Welcome to the first newsletter of the year. We hope that you have enjoyed the break and are
ready to start a busy new year.
History
Our first topic for the year is ‘Ancient History’ from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. We are hoping to
go on an interesting trip to explore Stone Age life and have a Stone Age experience day in school
too. We will be learning a lot of facts about the era, and any extra information that your child can
find out at home will be a real bonus.
English
Following our walk to North Dean, we will be completing a unit on shape poems. Children will use
experiences, sights and sounds from their visit to produce a range of shape poems. Children will be
encouraged to include rhyme, alliteration and onomatopoeia.
Also, your child will be reading and responding to a variety of short stories that have familiar
settings. They will be using these texts and personal experiences to write their own short story with
vivid descriptions.
Mathematics
Number is one of the focuses this term. The children will be encouraged to improve their mental
and written maths skills to solve puzzles and problems. They will extend their understanding of the
four written methods and take part in a weekly mental maths lesson which is aimed at broadening
their mathematical vocabulary. We will be looking carefully at place value
Science
This term we will be learning about ‘Magnets and friction’ and ‘Rocks and soils’.
Children will be looking what forces are used by magnets and how friction can be useful. They will
carry out a selection of investigations where they will be encouraged to make a prediction and carry
out a fair test.
PE
We have PE lessons every Tuesday and Wednesday, so your child will need their full PE kit on these
days (white t-shirt, blue shorts and suitable footwear for outside lessons). Earrings must be taken
out. This term we are looking at developing our games, dance and gymnastics skills.
Notices
 Spelling tests take place each Monday. Your child will bring their spellings home on a
Monday to learn for the test the following week.
 Your child will be starting a weekly homework project this year. We will be looking at these
in class each week so they need to be returned to school each Thursday.
 Book bags need to be returned to school each day.
We are looking forward to the year ahead and we hope you are too. Feel free to come in at anytime
if you need to discuss anything.
L. S. Newton