Leeds Recycling Centre Visit
Year 6 visited the VEOLIA centre in Leeds this morning as part of their science learning. We’re currently learning about properties of materials and how this affects what we make objects out of and recycling is one of those properties – one that, currently, is very topical.
The children were pleasantly surprised when we arrived as many were under the impression our visit was to the tip! Luckily, our coach pulled up outside the very modern, state of the art VEOLIA building and there was almost an audible sigh of relief from the class.
We learnt all about how the centre works in order to work towards Leeds becoming a zero waste city. This great video can tell you more about it so you can discuss it home and see how you can help too.
We had a tour of the building which included going to see the huge living wall on the outside (very high up); entering the operation room where everything was controlled; and seeing the huge grabber dive in to pick up 3.6tonnes of rubbish to drop into the furnace where it’s burned at 850 degrees!
We all made a pledge for what we could do to contribute towards reducing waste in Leeds: ask us what we decided and see whether you could do it too.
And, we finished the morning off by putting everything we’d learnt into a bit of healthy competition. Ask us how the game worked and something we learnt while we were playing.
There’s lots you could do at home to help Leeds reduce its waste. See whether your child can suggest something and see whether you’re putting the correct items into the correct bins.
Themed menu
Catering Agency, our school meal provider, will be running a special themed menu on Friday 18 January. Please contact the office, by Friday 11 January, if your child would like a school meal on this day (no action needed if your child normally has a school meal on this day).
Learning at home
Despite there being no homework set for over the holiday, it’s been great to hear about the learning the children have chosen to do while they have been off.
There have been lots of Lexia certificates given out this week and we’re hearing all about how the children are using the maths game we recommended, Hit the Button.
Thank you for this support at home.
Welcome back!
We hope you have all had a restful and enjoyable break. The children have come back ready for the new term of learning and we start with our class assembly tomorrow at 2:40pm.
We hope to see you there.
Welcome back
Welcome back and Happy New Year!
We’d like to thank you for all the lovely Christmas gifts and cards.
This term is set to be yet another busy one filled with exciting learning.
‘What’s the Matter?’
This will be a Science based topic. Matter makes up our physical universe. The children will learn about the matter on Earth, which exists in one of three states: solid, liquid or gas. We will study how the state of some matter can be changed and reversed.
Reading
A lot of our reading activities will cross over and link to our class novel. On a Friday, the children will have a ‘Reading for Pleasure’ session. Each group will continue to be heard read from a guided book, focusing each week on a different skill necessary to aid comprehension and fluency. It is very important that your child had read to the given target page each week. During this session, we encourage the children to bring in a book from home. They are welcome to keep this in the reading area for others to enjoy should they wish to.
Maths
Multiplication, division and fractions are all on our maths agenda. Alongside this, there will be daily counting and times tables practise. It is an age related expectation, in Year 4, for all children to be able to recall multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12 × 12. (aim for rapid recall within five seconds)
How can you help?
Talk about maths every day! We use our English skills on a daily basis but sometimes maths is confined to school maths lessons. Talk about the time, chant tables and pose challenges that encourage your child to become more fluent in maths.
Living and Learning
Each week we will have a specific focus for our sessions. The lessons are delivered in various different ways. These can range from a circle time or a forum, to a drama based activity. We begin with a focus on ‘Manners.’ (not interrupting)
I don’t interrupt (with my hand or my hand)
Following this, we link the theme with our mini-topic – What’s the matter? Problem solving and showing how we can make things better, being the focus.
Please feel free to pop in should you have any questions or queries relating to your child or their learning.
Climbing, swimging, jumpimg, balancing and much more!
Physical development is one of the seven areas of the early years foundation stage and is used to develop a child’s movement. Children do this in range of ways including spacial awareness when moving, co-ordination of small and large movements, how to effectively use tools and equipment, saying when they do or don’t need help.
This morning, Reception Class enjoyed their first PE lesson using ‘big apparatus.’ Since starting school in September, the children have developed skills in throwing, catching, balancing, movement and teamwork.
We were very impressed with all the children especially those who took a ‘safe risk‘ and attempted challenges despite not being confident.
PLEASE ENSURE YOUR CHILD HAS A PE KIT IN SCHOOL READY FOR THE LESSON ON A TUESDAY.
ALSO, EARRINGS MUST BE REMOVED FOR PE.
Conjunction Investigators
This Term, Year Three are becoming experts at using conjunctions throughout their writing. We have kicked our learning off this year by discussing what a coordinating conjunction is and why we use them. For an interactive video on conjunctions click here.
We discussed that we can use conjunctions to extend a sentence, join two clauses together to make a sentence and to fix or improve a squashed sentence.
We decided to investigate:
- How important conjunctions are – do real life writers of books use them a lot, a bit or not at all?
- Do both fiction and non-fiction writers use conjunctions?
We investigated by looking through the books sat in our book corner.
We found conjunctions are used regularly in both fiction and non-fiction. Therefore we discovered that to be a successful writer and make our writing interesting, we needed to master conjunctions. We focused on the conjunctions: and, so, but and or. Can your child remember any more conjunctions?
Gymnastics
First session each Monday, Year Three now have gymnastics.
The class are working on: balance, moving in various form and forward rolls. All of these skills improve their flexibility, coordination and fitness.
Can they be the teacher and show you these skills at home?
Great gymnastics, Year Three!
Hopes and Wishes for 2019
Yesterday afternoon, Year Three their hopes and wishes for 2018. We then discussed their hopes and wishes for 2019. The children had lots of lovely ideas.
We talked about reasonable, achievable goals for this year. We also talked about unreasonable wishes for 2019. Can your children remember what these words mean and give you an example of an unreasonable wish for for 2019? Is a wish for magical powers reasonable or unreasonable?
Your child took home their 2018 New Year resolutions. Can they reflect on them and discuss how they are going to achieve their goals for 2019?
A lovely start!
I hope everyone’s holidays were lovely.
It’s been an enjoyable, action-packed start to the Spring term today. We’re exploring poetry this week and so spent the morning reading poems, sharing our thoughts with each other and creating performances in groups and as a class.
Y6 have come back ready to learn with smiley faces and a great attitude.