Maths: multiples
Today, we investigated multiples and common multiples.
By working logically and systematically, we found the multiples of one number, eg 4, the multiples of another number, eg 3, and found the numbers in both lists, eg 12, 24 and 36.
Some of our learning involved adding numbers to Venn or Carroll diagrams and explaining our reasoning.
We had to work well as a team!
Help at home by recapping key terminology such as factor, multiple, prime and composite.
Connect Challenge
Today, the whole school completed our Connect Challenge, in memory of Rob Burrow, by running walking or skipping seven laps of the back playground and the green. All the children gave 100% and were even asking to do extra laps. It was a great active morning!
Thank you for your donations so far. You can still donate on Gateway until the end of the week with money raised to be split between the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal and our school charity, The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
Living and Learning: I respect others.
In Living and Learning, we looked at how we respect others. We discussed discrimination, protected characteristics and the Equality Act 2010.
Discrimination is defined as “the unfair treatment of people because of who they are or because they have a certain characteristic.”
We remember the protected characteristics by using:
DR S GRAMPS
Disability
Race
Sex
Gender reassignment
Religion or beliefs
Age
Marriage or civil partnership
Pregnancy and/or maternity leave
Sexual orientation
We looked at different scenarios (both made up and real-life cases), where people were treated unfairly and tried to find a solution to the problem. Everyone is the class believes everyone should be treated fairly.
We now have a greater understanding that individual characteristics make everyone in the world unique and we can respect people in several different ways.
Help at home: Name the protected characteristics without looking.
Watch us while we work
Thank you to those parents who were able to join us for our watch us while we work session this week. It was lovely to see so many.
Here’s a summary of what we covered and how we are encouraging the children to become more responsible for their learning at home.
Spellings – use the spelling guide for ideas to help with learning weekly spellings.
Sentence practice – use a picture as a stimulus for writing sentences including asking questions about what they can see.
Daily reading – we thought about some of the reading skills the children are learning in Year 2 (fluency, prosody (using expression in their voices), retrieval, interpret and learning new vocabulary). Reading needs to happen daily to build up these skills. A brief note in their reading record books is needed after reading at home. We will continue to monitor the use of e-books at home. Please alert us to any access issues.
Maths – our number tennis games included counting in 2s, 5s and 10s and number bonds to 10 and 20. Play these when you’re in the car, walking to school or making breakfast. Hit the Button is a great online game to build up the recall of these facts.
Numbots certificates are awarded every Tuesday and it’s great to see children already achieving their next levels in Year 2.
Finally, here’s the help at home section of the website.
Please get in touch if you need any further support with your child’s learning at home.
Science: An air-resistance experiment
For the past three science lessons, Year 5 have been planning, undertaking and evaluating a science experiment all about air resistance. Our enquiry type was ‘Comparative and Fair Tests’. The question we were answering was: ‘Will the surface area of a parachute affect the time it takes to fall to the ground?’ The children decided on their variables, made a prediction and then were able to create the parachutes they needed.
Once they were created, the children then went out to test their parachutes and conduct the experiment.
Once we had the results, we were able to look for any anomalous results (a result that does not fit the pattern; in Maths, this is called an outlier). We also looked at the mathematical element of this science lesson as Year 5 could then calculate the average times for the tests.
To present their findings, they created bar charts using the calculated average times. These charts helped to show how the surface area clearly impacted the fall time.
Finally, the children were able to conclude their results. They found out that the bigger parachute had a larger surface area and therefore, there was more air resistance so it was the slowest.
PE – Castles and Cannonballs
We are really enjoying our PE lessons this half term. We are learning a new game – Castles and Cannonballs. We are practising our fundamental movement skills by throwing balls, aiming and working collaboratively in a group. Over the next few weeks, we are going to change and adapt the game; adding different rules, using different equipment and using different parts of our body
Reading: Book Club
Every Friday, your children share their love of reading in our Book Club sessions. As part of their homework, they complete one activity in their reading records each week, relating to the book they’re reading. This week it was ‘Predict the Future’.
We then discussed our class novel ‘Greek Myths’ by Geraldine McCaughrean – specifically the myth of ‘Daedalus and Icarus’ which we’re half way through. Your children shared their own predictions of what might happen:
I predict that Icarus is going to get too close to the sun and burn.
I predict that Icarus’ wings are going to fall off and he is going to fall but then Daedalus is going to catch him.
I predict that Icarus’ wings are going to melt off and he is going to fall but one of the guards is going to catch him and lock him up again.
We’re all very excited to finish the myth and find out if our predictions were correct!
Help at home: Read with your child daily and encourage meaningful conversations about their books. What do you think will happen next? Who is your favourite character and why? If you had to describe this book in three words, which would you choose?
Scooter Training!
Today, Year 3 have been scooter training! Using a scooter to travel, rather than driving in a car or on a bus, is much more active and clean. It’s good for us and the environment.
First, we reminded ourselves of the Green Cross Code:
- THINK
- STOP
- LOOK
- LISTEN
We then practised using this code outside while scootering around. We had some fun practising our stopping using our break.
Then we stopped and walked while crossing a ‘road’ and looked behind us while crossing a ‘driveway’.
Help at home by choosing an active way to travel. When crossing a road or driveway can you use the Green Cross Code to keep you safe?
Living and Learning: rights and responsibilities
This week in Living and Learning we talked about rights and responsibilities. We watched a video of a little girl explaining all the things she has to do to take care of her dog. We then thought about what responsibilities we have and what we do at home to help out. The children then drew all the things they are responsible for at home. I was very impressed with how responsible and mature Year 1 are!
Help at home by talking about your child’s responsibilities and giving them a job or task to be responsible for.
Marvellous Maths
We have been really deepening our understanding of numbers to 10 this half term so far in Maths. We have looked at how different numbers are made. For example 5 is made from 3 and 2 as well as 4 and 1. This week we were comparing and ordering numbers. We learnt about the greater than (>), less than (<) and equal to (=) signs. We then compared different numbers using towers of cubes and then numerals. We practised really hard and I was very impressed with how well all the children picked up the learning.
Help at home by comparing different amounts and using the words ‘greater than’, ‘less than’ and ‘equal to’.