Class Teacher: Mrs Barrett
LSCA: Mr Dulieu
In the Autumn term we are exploring the question, "How can we tell the truth from tale?" We will begin by looking at historical information from the Greeks and how stories from this era have some basis in fact, as well as fiction.
Our class texts in the Autumn term are The Odyssey by Geraldine McCaughrean and Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
Literacy: We will be creating our own adventure stories based on the Greek Myths which include a mythical creature, hero and gods and godesses. We will be writing diary entries in the character of one of the sailors from our class text following some hotseating. We will put Odysseus on trial for the crime of losing his crew and being an unfit leader.
Based on Kensuke's Kingdom, we will a newspaper report. We will concentrate on our PALL for pieces of work: Pupose, Audience, Language and Layout.
Maths: We will read, write and compare numbers up to 1000000 rounding and ordering integers and decimals, use mental calculation and written strategies to add, subtract, multiply and divide to solve calculations and problems involving money, use written methods to solve problems with numbers with up to three decimal places and add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions.
Written methods will be taught and practised daily allowing mastery of the four number operations. Multiplication tables will also be focused on.
Science: Children will be taught to plan an investigation based on a question and to make a prediction or hypothesis, to conduct fair and reliable tests, to formulate a conclusion and to present results clearly. Living things and their habitat: Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants and animals. Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics. Light: Recognise that light appears to travel in straight lines. Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain that objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye. Explain that we see things because light travels from light sources to our eyes or from light sources to objects and then to our eyes. Use the idea that light travels in straight lines to explain why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them.
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History: Is there evidence to suggest whether a version of the Trojan Horse story is actually true? We are using our History skills to try and arrive at an answer. We will also be joined, online, by a curator of The Museum of Classical Archeaology at the University of Cambridge to talk us through the various statues and artefacts that have been found and how they link with what we know about the Greeks and their culture. We are writing a discussion text to state whether the story of the Trojan Horse is Fact, Myth or Legend.
PSHE: Linked to our question, we are considering our rights and responsibilities and studying how democracy, elections and laws work. We will welcome a representative working for Parliament to discuss Laws and Debating.
Reminders
PE: Tuesday and Wednesday (please come to school dressed in your PE kit on these days)
Homework: Reading and maths homework is set on the Purple Mash learning platform on a Friday for completion by the following Thursday. Spellings will be given as a paper copy on THursdays to be completed by the following Thursday. On some weeks, talk homework will be given on a Thursday to be completed that day and returned on Friday morning to support an independent writing task.
Reading: It is expected that pupils will read regularly throughout the week at home, and complete a quiz on their book in school when they have completed it. They will also have a group reading book to keep up with each week.
In the Spring term we will be exploring the question: "How do our decisions affect the environment and how does it affect us?". We will base our studies around being geographers and how we investigate places, investigate patterns and communicate geographically.
Literacy: We will continue to develop our writing by creating stories, diary entries and reports based upon the book Wonder and the characters therein. We will also use our study of the Ancient Maya Civilisation to write from the perspective of an explorer and to describe settings.
Mathematics: We will complete our study of units including, Ratio and Proportion and Statistics. We will complete revision and work on problem solving exercises to apply our knowledge and skills.
Science: Evolution and Inheritence:
Art and Music: We will use and devlop painting and drawing skills and create a potrait of the queen. We will also use perspective to create images of the buildings of the Ancient Maya ans sculpture to create masks associated with the rituals of the Maya.
Our class text in the Spring term is Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman
Literacy: We will continue to develop the use of discursive writing to consider issues related to climate change and issues experienced by the character in Pig Heart Boy to write balanced and biased arguments; report writing linking ideas from our science topic concerning the human body and forming persuasive ideas in order to write a speech to convince others of our point of view.
Mathematics: In Maths we will be covering the topics: Decimals, Percentages, Algebra, Ratio and Area, Perimeter and Volume. We continue to complete our daily arithmetic skills using mental and written methods as well as focusing on our multiplication tables.
Geography: Over a number of lessons we will look at the impact the change in climate is having on people living in a range of environments: Identify, describe and explain why communities in The Gambia are being affected by changes in weather patterns associated with climate change and evaluate the impact on people. Evaluate a range of evidence, reach a conclusion and make judgements as to the impact on people of changing weather patterns in Victoria in Southeast Australia. Understand why some coastal communities are having to make flood resilience plans in order to cope better with changes that are occurring in weather patterns and to sea levels and make judgements about what should be included in them. Reflect upon and evaluate different viewpoints and reach a personal judgement about the implications of changing weather patterns on the people of Greenland. Identify, describe, compare and contrast and explain how global warming is affecting weather patterns around the world and evaluate its impact in different places.Understand how and why countries around the world have acted to reduce global warming and reach a judgement about how effective this might be. Understand how as individuals, members of families and communities such as schools they can make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Describe and explain how each of the main renewable sources of energy works, evaluate their advantages and disadvantages and make a judgement regarding which would be most suitable for the poorest countries in the world.
Science:
Animals Including Humans:Explain the main functions of the heart, lungs and blood vessels in the circulatory system. Explain what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Describe how drugs and alcohol can impact negatively on the body. Take accurate measures of the pulse rate. Record results and write a report which includes a conclusion.
Electricity: Compare and give reasons for the variations in how components function, including the brightness of bulbs, the loudness of buzzers and the on/off position. Draw simple circuit diagrams using recognised symbols. Make links between the brightness of bulbs and the voltage. Plan and carry out investigations to answer lines of enquiry, controlling variables where necessary.
Cook, Cook, Cook!
We had great fun with Darren from Roots for Food helping us to make Japanese Teriyaki! In teams, we chopped vegetables using the bridge and claw technique, used spices and flavourings to marinade the chicken or Quorn and used the steamer and electric wok to bring the ingredients together to make this delicious dish!
Have a look at some of our learning...
In the Summer term we will be exploring 'What influence art has on the way we communicate.' We will base our studies on being artists and musicians and will investigate the Ancient Maya Civilisation.
Our class text will be Wonder by RJ Palacio
