Introducing our new topic…
This afternoon, the children were challenged with a group jigsaw puzzle activity which gave them a clue about what our new topic is going to be. While completing their individual jigsaw was the aim, they also needed to help the rest of their group complete their puzzle without talking! Taking turns and working cooperatively were key skills needed.
‘I felt it went well as our table helped each other to complete their jigsaws.’
‘We swapped pieces that we knew would help others to finish their puzzle.’
Finally, the clues were revealed and we found out our new topic is based on the Katie and … series of books by James Mayhew. We can’t wait to get started on this art themed topic.
What is a drug?
In Living and Learning, as taken from our long term plan, we will be focusing on drug education for the next two weeks.
Our first statement for this learning is, I know what a drug is.
Our definition of a drug refers to a substance people take to change the way they feel, think or behave. The word ‘drug’ includes:
- All legal drugs, including tobacco, alcohol, solvents and volatile substances, misused medicines and legal highs
- All illegal drugs
- Prescribed and over-the-counter medicines
On Thursday and Friday of this week, we welcome d:side, a health education provider, to school to deliver drug education workshops to each class as part of this learning.
Parents and carers are invited to come to an information session, led by d:side, on Thursday 24 January from 2:45-3:15pm. Please inform the office if you would like to attend.
PE kit in school
On Tuesday morning, we will be visiting Allerton Grange for a PE lesson led by their sports leaders.
The children will be walking to Allerton Grange so please ensure they have tracksuit bottoms or leggings, PE t-shirt and some trainers or pumps in their PE kit to wear.
Living and Learning: What’s the matter?
As well as a science focus for the What’s the matter? topic, we’ve also been thinking about What’s the matter? from an emotional point of view.
Hopefully you got chance to find out more about this in our recent class assembly.
A focus for our writing, as we start this new term, is using conjunctions. We’ve used different pictures as a stimulus to ask What’s the matter? and in our responses we’ve been using a variety of conjunctions.
Ask your child if they can spot the conjunction that has not been highlighted.
Science in real life
As part of our What’s the matter? mini science topic, we had a real life problem to help with when we received a letter from Mr Vango.
Our first scientific enquiry skill we used was questioning. We needed to work out what was the question we needed to answer. We also considered some other questions that we might need to investigate.
Thinking about the equipment needed and the safety aspects were an important part of the method.
After making our predictions, we tested four different materials. Ask your child how we made the test fair and what we observed during the testing.
In our english lessons, we have written back to Mr Vango with our conclusions and recommendations. Ask your child which material we suggested he should use for his tents.
What’s the matter? creative homework
On Thursday, during our homework review, we enjoyed sharing and celebrating the range of homework the class had produced based around designing a house using a range of materials.
Here are some of our favourites. Presentation was important for this homework as we needed to see the materials labelled clearly. We liked these examples as they told us the materials used and we also saw some description of these materials. For example, a blue wooden door.
Materials and their properties
As part of our What’s the matter? mini science topic, we been identifying and also describing the properties of materials. There’s been lots of new words to learn. Ask your child if they can name something that might be rigid, opaque, transparency or stretchy.
In this learning, we combined science with maths to sort objects according to their properties using a venn diagram.
Ask your child what might go in the centre of the venn diagram and what might go outside the venn diagram.
Computing: touch typing
This afternoon, we’ve been practising out touch typing skills using the free games on the BBC Bitesize website.
At first we found it tricky to rest our fingers in the correct place – pointing fingers on the bumps (F and J)!
Soon, we were getting the hang of it and typing with much more confidence!
Have a go at home if you can!
Themed menu
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Friday 18 January. Please contact the office, by Friday 11 January, if your child would like a school meal on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
Learning at home
Despite there being no homework set for over the holiday, it’s been great to hear about the learning the children have chosen to do while they have been off.
There have been lots of Lexia certificates given out this week and we’re hearing all about how the children are using the maths game we recommended, Hit the Button.
Thank you for this support at home.
