We are looking forward to a great year, learning lots of interesting things and having a lot of fun. Here are some tips for helping make the year great!
This term we have been studying the movie “The Labyrinth”, a cult 80s movie directed by George Lucas (Mr Star Wars), with puppetry by Jim Henson (Mr Muppets) and starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.
Check out the trailer here:
After viewing the movie and discussing the characters, plot and setting, we watched the documentary “Inside The Labyrinth” which explained how the special effects were created!
We then started sketching our own designs for creatures that would fit into The Labyrinth’s cast of characters, creatures, animals, masks, goblins and dwarfs. After the sketching and design process, we created these models out of newspaper, wire and other bits of junk, then covered them in paper maiche.
Things didn’t go too well after that, we had a lot of issues getting our newspaper to dry and become hard. Time was against us, as the end of the year was fast approaching.
In the final 2 weeks we began painting our creatures, but realised we needed heaps more time to give them quite a few coats of paint and then add our accessories. There were body parts everywhere by the last day of term – balloon heads exploded, legs fell off, tails were squashed, I think George Lucas and Jim Henson would have been proud of our own version of special effects!
In the end 5/6J took them home unfinished, with many plans for how to use them in the future…
At the end of last term 52 students from years 5 and 6 travelled to Milson Island Sport and Recreation Camp for three days.
5/6J got to enjoy the high ropes course, kayaking, the giant swing and abseiling. We also had to take turns working in the dining room, setting up and serving meals. At night we had games and activities in their brand new Recreation Hall.
Here are some photos of the activities we did. We had such a great time!
Did you go to camp? What was your favourite activity?
If you didn’t go to camp, view the photos and ask a question!
The snoozatron is a device invented by Wallace, from ‘Wallace and Gromit’. Wallace made this device to help him get to sleep. It is a series of machines that helps him count sheep.
When Wallace pulls a lever, a loud bell rings in Gromits room, this causes him to wake up as he has a job to do as part of the snoozatron. First, some robot hands descend from the ceiling and fluff up Wallace’s pillows and mattress. After that a mechanical clawdrops a hot water bottle into Wallace’s lap. Another claw enters from side and produces a teddy bear for Wallace to cuddle. When the picture of the wall opens, a gramaphone (an old fashioned record player) starts playing a lullaby.
Once all this has occurred, Wallace calls out to Gromit. Gromit (who is now in his sheep outfit) stands downstairs under Wallace’s room, ready to be projected through a trapdoor into Wallace’s room. As Gromit bounces on a spring, Wallace counts him as a sheep. This continues until Wallace falls asleep.
Unluckily for Gromit, he cannot escape the ‘Snoozatron’ until the dial on the sheep counting lever returns to zero!
Ok 5/6J and our visitors- What do you think of Miss B’s explanation of the Snoozatron?
Can you find: technical language? action verbs? time connectives and cause and effect language?
Let’s compare this text to the rubric, will it be: limited? basic? sound? high? outstanding?
Your turn 5/6J! Let’s write an explanation of Wallace and Gromits’ Soccamatic!
We read recently that Cass is named after the legend of Cassandra, read about it here!
Miss B (as you know) loves her artists and art works, and she thinks that Max Ernest is named after the famous artist ‘Max Ernst’. Read about the artist and see his work here.
And is it a coincidence that Pseudonymous Bosch sounds a lot like ‘Hieronymus Bosch’, another famous artist? See his work here and here!
Leave a comment and try to answer one of these questions!
Why do you think the author is using a pseudonym?
What did you find out about the first book?
Are you interested in reading these books? Why or Why not?
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