Term 5 has whizzed by, in an exciting blur of fantastic learning and brilliant activities. In Writing, after studying Alan Bold’s The Malfeasance, the children have created fantastic poems centred around a metaphor for an emotion. Here, they were able to showcase their expanding SPAG knowledge including personification, pathetic fallacy, metaphors and similes. More recently, they have been working on an adventure narrative based on their class novel The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, where the focus will be on imagery and correctly punctuating speech.
As a firm favourite in Willow class, the children have thoroughly loved Mathematics and they have covered shape, geometry, statistics as well as position and direction. We were lucky to be able to spend an afternoon on a mathematical challenge that tested the limits of the children's knowledge of line graphs. They look forward to revisiting decimals, using our CPA (concret, pictorial, abstract) approach.
In Guided Reading, the children first studied a nonfiction text, consolidating last term’s learning in History about the Mayans, and more recently they considered The Explorer by Katherine Rundell.
In Science this term, they have considered the life cycles of animals, comparing and contrasting between mammals, plants, amphibians, insects and reptiles. In Geography, the children have learnt about mountains, how they are formed, where they are located and the impact humans have on them. This term in RE, the children have been focusing on Hindus’ beliefs about reincarnation. In Art, Willow class has been studying 3D installations and the children have created their own.
Swimming is always a much-loved lesson, with many of the children focusing on lifesaving skills. In Forest, as well as constructing 3D shapes, creating poetry and painting pictures with natural pigments, the children have also learnt about forest sustainability and management.
A highlight for the term was the AKA Dance Company’s performance, where the children watched an interpretive dance extravaganza! As well as this, rehearsals for our end of year production are well on the way and the children are brimming with talent and enthusiasm. What an exciting term!
Have a good, well-earned break!
Best wishes,
Miss James
Logistical reminders:
Forest is on a Monday. Please could the children come dressed in their Forest kit, ensuring that they have wellies, long sleeved t-shirts and trousers, waterproofs and sun cream and a hat with them.
PE Swimming is on a Friday. Children should come dressed in their PE kits and bring their swimming kit on this day.
Homework - Children are to learn their personal spellings, read a minimum of 3 times a week (recorded in their reading log), complete a scrapbook style journal entry and complete 10 minutes of Doodle Maths.
Please read the poster below to find out what Willow class will be learning in term 5.
As Term 4 draws to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on the wonderful learning that has taken place in Willow Class.
In Writing, the children have completed a narrative based on Gorilla by Anthony Browne, where they used clues to tantalise the reader; created an informative book review, during book week; and have started to write a poem using an emotion as a metaphor, based on Alan Bold’s poem The Malfeasance.
Mathematics is much loved in Willow Class. Using our CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) approach, the children have completed a unit on fractions, and are now learning about decimals and percentages.
In Guided Reading, as well as studying the archaic poem The Listeners by Walter de la Mare, the children have considered King of the Sky by Nicola Davies and our class novel, House with the Chicken Legs.
In Science this term, we have been continuing with Chemistry, where we have learnt about changes and properties of matter. Recently, the children investigated the effect of varying the amount of oxygen on burning times.
In History, the children are learning about the Ancient Mayan civilization, considering the way their society was structured, how far advanced they were and their belief system. This term in RE, the focus has switched to Christianity and their beliefs around Jesus and Easter. In DT, the children made 3D book-up books, based on nursery rhymes, with working mechanisms.
This term has brought many amazing opportunities from Book Week and The Mid Somerset Festival to Dance Umbrella. As always, the children from Willow Class have been true ambassadors for the school and I couldn’t be prouder!
Have a super Easter break!
Logistics and reminders:
Forest is on a Monday. Please could the children come dressed in their Forest kit, ensuring that they have wellies, warm clothes and waterproofs with them.
Please see the poster below to find out what Willow class will be learning this term.
Gosh that term really has flown by! Here are some of the wonderful things Willow Class have done.
In Writing, the children finished their fantastic narrative Poem based on The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. We had tales of the highway woman, others where Bess (the highway man’s love) turned on him and rode away with the riches and even one where the highway man was captured and thrown in jail. In recent weeks, we have been writing a narrative based on Gorilla by Anthony Browne.
Mathematics has brought many opportunities to use our CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) approach. The children have completed a second unit on multiplication and division, learning to use written methods and, in the last week on term, they have revisited fractions, this time learning how to multiply them by an integer.
In Guided Reading, as well as studying Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackamn, they have also considered Vanishing Rainforest by Richard Platt. More recently, we have started to study the archaic poem The Listeners by Walter de la Mare. Our class novel is House with the chicken legs which transports us into the fairytale world of Sophie Anderson
In Science this term, our focus has switched to Chemistry, where we have learnt about changes and properties of matter. Working scientifically, we have discovered what substances dissolve as well as how to separate mixtures and solutions. Geography has been the class’ favourite this term. Learning through oracy, the children have studied the layers of the rainforest, why it rains everyday, the animals and plants that live there and the impact humans have.
This term in RE, after visiting the Hindu Temple, the children have learnt about Hindus’ beliefs around Brahman and Atman as well as why people may pray to different deities for different reasons. In Art, the children have focused on self-portraits, studying artists such as Frida Kahlo and creating their own self portraits.
I hope you all have a well-earned rest and a super time.
Logistical Reminders:
PE is on a Friday. Children should come dressed in their PE kits on this day.
Please read the poster below to find out what your child will be learning in Term 3.
What a wonderful wintery term it has been! Here are just a few of the amazing things that have been happening in Willow Class.
In Writing, the children completed a technical piece, showcasing their learning in SPAG. This Transmission from Mars made links to their prior learning about space in Science. More recently, they have been working on a narrative Poem based on that of Alfred Noyes: The Highwayman.
In Maths, they have completed a unit on multiplication and division and have moved onto fractions. Here, they are enjoying using bar models to visualise concepts such as converting mixed numbers into improper fractions.
Guided Reading, as always, is a favourite with the children! We have studied nonfiction, high-quality picture books and the poem The Highwayman. In class, we have just finished reading our favourite novel so far - the very dark Clockwork by Phillip Pullman.
In Science this term, we have continued studying Physics, learning about forces. Working scientifically, the children have learned about gravity, air resistance and water resistance as well as carrying out investigations to consider the effects of levers, gears and pulleys.
History has been focused on the Anglo-Saxon era, more recently looking at Viking raiders and settlers. Within this unit, the children have worked as archaeologists and historians, evaluating evidence and artefacts to better understand this period of British history.
After learning about Hinduism in RE last term, this term we have been considering the Christmas story and what it means to Christians. Working as theologians, the children considered Matthew and Luke’s version of events from the New Testament as well as famous artworks to decide on their interpretation of truth.
In DT, the children have been learning how to cook healthy meals and created their own recipe for bolognese, making it in class. In Forest, they have had many opportunities for cooking, drilling and sawing, making their own wooden snowman to take home.
Have a fantastic, well-earned break and a lovely family time!
Please read the poster below to find out what your child will be learning in Term 2.
Gosh, this term has flown by so quickly! Willow Class has written a narrative in Writing and in Maths, they have started their unit on addition and subtraction. In Guided Reading, as well as continuing to study their class novel Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce, they have also enjoyed analysing the poem Sky in the Pie by Roger McGough.
In Science this term, we have been studying Physics, with a focus on Earth and our Solar System. This has brought many opportunities for working scientifically: the children are particularly excited to be documenting the changing appearance of the Moon over the coming month.
Geography, this term, focused on global trade, where the children were surprised to discover that the UK is the world's 5th highest exporter, exporting cars, machinery, oil, medicines and electronic equipment. In Computing, the children have been learning about systems and searching and in Art they have been using collagraph tiles to print background for their futuristic final piece.
In PSHE, they have been considering ‘Being in me in My World’ and have discussed the Protected Characteristics. In RE, they have been learning about Hinduism and ways in which Hindus show their commitment to God.
In Forest, the children have cooked on a fire, whittled wands, written autumn poems and built dens. What a wonderful start to the year!
Welcome to Willow Class! We have had a super start to the year and have already learnt so much. In Writing, the children have created their own narrative based on our class novel Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce. In Mathematics the children have been learning about place value and have enjoyed learning to round large numbers.
Science has been a favourite and the children have considered how night and day as well as the seasons are created. ‘World's Kitchen’, in Geography, focused on global trade and has brought much new Tier 3 vocabulary - given many opportunities for us to get the buzzers for quizzes.
The children have already had some lovely experiences and were lucky enough to take part in a brilliant workshop learning about both the dangers and benefits of social media.
I look forward to another brilliant year in Willow Class.
PE is on a Tuesday. Children should come dressed in their PE kits on this day.