Happy New Year
Welcome back to the Spring term. The autumn term seemed to fly by and this Spring term is only 10 weeks. We have lots of great work to cram into these weeks. We hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are ready for some new learning this term.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch with your child's class teacher, in the first instance, on Class Dojo.
Staff in LOWER Key Stage 2
Penguins (Year 3) - Miss Jeffery, Mrs Murray
Zebras (Year 3/4) - Mrs Clipsham, Mrs Thornton, Miss Dawson, Miss Black, Mrs Evans
Bears (Year 4) - Mrs Ogley, Mrs Walsh, Mrs Horner, Mrs Steeples
Our timings for the school day will remain the same as last term and so we will open the doors at 8.45am and close them at 8.55am; we dismiss at 3.15pm. All LKS2 will enter and exit from the top door near the gates. There will always be a member of the LKS2 team at the door each morning and afternoon. If you have a quick query, please see one of the team at these points. If you would like to have a longer meeting with your child's class teacher, please get in contact with them via Dojo and arrange a suitable meeting time. We will be having parent's meetings again this term so please do make an appointment then to see how your child is getting on.
This newsletter is to inform you of the teaching and learning that will be taking place during the Spring term in LKS2. This will not only give you an insight into what your child will be doing in school but it will also enable you to support your child with any additional learning at home. If you have any questions about any of the content of this curriculum newsletter, please contact your child's class teacher or Mrs Clipsham via Dojo.
English and mathematics
Our learning in English follows the National Curriculum and ensures that the children understand the links between reading and writing. We continue to push reading and the importance of reading; it not only improves vocabulary and understanding of words - great readers make great writers.
Accelerated Reader is still one of the ways we are encouraging our children to read. This is a great tool for us to see how much children are reading and how well they are understanding the books that they read. The children can complete quizzes at school or at home and need to be changing their books on a regular basis. Here is the link that you need to take any quizzes at home: https://ukhosted97.renlearn.co.uk/6707939/
If you would like to see if a book you have at home is on Accelerated Reader, simply go to https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/
During our reading lessons, we are focusing on vocabulary and fluency as well as comprehension skills. This entails reading extracts from our class reader which for this term is 'The Astounding Brocolli Boy'.
Our spelling scheme is RWI Spelling which will be taught daily and follows on from the RWI phonics program which is taught in KS1 and to some children in LKS2 who still need a little support with phonics.
We are currently following the White Rose Maths programme. White Rose Maths is an organisation that provides maths resources and Schemes of Learning for pupils of all ages, from early years to secondary school. The Schemes of Learning break down what children need to learn during each week of each term to master the learning objectives laid out by the National Curriculum through small steps. The resources are designed to be enjoyable, engaging and varied, to help pupils develop a love of learning and work towards mastery with differentiated resources.
'Everyone can do maths: everyone can!'
https://whiterosemaths.com/
Religious Education
Science
Our science focus for the first half of the term is Biology and we will be focussing our studies on plants.
We will be investigating the following enquiry question: 'How does each part of the plant fulfil its function?' We are continuing this topic from the previous term.
In the second half of the Spring term we will be focussing on Chemistry and learning about materials and answering the question: 'Can materials change state?'
The two key scientists we will be learning about this term are: Marie Clark Taylor (1911 – 1990) and Anders Celsius (1701 – 1744).
If there is anything you can encourage your children to find out about these scientists, it will support their science learning this Spring term.
PShE
We will be following a new PHSE scheme of work this year. Each half term we will focus on a different theme. PSHE will be taught in straight year groups, weekly, so all children will be taught to the expectations of the year group they are in.
The focus in Spring 1 is 'Keeping Safe'. The focus in Spring 2 is 'Rights and Respect.'
Please see dojo each half term for the topics and lessons for each year group.
History
ANGLO SAXONS
In Spring 2 the children will be looking at the question 'How did England Change During the Settlement of the Anglo Saxons?'
• They will place the Anglo Saxon period on a timeline and compare it to other periods studied and construct and explain timelines.
• The children will learn that the Anglo Saxon Britain was split into 7 kingdoms.
• Throughout the unit, the children will learn the King who was in charge of each kingdom and that there was a hierarchy of power.
Geography
RAINFORESTS
In Spring 1 the children will be looking at the question 'What happens in the Rainforest?'
Our geography unit of work this term will allow the children to understand geographical similarities and differences between rainforests. They will learn that the Amazon Basin is in South America and covers 9 countries, including Brazil, Peru and Columbia.
The children will learn that a rainforest is a tall, dense forest, close to the Equator and that it receives lots of rain. Next they will learn about the layers of a rainforest and know they are: the emergent layer, canopy, understory and forest floor.
Then they will know that the climate in the Amazon is humid and tropical (hot with rain all year round) and be able to can say how native animals are adapted to it.
Finally they will be able to identify and understand the reasons for deforestation and the impact of deforestation on rainforest
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Dance
During the Spring term, we will be focussing on Dance skills and investigating the question, 'Do you need to count to dance in canon?'
In Spring 1, Penguins will also be having Forest school sessions on a Monday morning. They will need outdoor clothes and wellies for this session. Remember to wrap up warm as the children are outside for the full session in all weathers.
Class Zebras and Class Bears will be doing Forest School in the summer term.
PE improves motor skills and increases muscle strength and bone density, which in turn makes students more likely to engage in healthy activity outside of school. Furthermore, it educates children on the positive benefits of exercise and allows them to understand how good it can make them fit and healthy.
Our PE days are a WEDNESDAY and a THURSDAY. Year 3 children need to ensure they bring their indoor/outdoor PE kit on these days. Year 4 children will need to bring their swimming kit on a Wednesday and their indoor/outdoor PE kit on a Thursday.
PE is an essential part of the curriculum and all pupils need to take part. If you are struggling to obtain any PE uniform, please contact Mrs Clipsham via Dojo and we will do our best to help. The uniform bank is also available to support.
For PE children will need:
- Black or navy shorts/skort - these need to be mid thigh length and not hot pant style
- Plain white T-shirt (no logos or sport's teams)
- Trainers suitable for outdoor PE
- Plain black or navy joggers or leggings
- Plain black or navy jacket or hoodie
- A water bottle
Please note that children are not able to do PE with earrings in. These are government guidelines.
French
We will be continuing with our French tutor, Mr. Ratcliffe, who is coming in to work with all classes in Key Stage 2 this year. He will teach each class for 30 minutes every week. The children will not only be learning a variety of French vocabulary, but they will also learn how to write words and sentences in French.
The arts
This term, through our Art lessons, we will be learning the skills of painting. The children will learn about prehistoric paintings on cave walls. They will identify basic shapes within an animal drawing to help with accuracy. The children will be learning to blend charcoal, use spices and natural materials to make paint and then how to add fine details using smaller brushes. Their finished piece of work will be a collaborative painting using their hands.
In DT, the children will be discovering structure. They will be constructing a castle. They will be designing the castle, making it and then evaluating their finished work. The second topic will be looking at eating seasonally. They will learn about seasonal vegetables and then follow a recipe when cooking.
In Spring 1 music lessons we will be learning about body and tuned percussion through the topic of Rainforests (linked to Geography). In Spring 2 we will be learning about samba, carnival sounds and instruments. Class Zebras will be having external music lessons on Samba drumming this term.
Computing
During our computing sessions this first half term we will be investigating video trailers using iPads. They will be taking phots to tell a story and then editing videos. The second half term will see then children learning about Microsoft Office 365. They will be learning about website design.
In addition to these computing lessons, we will be working with the children to ensure that they know how to keep themselves safe online. They will be learning about Privacy and security, Managing online information and celebrating Internet Safety Day.
Attendance
At St Botolph’s CE Academy, we believe that children have a right to fulfil their potential and flourish as unique individuals and so it is our vision that all children attend our school regularly and on time. To this end, we strive to support all our families in encouraging their child to attend regularly, no matter what barriers they may face
Please ensure that your child is in school each day. If they are not well, please phone the office to let them know. If we do not have a reason for absence, your child will be marked as an unauthorised absence.