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It’s half term…

It’s half-term holidays next week, so there are no homework tasks or spellings next week.

Of course, regular practice and learning can still happen: reading each day, swimming, tables practice, trips to the library, walks around Roundhay Park… All will help your child have a happy and healthy holiday!

We can write super sentences!

We have been learning even more about sentences.  We all know that a sentence needs:

• to make sense
• a full stop at the end
• a capital letter at the beginning

Now we are even adding a conjunction.  A conjunction is a word that joins two sentences together.  We have been learning to use “but”, “and” and “because”.

Look at our super sentences!

The Circus is Coming to Moortown!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5xbFm6KvhA

SEAL statement 14 February

Reflection is the last of our 7 Rs of learning and this week’s statement is ‘I can reflect on my learning.’

Self-reflection is something we always encourage the children to do whether it is during lessons to understand their next steps or after their work has been marked to understand, and learn from, any mistakes.

This week Key Stage 2 children will be ‘reflecting’ on their 7 Rs of learning and some children will be working with Mr Roundtree to reflect on certain areas of learning through pupil interviews.

Next half term, we’ll be returning to the SEAL theme Good to be me.

Happy and healthy outdoors

Sustrans is a charity that encourages people to travel by foot, bike or public transport more often.  Recently, they’ve produced a couple of very thought-provoking articles about children’s experiences of their journey to school (‘A child’s eye view of school travel’) and outdoor play (‘Free range kids’).  Here’s an extract from ‘Free range kids’…

90% of us adults regularly played outside in our street as kids, compared to fewer than one in three UK children today.  As 73% of them prefer outdoor activities, the charity Sustrans wondered why they aren’t getting out more, benefiting from the sunlight and fresh air…and splashing around in the mud and rain. After all, it’s their preferred way to have fun (whilst burning calories and getting their daily dose of activity).

Emma Kenny is a well-known expert in child psychology, and a parent too. She gives us her thoughts on why these things are so vital for growing children, and what we as adults can do to help.

What are the benefits of outdoor play?

Children who are allowed to explore their personal worlds are bound to feel that, on the whole, life is a playground where adventures are to be had. This means they’re more likely to approach new challenges with confidence, forge new peer relationships more easily, will be less likely to suffer obesity and issues with isolation and feel that they are unique and trusted individuals within their own worlds. Physiologically, the benefits of spending a couple of hours in daylight are proven: the white light we experience means lower levels of stress and healthier mental states and, of course, fresh air is always a healthy addition to our lives.

What might happen if kids don’t have their freedom?

If you cage any animal, it will begin to demonstrate a fear of leaving its environment in spite of this appearing unnatural. We are creatures of habit and we adjust our beliefs to reflect this. If we are inside and isolated much of the time, we will start to fear that which is outside and new. Kids need to have a sense of self within their environment. We should encourage them to do this.

Read more of this and other articles in Sustrans magazine: The Hub, Spring 2011 edition.

11 February 2011

LO. To spell number names.

Spellings will be tested on Friday 18 February.

11 February 2011

The homework this week is practice makes perfect and is due in on Wednesday 16 February.

I can sequence numbers.

Each child has a worksheet that they must complete. The worksheet is similar to ones that we have done in class. Read the instructions carefully.

Good luck!

11 February 2011

The homework this week is ‘Creative’ and is due in Wednesday 16 February.

I can show why animals should or should not be in the circus.

Using the vocabulary from last week, the children should find a creative way to present their thoughts on animals in the circus.

You could:

• Make a convincing poster.
• Write a short letter to a ringmaster convincing him.
• Write a comic strip.
• Write a song.

As always with Creative homework, the emphasis is on the original. Feel free to explore unique ways to present your homework.

11 February 2011

Spellings this week are words where ‘c’ makes ‘s’.

Choose six words from the list to learn and be tested on next week and find a further four words that fit the same rule.

Spellings will be tested on Friday 18 February.

11 February 2011

Your homework this week is creative and is due in on Wednesday 16 February.

I can express my opinion about Captain Robert Scott and his Antarctic expedition.

We have been learning about Robert Scott’s mission to travel to the South Pole. Can you produce a piece of work that tells me your opinion about Scott and his mission.

This piece of work could be:

• Some art work
• A biography
• A timeline
• A cartoon strip about his expedition
• An interview with you answering questions about as though you were Scott

or…

• Your own even more creative idea!