Literacy Activity

In 1937 Mass Observation called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to sleep at night on 12th May. This was the day of George VI’s Coronation. The resulting diaries provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday lives of people across Britain and have become an invaluable resource for those researching countless aspects of the era.

As we post this call, the UK is in lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We don’t know how life will be on the 12^th May, but we would like your help to document it. Please don’t include your real name, contact details, or the personal details of the people mentioned in your diary. Please remember that these diaries will be read and used for research and teaching, so please don’t include anything that may identify you or others.

You could include a brief self portrait: your age, where you live, what life is like doing school work at home, and any other information that you think is important to record.Any reflections on the day and on how you felt while keeping the diary are welcome. You can also reflect on the past decade and look forward to the next ten years. 

There is more information below. You can use the template, or write and draw on a piece of paper. You could email these to mbywaters@highfieldhall.derbyshire.sch.uk, or there is a box to collect them in the outdoor classroom.

By returning this document, you agree to the following terms:

- Each individual day diary will be completed anonymously on the forms provided.

- Parental consent has been gained to allow for the submission of the day diary if the contributor is under the age of 18.

- The diaries should not include real names, contact details, or the personal details of the people mentioned. Please remember that these diaries will be read and used for research and teaching, so don’t include anything that may identify you or others.

- The diaries should include brief self portrait: your age, where you live, your relationship status, your present job or occupation if you are working and any other information that you think is important to record.

- If 12th May was a typical day for you please say so. If not, please say why it wasn’t. Any reflections on the day and on how you felt while keeping the diary are welcome.

- The collection of anonymous day diaries will be sent in a single batch to the Mass Observation Archive.

Maths Activity

Have a look at this puzzle: https://nrich.maths.org/6274

Once you have got one solution, can you find any others? 

- Younger children will be able to join in with this, practising adding up the single digits. Use counters (or coins, raising etc) to help them if they are struggling with the additions.

- Older children can extend their thinking by looking for patters, and trying out 'what happens if...' questions. What happens if the smallest number is even rather than odd? Does it make a difference? What happens if you use decimals rather than whole numbers? Can you create a formula that always works?

Then extend your thinking by having a look at these:

https://nrich.maths.org/7821

Art activity

This week we would like your family to draw a picture of someone who inspires you and #GetinTouch again with the same person, or someone new. Your inspiration might be an NHS or key worker, a veteran, a family member or a football player. Find out more here: https://plprimarystars.com/news/friday-family-challenge

You could use the template below, or just draw your picture on a piece of paper.

​​​​​Other activities

There are some new tabs on the main 'multi-age activities' page to have a go at; for example links from Sheffield Theatres, or designing a book token. Have a go at some of these!