BBC 500 words competition!

This year, we are going to be taking part in the BBC 500 words writing competition. It is a national writing competition which asks children from 5-11 years old, to write a story about absolutely anything they want to. The only rules are it has to be an original idea and within 500 words (title not included.) The prizes are really exciting as well: finalists will be invited to Buckingham Palace for an award ceremony as well as receiving plenty of books for both themselves and the school they attend. We hope lots of children are excited to take part. If a child wishes to submit a story, please can they write their 500 words story onto a piece of paper, name it and pass it to their class teacher. We ask all children who are submitting a story to have parental consent due to names potentially being published if a child makes it to the final. For further information, please visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words. We look forward to seeing all the children's wonderful stories!

Creative Writing club!

This half term, in Ocelots classroom, Mr Trimmer will be running a creative writing club for all aspiring authors. The children will get the chance to workshop and plan their own stories, thinking about the interesting characters and settings they want to create. They'll get the chance to then use their planning to write their imaginative tales and if they want to, be their very own illustrators.

The children will also be given the chance to take part in some interesting writing competitions held nationally. More details to follow!

What we are learning in Autumn 1:

In Year 1 this half term, we will be writing:

• Labels, captions and simple sentences linked to 'Hansel and Gretel.'
• Expanded noun phrases and simple sentences linked to 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt.'
• Sentences in a letter format linked to 'Rosie's Walk.'
• Identifying rhyme and writing some rhyming phrases. 

In Year 2 this half term, we will be writing:

• A setting description of 'The Island of Struay.'
• A character description comparing the two grandmothers from the book 'Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers.'
• A non-chronological report about Ipswich based upon our local trip.
• An informal letter about our local area.

In Year 3 this half term, we will be writing:

• A setting and character description linked to 'The Lost Thing.'
• A retelling of the story 'The Lost Thing.'
• An informal letter about visiting places in the UK linked to our topic.

In Year 4 this half term, we will be writing:

• A diary entry based on a mountain rescue story.
• A narrative poem about climbing a mountain.
• In role as a character linked to the story 'Gentle Giant.'

In Year 5 this half term, we will be writing:

• A non-chronological report on the Greek Gods.
• A retelling of the King Midas myth.
• A diary entry in role as a child living in Ancient Greece.

In Year 6 this half term, we will be writing:

• A survivor story linked to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
• A newspaper report on a natural disaster.
• An information report on volcanoes.
• A Villanelle poem about light (linked to our science topic.)