Magritte mini police graduate!

Last Wednesday the mini police of Magritte class graduated at the police station in Bishops Stortford. We had a tour of the station but were not impressed by the cramped conditions inside the cells (though this may have had something to do with 30 of us all cramming into one cell at once)! We have thoroughly enjoyed the mini police experience and have covered a lot of social issues in just a few sessions.

Understanding mental health

Today in Mini Police, Magritte class learned all about mental health. Firstly, we explored emotional responses and how one event can trigger multiple responses or different responses in different people. Then we understood the different types of mental health, and how it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with us if we suffer from any of these conditions but it is important to find strategies to deal with it. Doing things that make us feel good, is a great strategy. The most important strategy is to talk about how we are feeling. If we spot signs in symptoms in others, it is important to talk to them and tell adults about our concerns so we can help them deal with mental health issues before they get worse.

Substance abuse

This week in their Mini Police session, Magritte class learnt about substance abuse.  First, we identified the difference between medicines and drugs.  Then we examined the acure angers of children consuing alcohol and the fact that it is illegal for adults to buy children alcohol.  Finally, we learned about the impact of taking different drugs on both our own bodies and the affect that substance abuse has on others, especially families.

Was Emily Wilding Davison a hero?

In June 1913, Emily Wilding Davison (a long time suffragette) threw herself in front of the king's horse at the Epsom Derby.  She died 3 days later.  It caused news to spread round the world and the profile of the suffragettes and their plight was raised. Was Emily Wilding Davison a hero?  This was the question that we were debating while examining evidence from 1913 including footage from Derby Day, newspaper reports and headlines, the diary of the King, hatemail, suffragette speeches and a letter to Emily Wilding Davison from her mother.

Weighing up the evidence...Suffragist versus Suffragette

This week, we compared artefacts from the Suffragists with artefacts from the Suffragettes. We realised that there were many similarities but also cavernous differences. We organised our thinking and recorded these using a Venn diagram.

What is bullying?

Today, Magritte class continued with their mini police programme. This week we have been understanding more about bullying and how it arises.  Specifically, we unpicked and classified types of bullying: cyber, physical and verbal and understood that repetition of unkind and unacceptable behaviour is what constitutes bullying.  We also focussed on cyber bullying and reminded each other about how to stay on line. 

Magritte Year 5 science - The Tomato Ketchup Experiment

Today in science we investigated the viscosity of liquids by comparing tomato ketchup brands. Tesco own brand on the left, Stockwell (Tesco value brand) in the middle and Heinz on the right. What conclusions can you bring from watching this time-lapse video?

Inspired by Hugo Cabret

Enthralled with our class novel, which is part novel and part graphic novel, we used our sketching techniques to recreate illustrations from Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.  These may take a few weeks to complete!

Deeds not words.....

What were the deeds committed by the suffragettes and how do we know? These are the questions we asked ourselves as we explored evidence in the form of photos, magazine covers, newspaper articles, police reports, pamphlets, posters and more. We were intrigued to learn that they committed ‘wilful damage, and arson. Emily Wilding Davidson was even willing to die for her cause when she threw herself in front of the king’s horse!

Signs, safety and speed

Magritte class had a great afternoon with the mini police learning about how to stay safe on the road and how to cross roads safely.  We learnt about the meaning of road signs that affect us and the consequences of not following them. Speeding can be fatal. Wearing headphones as we cross the road can also be fatal. In Winter, it is important to wear items of reflective clothing. Here is a link to a road safety video we were told about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAgxZ-l5pY8

Antisocial behaviour

As part of the mini police programme, we learnt the meaning of antisocial behaviour. We looked at different types of antisocial behaviour and the consequences thereon. We were surprised to learn that 10 year olds can be arrested and that causing distress to others is antisocial behaviour (not just criminal damage).

Magritte pupils become mini police officers!

Today, Magritte class donned their mini police uniforms for the first time as mini police officers. This is an 8 week programme offered and run by our local Police Community Support Officers which focuses on building skills and understanding around topics including substance abuse, antisocial behaviour and e-safety. We were thoroughly excited and enjoyed the start to this programme which will end with a trip to the local police station after half term.

Year 5 Magritte Science - balloon rockets

In science this week, year 5 have been exploring forces. Magritte class created balloon rockets and raced them across the classroom. We discussed how the air pressure within the balloon is pushing the air out rapidly, which pushes against the air molecules in the room, which in turn pushes the balloon forward.

The forces acting against the balloon are air resistance and friction on the string.