Science
This half term, our science learning has been all about living things and their habitats so we are biologists.
Here is the key science vocabulary that we have been learning along with their definitions.
So far we have learnt about what is living, dead and what has never been alive. Think about this for the following things.
Then, we learnt about different habitats and the animals and plants that live there.
What might live in a polar habitat?
Where habitat would a monkey live in?
What might live in a desert habitat?
What habitat would a squirrel live in?
There are also micro-habitats.
A micro-habitat is a very small habitat (a small area of a larger habitat).
For example, a leaf could be a micro-habitat of a hedgerow.
Why do animals and plants live in particular habitats?
A habitat provides the basic needs (including food, air, water and shelter) of different kinds of animals and plants. It gives them what they need to survive.
There are lots of great videos to support this learning on the BBC website.
Living and Learning: 8 Rs for Learning
Hi everyone!
Y6 have been very impressive during our Living and Learning (L&L) sessions so far this year. We have had some very mature, respectful and honest discussions about different aspects of L&L.
One session in particular looked at the 8 Rs for Learning.
These are the things we do in our every day lives that make us successful. These can be achieved during lesson time, playtime, lunchtime, at home, at the weekend, in the evening etc. We refer to the 8 Rs for Learning a lot during lessons but they could also be referred to at home… by you!
They are:
Responsible – trying your best with your learning (responsibility at home could be being in charge of some household jobs)
Resourceful – using our learning walls to find out an answer or getting equipment from the spares if needed
Resilient – not giving up even if the learning is tricky
Ready – being ready on 321 STOP and arriving at school on time to begin learning
Risk-taking – a safe risk includes putting your hand up even if you’re unsure of the answer
Reflective – thinking about the learning you’ve done or the day you’ve had and how it has impacted you
Responsive – responding to feedback and learning from mistakes
Remembering – remembering learning (this could be practising your times tables)
We frequently use these 8 Rs in our learning but they are valuable life skills that can be followed all the time.
See if your child shows any of the 8 Rs whilst at home or out and about. Can they remember them all?
See you soon!
History – debate time!
On Wednesday, we had a different day to usual…
Our morning started off with circle time. Circle time is new and we’ll be doing it every week. This time will be for the class to sit calmly and reflect on the week and share any thoughts or worries. Year 4 did fantastic during their first circle time. The children showed good listening and gave helpful advice to each other.
We then kept the tables to the edges of the classroom to have a debate! This debate was to decide which Ancient Greek city state was the best – Athens or Sparta. The children had already learned about both city states so were ready with the best information to argue their case! They countered each other’s arguments about government, equality, war and trade. It was fantastic! 
Sparta won but both sides explained their points thoroughly and respectfully to one another. Success!
Research other Ancient Greek city states at home and find out which one was the fairest of them all.
Science – basic needs
Our science topic this half term is living things and their habitats. We have learnt about different habitats and the different animals and plants that live there.
Today we learnt about what every animal needs to survive – their basic needs. They are four basic needs: food, water, air and shelter.
We then thought about different animals in their habitats and how each of those animals gets their basic needs. We worked in pairs to show how each animal gets their basic needs from their habitat.
Another great week Year 1, well done!
Maps, maps and more maps!
Literacy
This week, our focus story has been The Everywhere Bear by Julia Donaldson. After reading the book, we drew story maps of the Bear’s adventure. They were fantastic at remembering all the places the Bear visited.
On Wednesday, Barney (our class bear) and Mrs Wood went on a journey around Moortown. We looked at the photos together to see if we could recognise any of the landmarks. Talk to your child about where Barney went.
After this, we watched a video about maps. We talked about the symbols used on maps and took our own soft toys on a journey around school. On our return, we drew maps of our journey.
Maths
This week, we focussed on the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there are. We developed our counting skills to enable us to identify how many there are in a set that cannot be subitised. We explored how all sorts of things can be counted, including sounds. We practised our 1:1 correspondence, by moving, tagging and using counting sticks when counting larger objects .
Counting how many skittles we knocked over.
Counting our votes next to each piece of fruit after carrying out a survey.
Counting sets of objects.
Using our counting wands to count larger objects.
Poetry Picnic
Every week, when we’re having our milk and snack, we’ll learn a poem. Throughout the week, we’ll rehearse it, practise the actions and talk about the poem. On Fridays, we’ll perform our poem for you to watch at home. Click here to watch this week’s poem: Chop Chop.
Every Friday, your child will bring a paper copy of the poem we’ve been learning in school.
Barney
We’ve an extra member of our class! Barney likes going home with children on Friday evenings. He sits in his basket and watches all week before choosing who he’d like to go home with. Barney loves playing in the garden, going on adventures and listening to lots of stories. He has a special diary for you to write a brief description of what he’s been up to so we can share his adventures with the class. You could even add some photos and drawings!
Reading meeting
Thank you to those of you who attended the reading Zoom meeting on Tuesday. We hope you found the information useful and are looking forward to supporting your child on their exciting reading journey.
Reading daily at home plays an important role in your child’s reading development. Support at home will help foster your child’s love of reading and your child’s reading development.
If you didn’t attend, the recording will be sent by email.
E-books
Today, your child has come home with their e-book login and reading record. Please expect e-books to be read daily. If you have any problems logging in, please speak to a member of the Reception team.
Home-Link Challenge
As always, please ask if you have any questions!
Netball skills with Tracey Neville
Today, ten Year 5 and 6 children took part in a netball skills event with Tracey Neville, former England netball international and England head coach, at the opening of the new sports dome at The Grammar School at Leeds.
The children enjoyed three skills sessions – shooting, passing and defending and the consensus from all of them, was that they had a fantastic afternoon.
Themed menu 07 October 2022
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Friday 07 October. Please contact the office if your child would like a school dinner on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
Check out the Cricket World Cup themed menu.
Reading Records
So far this half term, we have battled who has the best book, explored vocabulary and this week we are creating comic strips.
Take a look at some of our fantastic reading record activities:
Please remember to bring your reading records into school every Friday so we can continue to share your great work. If you need help to complete an activity, take a look in the front of your reading records as each task is explained or simply ask me.
I’m looking forward to seeing your homework!
Miss Goswami
Living and Learning: manners
Using good manners was our Living and Learning focus this week.
We thought about what manners are.
Saying sorry
Saying please and thank you
Saying excuse me
Sharing
Having good table manners
Not interrupting others
Being kind to others
Covering our mouth (with our elbow) if we cough or sneeze
Manners are words and actions that we can use to help us be kind and respectful to others. They are so important in our relationships with others.
Here’s a poem about manners that we will be our reading fluency text next week.
So far in Year 2, we have heard and seen some great manners. We will continue to reinforce this, not just this week, but all the time.
Remember to use these good manners whether at home, at school, in shops or wherever you are!
We are historians!
This half term, we are historians.
We’re learning about Ancient Greece.
To kickstart our history topic, we have been learning about chronology and learning the order of time periods in history.
Year 3 placed some time periods of British history into chronological order on a timeline. Then, we added Ancient Greece to our timeline to compare what was happening elsewhere in the world with Britain. Ask your child if they can remember this learning!
The vocabulary that we are learning this half term is:
- period: a phase in time
- civilisation: a period of human development that is considered most advanced
- golden-age: a time when an activity or society is at its best
- government: the group of people responsible for ruling a country
- monarchy: a type of government ruled by a king or queen
- democracy: a type of government where the people living there make decisions
- oligarchy: a type of government where a small group of people make the decisions
- Parthenon: an important temple in Athens built during the Ancient Greek golden-age