porters grange weekly newsletter week ending 22nd march 2024

Nursery

We have had a great week at nursery. We are really enjoying ‘writing’ wanting to write all the time which is amazing. We have also enjoyed lots of climbing outside and water play inside where we cared for our babies, washing them and keeping them clean.

REMINDERS:Please remember to continue to bring in your child’s favourite story to read to the class.

Reception

This week we have been discussing seasons and the changes in the weather. We have enjoyed creating weather pictures, learning new vocabulary and matching appropriate clothing to the different weather. We have explored patterns in the environment, listened to stories with repeated patterns, copied repeating sound patterns, colour patterns and shape patterns. We have been learning to identify the pattern rule and work out what comes next. In our Phonics sessions we have been learning to segment and spell words using the sounds we know.

REMINDER: Please ensure all items of clothing are named as the weather is changing children are choosing to remove their coats and jumpers.

Please read regularly at home and sign the reading journal.

Year 1

This week we have been reflecting on how we made our jam sandwich. We thought of each instructional step in order and wrote them down including ‘bossy verbs’! Maybe your child could instruct you in how to make a jam sandwich at home? We have also been learning about length and height in maths, using specific vocabulary like ‘longer’, ‘shorter’ and ‘taller’. We have recapped the cities in the UK and London has been our main focus, looking at where London is in comparison to Southend-on-Sea. The children have noted the main landmarks in London and discussed human and physical features.

REMINDER: Please refer to SeeSaw to engage in our home learning activities.

Also, please make a note of when you read with your child. It is important for the teacher to know how your child reads at home.

Year 2

In our English class this week, we made use of QR codes to explore two dinosaurs and created fact files on one of them following a well-organized plan. In Maths, we focused on mass, comparing and working with measurements in grams and kilograms, applying the four basic operations. Continuing our study of Habitats in Science, we discussed the intricate relationships between animals and their interdependencies. Lastly, in PE, we strengthened our bodies with a farm-themed yoga session.

REMINDER:Please remember your child’s PE kit on Tuesdays and to enjoy nightly reading sessions with your child.

Year 3

This week in English we have been exploring posters and what makes them the most impactful. In Math’s we have started a new topic – Mass and capacity. In geography we have been on a local walk to the sea front to look at a river in more detail and what having rivers close opens up for our local community.

REMINDER: If you have any measuring equipment at home it would be great to let the children look at them and explore how and what we measure different things with i.e. jugs measure water but tape measures, measure the length of something.

Year 4

This week in English we have been discussing all the reasons why people like to come and visit Southend-on-Sea. Children have been learning about persuasive text and how words can have a powerful influence on our thinking. In maths, children have been converting improper fractions into mixed numbers. In geography we have been exploring the divisions of the earth and why the countries nearer the equator are super-hot! In food technology children have been demonstrating great culinary skills, by following a recipe to make delicious enchiladas.

REMINDER: Times table fact for this week:

Jump up and down on the floor because 6 x 9 is 54!

Please encourage your child to read for at least 15-20 minutes every night.

Year 5

This week in English, we have been needing our mummies! A very famous mummy to be precise, as we learnt about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter. We used primary historical resources to plan our own version of his diary entry, ready to write up next week. In maths, we have been learning about area and perimeter of a variety of shapes. In PSHE, we learnt about sustainable spending, what fair trade is and how our actions as consumers has an impact on our environment.

REMINDER: Please remember PE kit for Monday and Friday.

Please also strive to read for 20 minutes per night and record this in reading records.

Year 6

This week in English, we have been planning a non-chronological report about the ancient Greeks using knowledge gained from the history lessons about the topic. The children have continued to learn about using formulas in excel spreadsheets to calculate data and have learnt about how to keep money in safe in our PSHE lesson. The children finally enjoyed a sunny outdoor PE lesson learning how to defend in tag rugby.

REMINDER: Please have a PE kit in school on Wednesday and Friday.

Please read daily and record in your home school diary.

French

This week year one have been perfecting their descriptions of things under the sea; year four have been writing up their knowledge of what they will do at the weekend; year six have been completing a written assignment on describing themselves.

Community