Our topic this term in Science has been ‘living things and habitats’. This week, Year 4 spent time working in groups to research three habitats which are greatly effected by global warming – the ocean, the rainforest and Antarctica. After researching these habitats using the iPads, we answered questions about climate change and its impact on animals in these habitats. 
This week in Year 5
This week in Year 5 we are continuing to study North America learning in detail about the physical geography of the Grand Canyon and how animals adapt to live there. As part of this we are considering what descriptive words are most effective in describing. Access to a wide vocabulary benefits children greatly in their writing and this can be developed through regular reading and discussing of books.
In Maths we have been doing assessments to draw attention to gaps in understanding. Many children did very well however all children have room to improve their maths through revision and home and practicing times tables.
Notices
Last day of term 28/3/24 – school day finishes at 2pm
PE kits needs to be brought in but not worn on Tuesdays
Reading Records need to be brought in Monday and Friday with 3 tasks being completed each week. Children should be practicing their reading every night and benefit from discussing what they are reading with adults.
We have been learning about different celebrations and why some people celebrate Easter, Eid and Diwali. The children have been busy making lots of things to celebrate Easter and we have also been reading about Easter. Take a look at some of our pictures and our learning from this week!
Nursery children engaging in physical development activities experience numerous benefits for their overall growth. Through play, such as running, jumping, climbing, and playing with balls or other equipment, children develop their gross motor skills, coordination, balance, and strength. These activities also promote social interaction, teamwork, and communication skills as children engage with their peers in play settings. Physical activities in nursery settings contribute to a healthy lifestyle, fostering habits of regular exercise and movement from a young age. Help your child to go on long walks with you and take them to the park as much as you can.
Nursery children have been engaging in writing with chalk outside, this activity can greatly benefit their physical development. As they grip the chalk and make marks on the ground or chalkboard, they are refining their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The act of writing with chalk also encourages children to use larger arm movements and engage their shoulder muscles, promoting gross motor development. Additionally, writing with chalk in different positions such as standing, kneeling, or lying down helps enhance their balance and spatial awareness. Home learning – children can have a go outside in the park drawing using chalk.
Take a look at what we have been doing this week. We have really enjoyed going outside into the big playground and having a run! We have also been sharing and taking turns with our friends. Everyday we learn through our play. We love to dress up, play on the see-saw outside, read books and play with playdough. During circle time we have also been talking about what our favourite fruit is and we have been continuing to learn about healthy eating. For your home learning… can you draw your favourite fruit and bring it into school to show your friends?
This week we have really enjoyed learning about Easter and what celebrations are. We have started to read the story ‘Were going on an egg hunt’. The children enjoyed painting their own egg, designing a large egg using tissue paper and going on an egg hunt. In Maths we have been learning to write our numbers to 10 and counting backwards/forwards. The children have been working very hard on their number recognition skills. In phonics we have been working on recognising different sounds, reading rhyming stories and singing lots of songs. We have been continuing to work hard on recognising and writing our own names. Please continue to help your child practice writing their names at home.
Here is the link for our story of the week: We’re Going on an Egg Hunt Read Aloud – Children’s Book 🥚 (youtube.com)
Thank you for your support.
Nursery Team
Last Thursday, we enjoyed a lovely day out to the National Portrait Gallery located by Trafalgar Square. As we’ve been learning all about the Tudors in history, this was a perfect opportunity to have a closer look at some of the significant individuals from this period.
We have especially enjoyed getting to know more about King Henry VIII. We took some time to study one of his portraits by Hans Holbein the Younger, a German artist. We studied Henry VIII’s pose in the portrait. He stood with his feet wide apart and planted firmly on the ground. This was a powerful pose to reflect his status as the king. His clothing also reflected his wealth as did many portraits commissioned in the past.
Here we are taking a learning walk through the gallery, reading the information by the portraits, sketching the portrait of Henry VIII and extending our knowledge of the Tudor period in Britain.
We would like to thank the wonderful parents who came along to support us on this trip. It was a pleasure having you joining our learning for the day.
Here are some of the sketches of Henry VIII we drew at the gallery. We aimed to capture his pose and posture, as well as his clothes.
As part of art this term, we focused on portraits. This was linked to our history as we studied portraits of famous Tudor monarchs. We looked closely at elements of portraits such as objects, expression, clothing and pose, and then explored how the portraits communicate mood, feelings and ideas.
Following our class trip to the National Portrait Gallery, we had a go at drawing self portraits in different poses. Have a look as some of our portraits here:
