Autumn 2

Can we Map a Local Settlement?

Our driver subject this half term is Geography and our main enquiry question is:  ‘Can we map a local settlement?’ 

The local settlement we will be focusing on is Brinklow. The children will learn where Brinklow is and will be analysing a map of Brinklow using a key, four figure grid references and compass points. The children will be identifying human and physical features in Brinklow and comparing an aerial photo of Brinklow to a map of it. Next the children will discover why people settled in Brinklow (putting it into its Historical context). After this, we will spend a day in Brinklow (date to be confirmed and a letter will be sent out soon)! During this fieldtrip, the children will use a map to navigate around the village, link features to prior learning in History (Roman Road), visit landmarks like the Motte and Bailey and other places they identified on their map previously. During this fieldtrip the children will be creating their own sketch maps, photographing features of land use and be continuing to consider: why people settled there? Why do people choose to live there now? How has land use changed – economically, trade etc? Once we have returned to school the children will create finished versions of their sketch maps with photos and clear labels for land use.

English

In English this half term, the children will be focusing on narrative poetry. We will be reading ‘The Highwayman’ by Alfred Noyes in our English lessons. Some of the vocabulary in the poem is quite complicated so we will be working on the poem in verses to help the children understand it. We will also be identifying different types of figurative language Noyes has used and for what effect.  As part of this work, we will be learning some of the poem and completing lots of drama work linked with it. Using all the new vocabulary the children have learnt they will then turn the narrative poem into a narrative story. Next the children will write a diary entry as if they are a character in the poem. Finally, they will write a newspaper report about an event in the poem.

Maths

In Maths our first unit will be, continuing ‘Timetables’ and then we will be moving on to our next unit called ‘Multiplication and Division’. During this unit the children will be learning about multiples, factors, prime numbers, how to multiply and divide whole numbers by 10, 100 and 1000, how to multiply numbers up to 4 digits by a one or two-digit number using a formal written method and how to divide a 4-digit number by a one-digit number using the formal written method. We will then start our next unit called ‘Perimeter and Area’ where the children will measure and calculate the perimeter of composite rectilinear shapes in centimetres and metres and calculate and compare the area of rectangles (including squares), including using standard units, square centimetres (cm2) and square metres (m2) and estimate the area of non-rectilinear shapes.

Science

In our Science lessons, our new unit is called ‘Circle of Life’. During this unit, we will be learning about life cycles of mammals, birds, amphibians and insects and we will be answering the following questions: What is a life cycle? What do we know about the life cycles of mammals? What do we know about the life cycles of amphibians? What do we know about the life cycles of insects? What do we know about the life cycles of birds? What makes a successful life cycle?  How are humans helping endangered animals to complete their life cycles?

RE

In RE, we will be focusing on Christianity and will be exploring this enquiry question: Is the Christmas story true? 

We will be learning to evaluate different accounts of the Christmas story and

understand that stories can be true in different ways.

We will ask the children what they already know about the Christmas story, who was present at the birth of Jesus? Why were they all there at the same time?

If we are questioning who was actually present during the Christmas story and when they were there, what else might be

true/not true?

 We will also ask if Jesus really born on the 25th December.

PSHE

In PSHE this half term the children will consider many aspects linked to the unit, ‘Celebrating Difference’. During this unit the children will learn about cultural differences and how they can sometimes cause conflict, understand what racism is

be aware of their attitude towards people from different races, understand how rumour-spreading and name-calling can be bullying behaviour, learn the difference between direct and indirect types of bullying and how to support someone being bullied, compare their life with people in the

developing world and appreciate the value of happiness regardless

of material wealth and finally the children will learn how to respect theirs and other people’s cultures.

Computing

This half term the children will continue to learning all about coding, they will learn how to create concept maps in computing and will be creating some maps linked to our Science lessons.

The children will also be learning about databases and will create their own topic database.

Art

In Art, the children will be given a piece of the Bayeux Tapestry, which they need to produce a replica of, using hessian fabric as the background, felt and their sewing skills. The children will spend time practising the skill of sewing before creating their final piece. They will practise: threading a needle, tying a knot, cutting fabric/felt and creating a stitch to join two pieces together, layering fabric, weaving or stitching into areas of fabric, cutting shapes from the fabric and applying different fabric behind the shape, pulling the fabric into folds and pleats and securing with stitching.

    PE

This half term the children will be learning the skills to support them to play volleyball.

In their other PE lesson, they will be learning lots of skills in gymnastics.

PE this half term is timetabled for Tuesday and Friday.

Children should come to school wearing a white T shirt, black shorts/joggers, school sweatshirt or cardigan and trainers on these days.

Useful Links to Practise Key Skills

English:

Oxford Owl- provides access to free e-books (you have to create a free account to view them) 

Your child has an individual log-in for this website. They can play spelling games based on lists of words. 

Use these links to find an interesting image. What do you think is happening? Can you describe what is happening in your exercise book? Can you write a story about it?

On the Pobble 365 website, there is a different image everyday for you to use. If you click on 'Pick a Day' in the right hand corner of the Pobble 365 website you can select an image from any day. 

This blogger has compiled a list of children's authors with great books to read, each author has a few reading based activities on their website. 

Audible has lots of free audiobooks for children while you're learning at home.

KS2 Bitesize English is a fantastic resources to revise SPAG, different types of text and reading.

Maths:

This website has lots of age appropriate maths resources and they have produced home learning packs for each year group with helpful videos and activities for each day of home learning. 

Maths Mastery have produced lots of fantastic free resources for children to use at home.

This website has lots of interactive Maths games. 

This website groups games together well and you can search by subject.

Times Table Rock Stars - your child has an individual log in for this.

This is a story based maths game which your child can log into with their TT Rock stars log ins.

Other Subjects:

This is a fantastic website with lots of videos, interactive activities and printable resources around all the subjects as well as current events. Great for exploring if you want some extra material in your home learning. Children you can watch the '60 Seconds News' following this link (the same as we watch in class!). 

Once clicking this link, choose 'Espresso' from the drop down log-in menu in the top right hand corner. You have been given, in the front of your exercise books, a username and password for this website. 

With this link you can take a virtual tour around the British Museum, London. 

This website has lots of activities you can do in the garden, as well a lots of information about animals and plants for research tasks.

Find out information and take quizzes using this link.

These games are the first steps of computer programming, they are very engaging for children. 

This is a typing game for children.

Joe Wicks 'The Body Coach' has a series of 5 minute videos aimed at children. He is also running a 30 minute PE session every morning at 9:00 on his YouTube channel (The Body Coach).

This website has fun movement videos for children