Year 5 think about getting old

As teachers, we love it when children bring their own experience and knowledge to the classroom. Year 5’s unit of work on Michael Morpurgo this term seems to be encouraging just that. Not only does almost every child in our classes seem to have already read, or be reading, at least one of his books, they have been happily sharing their recommendations and ideas with their peers. Nothing inspires young readers more than a suggestion from a friend. ‘Cool’ has been read widely by the football players in 5DL, and ‘An Eagle in the Snow’, with its true life story of the man who met Hitler, is also proving popular.

Year 5 have also been tapping in to the experience of the older people in their lives, to help them hone their storytelling in distinctive Morpurgo style. Many of Morpurgo’s books begin with an elderly person looking back to the drama in their youth. Year 5’s homework this week has been to interview an older person and find out what stories they have to tell. We are really looking forward to the results! In the meantime, they have been writing their own story openings from the point of view of an elderly person, and have been very imaginative (and accurate) in their rendering of the aches, pains and interests of that age group.

If you would like to support your child’s interest in Michael Morpurgo, do encourage them to read some more of his work. We have lots of his books in the school library which we would love them to borrow. In addition, if you are planning any outings to London over half-term, you might like to consider a trip to the V & A Museum of Childhood, where the Michael Morpurgo exhibition runs until the 25th February, or to the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, where ‘I Believe in Unicorns’ runs for half term week only.

Links to these can be found here:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/exhibitions/morpurgo/

https://polkatheatre.com/event/i-believe-unicorns/