Hot chocolate and toast

Next week the CREW group will be serving hot chocolate and toast at breaktimes in aid of the Salvation Army in return for a donation of £1.00.

The allocated days are:
Monday - Wrens
Tuesday - Skylarks
Wednesday - Kestrels
Thursday - Merlins

It has been lovely to see the sun shining this week and the Wrens have been making the most of the good weather by taking their learning outside.  In Forest School this week we had a competition to make a nest and see if we could keep the eggs (hot pack) warm.  The children learnt about structuring their nest, so it held together and adding layers of different materials as insulation.

In our outdoor play area, we continued our learning about Africa with our safari explorers hut and African themed music in the stage area.  We also created some lovely artwork inspired by sunsets over the savanna using chalk pastels.  In art with Mrs Postlethwaite we began to explore Tinga tinga art which is a style of artwork originating from east Africa inspired by the artist Edward Tingatinga.  We also studied the non-fiction book "Would an elephant enjoy the seaside?" and found out some amazing facts about these amazing animals.  In maths we rose to challenge of discovering which of the safari animals weighed the most blocks using the balance scales.  This was excellent practice for using the correct maths vocabulary and careful counting. Maybe you could have a go at weighing things at home.

In DT we tested our completed boats in the water tray so we could make any necessary modifications before taking them on a more challenging voyage.

On Thursday we were very excited to try our hand at cricket with Sam from Worcester Cricket Club.  The children thoroughly enjoyed their PE lesson and there were definitely some impressive batting and fielding skills on show.

This week in English the children have been continuing to work on their non-chronological reports on The Great Fire of London. The children have worked so hard on these and are close to finishing them.

In maths this week, we finished off our topic of addition and subtraction. The children have been using their learning to solve missing number calculations. They have also been comparing number sentences, for example, 34+45  >  23+9. Towards the end of this week, we have been practising to count in 2s, 5s and 10s. Any practise of this at home would be great.

In geography, the children investigated weather patterns. They explored weather vanes, thermometers, wind streamers and rain gauges. We then went outside and drew around our shadows with chalk in pairs before coming back inside to learn about the earth's orbit and how this makes it seem that the sun is moving across the sky. After some time we went back outside and redrew around our shadows. The children were amazed with how their shadows had moved.

In art this week, the children reflected on their seascapes from a couple of weeks ago. We then moved onto our new art topic based on The Great Fire of London. They painted flames in watercolour paints before using poster paints.

Timetable

Monday: Wellies and a coat suitable for the weather

Tuesday and Thursday: PE kits

In maths this week, both Y3 and Y4 have continued their work on fractions. Y3 have been learning how to count in fractions on a numberline and then used this knowledge to find equivalent fractions. Y4 have been learning about improper fractions and mixed numbers and how to convert between them.

In science as part of our 'Electricity' topic, the children were looking at different circuits, identifying if they would work and then explaining the reasoning for their answers. They were able to draw on their learning from last week when making circuits to make these judgements.

In geography, we started our new topic of 'What are rivers and how are they used?' Our first lesson was a recap of the Water Cycle, which some children covered in science last year. We built on this knowledge by introducing new vocabulary in order to deepen the children's understanding. We also looked at the different features of a river and how rivers are formed.

In DT, we also started a new topic on structures, where the children will be set the task of designing a castle. We looked at the different features of a castle and discussed the purpose of them. We looked at how we could use 2d and 3d shapes to help build a castle. The children were given their brief of designing and building a castle made out of 3d shapes and were set the following criteria: It must be strong and stable, it must be made from a mixture of 3d shapes made from nets and packaging, it needs a flag relevant to the person or purpose and it must have a drawbridge.

If anyone has any cardboard or packaging that they could send into school, that would be great as we move on to the build process next week.

In Maths, we have been continuing our work on converting fractions to decimals, this time focusing on hundred thousandths. The children have made great progress in understanding how to convert these more complex fractions. Next week, we will be exploring how fractions can be used as division to find equivalent decimals, which will build on the skills they’ve developed so far.

In English, the children have been refining their Minotaur attack scenes, incorporating all the brilliant ideas they’ve developed over the past two weeks. They’ve been working hard to make their writing more engaging and dynamic. Next week, we’ll be finalising these scenes before moving on to our next writing task, which will be linked to our current book, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.

In Science, the children have been learning about the different ways the planets orbit the Sun, focusing on their varying speeds and the time it takes each one to complete a full orbit in Earth years. To bring this topic to life, the children went outside and created a human model of the solar system, which was a fun and interactive way to explore these scientific concepts.

Finally, in Geography, the children have been preparing for their upcoming fieldwork study. Next Wednesday, they’ll be heading out into the village to collect data relevant to their current topic. This will give them the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-world setting, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they discover.

Please see below information within the community but independent of the school