We have been delighted with the children’s efforts and enthusiasm during the first week of this new year as well as their sensible attitudes towards one another. They are already showing themselves to be excellent role models for the whole school.
The following is an overview of this term’s learning.
ENGLISH
The children will be developing their writing skills to produce pieces in a range of genres and styles. Initially, we will be producing writing based around our class novel, Holes by Louis Sachar. After practising narrative skills inspired by the situations and characters from Holes, focusing on the sophisticated use of dialogue and atmospheric settings, further writing opportunities this term will demonstrate the children’s understanding of rivers and flooding from their learning in geography.
Reading will continue to be taught throughout the week and will cover fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Please continue to support your child’s reading by ensuring that they read at least 5 times per week and providing at least one signature each week in their reading record. Reading records will be checked each week.
Spelling and grammar is taught in context within our English lessons plus discrete sessions for spelling. The children will have lists of spellings based on the strategies taught in class as well as words identified from their own writing. The spelling patterns and words the children need to learn will be closely matched to their needs and they will have a range of strategies to use at home.
MATHS
Maths is taught daily. Key concepts this term will include:
As with any subject, developing the children’s confidence and enjoyment is absolutely essential. In order for the children to enjoy success, it will be important for all children to develop their quick recall of number bonds and times tables facts. If these have slowed down through a lack of practice or there are still tables that need to be memorised, these skills can be rapidly improved with short spells of daily practice. TT Rock Stars remains useful for this purpose. All children have a login to access this.
SCIENCE
During this half term the children will be learning about light. The children will be exploring the way light behaves, including light sources, reflections and shadows. After the half term break, we will be studying electricity and developing the children’s understanding of circuits.
GEOGRAPHY
The children will be learning about the water cycle, features of a river along its course and the location of significant UK rivers. After half term we will be studying the human uses of rivers and the causes of flooding.
ART
The children will be painting landscapes linked to our geography topic and developing a range of watercolour techniques. We will also be learning about David Hockney’s approaches to landscape painting.
COMPUTING
After half term, the children will be learning about computing systems and networks and creating media – 3D modelling. We will also continue to consider the importance of online safety.
FRENCH
During this term, the children will learn about ‘au café' practising words and phrases relating to food and ordering at a café.
RE
In RE we will consider why Hindus try to be good and in the second half of the autumn term we will learn about what it means to be a Muslim in Britain today.
MUSIC
After half term, the children will be learning about jazz and will have opportunity to improvise by using selected notes from a scale when performing to a musical accompaniment.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE)
PE will take place on a Tuesday (6JJ) and a Wednesday (6MV), the children will play a range of invasion games starting this half term with tag rugby and then next half term football. Our second PE session of the week will be a Commando Joe’s session which will take place on a Thursday, currently until half-term.
HOMEWORK
A range of maths and English activities will be set to reinforce the learning in class. Homework will normally be set on a Friday with an expectation that it will be ready for discussion in class on the following Friday.
If you do have any questions about the curriculum, the residential trip to Call of the Wild or any other issues you wish to raise, please do come and speak to us at the end of the school day or contact us by email using [email protected]