Welcome to Willow 6!
2025 - 2026
Mrs Clarke/Miss Haynes - Class Teachers
Mrs Bradford, Miss Richardson, Mrs Crosby - Teaching Assistants
Autumn 2Â
World War 2
Autumn 1
Darwin's Delight
The Year 6 Eco-councillors picked apples and pears from the Birchwood orchard ready for us to use in their DT cookery lesson. After washing the fruit, they used the bridge and claw cutting techniques to prepare the apples and pears. Then they carefully measured out the butter, flour and sugar and rubbed together to create crumbs for the crumble topping. Many children enjoyed the crumble so much they took the recipe home to make again for their families.
On Monday 13th October, Year 6 enjoyed an exciting visit to Twycross Zoo to support their science learning on evolution and adaptation. As part of the trip, the children took part in a fascinating educational session, where they explored how different species have evolved over time and how specific features help animals survive in their changing habitats. After the session, they spent time observing the animals around the zoo, thinking carefully about how each one had adapted to its environment.
In PE lessons this half term Year 6 have been working on team games as part of our outdoor and adventurous activities. In this game we had to work as teams to carry equipment back to our base without using our hands or feet to carry or kick the items. The children had to think creatively and realised that working together was often the key to success.
This half term, Willow 6 have been learning about Charles Darwin and his theories of evolution and natural selection. As part of this learning, they have learned about how animals and plants have adapted to their environments over generations. They have also looked at human evolution and they ways in which we have evolved from our ancestors.
Welcome to Sycamore 5!
2024 - 2025
Miss Chamberlain/Mrs Davis - Class Teachers
Miss McKitton - Student Teacher
Mrs Komuszynska/Mrs Stubbs/Mrs Crosby/Ms Winsloe-Warder/Mrs Calloway/Mrs Shaw - Teaching Assistants
Summer 2
Ancient Egypt
Sycamore 5 have worked so hard on their home learning this year! Here are some examples of our great home learning projects for this term!
What an amazing day we had for our sports afternoon! The sun was shining, spirits were high, and every child gave it their all. From sprints to sack races, the energy and enthusiasm were incredible! Well done Year 5!
To immerse them into our setting description of Ancient Egypt, Sycamore 5 completed a Now Press Play experience. There was also lots of history learning that they could revise using this!
Summer 1
Take One Author : Kwame Alexander
Year 5 enjoyed taking part in our sponsored walk/run. They all showed perseverance and determination to gain as many stamps on their cards as possible. Well done Year 5!
Sycamore 5 had a lovely afternoon visiting Polesworth Library this week. On the way, we looked at a map of our local area from the Victorian era to see what had changed and found several buildings that were still there! We then visited the library, seeing all the exciting books on offer for us to choose from. Many of the children chose a book to bring home with them, which they were very excited to begin reading. They showed consideration and respect, and represented Birchwood fantastically.
Year 5 had a great time visiting the North East for their residential trip last week. It was a very busy couple of days!!
After a long coach journey, they arrived at the Angel of the North. It was the perfect weather for a picnic and a play in the fields! After this, Mr Bailey shared some interesting facts with us about the Gateshead Angel and a brilliant Geordie poem about this fantastic piece of art. Next, we went on to Durham to visit their beautiful cathedral. As well as learning about the building and its history, we were fascinated to hear that films (including Harry Potter) were filmed in this ancient building. Next stop... Pizza! We visited Ask Italia for a delicious meal, where the waiting staff commented on the politeness and respect of the Birchwood children. After this, we went to Lanchester EP Primary School to get settled for the night, visiting their local park and sleeping in their school for the evening.
The following day, we started with a delicious breakfast before going into Newcastle. Here, Mr Bailey shared with us some interesting facts about the River Tyne and its bridges. From here, we went on to visit the Life Science Centre - a fun, interactive science experience, including a live science show.
A brilliant couple of days, where the children got to experience lots of new things and certainly came back ready for their beds! Their behaviour and manners were, as always, excellent and made us extremely proud during our visit.
Here is what some of the children had to say:
'I really liked going to Durham Cathedral because Harry Potter and Guardians of the Galaxy were filmed there, and the activities were excellent.' Thomas.
'I liked visiting the Life Science Centre because there was lots of things we could do there, like visiting the Space Centre and the live science show.' Theodore.
'My favourite place was the park because I got to see loads of my friends and chat and play with them.' Conrad.
'I liked visiting the Angel of the North. It was a really good view and very interesting.' Daisy
'I liked going to the restaurant because the food was delicious and the people serving the food were really polite.' Georgia.
Spring 2
Polesworth and Coal Mining
National Skipping Day 2025
On Friday 28th March 2025 the children joined in with other children across the CAT and country for an exciting session which celebrated jumping, skill and school spirit! The children enjoyed their skipping session with Jack whether that was demonstrating or practising existing skills or learning a new skill!
On Wednesday, Year 5 enjoyed a history visit to The Black Country Living Museum. The children enjoyed a trip down the mine, learning about the conditions that miners faced during Victorian times and the long hours of work they faced and the dangerous conditions. They also enjoyed a visit to the Victorian School and learned how arithmetic, writing and reading were the three most important subjects taught during the era. They learned how handwriting was taught using ‘Hooks’ and ‘Hangers’. Pupils enjoyed time exploring the village and seeing what life was like back then. A fantastic day was had by all!
Year 5 have been looking at the artwork created by William Morris, before using printing to create their own repeated pattern.
Year 5 enjoyed taking part in 'The Biggest Ever Football Session'. We got to dress up in our football kits and sportswear as we joined in the fun. Each class had a 20 minute session with Jack, our PE coach from Aston Villa FC where both experienced players and those new to the sport got to learn new skills.
Sycamore class love World Book Day! We started with a special assembly with Mr Coleman, we took part in DEAR sessions (Drop Everything and Read) initiated by the ringing of a bell by Mr Coleman and Miss Lowe, and we spent the afternoon sharing our poem performance and stories with Reception.
Spring 1
English Civil War
Sycamore class ended the Spring half term with perfecting their jumping, rolling and balancing gymnastics skills.
Year 5 enjoyed their next cookery project this half term - making a tomato and basil bread. They had to use a variety of skills including:
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Using a jug to measure water
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Weighing ingredients
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Folding to make a dough using hands
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Kneading and shaping
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Using the bridge and claw techniques to chop
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And the best part... Tasting and evaluating at the end!
Year 5 have read 'Spaghetti and Meatballs' as part of their number day. As people keep joining Mr and Mrs Comfort's party, the tables have to keep being rearranged to seat everyone around them. We used cubes to help us to visualise this. We also created equations using the numbers that we were wearing.
We thoroughly enjoyed the National Storytelling Workshop with Tolo Okogwu this week, and we were so excited when she answered one of our questions about her top tips to become an author! Lots of us went home to write our stories to enter the competition to have our writing published in a book too!
Sycamore 5 used their knowledge of properties of materials as part of their science day to separate a mixed beaker of materials. They used sieves, filter paper, magnets and tweezers to separate the materials into piles.
Year 5 have began learning about the history of Polesworth this week. Today, they visited Polesworth Abbey, where they learned about the history of the Abbey and how it has changed since it was first built 1500 years ago.
Autumn 2
The Solar System
Sycamore 5 were over the moon with their winter books this year!
Year 5 have been working hard on writing a script for and performing a biographical documentary about NASA mathematician, Katherine Johnson. They rehearsed and recorded these, before adding photos, text and music using iMovie. Have a look at this brilliant documentary created by Maisie, Lilith and Daisy!
Year 5 had a great visit from WonderDome this week. This immersive experience took them into outer space to complete their learning about the solar system. They learned lots of new facts about the planets and the exploration of space.
Year 5 enjoyed making and decorating cupcakes as their DT project this half term. They also sold them at the Christmas fair to raise money for Team Birchwood.
Year 5 have been inspired by Peter Thorpe's artwork and have been creating their own artwork with an abstract background and a rocket in the foreground. They started by practising different paint print techniques, before using chalks and charcoals to create a multi-media piece of art.
Year 5 have been learning about a significant moment in history - the Space Race.
After learning about the two points of view, the children wrote and shared an initial statement to share who they believe won the Space Race. They then wrote a fair, balanced argument to debate this topic.
Some of the brilliant home learning projects shared by Sycamore 5 this half term!
To begin our new science topic of the Solar System, Sycamore class looked at the structure and features of the Solar System.
To explore the size and structure of the Solar System, Sycamore class created a model of our system using fruit to represent the size of the planets and then measured distances using trundle wheels to demonstrate how far each planet is from the sun (represented by Evie-Mai). This helped them to understand how far away planets (such as Neptune, represented in the distance by Freya) are from our Sun.
Autumn 1
Marvellous Mechanisms
Year 5 have been making toys involving a cam a follower to create a moving mechanism. They designed and made this for a target audience that may visit Drayton Manor theme park's gift shop. Have a look at our brilliant final designs and how we worked as part of a team to design, make and evaluate our final products.
On Friday 25th October, Year 5 visited Drayton Manor Theme Park. Not only was this extremely fun, but we also learned lots about forces too. Scan the QR code to see what we discovered about forces and how they help rollercoasters to move.
Year 5 had great fun completing the Now Press Play experience all about forces. This was a great opportunity to revise what we have been learning, and to immerse us into our next piece of writing - a non-chronological report about forces, including gravity and friction.
Sycamore 5 enjoyed sharing their class assembly with the other children, staff and their adults from home this week. They shared what they had done as part of National Poetry Day, as well as sharing many wonderful things about October (including the change of season, Halloween and celebrating Black History Month). Well done, Sycamore 5!
Sycamore 5 have had a great time celebrating National Poetry Day. We have read and written poems, and have enjoyed sharing our outfits that represent us.
Sycamore 5 have combined their French learning with their computing skills to show how they are feeling. Can you use your language detective skills to translate their sentences?
