Thursday 9 December 2010

11+ Christmas Holiday Homework


Year Six
Year Six are sitting their 11+ examinations in January. To prepare, they are revising key writing and comprehension techniques over the Christmas break. Click here for the online homework, including Bald Worm worksheets, videos and podcasts, such as 'Bald Worm on Suspense'. Play it now, or click on the image to download the file to iTunes. You could then put it on your iPod so you can revise on the move!
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Year Five
Year Five are completing a comprehension pack - revising the key comprehension techniques we've learnt over the course of the Autumn Term.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Year Six Descriptive Writing Homework

1. Please write a longer description of a castle in five paragraphs. (1 side of A4)

2. Please complete the 'self-assessment for self-improvement'

3. Make sure you know your lines for the play perfectly.

Due: Wednesday

Monday 6 December 2010

11+ Interview Techniques

These are the key skills you need to do well in the 11+ interviews - and the most frequently asked questions:

Just click on download if you want your own copy! That's right - more free resources from Baldworm!

Sunday 5 December 2010

Year Five and Six Monday 5th Homework

Year Five
1. Please complete a redraft of your 'Blitz' story, using the notes you created in lesson today. Remember, writing is rewriting!

Feeling clever? Try to follow Bald Worm's story structure:

Due: Wednesday

2. Please remember we will be having our 'Bumper' Spelling test on **Thursday**.

Year Six
Please complete the multiple-choice comprehension. Due: Wednesday

Please note you will receive your holiday homework packs on **Wednesday.**

Thursday 2 December 2010

Year Six Weekend Homework: Gothic Story using Suspense and Action


Please write a gothic story based on this task. Want a free copy? Just click on download:


Write 1 1/2 sides of A4. This is the last story of term, so do a great job!

Due: Monday

Year Five Weekend Homework: Blitz Story




We have been writing a blitz story. This is our chance to show what we've learnt this term about using suspense and action techniques in a short story.

Task: Please write a story based on the 'Blitz' plan. Write 1 1/2 sides of A4. Please complete the 'self-assessment for self-improvement' sheet.

Due: Monday

Year Six Homework: Suspense into Action or Sherlock Holmes versus Count Dracula



Please write a second draft of 'Sherlock versus Dracula'. Write 3/4 - 1 side of A4, paying particular attention to my 'Next Time...' target.

Revise by listening to these Bald Worm podcasts on suspense and action techniques:



(Image from forbiddenplanet.com and the excellent Victorian Zombies series (not for children! Gory!)


Due: Friday

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Year Six Gothic Fiction: Powerful Verbs are the key to Exciting Action Scenes!


We have been learning all about action scenes.

Task: Please write 8-10 lines for a fight between Frankenstein and the Wolfman.

Tuesday 30 November 2010

The Power of One


We had a visit from Soren Bennick Productions last week. We learnt about the Power of One. Do you remember the pledge?
(Image copywrite Soren Bennick productions)

Year Five Spelling



We will be having an Autumn Term Bumper Test next Tuesday.

That's right - a test on all of the spelling words you've been given this term. The test will be out of thirty.

Make sure you revise all of your corrections - and focus on the words and spelling patterns that you don't feel confident about.

Monday 29 November 2010

Year Five and Six Comprehension



Year Six
Please complete the Gothic 'Count Dracula' comprehension. Learn more about gothic stories here.

Due: Wednesday

Year Five
Please complete the 'Evacuee' comprehension, which has a focus on identifying descriptive techniques.

Due: Wednesday

Friday 26 November 2010

Year Six Reading Weekend



Well done on completing your second Mock - results on Monday!

Weekend homework:
1. Please use the weekend to get into a really good book (or two!)

Please ask Mum or Dad to write in your reading passport how many pages you read!

2. Next week we will be revising action techniques & writing longer descriptions as we look at gothic novels.

Year Five Descriptive Writing: World War II Air-Shelter



Please complete the WWII air-shelter description task. Write 8-10 lines. Try to include all of the descriptive techniques.

Due: Monday.

Don't forget you can revise by listening to this Bald Worm 'just a minute' revision guide:

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Year Six Noir: 'Femme Fatale' Story using Suspense Techniques


Task: Write a Noir story entitled 'Femme Fatale'. Focus on including suspense techniques. Write 1 1/2 sides of A4.

Due: Tomorrow.

Listen to the Bald Worm revision 'mini-guide' podcast:

Monday 22 November 2010

Year Five: Dialogue & It's and Its



We have been learning about 'its' and 'it's', and beginning the Noir unit.

It's is a contraction for it is or it has.

Its is a possessive pronoun meaning 'of it' or 'belonging to it'.

If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.

Revise by listening to this Bald Worm podcast:


Homework
Please write a dialogue between a hard-boiled detective and a 'dame' in a speakeasy. They are discussing a crime the dame would like the detective to commit. Try to include both 'its' and 'its' as part of your dialogue!

Write 1 side of A4.

Due: Tomorrow

Year 5 Spelling Homework: Words beginning with 'Para'



Please learn the words beginning with para for our test next Tuesday.

P.S. Don't forget to bring in the D-Day landing comprehension and your 'flat classroom' project notes tomorrow!

Sunday 21 November 2010

Year Five and Six Comprehension: Questions about Figurative Language

Both Year Five and Six are thinking about questions about figurative language in 11+ comprehension examinations. Why not listen to the latest Bald Worm in Just a Minute revision podcast?

Year Six
Please complete the suspense comprehension.

Due: Wednesday

Year Five
Year Five have been starting to learn how to answer questions about similes.

Task: Please complete the D-Day landing comprehension.

Due: Wednesday

Thursday 18 November 2010

Year 5 and 6 Composition: Characterisation & 'Flat Classrooms'



Year Six
Please write a second draft of the 'Trout' continutation. Remember to focus on your use of characterisation.

Listen to the 'just a minute' guide to writing dialogue:


...and the guide to 'showing, not telling'


Task: Please write your first draft of the 'Woods' writing task; focus on your use of characterisation.

Next week: Noir stories!

Year Five
Please complete your research for your area of our 'flat classroom' project.

Bring in your notes next Wednesday.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Year Six: Memorise Our Story Structure!

Please learn 'by heart' as much of the information on the 'Story Structure' sheet as you can. Walk around the house, mutter to yourself, cover up the sheet and try to copy it out by hand...do whatever you need to do to help you remember all the different techniques you can include in a short story.

I'll give your first 'test' on this tomorrow - but don't worry if you haven't quite learnt it all by Friday. Just make a start tonight!

Want another copy of the sheet. Download 'Memorise Bald Worm's story structure' from my area at box.net

Monday 15 November 2010

Latest Bald Worm 'Just A Minute...' 11+ Revision Podcast: Dialogue


Why not download my 'just a minute' teacher podcast and listen to it on your iPod as you revise for the 11+ examinations?

Year Five and Six Spelling Homework: Words that begin with 'Circ' and 'Circum' & the Nine Parts of Speech



Year Six
1. Please learn the 'nine parts of speech' - 'test' next Tuesday
2. Please learn the speech spelling verbs

Year Five
1. Please learn the words beginning with 'circ' or 'circum'; test next Tuesday.

Don't forget that you can learn through play at Spelling City.

2. Why not try conversing with the others in your group at Edmodo? Don't forget to read through the project outline at the shared A Week in the Life Flatclassroom(TM) wiki!

Sunday 14 November 2010

Year Five and Six Comprehension Homework


Year Six
We have been looking at writing a comprehension paper under timed conditions.

Task: Please complete the 2010 Notting Hill paper.

Due: Wednesday

Year Five:
We have been looking at those questions which require you to say if you enjoyed the passage.

Task: Please complete the 'Nasty Scratch' comprehension

Due: Monday.

Thursday 11 November 2010

Year 6 and 5 weekend composition homework



Year Five
You have been writing action scenes.

Please write the story of you escape from the prison camp. You must include an action scene.

Don't forget that you can download a Bald Worm guide to writing an action scene and listen to it on your iPod!

Year Six
Write a second draft of the 'A Drink of Water' story continuation.

Don't forget to try to write a 'perfect' opening paragraph.

Due: Monday.

Year Six: Using the Punctuation Pyramid & Varied Sentence Openings to Create 'Perfect Paragraphs'



1. Please write a second draft of your description of Oliver in the workhouse.

2. Please annotate the finished second draft with a gel pen, showing me where you have used different punctuation and sentence openers.

Feeling clever? Pay particular attention to the length of your paragraphs.

Due: Tomorrow

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Year Six: Varied Sentence Openings and Year Five: Writing an Action Scene using Powerful Verbs



Homework: Please write the first ten lines of a story entitled ‘Can I Have Some More?’ Use all six sentence openers.

Please complete the self-assessment for self-improvement sheet.

Due: Thursday 11th

Year Five
Please complete the 'soldiers having a play fight' task. Don't forget to use lots of powerful verbs, please.

Due: Thursday 11th

Monday 8 November 2010

Year 5 and 6 Comprehension


Year Six neeed to complete the 2009 NHE paper. Due: Wednesday.

Year Five are completing the action techniques comprehension. Due: Wednesday.

Friday 5 November 2010

Year Six Fiction: Redraft the 'Continue a Passage' Story



Please redraft your 'Flood' story. Focus on the use of the punctuation pyramid, e.g. include semi-colons, colons, brackets and the bracketing comma.

Due: Monday

Year Five Fiction: Action Techniques Poster


In class, you used our Apple Macs to research our action techniques!

Homework Task: Please create an A4 poster that includes all of the Bald Worm techniques. The challenge?

1. You must create it out of recycled 'writing', e.g. clippings from newspapers, magazines or the side of a corn flakes box...Be creative - and share our action techniques with the world.

2. Try to include appropriate images, e.g. a photograph of someone in pain for 'show how much it hurts'

Due: Wednesday

Monday 1 November 2010

Year Five 'Flat Classroom (TM)' Project and 'Bi-' Spellings; Year Six Words with Unstressed Vowels



Year Five are taking part in the very first Elementary School Flat Classroom™ Project. Wow!

We have been taking part in the Edmodo handshake! You'll only be able to view if you're part of this project, but trust us - Edmodo is really cool!

Spelling Homework
Please complete the 'bi-' look-cover-check and write your example sentences. Look the words up in a dictionary if you don't know them, and don't forget you can learn through playing the the games at Spelling City.

Test next Tuesday

Year Six
Please revise the words with unstressed vowels. You too can play educational games to help you learn the spellings.

Test next Tuesday

Year Six Comprehension: Alternative Method of Reading a Paper

We've been learning an alternative method for reading a comprehension paper!

Task:
Please complete the NHE 'Conker' comprehension

Due: Thursday

Friday 22 October 2010

Year Five Girls...You Are About To Take Part In Something Very Exciting...


As I type, the finishing touches are being made to a VERY exciting project that you'll be taking part in after half-term. Keep watching the blog...

(Image by Julie Lindsay)

Saturday 16 October 2010

Impressing Examiners in English Examinations: Be Distinctive!


One of my frustrations with the 11+ examinations is that many schools are now setting writing tasks that require you to write the 'next part/next chapter/next page of the story' you've just read for the comprehension. Examiners love setting titles like this because:
* Every girl is writing about the same characters;
* Every girl is writing about the same setting;
* Every girl is writing about the same 'problem';
*...making it easy to compare the different candidates, and decide who is best.

The problem I have with 'continue the passage' questions is that they penalise those of you who are 'imaginative' rather than 'neat and tidy'; I much prefer 'open' title examinations - questions like 'Write a story set in ancient Rome' or 'Write a story entitled 'A Bad Day at School'. If you are given one of these 'open' titles, you'll have the chance to try to be distinctive. This is one of the 'fab four golden rules' for writing a short story in an 11+ examination.

But - I hear you cry - how can you be distinctive if you're given a title like 'A Bad Day at School'? Surely everyone will write much the same story?

You're right. Most girls probably will write about a bully, or a mean teacher, or a pupil falling out with their friends - but you can be distinctive if you 'mash up' genres. To be relevant, you'll need to write about a 'bad day' at a 'school', but there is nothing to stop you making this a school where the teachers and pupils are all animals!

A 'mash up' takes two story genres and combines them in a single story. For example, this story combines a Sherlock Holmes-style detective story with an animal story (Want to sound clever? This type of 'mash up' is known as 'steampunk'):

Learning to 'Mash Up' genres. There is a simple game you can play that will help you to 'mash up' different genres:

Top tip: watch Dr Who! Every week, the show 'mashes up' different genres. In this picture, science-fiction is being combined with a World War II story:

In this example, a zombie horror story has been 'mashed up' with the 1960s:

Or why not combine science-fiction with the medieval period:

This book combines a romance with sea monsters!

Why not try to 'mash up' genres next time you're asked to write a story under examination conditions?

Download a copy of my 'Bald Worm on Writing Distinctive Stories' teacher podcast and revise by listening to it on your iPod:

P.S. Want a copy of the my pictures? Download a copy of 'Writing distinctive stories: 'mash up'' here.

Thursday 14 October 2010

Calling All Falcons Girls!


The Guardian newspaper needs your help!

Inspired by the enthusiasm of the young critics who last week helped critique and judge the Guardian children's fiction prize, we are in the early stages of creating a dedicated book site where younger readers can review and discuss the books and authors they enjoy reading.

We plan to have reviews from our young readers of the latest YA and children's books, author interviews, games and competitions. But as this is a brand new venture, we are looking for people interested in helping us to design our new Young Guardian Books website. If you, or someone you know, would like to be involved, just send us an email telling us about the books and authors you like, and what you'd like to see on the site (please include your name and age). From the entries, we'll pick a panel of editors who will be responsible for deciding which books to review and discuss
.

Click here to learn more! We'd love to see some Falcons girls enter!

Falcons Girls Love to W.I.N.K. at the end of Lessons!

Falcons Girls have long known about W.A.L.T. (We Are Learning Today...) and W.I.L.F. (What I'm Looking For...). This week, they learnt to W.I.N.K - to share with the class 'What I Now Know' at the end of the lesson.

Learn more by watching our W.I.N.K. video:

Year Six Composition: Redrafting Your 'Locked Room' Story

Please complete your redraft of the 'Locked Room' story, making sure you (i) think about your 'Improving Your Writing' target and (ii) think about reaching level 5 on the Punctuation Pyramid:

P.S. Don't forget to check your 'finished' story!

Year Five Composition: Second Draft of your Suspense Story

In class, we looked at 'setting the scene': describing the location at the beginning of a short story:


You need to complete your redraft, including plenty of suspense techniques to make sure your readers feel scared. This work is due on Monday.


P.P.S. Don't forget to think about your 'Improving Your Writing' target before next Wednesday, girls!

Wednesday 13 October 2010

Year Six: Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room


Year Six have been learning about using a variety of 'sentence openers' to add variety and interest to their writing. We've been writing 'locked room' stories featuring the 'consulting detective' Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr. Watson.

Task: Please complete the first draft of your 'The Locked Room' story. Remember to use a full range of sentence openers!

Due: Tomorrow (Friday)

P.S.

(image by Simon Hua; used under Creative Commons agreement)

Monday 11 October 2010

Year Six Spelling: 11+ Common Errors Part 2



1. This week you need to learn the second part of our '11+ Common Errors' list.
Try some of the games at Spelling City.

Test: Wednesday week (as it is the Year Six mock on Tuesday)

2. Don't forget to bring in your Christmas cards tomorrow.

3. Don't forget that your 'Twins' comprehension is due tomorrow, too!

Saturday 9 October 2010

Year Six Comprehension: Is It Reasonable To Say...

Homework:
1. Please complete the 2008 Consortium past paper.
Due: Wednesday

2. 11+ Common spelling error test tomorrow! Be ready to impress!

(Photo by twob; used under Creative Commons agreement)

Friday 8 October 2010

Have You Listened To the 'Bald Worm in Just a Minute' Revision Podcasts?


The eagle-eyed amongst you may have spotted the new podcast player on the side of the blog.

I've recorded a series of one-minute teacher podcasts to help you revise key skills that you'll need in the 11+ examinations - or to write a brilliant short story in your own time.

Just click on player and listen. Oh, and you can download a copy to your computer and listen on your iPod, too! It is like having a teacher in your pocket!

This is another example of our school using new technology to help your revise English!



If you're a teacher, why not sign up to Podbean and create your own teacher podcasts? Why should pupils have only ten minutes to learn a new skill - let them revise at home, again and again, whenever they need to revisit a topic!

Thursday 7 October 2010

Year Six Composition Homework: Writing a Holmes-Style Detective Story



Task: Please redraft your 'Theft of the Masterpiece Painting' story, making sure that you have:

1. Opened with an exciting line;
2. Set the Scene;
3. Included a description of one of the characters.

Feeling clever? Include semi-colons, colons, brackets and dashes in your opening 15 lines, please.

P.S. You can download a copy of the Holmes-style detective pack from my area at box.net.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Year Five and Six Spelling Homework


Due to Harvest, we've had our spelling lesson on a Thursday for once - but your test will still be on Tuesday.

Year Five
Your new spelling list is 'words beginning with auto'. Make sure you look them up with a dictionary, girls! I can't wait to see your definitions.

Year Six
Your spelling list of consists of part one of the 11+ Common Error Spelling Lists: a collection of words that are often misspelt in these words.

Test next Tuesday; don't forget to write your example sentences beforehand!

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Year Six Composition Homework: Writing the First 15 Lines of a Sherlock Holmes Story

Year Six are writing stories about Sherlock Holmes solving a devilish crime: a corpse in the school room!


Task: Write the first 15 lines of your story (just the first 1/2 page). Don't forget to open with an exciting opening line, 'set the scene' and describe one of the characters.

Don't forget you can revise key elements of story writing by listening to my 'quick revision' podcasts!

Feeling clever? Try to use an elegant prose style. Learn more by watching this Prezi:

Year Six Description Homework

We're beginning our Sherlock Holmes and Detective story unit, where we'll continue to revise the structure of the first 15 lines of a short story, including the use of description to 'set the scene'.

Task:
(i) Before you start writing, revise descriptive techniques by listening to this 'quick revision' podcast:

Or you may prefer to revise by watching this:


Task:
Write your own description of Sherlock Holmes' room. Write 8-10 lines. Make sure you include at least two similes.

Feeling clever? Include brackets, a colon and a semi-colon as you 'set the scene'

Saturday 2 October 2010

New Home Page for Falcons Girls' Pupil Wiki + Year Six & Five Comprehension Homework



I've used Glogster to design a new front page for our pupil wiki, which includes a video of 'The Comma Song'. Go and take a look!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be uploading some more 'quick revision' podcasts - where I try to explain an idea in just a minute - to the 11+ Revision page of the pupil wiki. This one is particularly important:


Year Six Homework
Please complete the 'Parrot' comprehension.

Don't forget, comprehension homework is always due on a Wednesday.

Year Five Homework
Please complete the 'Jane Blonde P-E-E' comprehension

Don't forget, comprehension homework is always due on a Wednesday.

Wednesday 29 September 2010

Bald Worm Quick Revision Guides: Your Teacher on Your iPod!

Odd, isn't it? Your teacher explains something once - for ten minutes - and then you're supposed to remember what you were taught forever!

At Falcons Girls, we are using new technology to help you revise at home. Listen to this Bald Worm quick revision guide on suspense. It is just like you're back in the classroom!

Want your own copy of this podcast to enjoy on your ipod? Click here to download the file to your computer!

Year Six Assembly: Learn Your Words!


We love musical learning!
Please complete the Assembly task:
1. Finish writing up playscript in your Comprehension book;
2. Learn your words by heart!

Due: Tomorrow

Tuesday 28 September 2010

Year Five: Suspense...with paragraphs!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.


Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.



What do you think of our cool Animoto video? This combines photographs of all of our secret spy bases. We'll be writing stories about these bases - using our suspense techniques - over the course of the next couple of weeks!

Imagine you are waiting in the rain for a fellow spy to come and hand you a secret briefcase...when suddenly you feel like you are being watched...

Focus on:
* Using impact sentences
* Short paragraphs

Feeling clever? I want to see 'commas before connectives', please!

Don't forget that you can learn more about writing a brilliant suspense scene at http://www.baldworm.co.uk.

Monday 27 September 2010

Year Six and Five Spelling Homework


I'm feeling generous this week, so no Prose homework - focus on finishing your Comprehension & beginning the Spelling sentences.

**Year Five**
This week's spellings are words ending in 'u' and 'i'.

Test next Tuesday. Don't forget to write an example sentence for every spelling word. Don't know the word? Look it up with a dictionary, please!

**Year Six**
Your spellings are words you need to describe a location (a setting). Why not play a Spelling City game to help you learn these spellings?

Test next Tuesday. Don't forget to write an example sentence for every spelling word. Don't know the word? Look it up with a dictionary, please!

P.S. Year Five and Six comprehension homework due on Wednesday.

Saturday 25 September 2010

Year 5 Comprehension: Fight for this Mark (The Writing Comprehension Answers Song)



Download the lyrics to 'Fight for this Mark (The Answering Comprehension Questions Song) from my area at box.net. This is an example of musical learning: using songs to help us remember key facts and skills.

Task: Please complete the H.I.V.E. comprehension. Don't forget to P-E-E all over the page!

Due: Don't forget that comprehension is due on a Wednesday, so you don't need to rush it after Netball training.

Still stuck on P-E-Eing? Watch this:

Wednesday 22 September 2010

Year Six Weekend Homework: Redraft the 'Describing a Character's Appearance' Timed Writing Task

Please redraft your describing a character timed writing task. Write 1 1/2 sides of A4. Make sure you look at my comments on your last story before you start!

Listen to my teacherboo:
Listen!

Year Five: Writing a Suspense Scene



Homework explained here:
Listen!

A couple of videos to inspire your writing!

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Year Five and Six Composition Homework

Year Six
Please complete writing up your Montague story for display. Use your best handwriting - and make sure that you check any spellings that you are unsure about with a dictionary.

You may choose to decorate the border in the style of the Montague illustrations. Lead pencil only, please.

Due: Thursday.

Year Five
Please read through the Bald Worm on Suspense pack you were given in class. Try to summarise it in your own words.

Watch the Bald Worm video mini-guide for more help:

Monday 20 September 2010

Year Five and Six Spelling and Prose

Year Five
Spelling: Please learn the 'words ending in 'o' spellings for our test next Tuesday. Don't forget to write your example sentences!

Task: Having learnt the 'Comma Song' words, try putting them to a memorable piece of music, like the videos we watched in class. Write a tune yourself or set it to a song we all know. Create an earworm!

Year Six
Spelling: Please learn the 'describing an appearance' spellings for our test next Tuesday.

Task: Make sure you write an example sentence for all of the spelling words.
Example sentences due tomorrow; test of spelling words next Tuesday.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Year Five and Six 11+ Comprehension

Two videos you really must view:
* Bald Worm's guide to Reading a Comprehension paper
* The Falcons Rules

Year Six
Please complete the 'Clare getting off the bus' comprehension. Don't forget the need to read closely.

Please complete the 'self-assessment for self-improvement' before you hand in your work!

Due: Wednesday

Year Five
Please complete the 'Spy in the market' comprehension. Don't forget to P-E-E all over the page.

Please complete the 'self-assessment for self-improvement' before you hand in your work!

Due: Wednesday

Thursday 16 September 2010

New Bald Worm Movie: Reading Comprehension

Click here to see an all-new Bald Worm video mini-guide on reading comprehension!

Year Six Weekend Homework: Revising Description

Please redraft (write a second draft) of your Tales from the Black Ship Timed Writing task. Don't forget to pay close attention to the targets I set you in your last lesson!

Your challenge is to use at least 5 of Bald Worm's descriptive techniques

Revise by watching this Bald Worm video mini-guide:


Don't forget to complete the self-assessment for self-improvement sheet!

P.S. Spelling City list for our comprehension vocabulary is here.

Year Five Weekend Composition: Spy Base

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.



Next week you are beginning your Spy unit.

We are going to write suspense scenes set in your secret spy base. Learn more about suspense here.



Novelists often use models to help them 'picture' a location in their imagination (a bit like playing in a doll house!); I would like you to design and build a secret hq for a bad guy.





Build a model of a secret hq. Here are some of the things you could include:

* Banks of computer screens
* A giant map of the world
* Secret doors or compartments
* Torture chamber (yuck!)
* Sharks!
* Henchmen/goons
* Evil pets
* Rockets
* Dwarf servant
* Desk
* Armchair with buttons

How you build the model is up to you! Here are some of the materials you might choose to use:
* Cardboard boxes painted over
* Sticky-back plastic
* Wood
* Paper mashed and glued
* Washing up bottles
* Model Paint

This video will give you some ideas (don't make Tracy Island, though! Just use the same techniques!)



Hint: Design the hq on paper before you start to construct it!

Be as imaginative as you can! Bring your model into class next Thursday! We are going to base a series of stories in this location, so do a great job! There will be a small prize for the best model!

We'll photograph the models and stick them on the pupil wiki for the world to enjoy, and then write scenes and stories set in this location!

Due: Try to bring in next Wednesday, but if you need until a week on Monday that will be fine.

Here is one of the bases from last year.

P.S. Learn all about our suspense techniques:

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Year Five Planning for Conflict



Task: Please write three different 'mouse' hand plans for one of the five forms of conflict we studied in class.

Due: Thursday

Visit the Year Five 'planning a story' section on the pupil wiki here: http://fsg.wikispaces.com/Year+5+Planning+2008-9

Year Six Sherlock Holmes Mindmap

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.


Over the next two weeks we are going to secure our knowledge of how to structure the first 15 lines of a short story.

Homework: Visit the Falcons Girls Sherlock Holmes page on our brilliant pupil wiki: http://fsg.wikispaces.com/Year+Six+Holmes Do a little more research, and then create a second, full colour version of your Sherlock Holmes MindMap.

The 'strands':
* Sherlock
* Dr. Watson
* The author
* (If you're feeling clever) Deduction

Due: Thursday

Monday 13 September 2010

Year 5 and 6 Spelling and Prose



Year Five
Spelling
Next week's spelling are 'words ending in a'. Test next Tuesday! Don't forget to complete the 'look-say-cover-write-check' sheet and write the example sentences.

Prose
Task: Please learn the words to the 'Comma Song'. We will be recording our own version of this classic tune next week! (Due: Next Tuesday)

Comprehension homework due in Wednesday

Year Six
Spelling
Your next spellings concern comprehension vocabulary. Test next Tuesday! Don't forget to complete the 'look-say-cover-write-check' sheet and write the example sentences.

Task: Please write a description of a monster's cave. Write 8 sentences. The challenge? Every sentence must contain a bracketing comma, e.g. The bat, who had lived in the cave for centuries, liked to hang about all evening.

Useful words:
* remember
* of course
* nearby
* there
* you see
* for example

Due: Wednesday

Don't forget your comprehension, too!

Sunday 12 September 2010

Year Five & Six Comprehension




Year Five
Please complete the 'Daydreamer' comprehension.

Due: Wednesday

Year Six
Please complete the 'Willie & the Bone' comprehension.

Due: Wednesday

Don't forget that tomorrow is your spelling test!

- Learn more about writing a brilliant short story in the London Day 11+ examinations at http://www.baldworm.co.uk

Friday 10 September 2010

Year 5 and 6 Weekend Composition Homework

Year Five
Please create a colourful, neat version of one of your hand plans:
* Include your brainstorm
* Draw round your hand with a pencil
* Write in the plan with a pen

Use pencil crayons to decorate

Don't forget to name your work.

Keep it really neat - we'll be displaying this work in class.

Listen to the Year Five 'Fab Four' eduboo here.

Year Six
Please write an improved second draft of the 'Uncle Montague' story you wrote in Timed Writing. Don't forget to include plenty of description.

Learn more about planning a story here.

Due: Monday

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Young Bond's Charlie Higson says...

Uncle Montague's Tales Of Terror by Chris Priestley

This one's for the kids. Written in an accessible, cod Victorian style it has a neat framing device. Edgar goes to stay with his uncle in the woods who proceeds to tell him a series of terrifying stories – all the while hinting at some dark secrets of his own. Rest assured, the stories, which all feature a child in some way, are genuinely scary and unsettling and really do get under your skin. They certainly frightened my 10-year-old when I read them to him.


...and Year Six will start reading it on Thursday!

Monday 6 September 2010

Year Five and Six Spelling and Prose Style: Assessment of Punctuation



Prose Style
Year Five and Six sat a brief assessment of their punctuation, based on this image:


Task: 1. Please write a second draft - have a 'second go' - at the task. Write no more than 15 lines. Remember, I am looking for brilliant, varied punctuation.

2. Please complete the Bald Worm 'self-assessment for self-improvement' sheet.

Spelling
Spelling tests are held on Tuesdays.

Year Five
Your spelling words can be revised at Spelling City. The adding the suffixes 'tion' and 'sion' words can be found here.

Year Six
The 'soft c' revision words can be found at here at Spelling City.