Dear Parents, Carers and Children, Welcome back! We are already looking forward to World Book Day next week and we have a visit to the Discovery Museum later this half term too. This is the second half of the Spring term, with that we hope to see the weather warming up and some blue skies and sunshine for us to enjoy. The drier and warmer weather is always appreciated for our PE lessons and playtimes! We are looking forward to our new topics this half term, especially 'Shipbuilding on the River Tyne' as our new History unit. We spent last half term learning about Rivers in geography so we should be able to make some excellent learning links with the role of the River Tyne in the history of our region. We are also learning about Magnets in Science and Eating Seasonally in DT. Our RE learning focuses on Easter. More details can found in the information below. As always, thank you very much for your on-going support. We hope your immediate questions are answered by the information provided here, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns during this half term. Best wishes, Claire Henderson and Katharine McMeekan
ENGLISH INSTRUCTIONS. In the first unit of this half term, the children will read and follow a number of sets of instructions. After identifying the features, they will use this knowledge to write their own instructions for specific tasks using their learning in their own writing. POETRY: NARRATIVE Following our first unit, we will read and discuss poems which tell a story with a view to performing at least one of them using drama techniques to show our understanding.
MATHS Our Maths lessons will focus on Fractions and Mass and Capacity this half term. We will cover the following 'small steps' based on the White Rose Maths scheme of work. Fractions:
- Understand the denominators of unit fractions
- Compare and order unit fractions
- Understand the numerators of non-unit fractions
- Understand the whole
- Compare and order non-unit fractions
- Fractions and scales
- Fractions on a number line
- Count in fractions on a number line
- Equivalent fractions on a number line.
- Equivalent fractions as bar models.
Mass and Capacity:
- Use scales
- Measure mass in grams and kilograms
- Add and subtract mass and capacity
- Equivalent masses (grams and kilograms)
- Compare mass
- Add and subtract mass
- Measure capacity and volume in litres and millilitres
- Equivalent capacities and volumes (litres and millilitres)
- Compare, add and subtract capacity and volume.
SCIENCE: Forces and Magnets In Science this half term, we will be looking at forces and magnets and learning what it means to attract or repel. We will explore magnetic materials and set up a fair test to draw conclusions from. We will also identity North and South poles and how these affect magnetism, and compare how objects move on different surfaces.
HISTORY: Shipbuilding on the River Tyne Our History topic focuses on the role of the River Tyne in our region's past. It links with our Rivers geography topic from last half term as we look at the history of shipbuilding and the impact it has had on the world. We will also learn about the Jarrow March and the role of Ellen Wilkinson MP in this historical event.
COMPUTING: Branching Databases Our new computing unit explores questions with the answer of either yes or no and how these can be structured into a database that allows classification of objects. The lessons begin with paper based activities to learn about the structure of a branching database and as our knowledge grows we will use computer software to make a branching database of our own.
More learning planned for this half term: MUSIC: Composing using your imagination We will use our imagination when creating compositions in this unit as we wonder how music can make the world a better place. PHSE: Health and Well being In PHSE, we will develop an understanding that a healthy lifestyle includes physical activity, a balanced diet, and rest and relaxation. We will explore identity through groups we belong to, and how our strengths can be used to help others; learning how to solve problems by breaking them down into achievable steps. SPANISH: The Body We will revisit previously learnt skills and vocabulary and use these to extend our learning of names of body parts in Spanish. DT: Eating seasonally We will learn that fruits and vegetables grow in different countries based on their climates, and understand that ‘seasonal’ fruits and vegetables are those that grow in a given season. We will also design then make our own tart recipe using this learning and apply basic rules of food hygiene.
A few reminders.... READING AND PLANNERS Please continue to encourage the children to bring their planner into school every day and support them in recording the reading that they do at home too. We ask that the children read at home regularly, with an aim of at least 3 times a week. PE KIT. There is no change to our PE Days. Children should have PE kits (t-shirt and shorts) including suitable shoes. They can also bring additional layers to keep warm during our lessons that take place outside. Long hair must be tied up and earrings removed or covered with micropore tape.
Credits:
Created with images by firewings - "Crocus flowers in green grass" • Tierney - "English concept with notebook" • Tierney - "Mathmatics concept with hand" • showcake - "Hand holding bar magnet attracting iron powder on white background" • John - "View across the River Tyne at the remains of the ship building industry, cranes and oil rig supplies for offshore" • manuta - "School age girl is home schooling using laptop during self isolation at her bedroom, online education, doing homework" • Brian Jackson - "Cricket bat and ball" • Africa Studio - "Sunset sky background" • lcrribeiro33@gmail - "Lápis"