This week the Wrens have been heading for sunnier climates in their Explorers topic and have started to learn about the African savanna. We located Africa using Google Earth and explored what the landscape and climate of the savanna are like before identifying some of the animals that live there.  In Drawing Club we enjoyed the story of "Handa's surprise" which is set in the African savanna and features some of the animals and plants you would find there.

In maths this week, we have started to explore numerical patterns in counting and have been practising counting to 100 with a focus on the repetition of the numbers 1-9 in each set of ten.  We have also been calculating one more and one less using numbers to 10.

We were very excited on Monday to receive our first Balance-ability lesson on our brand new balance bikes.  We are looking forward to seeing the children progress their skills as they work through the programme.  As all the children need to wear cycle helmets, please can I ask that the girls wear their hair in a suitable style that will fit under a helmet on a Monday.  Thank you!

In RE this week, we started our new "Understanding Christianity" topic on Easter.  We began by learning about the events of Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was greeted as a King.  We have also started to learn some songs for our Easter celebrations.

Please can I ask that any spare clothes that have been borrowed from school are returned.  We are running low on pants and tights.  Thank you!

In English this week we have read our book, 'Toby and the Great Fire of London'. The children were able to make predictions about the story and characters now that they have learnt about this historical event. They also finished collating their facts for their non-chronological reports which they started to write at the end of this week.

In maths this week, we have continued with addition and subtraction. The children have been adding two 2-digit numbers without crossing a ten before moving on to across a ten. They have also been subtracting without crossing a ten and have moved on to across a ten. They applied their learning to solve word problems. They had to think carefully about what the problems were asking them to do.

In science, we recapped about animals' offspring. We then looked at the life-cycle of a human. We discussed what a human is capable of doing at different ages and stages of their lives.

In geography, we looked at the points of a compass. We went outside and the children found which way was north. Once finding north they were able to identify the other directions and draw what they could see.

In music this week, we have focused on performing with a steady pulse. We sang the Baking Game and many pupils had a turn at the solo part - well done! We also listened to the Fairy Queen by Henry Purcell, discussing the different instruments that we could hear.

In RE, we looked at why Good Friday is important to Christians. We talked about why the symbol of the cross is important to Christians.

Timetable

Monday: Wellies and a coat suitable for the weather

Tuesday and Thursday: PE kits

In maths this week, Y3 have been developing their fractions knowledge. We have been focussing on comparing and ordering non unit fractions, fractions with a numerator greater than 1. The children were encouraged to use fraction walls to help them 'see' what each fraction was worth so they could order them in either ascending or descending order.

In maths this week, Y4 were also developing their fractions knowledge. We were learning about mixed numbers, a number with whole numbers and fractions, how to partition them, compare them and order them. The children were also introduced to improper fractions where the numerator is greater than the denominator and how to convert them to mixed numbers. This is where having a secure times tables knowledge really helps the children to be able to 'see' how many groups of the denominator they can take from the numerator.

In science, the next step in our topic of 'Electricity' was circuits. The children were set the challenge of building different circuits involving bulbs, buzzers and motors and explaining what the effect of adding extra batteries or bulbs, etc. would be.

In computing, pupils are using their digital skills to create a trailor to promote their favourite book. Today we have been experimenting with video-making software. The software we are using is free to download. If you would like to explore it at home, it will just require an adult to set up the free account. Video Creation | Interactive Video | WeVideo

In geography, we are nearing the end of our 'Settlements' topic. We used Google Maps to find New Delhi and then identify human and physical features in the area. It was lovely to see the children using their knowledge from their computing lessons to enhance their learning in geography.

This week in English, the children have been developing their descriptive writing skills through an exciting focus on a minor attack scene in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. They have explored how to use the five senses to create vivid imagery and practiced the technique of "show, don’t tell" to convey characters' emotions and reactions to events. As the week progressed, they began crafting detailed character descriptions of the creature involved in the attack, using their newfound skills to bring it to life on the page.

In maths, the children have been working on calculating the area of triangles and the volume of cuboids. They have applied these skills to a range of reasoning and problem-solving tasks, challenging themselves to think critically and deepen their understanding of these key concepts.

In geography, the children have been planning their route for their upcoming fieldwork study, which will take place next week. They have considered the best locations for gathering data and discussed how to record their findings effectively. Meanwhile, in art, we have been exploring perspective drawing, learning how to create a sense of distance in our work and drawing realistic buildings with careful attention to detail.

Please see below information within the community but independent of the school