This week we have had a focus on teamwork and collaboration.  It has been lovely to see the children communicating and encouraging each other.  On Monday we all worked together to tidy up our outdoor area and we were really impressed by the children's perseverance.

On Tuesday we worked with partners to decide what equipment we would need to take on an Antarctic expedition.  The children came up with some excellent reasons for their choices and showed a good understanding of the climate and environment of Antarctica.

We also introduced our first "Big Question" this week.  These are open ended questions which encourage the children to share and justify their thinking. This week we had choose the odd one out from a group of animals - polar bear, penguin, Arctic tern and whale - what would you choose?

In maths we had great fun going on a "zero hunt".  It was amazing how many different ways we found to represent zero around the school.  See if you can find something to represent zero at home - we would love to see some photos!

In PSHE this week the children set themselves a goal of something they would like to practise and get better at, as part of our "Dreams and Goals" project.  Maybe ask your child to share these with you so they can work towards their goal at home as well as at school.

In English this week, the children planned and wrote the ending of their 'Elephant Ending' of their story sentences about Hermelin the Detective Mouse. They then wrote their plan up properly, checking carefully for accuracy and challenging themselves to use ambitious and varied vocabulary.  On Friday Skylarks received an exciting letter from Hermelin the Detective Mouse who had been in our classroom and gave us clues to find our missing maths books.

In maths, we have carried on with the topic of shape. The children learned how to use rulers carefully and accurately to draw 2D shapes by plotting the vertices first. We then explored vertical lines of symmetry, with the children finding lines of symmetry using a range of different 2D shapes. We have also been counting the faces and edges of 3D shapes. Any extra practice with the names of both 2D and 3D shapes at home would be greatly appreciated. A fun activity is a shape hunt around the house to see if the children can spot and name different 2D and 3D shapes.

In geography, we learned about the equator. The children were able to locate the equator on a world map and understand that the countries closest to it are the hottest places on Earth.

In DT this week, the children used a template to design their puppet ready to begin making it. Before doing this, they were challenged to design the world's worst puppet they could imagine! Ideas included pins sticking out of fingers and holes in the fabric. This activity helped the children think carefully about what would actually make a good, safe and effective puppet.

On Wednesday, Skylarks were very lucky to have the opportunity to visit The Chantry to take part in a Multi-Skills Festival. It was a great morning and everyone enjoyed challenging themselves and trying new sports such as curling. Please see the news article for photos.

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, we have been examining the structure and key features of non-fiction reports, with a particular focus on how technical and subject-specific vocabulary is used to inform the reader. The children have analysed example texts and discussed how information is organised, preparing them to confidently plan and write their own detailed reports on polar bears next week.

In maths, the focus has been on developing understanding and confidence in formal multiplication. Children have been using place value columns to support their calculations, helping them to clearly set out their work and understand each step of the process. Strong recall of times tables has been especially important this week and continues to underpin success in this area.

In art, pupils have built on last week’s study of artist Claes Oldenburg by designing their own imaginative dropped ice cream sculptures, thinking carefully about shape, scale and texture while developing their own creative ideas.

In PE, the children thoroughly enjoyed another excellent gymnastics session with Annie, concentrating on backward rolls. They practised repeatedly, focusing on body position and control and showed great perseverance as they worked to improve and refine their technique.

The children have now completed their newspaper reports based on the rescue of their chosen refugee from A Story Like the Wind. They should be very proud of these pieces, as they demonstrated thoughtful detail, strong empathy and a growing confidence in writing in a journalistic style.

This week, we also began reading our new class text, a retelling of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. The children made predictions about what the discovery narrative might include and began developing some fantastic descriptive language. They explored ways to describe some of the creatures Darwin discovered and wrote their own descriptive poems inspired by a chosen creature. The imagination and vocabulary used have been wonderful to see.

In mathematics, the children have been learning how to multiply fractions by whole numbers, multiply whole numbers by mixed numbers and multiply fractions by fractions. I have been particularly impressed with how quickly they have picked up these concepts and how confidently many of them are now applying their understanding.

In design and technology, the children have continued building their playground structures with their partners. These projects are really coming together well and next week will be the final opportunity for them to complete the construction phase before we move on to landscaping and decorating the playground apparatus.

In geography, we explored deserts from around the world and located them on a world map. The children also compared the climates of different cities globally, including desert locations, to understand how temperature changes from day to night and how it differs from other parts of the world.

This week in computing we watched a short animation of Wallace and Gromit, discussing how the animation was made. Using Stop Motion Studio, we worked in groups to create a short animation, focusing on making small adjustments to each frame.

This week's French lesson focus was on using the present and near future tense. We looked at different phrases and identified the tense used before constructing our own sentences.

In science, our investigation focus was do heavier objects fall more quickly than lighter objects? As well as thinking about the results gathered from the previous investigation, we discussed air resistance and how a parachute helps to slow down a skydiver.

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