January 2010- Spring Term

Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to start by welcoming back all pupils and parents after the festive period and wish you all a very Happy New Year for 2010! I hope you had a fantastic Christmas break and Santa was kind to you all. I would also like to thank you all for your kindness, your very generous gifts and cards were much appreciated. While the snow has already disrupted my Spring planning I aim to continue to develop reading, writing and maths skills with your support this term. The pupils made an excellent start in my class and I hope to build momentum in the early weeks of 2010. Pupils should read at home as often as possible and should learn mental maths strategies including timestable facts. The overall theme for this term’s learning is ‘Life in Tudor Times.’ Please find up-to-date class information below, should you require any further information please feel free to ask.

Class timetable

• PE will be taught across a double session on a Monday afternoon. The PE time that our class has missed this year due to inclement weather conditions will be recovered during the Summer Term. Please ensure your child has an outdoor PE kit (indoor PE kit plus a tracksuit or anything warm) each Monday. Please be aware that your child should not wear earrings for PE sessions and long hair must be tied back.
• Each child will read to an adult individually and as part of group at least once a week.
• Homework will continue in the same pattern; Maths task (Wed) Literacy task (Fri) and new spelling list (Friday to be tested the following week in Homework Diary.) Please ensure your child brings their Homework Diary and Reading Record every day.

• Curriculum

• Mrs Craddock will be based in Class 5 this term. Mr Booth, Mrs Ward and Miss Heppinstall will also work with individuals and groups of pupils on structured tasks during the week.
• Mr Harvey (Spanish) and Mr Webb (Literacy) will continue to cover my weekly PPA time on a Wednesday morning.

• Other useful information

• Please ensure that your child’s name is written on every piece of clothing they bring into school.
• Please ensure you contact the office if your child is absent from school.

Mr L W McClure

Mathematical Development

• The following areas will be taught; place value, ordering, rounding, addition, subtraction, money problems, measures and shape and space, properties of number, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, time and handling data. Pupils will develop mental maths abilities in all areas and the rapid recall of times tables and other common facts will remain very important.

• Language & Literacy

• Speaking and listening will take a greater emphasis in all areas of Literacy work. The following areas will be taught; narrative plot, narrative character and setting, poetry and plays, newspaper report writing, advertising and persuasion texts and instructional texts. Pupils will use shared texts to develop an understanding of language and knowledge of word, text and sentence levels. Pupils will gain an understanding of spelling rules and patterns to enhance grammar skills and will be encouraged to use standard English during lessons.

• Science

• Pupils will study Light and Shadows in more depth. They will investigate how shadows are formed, learn that the Sun does not move in the sky and that light travels in straight lines. How and why different lengths of shadows are formed at different times of day and use a variety of scientific language to describe the properties of light and dark re. opaque, transparent and translucent.

• ICT

• The internet will be used to support most topics this term. Pupils will develop an understanding of presentation software, which will include animations, colour schemes and design templates. Pupils will evaluate each others presentations. General word processing skills will be practised and new skills introduced throughout the work.

• History/Geography

• Pupils will look at the Tudor period and study everyday life for rich and poor, the Kings and Queens during this time. Pupils will look at timelines, events of the time and historical characters. Evidence from the period will be examined and discussed. In geographical studies pupils will identify difference between Medieval, Tudor and modern maps of the world. They will make links between voyages of exploration and more accurate maps. Pupils will improve their map reading skills and understanding.

• Art

• We will investigate different art portraits from the Tudor times. We will also look at how silhouettes are created by blocking light to create a solid shape-this is a direct link to our science work. We will also revisit observation skills by drawing a range of Tudor instruments and portraits.

• DT

• Pupils will look at the designs of Tudor houses, the colours, shapes and materials. They will plan and design their own house using card and matchsticks. Pupils will consider finishing techniques, materials, joining techniques, measuring and cutting.

• Music

• We will be listening to traditional Tudor music and looking at the instruments of the time. Tudor music composition will be compared to modern day arrangements. Develop children’s ability to create, combine and perform rhythmic and melodic material as part of a class performance of a song. Explore pentatonic scales to enhance their compositions.

• PE

• Pupils will be developing dance skills initially. They will learn some Tudor dance steps individually, in pairs and as a whole group. Pupils will develop coordination and timing skills. In gymnastics they will improve the quality of their actions, body shape and balance. They will explore combinations of floor, mats and apparatus and find different ways to use them. Pupils will devise and perform a sequence showing different speeds and balance.

• RE/PHSE

• Pupils will study Judaism. They will answer key questions along with looking at the wider aspects of the religion. Pupils will develop an understanding of the teachings of spiritual leaders and why people have their beliefs. SEAL will be introduced as a whole school theme through assemblies and follow up lessons will be taught in class. The topics this term are ‘Going for Goals’ and ‘Good to be me.’ Furthermore, we will study all about being safe and healthy by completing our Dorothy Dot Com story and work booklets. We will also compare today’s standard of living to Tudor times.