Welcome back and a Happy New Year!

Please take a look at our knowledge organiser for this half term - see below. The theme this half term is 'How to Save the Human Race'. We will be looking at how to keep ourselves healthy and fit in PE and tying that in to our computing this half term as we are working towards building a Microbit step tracker. We are going to be thinking about how we can upcycle old textiles items to create new items with added appeal of sewn details (helping to save the planet by reusing items). We will also be looking at our planet in greater depth in our new science unit on Earth and Space and exploring the other planets - who knows maybe one day the only way to save the human race would be to find a new planet compatible with life!

Weekly Updates

We had a busy last week of the half-term. We spent every spare minute we had sewing but we have still got lots to do so will be organising some lunch time sessions to complete our chair organisers. A few are almost finished and one I was able to take home to sew on my machine over the break. Will sew the others and add the photos here as they are completed. I look forward to sharing them all with you!
 

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In Science we researched the planets in our solar system. We now know the order of the planets and have found out their sizes and distances from the sun.

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We are in the final stage of completing our step counters. We have finished our programming and are going to get a chance to test them on the microbits to see if we have designed an effective step counter after the holiday.
 

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We had an amazing opportunity to have a go at skateboarding on Friday. We had a visitor take us through steps to get us positioned on the board correctly, turn, push and even do a pancake toss trick. All the children had lots of fun and persevered and supported each other when they found it tricky - I was very impressed!

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We had our last session of the great project this week which focused on gender differences and stereotyping and explored gender inequality. We ended the session by creating a poster with our promises to build happy supportive relationships and protect ourselves and others from domestic abuse.

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In science we finished our posters sharing our understanding of day and night and how shadows move.
 

We then gathered lots of information about the moon including its phases.

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In maths we have been exploring rules to make division efficient. We know that if a number ends in 2,4,6,8 or 0 it will divide by 2 exactly. If it ends in 0 or 5 it will divide by 5 exactly. If the last 2 digits of a larger number divide by 4 then the whole number will. If the digits in the number add up to be a number in the 3 times table (3,6,9,12,15,18,etc) then it will divide by 3 exactly. And finally if it divides by 2 and 3 using the rules above then it will divide exactly by 6!

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In textiles this week the children tried out a new stitch (blanket stitch) used for appliqué, attaching a fabric design on to another piece of fabric. Some then started to create their design patterns and cut out their pieces ready to sew on to their pillowcase next week!
 

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In PE this half term the children have been exploring how to keep their bodies healthy through exercise. This week they were performing relays using different positions of their bodies to work different muscles. It looked like great fun! (Photos to follow).

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In the great project the children have been learning all about domestic abuse and where they can get support. They have started to create some fantastic posters to share the information they have learnt.

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We have made some great progress with our first new stitch in our textiles lessons over the last two weeks and some children have completed their monogram initials to embellish their final products.

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In Science this week we expanded in our knowledge we learnt last term in geography about how day and night occur and explored it further using our torch and a globe to see how shadows change throughout the day.

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In maths we have almost mastered long multiplication and will continue to practise every morning until we can do it in our sleep!

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We had a fantastic trip to the National Justice Museum.

We were greeted by the Gaoler and the Matron and got to experience what life would have been like in a Medieval prison, including being thrown into a pit or a dark cell and having to pay for any 'special treatments' like a flea-infested blanket or some hot food whilst waiting to be transported to Australia, and a Victorian prison where the women had to do laundry work and the men had to do the pointless hard labour exercises like turning the crank or face being whipped on the whipping bench.

We then explored the humiliating punishment methods used by the Tudors and got to have a go in the pillory and hold a Scold's bridal and the branding Irons. The children showed off their knowledge they had learnt last half term when presenting information about each method of punishment.

We then had a chance to look around the museum, including an art exhibition where all the pieces had been created by current prisoners.

Finally we got to perform our own real trial of a Victorian child, Isabella Makin. Everyone had a role to play and did a great job to come to the verdict that Isabella was not guilty of stealing as there was some element of doubt. )Back in Victorian times Isabella was actually found guilty!)

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We started our practical skills in textiles by recapping how to do running stitch and backstitch.

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In English we completed our opening chapters for our version of the boy in the tower story where the plants have attacked our school!

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In science we had a great time joining in a national online interactive workshop to explore space. We got to countdown the rocket launch and learnt about the different satellites and how they orbit the Earth. It was great fun!

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In computing we learnt about microbits and all their different functions then had a go using the new programming software.

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And finally we had a fantastic session of PSHE with ‘The Great Project’ looking at what makes a healthy happy relationship. The children loved all of the activities and produced some great writing at the end including a rap, a recipe and some great poetry.

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To end the week we were lucky to be the first class allowed in the swimming pool! The children all had a great time and we look forward to our next session on Wednesday!

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In D&T we started our textiles unit looking at increasing the value and appeal of items by adding sewn details. Today the children focused on creating a mood board of their personal iconography (images and logos that inspire them to identify their product as their creation). This included designing their own monogram of their initials. Tying in with our theme of how to save the world we are hoping to upcycle an old pillowcase into something new and will be adding distinctive details that reflect our unique styles and identities. We will be asking all children to bring a plain pillowcase (used but clean and intact is fine) into school in the next couple of weeks if they are able to.

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In Science we have started our topic on Earth and Space by having an interesting debate about the flat earth theory. The children were able to formulate convincing arguments but ultimately concluded that the evidence for a spherical Earth outweighed the theories.

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The classroom has been invaded by menacing plants attacking the building.
 

We have started our new book in English, ‘The Boy in the Tower’, and will be writing the opening chapter our own story about the destruction of our school. The children have shared some brilliant sentences to build suspense and mystery.