We have had another busy week in Wrens. This week we have started our phonics learning and the children have been doing a great job of getting to grips with our first group of sounds.  We have also been practising our mark making skills in Drawing Club and are beginning to learn how to form letters in handwriting.  We have really enjoyed our Drawing Club book this week "Cock-a-moo-moo" and I have loved seeing how the children's drawing skills and imaginative ideas are already showing progress.

The children will also be bringing home their first reading book today.  These books are for you to enjoy at home with your child.  We have already read the book a number of times in school so your child should be familiar with it.  At the moment these books are wordless although they contain very detailed illustrations and there are some suggestions for different activities printed inside the cover.  Please return these books to school with your child's orange phonics book and their library book each Friday.  Thank you.

In maths our first topic is "match, sort and compare".  We have been learning the vocabulary "match", "pair" and "set".  There are lots of practical ways you can practice these skills at home, for example, playing games of snap or pairs, laying the table or even pairing socks!

I have also enclosed a "proud peacock" sheet in your child's bookbag.  If your child would like to share an achievement from home with the rest of the class please decorate your peacock and tell us all about it (photos are very welcome).  We would love to add them to our "proud peacock" display.

This week in Drawing Club, we have been exploring the traditional tale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The children thoroughly enjoyed reading this classic story. They learned nine new words linked to the tale, such as gruesome and luscious. They can confidently explain the meanings of the new words and use them in their own writing. It’s been fantastic to see them apply this new language in their creative plans to beat the troll!

In maths this week, we’ve been working with numbers up to 20. At the start of the week, the children focused on numbers to 10, exploring different ways to make 10 using number bonds and a variety of resources such as Numicon, ten frames, cubes and counters. We then moved on to numbers 11 to 15, looking closely at how these numbers are made using tens and ones. Towards the end of the week, we extended our learning to cover numbers 16 to 20, continuing to build a strong understanding of place value.

In geography, we’ve been learning to identify and distinguish between human features, such as skyscrapers, bridges and hospitals and physical features like hills, mountains and volcanoes. The children sorted out some different pictures of landmarks and could explain if each landmark was a human or physical feature and why.

In D.T. this week, the children learnt how to cut foods safely and accurately. They also learnt how to juice fruits. This is in preparation for an exciting upcoming lesson where the children will be designing and making their own smoothies!

Please remember that Little Wandle reading books must be back on a Tuesday. Once the books are returned we can give out the next one and another group can use and enjoy the returned ones.  Thank you for your cooperation in making this work.

Timetable

Monday: Wellies and appropriate clothing for outdoor learning

Tuesday & Thursday: PE kits - please can those with longer hair have their hair tied up ready

In English this week, we have continued with our work on 'The Whale'. The children have been looking at how to use expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials and similes when writing a description about the setting of the main part of the story. We have looked at an example of a description, discussing the different features and how the writer has used ambitious vocabulary to enhance their writing.

In maths, we have been focussed on place value and, in particular, partitioning. This is splitting a number into its individual place value columns and then seeing what each digit is worth, e.g. 247 = 200 + 40 + 7. Being able to understand the value of each digit is incredibly important as it provides a solid foundation of understanding of number. The children have also been representing numbers using counters and base 10 equipment, having hands on experience.

In science, we started our topic of 'Living Things and their Habitats'. Our first lesson involved discussing what makes something dead or alive. We made a list of the characteristics of a living thing and discussed why we felt these were good criteria. We then narrowed these down and came up with the 7 characteristics of a living thing - Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition, also known as MRS GREN.

In geography, we have started our topic of 'Why do people live near volcanoes'. Our first lesson involved looking at the different layers of the Earth and being able to describe them. We also learned about tectonic plates and how mountains are formed.

Music homework:                                                                                                                  Year 3 - Can you hold your DooD correctly and play the note B?                                  Year 4 - Can you hold your flute correctly and play the note B?

In English, the children have been analysing the features of diary entries. They explored the types of language and text structures used by writers and considered how these make a diary entry engaging and personal. This has set them up brilliantly for writing their own diary entries in the coming lessons.

In maths, our focus has been on comparing and ordering numbers up to one million, followed by rounding within one hundred thousand. The children have quickly grasped these concepts and have shown great confidence when applying their knowledge to problem-solving activities.

In RE, we began exploring the meaning of Genesis. The children discussed how Christians can interpret this text in different ways—some viewing it as a literal account of creation, while others see it as a poetic explanation of the world’s beginnings.

In DT, the children put their creativity and practical skills into action by designing and sewing their very own pouches. They learned how to follow a sewing pattern piece and use a secure running stitch. Some even challenged themselves by adding decorative buttons and a few of these wonderful creations have made their way home this week!

In PE, our basketball lessons have focused on passing and evading defenders, while making sure possession of the ball is maintained. In golf, the children practised their chipping skills, learning how to send the ball into the air to overcome obstacles on the course.

Finally, in geography, we travelled (virtually!) to Innsbruck in Austria. The children researched both its physical and human geographical features, developing their knowledge of this fascinating Alpine city.

In computing we have looked at whether messages and emails received are real or fake, identifying features such as something being offered for free may be too good to be true. We have discussed the terms 'phishing' and scams and what to do if you have been sent a fake message.

In science, we have looked at how we see light. We have thought about which materials make good reflectors and have talked about reflectors in real life situations.

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