In Reading this week, we continued to enjoy Goodnight Mister Tom and explored Chapter 7 through drama. We created freeze frames to represent key moments from the story, bringing the characters and events to life. Some of us chose to portray William picking blackberries with his new friends, while others recreated his first picnic in the countryside. A few groups captured the exciting moment when Zach became stuck and needed to be pulled free. This activity helped us to think carefully about the characters' feelings and the important events within the chapter.

In writing, we finally had the opportunity to write a diary entry from William’s point of view. Drawing on the events of Chapter 7, we explored William’s emotions as he met Zach and experienced the joy of finding a true friend. We also reflected on his feelings as he enjoyed a warm bath and a cosy bedtime, helping us to understand how important these simple comforts were to him. We are incredibly proud of our first drafts and the thoughtful writing we have produced. Next week, we will work with a critical friend to edit and improve our writing, making it even more effective and engaging for our readers.

As part of our enquiry learning, we investigated the role of the Black Market during World War I. We discussed a range of scenarios and considered whether the reasons people had for using the Black Market were ethically acceptable. Through thoughtful debate, we discovered that most of us had strong moral views about fairness and following the rules. However, we were also able to understand why some people, faced with difficult circumstances, might have chosen to buy goods through the Black Market. This led to some interesting discussions about choices, consequences and empathy.

For our life skills, we continued to practise using cutlery properly. We then tried these new skills out on our food in the dinner hall. Some of us are really improving.