to the following song '100 years' by Five For Fighting.

http://www.contactmusic.com/videos.nsf/stream/five-for-fighting-100-years

and look at this amazing site with photographs taken of different people aged 0 to 101

Men: http://www.onehundredone.dk/men.html

Women: http://www.onehundredone.dk/women.html

What do you want your legacy to be?

Think about your time at Forest Fields Primary School. How will you be remembered? What were your happiest times and why? What has been your favourite achievement?

If you were to draw your timeline from 0 years to 100 years what would be the main ambitions and goals that you would like to achieve? Why are these important to you?

Brilliant Maths Site

Here is a great website for you to visit and practice any of the Numeracy skills we have covered this year. Simply click on the link and select 'Year 6'.

www.uk.ixl.com

Enjoy!

Year 6 had a birthday party last Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Mr.O'Brien's 30th birthday. buttons, biscuits, and much more including an A Team Birthday Cake! It was scrumptious. It was a birthday hall more likely instead of a classroom (We even got to watch some of the cricket We had great fun. Sir had kindly arranged lots of food such as; cakes, pizza, smarties, chocolate India vs Pakistan)

It was a great hit! A big bash! Sir had loads of gifts. He had 2 boxed up ties, a marshmellow jar, a dazzling watch, Celebrations(Chocolate box) and hundreds more. I can't name them all unfortunately.

The classroom was adorned with banners and ballons,confetty and secquins. He had 2 BIG BALLOONS. They were as big as him.Then we had a chocolate cake,everyone tucked in. We could hear lots of "YUMMY's" going on.

Time passed while we were having fun. After we ate the cake,we cleared the birthday hall transformed it into a 6POB classroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lUCKILY,sir had a banner,an extraordinary banner with all his photographs of when he was younger. There was a picture where he was a small child. AAHHHHHHW,sir looked so cute.And then near it it was a picture with him and a fluffy dog.Next to that,there was a picture of him in school.(His hair were like royal curtains.)Safa said that he looked like a "Hogwarts baddie when he was at school!" then near that he was like now,polite and normal..........

Text Types

http://www.writingfun.com/writingfun2010.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/english.htm#C

http://www.athena.bham.org.uk/old/lit_resources.htm

Use these websites to help you write the features of the text type you have been given to write about.

Comic Relief 2011

We had a really fun day today and raised lots of money for Comic Relief. Well done to everyone who took part. Definitely watch out for Mr Hopkins and Mr O'Brien as they could well be the next boyband singing sensation!

For more information about the Comic Relief Charity visit http://www.comicrelief.com/

If you want to sing along to the Red Nose Day song 'Entertain!' then visit http://www.outoftheark.co.uk/resources#resources-item-8 and click on the link 'Entertain!'

Data Blogging

Our Class Blog has been an excellent place for us to display our Topic and Literacy work but it also provides a great opportunity to do some marvellous maths work.

Below you will see some data taken from our blog.

Number of visitors during the last 4 weeks


(click on the image to enlarge)

Number of visitors since our blog began


(click on the image to enlarge)

Monthly Overview of Visitors

August - 3
September - 772
October - 993
November - 1,315
December - 1,367
January - 1,424
February - 977
March - 614

What statements can you make using this data? Write a comment to share your answers.

Pancake Day

For the pancake mixture:
110g/4oz plain flour
pinch of salt
2 eggs
200ml/7fl oz milk mixed with 75ml/3fl oz water
50g/2oz butter

To serve:
caster sugar
lemon juice
lemon wedges
(NR TIP: you can try anything you like - be imaginative! You could try fruit and maple syrup, chocolate spread, ice cream, melted chocolate... yum)

Instructions

Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl.
Make a well in the centre of the flour and break the eggs into it.
Begin whisking the eggs.
Gradually add small quantities of the milk and water mixture, still whisking.
Whisk until all the liquid has been added and the batter has the consistency of thin cream.
Melt the butter in a pan.
Spoon 2 tbsp of it into the batter and whisk it in. Use the rest of the butter to grease the frying pan before you make each pancake.
Get the pan really hot, then turn the heat down to medium - be really careful doing this bit. You might want to get your mum and dad to help at this point!
Ladle 2 tbsp of the batter into the hot pan all in one go.
Tip it around from side to side to get the base evenly coated with batter.
After about half a minute, and when the bottom is golden in colour, flip the pancake over.
The other side will only need a few seconds to cook.
Slide the pancake out of the pan onto a plate.
To serve, sprinkle each pancake with freshly squeezed lemon juice and caster sugar.
Enjoy!

Instructions taken from cbbc newsround

Replay

A bitter-sweet tale of freedom, happiness and death—Replay is an interesting short-film about a sister, Lana, and brother, Theo, who live in a world where the air is toxic and people seem to live in underground bunkers and wear special oxygen masks to survive outside. When a Theo discovers a piece of the past that is a reminder of what Earth used to be, he considers a new adventure…

http://www.metatube.com/en/videos/25224/Replay-Amazing-Animated-Short-Film/

World's Greatest

Here are the lyrics to our Active Start song 'World's Greatest' by R Kelly.

I am a mountain
I am a tall tree
Oh, I am a swift wind
Sweepin' the country
I am a river
Down in the valley
Oh, I am a vision
And I can see clearly
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

[Chorus]I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the worlds greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it mmm
I'm the worlds greatest

I am a giant
I am an eagle
I am a lion
Down in the jungle
I am a marchin' band
I am the people
I am a helpin' hand
And I am a hero
If anybody asks u who I am
Just stand up tall look 'em in the face and say

[Chorus]

Clay Animals

This week we have begun making clay animal models. Every documentary group made the endangered animal they have been researching. Here you can see some giraffes, gorillas and a cheetah. It was really messy but everyone enjoyed it lots and very proud of the pieces of work we produced

Tigers by Raveena

Tigers are the largest breed of wild cat in the world.They are commonly found in the jungles of Asia. As a result, this wild beast is becoming more and more endangered.

Adult tigers like to live alone (except for mothers with cubs).This is partly because in the forest a single tiger can surprise its prey better than a group of tigers together.This lazy beast likes to relax most of the time in the Asia jungle. The rest of them like to hunt for some food. These carnivores also like to explore for some clean water. It has a deep, orange, fur with white undersides.

The size of the magnificent hunters territory depends on the amount of food available. This animal can eat as much as 25kgs at 1 time. As a consequence they measure around 2m long.This dreadful creature has striped fur.

Tigers live in the A jungle they love to eat wild pigs. These graceful beasts leave scratch marks on trees. This wild animal can eat as much as 25kgs of meat at 1 time.

Tigers favourite food is wild pig and plenty of water each day. This wild creature likes to chase other animals.

Rosseau Inspired Artwork

As part of our artwork this term, we have been looking at the work produced by Henri Rousseau (1844 -1910). He is a french artist who is famous for painting jungle scenes such as Surprised! and the Last Dream. Having never been to Africa, his work was inspired by children's picture books and trips to the zoo and botanical gardens in Paris.

Use the link below to create your own Rouseau Jungle Scenes

http://www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm#jungle

Endangered Species Research

There are a lot of skills that are needed in order to produce a really outstanding Wildlife Documentary. The first set of skills we are going to work on are focused on how we research. In order to begin writing about an endangered species, we need to become experts on our chosen animal first.

Use the following websites to learn about endangered species and help you decide on the animal that you and your Footprints Documentary Team will focus on over the next few weeks.

http://www.animalport.com/extinct-animals/Galapagos-Flightless-Cormorant.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_1610000/newsid_1614400/1614414.stm

http://www.kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/

http://www.arkive.org/?gclid=CJOfhNq8jKYCFY4f4QodHDp_pQ

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

ICT Session Monday 10th January 2011

Today I want you all to become Zoologists. Zooology is a science concerned with studying where animals live and how they adapt to their environment through physical and behavioural features. Use the following website to see the various ways animals have adapted to their environments.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/adaptations

When you have finished you can use these websites to design your own animals. You will need think of a name for your new creature, describe which environment it would be perfect for and why you have chosen specific features to help it survive here?

http://www.buildyourwildself.com/

http://www.switcheroozoo.com/zoo.htm

Footprints

'Leave Only Footprints'

What does this phrase mean to you?

A new year and a new theme for us to learn about. Our topic this term will be focusing on endangered species and the factors that effect this issue. We will also be looking at our planet and the environmental concerns we are facing. As a class we will look to make a difference at Forest Fields by raising the awareness of the children and staff on the carbon footprint generated by our school and how we can improve the way we recycle.