17 November 2017
For all children in Year 1 to Year 6, the homework this week is Talk Time and will be discussed in class on Thursday 23 November:
Which charity should our school support?
Next week, we will focus on identity, diversity and community in our Who do you think you are? themed week. As part of this week, children will think about our school charity. Currently, we support Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Leeds Mind. A previous School Council selected these because they wanted to help people, support a mental health charity and wanted to help local and regional charities. They were chosen because pupils passed on to School Councillors very clear and strong arguments.
We’ve helped these charities for two years now, so it’s time for a change. We need you to have a discussion at home about which charity would be best for us to support. We will now support one charity for one year. Each class will discuss this and then the councillors will bring the views and ideas together to decide on the charities.
Once your child has decided on a charity, make sure they have clear, powerful reasons to support their views.
You might want to discuss whether we support…
- a local charity
- a children’s charity
- a charity which helps a vulnerable group in our community
- should we ensure the new charities are very different to the current ones or previous ones?
- should we need to have charities at all?
- if your child was to set up a new charity, what would (s)he choose, and (as always) why?
10 November 2017
This week’s homework is Practice Makes Perfect and is due in on Thursday 16 November:
I can read a text and answer question.
Children been given a text and list of questions which will require fact finding and comprehension skills to complete. If there are any questions, children should come and see us for help before the date it’s due in – we like helping!
We’re practising our 8 times tables this week.
This is a new times table for most, so your child should focus on becoming familiar with their eights. It may take some time to learn a new times table, but as long as the practice is little and often, they’re sure to get it in no time. Make sure to reiterate division facts, too.
For example, if we know 5 x 8 = 40, we should know 8 x 5 = 40, 40 ÷ 5 = 8 and 40 ÷ 8 = 5.
03 November 2017
This week’s homework is Creative and is due in on Thursday 09 November.
I can show my understanding of addition and subtraction.
Over the last few weeks, children have added and subtracted 3 digit and 3 digit numbers. They have used number lines, base ten, bar models and place value grids to help them. We have also used column addition or subtraction as a formal written method. Now, we would like children to demonstrate what they have learnt over these last few weeks.
Here are some ideas we had in class:
- teach someone how to add or subtract and record how you did so
- make a board game about adding or subtracting
- write a poem, rap or story about the calculations
- make a quiz to test others (maybe on Kahoot like we’ve used in class)
- show the skills you need in order to solve maths problems
We’ll be practising our 3 and 4 times tables next week.
It’s the half-term holidays…
…and so there’s no specific homework next week. This is in-line with our Homework Policy.
During the half-term, please encourage your child to read each day, even if just for 15 minutes. As well as their current book, reading comics, newspapers, websites are all good – and why not take a trip to the library!
It would also be really helpful to help your child brush up on their times tables. Children in Year 2 should know x2, x5 and x10 (and the related division facts) by the end of the year – so give them a head start now! By the end of Year 4, children should know all their tables up to 12 x 12 (and the related division facts).
And make sure they enjoy the break, too: perhaps an autumn walk, a day out, a trip to the cinema… There are lots of things going on in Leeds – check them out.
Whatever you get up to, we’re looking forward to seeing you again on Monday 30 October.
13 October 2017
For all children in Year 1 – Year 6, the homework this week is talk time and is due in on Wednesday 18 October. There are two options:
- I can prepare a speech (School Council elections).
- I know the importance of voting.
It’s time for children to consider if they would like to stand for election for our new School Council. With two representatives from each class, chosen democratically by their peers, all children at Moortown Primary are encouraged to take an active part in pupil voice.
Elections for our new school council will take place on Thursday 19 October with our polling station and ballot boxes at the ready. Candidates will have the opportunity to give their election speech to their class on Wednesday 18 October or Thursday 19 October.
What makes a good school councillor has been considered by our current school council.
- ‘use all the 8 Rs for learning’
- ‘be respectful’
- ‘help others’
- ‘be a good speaker and listener (to members of your class and in the meetings)’
- ‘tell the truth’
- ‘be confident with your ideas’
- ‘accept the views of others even if you don’t agree’
- ‘be friendly and approachable’
- ‘make good choices in class and around school’
Hints for your speech include:
- What skills and abilities would a good school councillor have?
- What are you particularly good at that would help you to be a great school councillor?
- What do you think would make the school better?
- What could you do that people would really like?
- Think of things that are realistic, maybe that you could do yourself, rather than having to ask other people to do
Thank you to our current school councillors for all their ideas and contributions. We hope you have enjoyed this role and responsibility. You’re welcome to stand again for election.
Good luck to all children who decide to stand in the elections.
If you choose not to stand in the election then you should consider the importance of voting.
06 October 2017
This week’s homework is Creative and is due on Thursday 12 October:
I can show why I would make a good explorer.
Parents are invited to come and see our homework review process! Children have been asked to demonstrate why they would make a good explorer. We have spoken about our flying ship’s crew, made up of people such as a zoologist, navigator or anthropologist. Some ideas we had in class were:
- Making and describing animals you might discover – perhaps a new species
- Studying and describing the people in your family
- Artwork involving maps
- Making items you would pack into your travel bag, e.g. a compass
- Making models of your exploration vehicle of choice
- Play/presentation about your geographical knowledge
When completing this Creative homework, as per the name, be as creative as you like! Make sure you chat about ideas with your child: could the homework be in the form of a poster, a letter, a comic strip, some writing, a PowerPoint…? Could it use photos, drawings, fold out ‘extras’ on the page…?
We are practising the four times tables this week. This is a new times table for most, so this week, children should focus on becoming familiar with this. It may take some time to learn a new times table, but as long as the practice is little and often, they’re sure to get it in no time. Make sure to reiterate division facts, too.
For example, if we know 5 x 4 = 20, we should know 4 x 5 = 20, 20 ÷ 5 = 4 and 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
29 September 2017
This week’s homework is Practice Makes Perfect and is due in on Thursday 05 October:
I can revise place value.
Children been given a sheet of questions which revises learning which we’ve done in class over the last few weeks. If there are any questions, children should come and see us for help before the date it’s due in – we like helping!
We’re improving our 3 and 5 times tables this week.
15 September 2017
This week’s homework is Creative and is due on Thursday 21 September:
I can show what I have learnt after reading Orion and the Dark.
Children have been asked to demonstrate what they have learnt and enjoyed after reading our class novel. Some ideas we had in class were:
- Drawing the characters and writing descriptions
- Paper mâché or other material to make the characters
- Constellation art
- Story board/comic strip
- Feelings poster (A4) of how they changed for Orion throughout the story
- Play/presentation about the book
When completing this Creative homework, as per the name, be as creative as you like! Make sure you chat about ideas with your child: could the homework be in the form of a poster, a letter, a comic strip, some writing, a PowerPoint…? Could it use photos, drawings, fold out ‘extras’ on the page…?
We are practising the three times tables this week. This is a new times table for most, so this week, children should focus on becoming familiar with this. It may take some time to learn a new times table, but as long as the practice is little and often, they’re sure to get it in no time. Make sure to reiterate division facts, too.
For example, if we know 5 x 3 = 15, we should know 3 x 5 = 15, 15 ÷ 5 = 3 and 15 ÷ 3 = 5.
07 July 2017
This week’s whole school homework involves completing the pupil health questionnaire sent home with your child/children.
I can share my views about health.
Pupil voice is an important part of our school and this annual questionnaire provides pupil views on some of our key health issues.
Please support your child to complete the health questionnaire by discussing these issues.
The questionnaire should be returned to your class teacher by Thursday 13 July.
05 July 2017
This week’s homework is Creative: I can show what I know about light.
Some helpful ideas:
- a presentation about shadows and reflections
- a light quiz
- light vocabulary word search
- your own shadow puppets
- measure your shadow throughout the day and record the data
- create stained glass artwork
- make your own lighthouse
