CLASS/YEAR GROUP: Willow Yr4 & Yr5
TEACHER: Mrs Byatt & Mrs Hopkins
DATE: Spring 2016
Geography: We will be learning about the different biomes
around the world, the vegetation that grows there and the animals that
live there. We also research why animals become endangered and why
biomes are beginning to change. We will learn to use a compass and the
eight compass points and relate them to mapping skills within a popular
theme park.
Art: This term our art work will be closely linked to our literacy theme.
English: We will be learning, through Talk for Writing, to write moral and
warning stories starting with the poem ‘The Spider and the Fly’ by Mary Howitt.
We will write balanced and unbalanced discussion texts and instructions linked to
our science work. We will continue to work on sentence construction using a
variety of techniques developing the children’s abilities to use the correct
terminology to describe word choices. We will develop the use of commas,
hyphens, brackets and a developer a greater understanding of when to change
paragraphs. We will look at homophones, suffixes and prefixes in our spelling
work and link this to our handwriting sessions. In reading, we will improve our
retrieval, inference and explanation of author choice skills through a range of
texts.
Maths: We will start the term by investigating square numbers. We will be
using our knowledge of factors to apply divisibility tests as well as developing our
mental multiplication skills. We will be looking at negative numbers in context and
using this knowledge to calculate rises and falls in temperature. We will be
developing our addition and subtraction skills by using decimal numbers in our
problem solving. We will be plotting points in two quadrants to draw polygons
and performing translations to move them.
If you
dare…
I’m in Willow
Class – get
me out of
here!
We will be looking at the illustrations in our text The Spider and the Fly
and using them to help inspire our own sculptures. We will create a dining
table for the spider’s feast. The children will be planning and creating their
own designs.
Design Technology: During the second half term the
children will be set an exciting challenge. They will need to design and
build a log flume car. The car will need to travel down a track and float in
the pool of water in the landing bay. The children will need to draw on
their knowledge of forces and buoyancy in order to be successful.
RE/PSHE: RE: ‘What do your clothes say about you?’ We will
look at the special clothes the children wear for different events and
clothing worn by the Hindu, Islam, Jewish, Maori, Sikh, Buddhist and
Christian religions. This will link to our work in PSHE on tolerance and
respect. PSHE: Going for Goals, Rule of Law – a visit from a British
magistrate, respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs
(linked to RE). NSPCC assembly and workshop – an introduction to
Childline (Yr5 only)
Science: We will be learning about predators of the sea, land and sky and
Music: We will be learning about the music of Evelyn Glennie and
how they survive in the wild. We will think about predators from the past and how
it is possible to make new discoveries about them. The children will explore a
range of predatory plants and discover how they feed.
In the second half of term, we will be experimenting with centripetal forces,
friction, air and water resistance, pendulums and setting up and writing a fair and
comparative test.
John Cage and the variety of compositional possibilities! We will revise
and revisit standard notation for rhythm and pitch and after half term will
be learning to play the recorder and year 5 will continue to develop their
recorder skills from last year.
Computing: We will be learning to develop the skill of web design creating a website about cyber safety (linked to Safer Internet Day 03/2/16).
Languages: We will be continuing to learn
French including understanding and using the phrases je
voudrais, j’adore and je déteste and to ask questions with
c’est qui? We will also continuing learning the numbers to
20.
PE: We will be learning how to accurately keep the beat, timing and
create sequences in dance lessons and developing our passing and
defending skills in tag rugby.
Additional Information
Home Learning
Each week the children will receive either a list of spellings or a spelling
investigation, on a Wednesday, which will be tested or handed in on the following
Wednesday. Mrs Hopkins will take responsibility for this homework.
On a Monday they will receive a piece of maths homework either supporting their
current topic of times tables based. Again, this will be handed in the following
Monday. Mrs Byatt will take responsibility for this homework.
Throughout the course of the term, we will ask your child to complete short pieces
of research and presentation linked to our theme of ‘If you dare…’ You will always
be informed in writing about these tasks stating the deadline date.
Important Dates & Curriculum Visits
Zoolab Stunning Start 06.01.16
Thakeham AoT meeting: 12.01.16 6-7.30pm
Talk 4 Writing Parents’ Visit to classes (AM) 23.02.16
First Schools AoT meeting: 26.01.16 6-7.30pm @ Ashington First School
Belgian afternoon 04.02.16
Parents’ Evenings: 15.03.16 3.30-5pm
Ways That You Can Help Your Child With Our Topic
• Any additional reading/research/trips to the library about prey and predators,
food chains, biomes or endangered species.
• Encouraging children to learn the times tables they are weakest recalling
the facts of, to support their maths work throughout many different topics.
• Helping the children to understand their spelling words by inserting them in
everyday conversations throughout their normal week.
In the second week of term, each child will need an empty, clean 1.5l or 2l
plastic bottle to complete a very exciting geography / science experiment.
16.03.16 5-7pm
Safer Internet Meeting: 03.02.16 6.15pm
NSPCC assembly (Y5) 29.02.16
March Music Festival: 11.03.16 1pm
Meet the Head/Governors: 03.02.16 9am & 6.45pm
11.03.16 2.30pm
NSPCC Workshop (Y5) 02.03.16
World Book Day 03.03.16
Positive Persevering Poppy Afternoon: 23.03.16
PLEASE SEE NEWSLETTER FOR ALL OTHER DATES INCLUDING
SPORTS FIXTURES
PE/Games Kit/Days
Willow Class will have PE with Mr Blick on a Wednesday morning and
Dominic Evans and Mrs Hopkins on Friday afternoon.
They will need a full PE kit on both of these days.