Questions from the children
When were Stone Age people alive?
How did Stone Age people paint?
Did Stone Age people read?
Were dinosaurs alive during the Stone
Age?
Trips, visits, visitors…
We will visit Kents Cavern and Wooston
Castle iron age hill fort to enrich our
History topic. An expert from Dartmoor
National Park will also visit.
As part of our Music learning we will be
attending ‘The Elements’ concert
performed by Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra.
There is also a performance of ‘The Boy
Who Climbed into the Moon’ by Theatre
Alibi to look forward to.
Computing
This term we will be programming
using Scratch software. We will use
sequence and simple
repetition/loops whilst gaining
knowledge of key tricks needed to
animate in Scratch. This will lead on to
developing a longer sequence and
develop their understanding of
multiple scripts running at the same
time.
PE - We will make good use of the
swimming pool at the start of term,
while it is still open. We will be
improving our tactics and skills in Tag
Rugby. We will be working on passing
accurately and on catching the ball
confidently. Later in the term we are
hoping to attend a Tag Rugby festival
and inter school competitions. In
gymnastics we will be working on
pathways, levels and balances. We will
use clips of Olympic athletes to inspire
us to improve our core strength,
balances, rolls, jumps and sequences.
History and Geography- Our History topic
focuses on changes in Britain from the
Stone Age to the Iron Age. We will begin
this topic by looking at time lines to put
key time periods in context. We will think
about how we know about life so long ago
– what evidence remains? How have
archaeologists helped us to understand
our past? We will explore stone age tools
and paintings and iron age hill forts.
Dartmoor has a wealth of prehistoric
settlements to find out about, so we will
focus on what we can learn from our local
area about Prehistoric times. We will also
find out about Stonehenge and its
possible significance for stone age people.
PSHE and Citizenship
This term we will be following the SEAL
programme (social and emotional aspects
of learning). We will think about ‘new
beginnings’, ‘saying no to bullying’ and
‘getting on and falling out’. In addition
we will work on our discussion and
debating skills, learning how to present
arguments persuasively and how to
‘agree to disagree’ with others, showing
respect for different views and beliefs.
Art - Our learning this term is inspired
by our History topic. We will find out
about cave paintings, discussing what
they represent and how they were
made. We will experiment with similar
techniques and styles, as we try to
replicate their themes. This will involve
us working on our observation,
drawing and painting skills. By the end
of the block we will have developed our
confidence in representing human and
animal forms on paper.
Design Technology -Our DT this term is
linked to our History topic. The children
will be introduced with the problem of
how Stone Age humans moved and
positioned the stones that make
Stonehenge. Using simple machines, such
as pulleys and gears, and considering the
importance of reducing friction, the
children will design and build their own
vehicle to transport 2 model boulders.
Living then and now
Class 2 Autumn 2016
French - We will continue to enjoy
learning more about France and French
culture through songs, stories and videos.
We will develop our confidence with
simple conversation and basic vocabulary,
such as colours and numbers. In addition
to speaking and listening, Y3/4 children
will develop their reading and writing
skills in French. With the older children,
we will be learning some basic French
phonics and grammar and exploring how
French sentences work!
English
We will begin term looking at fiction
writing by reading the story ‘The Huge
Bag of Worries’. The children will learn to
use adjectives and conjunctions to add
detail to a piece. We will explore how to
use characterisation and where to use
adverbs effectively. This sequence of work
will culminate with the children writing
their own story set in a familiar setting.
Later in the term we will move on to nonfiction writing, studying information texts.
Building on the excitement of the
Olympics this summer, we will study the
DK ‘Children’s Book of Sport’.
Maths
The children will work as three separate
year groups in Maths. We will begin the
term by refreshing and extending their
knowledge of number and place value.
This will include counting on and back in
multiples of 1, 2, 10 and 100. We will also
be working towards recognising the place
value in each digit of numbers up to 4
digits long. We will use number lines,
bead bars and formal written methods
for addition and subtraction. In the
measurement and geometry areas of
the curriculum we will estimate,
calculate and compare a variety of
measures, including money. The
children will classify and compare
geometric shapes and angles.
RE
This term children will explore the
theme of ‘Religion, Family and
Community’ within Christianity and
Islam. We will introduce children to the
concept of worship and community
and will encourage them to explore
what these concepts mean, both in their
own lives and within the lives of
practising Christians and Muslims.
Music
Our learning this term is inspired by the
wonderful world of symphonic music. We
will explore the themes of air, earth, fire
and water through selected famous
classical pieces (such as Holst’s Mars
suite). We will also learn a special song to
sing and a percussion piece, with a choir
of hundreds of other children, at the
Exeter University concert. Towards the
end of term we will prepare for our
Christmas performance.
Science - In Science this term we will be
finding out about what is under our skin!
We will learn more about our skeleton,
muscles including the heart, and the
digestive system. We will also learn about
the nutrition that humans (and other
animals) need to be fit and healthy. We
will study the impact of diet, exercise, and
lifestyle on our bodies. We will also think
about ageing.
We will make our learning as active and
interactive as possible, exploring scientific
methods and fair tests.
Getting involved at home
~You could work on the vocabulary list for
our topics this term.
~You could create your own stone age
mud painting and visit famous sites on
Dartmoor (more information will follow,
with some ideas for family outings).
~You could explore the effect of different
exercises on your heart rate.
~You could write a story (possibly with
chapters) set in a familiar setting.
~You could download the free ’Scratch’
software at home and let your child teach
you how to use it!