What an amazing term we have had! Our time together has flown by. We have had some super cool adventures and learnt lots of new things. Let’s have a look back!
The Circus is coming to town!
Our topic this term has been “The circus is coming to town!” the children have learnt about the history of the circus and how it has changed over the years. We discussed circus’ of the past and present and what they might be like in the future. Furthermore, we have shared thoughts and opinions on if we are for or against animals performing.
Literacy
This term, Walnut class have continued to develop their drafting and editing skills. This allows the children to work independently as well as develop their knowledge and understanding of the different features of writing. They became the teachers and gave constructive feedback on others work.
The children continued to develop their use of varying sentence lengths to ensure the reader stays interested. They used a range of different colours to highlight vocabulary used to avoid repetition.
The children have explored a range of model texts (the best examples of writing) to support their development when writing for that genre.
From this, the children worked in pairs to edit and improve sections of the model text. This allowed the children to share, use and develop their vocabulary skills. Once they had completed this task the new sentences were placed together to make a induction for an overcoming the monster narrative.
As a class, we focused on continuing to improve our descriptive skills. The children achieved this through creating different characters and generating vocabulary to describe them.
The children then worked on developing their use of different words. They did this by selecting a noun, adjective, verb and adverb to include in a sentence.
From this, they used the selected words to construct their sentences. In groups they read through the sentences to ensure that they made sense.
Walnut class have been working hard to develop their reading skills. They are encouraged to read at every occasion. As apart of this we have worked on reading aloud in front of the class.
Walnut class have also continued to develop their dictionary and thesaurus skills but leveling the words they use in a sentence. This term, we have focused on verbs.
Mathematics
During this term we have been really focused in our multiplication and division skills. we particularly enjoyed Times Tables Rock Stars and Maths Bowling.
We deepened our understanding of equal groups and learnt how to describe images related to division. When solving multiplication and division calculations, we used a range of concrete resources before progressing to using pictorial representations. Walnut class built on their mental skills throughout, using the rule of commutativity, doubling and inverse to solve multiplication and division calculations.
In Walnut class we also developed the concept of statistics in the form of tables, tally charts, pictograms and block diagrams. We learnt to use tally charts as a systematic method of recording data and to use tally charts and tables to produce pictograms and block diagrams from data we have collected as well as data which was given. In addition we used our knowledge of the two, five and ten times tables to draw and interpret pictograms.
Science
Walnut class have been learning all about electricity and how to use it safely. First we learnt about the different types of electricity and how it is used. We also explored the forms electricity comes in.
As a class we have discussed the do’s and don’ts when it comes to using electricity. From this, we decided that it would be a good idea to share this information with others. So, in groups the children created posters and leaflets to share what they had learnt.
Crazy about building circuits! First we explored the different components used to build a circuit and identified their what they do. We learnt that every electrical thing we use needs to have a working circuit.
We then built our own circuits using our newly acquired knowledge. From this we were asked to apply our knowledge to investigate different circuits to see if they would work or not.
Creative Workshop
The children have been given a range of opportunities to explore their creativity. Both Birch and Walnut children have come together to work on many different projects.
First, the children explored this terms theme “The circus is coming to town!” they were provided with a mixture of materials and then asked to discuss and create something that linked to out theme.
The children were engaged and created their own competition to where the winner would place their design on a canvas. As a result of this workshop the children made Circus posters, 3D models of Circus tents, information leaflets and much more!
We have also taken part in cooking activities that have allowed us to apply our Mathematical and Literacy skills to something a little different.
Knitting
The children have continued to develop their fine motor skills through learning how to knit. They been learning how to cast off, use two needles and how to create rows.
Watercolours
Birch and Walnut have been exploring a range of different materials when creating a piece of art. They have particularly enjoyed working with watercolours and learning all about how to apply pressure, and different amounts of water to create varied textures for one image.
Chinese New Year
The Primary Section came together to celebrate the new lunar year. This year is the year of the rabbit. The children learnt about the different traditions practiced over the new lunar year celebrations.
The children made some delicious Noodles and Boa’s to eat during our celebration. They also created red envelopes, lanterns and wrote in Chinese.
Woodwork and Design Technology
As part of our collaborative project with Oak and Birch Classes (and some Cedars came to help), we worked on designing our very own Compost Bin that we will be using in the next term. Linking our topics in Design & Technology and Mathematics, the children accurately measured the angles, calculated the distance between the planks of wood and used properties of 2D and 3D shapes on their designing journey. The amazing Walnut students realised the importance of measuring angles and clearly saw that measurements have to be accurate in order for the different parts to fit together correctly.
So there we were,
Cutting and drilling.
Measuring, thinking
Worked well as a team and were quite willing.
We will grow our own veg,
That are very organic.
Will get our hands dirty,
But will wash them, don’t panic.
Compost bin creation,
We have conjured together.
Nothing could stop us,
Even cold weather.
Greenhouse effect
we have discussed in science.
Picked up quite a lot of new things
And self reliance.
Wormery we built,
For our best friends worms.
Amazing things they do,
We hope everyone knows.
Raised beds, greenhouse
And wormery construction.
Enthusiasm was pumping,
Like a volcanic eruption.
Still a long way to go
But we will manage.
Automated watering system, birdfeeders and scarecrow creature.
Hey mum, do you know how to use a drill?
Just look at this, I will teach ya.
Green Garden Project just started,
But we are already delighted.
If you would like to come and help,
Don’t hesitate to come forward, you are invited.
French Sessions
Beginner
It has been a very busy start to 2023 and the students have learned lots of new French vocabulary, songs, poems, read books and played educational games. As we have changed seasons, the students have learned a song about l’Hiver (winter). We have begun a new French beginner learning programme called Tatou le Matou. Each week we listen (audio guide) and read a story about Tatou le chat and then the children have their own workbooks where they listen and answer questions related to the story/theme. The students really enjoy Tatou’s adventures. We also do a weekly session of handwriting where the students are learning how to write in cursive. The children are rightly very proud of how quickly they are developing this technique while also learning to write words in French.
Intermediate
From January to February, we started as usual the lessons with the calendar activity and its questions/answers. The main topic of this period was Food; we spoke about fruits, vegetables, and covered the basic food served. All French classes baked the traditional “Galette des rois” and “crêpes”. This topic was introduced by the characters of our learning method ZigZag. We read stories (“Le géant de Zeralda”, “PB3 et les légumes”…) and did the written exercises linked with them. Through this topic, the children did a survey between themselves to know what they like or dislike on different kind of food which made them say sentences and ask questions such as “Qu’est-ce que tu aimes? J’aime/ je n’aime pas…il y a…). They also practiced the vocabulary linked to food through games (Bingo and hangman). They practiced the reading and writing part of the language through their exercise book as well as through additional ones given in class or as homework. As songs and poems also help learning a language, we carried on learning new ones such as: “Ratatouille” and “Bonshommes de neige”. After the break, we will start with a new topic: Sports
Advanced
Cette troisième période a été bien chargée en apprentissage puisque plusieurs notions de grammaire et de conjugaison ont été étudiées en plus des nouveaux sons et des fiches de lecture et de compréhension. Nous avons abordé différents thèmes tels que l’hiver, la galette, le Nouvel An Chinois, les crêpes, la saint Valentin…
Les livres lus durant ce terme ont été les suivants:
De ces ouvrages, plusieurs activités d’apprentissage et de compréhension ont permis d’exploiter ces histoires.
A chaque début de semaine, les élèves ont appris et chanté une nouvelle chanson:
J’aime la galette, Loin du froid de décembre, Trois esquimaux, Les petits souliers, L’amour brille sous les étoiles.
Les objectifs de cette période ont été:
– d’approfondir la langue française
– de s’exprimer de manière plus fluide
– de renforcer la syntaxe en s’exprimant oralement
– d’effectuer des lectures silencieuses
– de connaître et d’acquérir les sons et les consonnes (gu/gn/in,ain,ein,un/é, è) et de réviser les autres sons et consonnes déjà étudiés précédemment.
– de former des mots à partir de lettres, de syllabes mélangées
– de remettre les mots dans le bon ordre afin de reconstituer des phrases correctes
– de lire des textes et des petits livres (collection Sami et Julie)
– d’intégrer des règles de grammaire (les types de phrases, le sujet, le groupe nominal, le nom et les déterminants) et de conjugaison (le présent des verbes du 1er groupe et des auxiliaires être et avoir).
– mémoriser une poésie “L’hiver” de Karine Persillet
– de chanter collectivement une chanson
– de préparer une carte pour la saint Valentin
French IPC
We have had a very busy and exciting start to 2023 in IPC French class! The main theme for this term was La Cirque (The Circus) where we learned a lot of new vocabulary related to this topic and we ended the term with a fantastic 2 day Circus Workshop where the students got to put what they learned into practice and became acrobats/jugglers/magicians for 2 afternoon sessions with a professional circus artist & teacher with over 20 years of experience. We also celebrated La Galette des Rois, La Chandeleur and Le Nouvel An Chinois (the students learned how to write in Chinese calligraphy). The children showed off their baking skills by making galettes & crêpes and they all enjoyed eating them
Circus workshop
During our 2 day workshop we learnt some pretty amazing skills. The children of Birch and Walnut took part in a master class workshop led by a professional circus performer.
We learnt all about the different types of equipment a circus performer uses and how it is used safely and properly.
All their hard work led to an amazing performance. The children were able to share their newly learnt skills with the rest of the school.
Sports and Cycling
In PE we have been playing lots of different games to improve our coordination skills and to reinforce the importance of working together as a team. We particularly enjoyed playing hide and seek.
Music
This term, the children of Birch and Walnut have been learning about beat, rhythm, pace and tempo. First, we explored different sounds using our hands, feet and bodies.
From this, the children investigated different beats and tempo’s using the precussional instruments. We took our learning out of the classroom and into the forest.
Forest Exploration
