Topic Overview
Deforestation
Key Question?
How can I help the orangutans?
This year, our whole-school learning journey has taken children on an exciting exploration of our world through time and place. In history, pupils discovered what our world was like in the past, while in geography they explored what it is like today. As we move into our final topic, we are proud to become Planet Protectors, focusing on how we can care for our world in the future. Through our inspiring enquiry, “How can I give the world a hug?”, children will develop their PSHE skills by considering how their actions can make a positive difference. Each year group will explore the question “How can I make the world a better place for…”, with Reception learning about polar bears, Year 1 about bees, Year 2 about turtles, Year 3 about elephants and Year 4 about orangutans. Throughout this journey, we will champion our core values of being caring, curious and courageous, empowering children to speak up and take action. Although their voices may be small, they are powerful, valued and truly deserve to be heard.
PSHE
How can I make the world a better place for orangutangs? Children will learn about the impact of deforestation in relation to the protection of orangutangs. They will focus on the area of Borneo and use maps to locate the different areas. They will explore the concept of palm oil and discuss the positives and negatives from different perspectives. They will conduct research into palm oil and find out about the effect it has upon the economy. We will explore alternative oil sources and their impact too and will look at how Chester is the worlds’ first sustainable palm oil community. Pupils will consider the following questions: What should we do? Stop using palm oil? Keep using it? Use something else instead? Children will work on a project of their choice (e-book, poster, leaflet, booklet, PowerPoint, drama presentation, TV presentation, story board, comic strip etc.) to answer the enquiry question. They will show understanding for endangered species and why Orangutans are endangered, know that there is a link between deforestation and palm oil, and what palm oil is used for. As a consumer of the future, how are they going to help? Finally, the children will present their projects to an audience.
Key Vocabulary:
- Deforestation
- Sustainable
- Endangered
- Palm oil
- Logging
English
Linked to our PSHE topic, the children will write non-chronological reports about the rainforest, create facts files and write persuasive letters linked to deforestation and the use of palm oil. In all written work, children will propose changes to grammar, punctuation and vocabulary to improve consistency and accuracy. They will follow the model of plan, write and edit. In speaking and listening, children will have the opportunity to present their work to others, where appropriate, using ICT.
Guided Reading sessions will take place weekly; children will complete a series of activities and tasks to support with the acquisition and development of reading skills.
Spelling homework will continue to be sent home weekly. Key Vocabulary:
- formal letter
- biography
- autobiography
- balanced argument
- debate
Oracy
At Archibald, we are developing children’s speaking and listening skills through a strong focus on Oracy. Through dedicated Oracy sessions, discussion activities and engaging games, pupils are learning how to express their ideas clearly, listen carefully to others and build confidence when speaking. We encourage children to use ambitious vocabulary, take turns in conversation and share their thoughts respectfully, helping them to become confident communicators both in the classroom and beyond.
This half term our oracy targets are:
- Class 9 - Listening actively and responding appropriately
- Class 10 - Building on the view of others and giving reasons to support views
Maths
We will begin this half term by recapping all four operations and using our knowledge of these to complete problems and investigations. We will then be recapping fractions but in greater detail. This will include: adding and subtracting fractions with a common denominator, comparing fractions and how they relate to decimals. We will also be calculating the area of shapes and developing our skills of telling the time.
Children will tackle practical activities and more investigations that further develop reasoning skills. We will then finish off the half term by looking at statistics and different forms of graphs. Children will then use the skills that they have learnt throughout the year and apply them to problem solving activities.
Mini-numeracy sessions will also take place which will focus on children practising and developing their times tables recall in preparation for Middle school. Children will also take part in the National Multiplication Test this half term.
Weekly homework will consolidate work completed in class via See - Saw.
Websites: Please log into Times Table Rock Stars - your log ins are in the front of your reading diary.
Key Vocabulary:
- fraction
- Inverse operation
- decimal
- Multiples
- data
- Estimate
- statistics
- Rounding
- frequency
Science
Children will group living things in different ways and will use classification keys to identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment. They will explore how environments can change and how this can sometimes pose dangers to living things. Children will be encouraged to think independently and raise questions about working scientifically and the knowledge and skills it brings. Children will develop practical skills in a range of contexts, and plan and carry out investigations, making predictions, considering evidence and drawing conclusions. Children will be encouraged to use and apply the correct terminology and demonstrate their understanding in written and verbal form.
Key Vocabulary:
- classification keys
- reptiles
- adaptation
- mammals
- habitat
- environment
- vertebrates
- invertebrates
- threat
Computing
The children will learn how to use PicCollage. They will revise the importance of online safety with a focus on the correct use of social media and will learn how to keep their privacy safe online. They will also use a range of ICT programs to present their work to others.
Art and Design Technology
Each half term the children will have a week dedicated to art and/or DT.
Art: Children will use clay to create sculptures in the style of Thomas Bewick. They will use the story book ‘Katie and the Picture Show’ as a stimulus for art work and will explore the work of Henri Rousseau.
DT: Children will be exploring mechanical systems by deigning, making and evaluating their own moving car.
PE
Children will be focusing on their striking and fielding skills and will learn the rules to play games of rounders. They will also be learning about the range of sports in athletics and will record their personal bests.
PSHE and Religious Education
PSHE
The big question we will be answering is: How do I keep safe in my environment? The children will learn about the difference between risks, hazards and dangers. We will focus on road, water and beach safety and what to do in an emergency. We will also be working with the Year 4 pupils on transition and supporting them as they prepare to make the move to their new schools.
Religious Education
We will continue to learn about different religions that are celebrated within our community and will use research skills to find out about local places of worship.
No Outsiders
Our stories and key messages this half term are... How to heal a broken wing. We will be using this text to explore empathy and the understanding that people have different life experiences and when someone may need help. and Tango makes three. We will be discussing this book’s primary message that love defines a family and what makes a family successful isn't the gender or number of the parents, but the love, care, and commitment they provide.
Refugee Week at Archibald
In 2024, we proudly became a School of Sanctuary. The School of Sanctuary Award is given to schools in recognition of their good practice in fostering a safe and inclusive school environment, building understanding and empathy towards people seeking safety and working collaboratively to strengthen community approaches to welcoming refugee children and families. Biannually we celebrate Refugee Week. This year it is will be from 8th - 12th June where the children will be exploring this year's theme of Courage. Each Year group will also be reading and doing work around an age-appropriate text with themes of relocation, refugees and how we can show kindness and be welcoming.
Year 4 will be exploring the theme of courage; discussing how we are courageous and how refugees have to be courageous in many different ways. We will also be discussing the simple acts we can do in life that show kindness and courage and how we can make refugees feel welcome.
We will be reading the book Nadine Dreams of Home and as well as activities linked to the book including exploring Nadine's feelings, looking at setting descriptions, writing poems about what 'Home' means to us and writing letters.
Spanish
Children will learn the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a short role-play in a Spanish cafetería. We will consolidate much of the grammar covered in our Early Language teaching type (nouns, gender, determiners and plurality) so that pupils can say and write what they are ordering to eat and/or drink using a wider range of vocabulary alongside very useful transactional language.
Our Values
Please Instagram us @archibald_1st if you see your child being #AFSCurious #AFSCaring #AFSCreative or #AFSCourageous
If you would like any further details about this half term's curriculum, please speak to your child's teacher.