Key Stage 2

Year 5 have kicked off the year with a splash! 5L and 5K have been lucky enough to have their two weeks of swimming lessons. Mr Lillie and Mr Kennedy were so impressed with how the children were happy to dive right into this part of the curriculum! Miss Ellerby’s class can’t wait to jump in, in the Spring term.

Since September, we have explored a variety of different text types. This has included persuasive adverts; to visit our very own circus, and writing a sci-fi story continuation, which was based on the planet Pandora (Avatar films). One of our favourite topics (so far!) has been Oranges in No Man’s Land. It is a tale based during the civil war in Lebanon. We have been discussing what it must be like to go through war and the feelings refugees must feel. This has allowed us to explore empathy, something we have found particularly important considering the current climate.

We have been spending a ‘whole’ lot of time on fractions recently. We are piecing it together quite nicely! If the next topic is half as good as this, we’re in for a real treat. Pushing on with Science, we have been exploring ‘Forces’. We have pulled off multiple experiments and investigations into air resistance and water resistance, as well as testing friction.We are currently discovering how materials are used in everyday life and their different purposes and uses.

Throwing ourselves into the world of the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings, we have thoroughly enjoyed exploring this fascinating period in time. The Past Presents came to deliver, what can only be described as, an event that will go down in History! The workshop enabled us to embody the historical figures and recreate events that we had learnt so much about. The year 5 staff are looking forward to the rest of the year, and the magical curriculum that awaits.

What an incredible start to Year 3 the children have had! They have settled into the new routines and have been learning lots of wonderful things.

In maths, we have been working hard to solve subtraction and addition number sentences with 3-digit numbers with renaming.

In English, we have been using our imaginations to design a new creature based on our story focus of ‘The Black Hat’, writing detailed descriptions using expanded noun phrases, similes, and personification. We have been super impressed with the children’s word choices to make their writing interesting to the reader.

Our science learning this term has been about Rocks. We are all amazing scientists and loved carrying out lots of exciting experiments. We have made predictions, recorded our results into tables and explained our findings. Our favourite part was finding out about fossils and then creating our own made from salt dough. The children have worked hard to learn new vocabulary and are fantastic at explaining. I am sure you will be impressed!

We had a wonderful time at Bookfest meeting the author ‘Olaf Falafel’. We couldn’t wait to start reading ‘Trixie Pickle Art Avenger’.

As part of Black History Month, year 3 participated in a workshop based on Malorie Blackman. The children enjoyed the drama-based activities and learning all about her. 

We are tremendously proud of how hard all the children have been working and they are all superstars!

At the end of last term, Year 4 went on an incredible trip to Ufton Court, a Roman village in Reading. We had a fun-filled day of activities immersing ourselves into being Romans for the day! While barking commands, marching, sieving through artefacts, the students were able to understand what it was like to be a legionary during the Roman times.

Roman Artefacts: this session we explored Roman artefacts and decided on the correct use. We bartered between oil bottles being a bedpan and a trophy and oil applicators being horseshoe cleaners or livestock feeders. The students were able to use their reasoning for siding with each use and basing their decisions through their knowledge of Roman Britain.

Roman Skills: Here, students were able to weave fences, make their own yarn and learn how to create fire. Students worked collaboratively in each task, working as a well-oiled Legion!

Roman Manoeuvres: Students learnt how to work together to create a strong unified Legion. We learnt how to effectively use a pilum and scutum, making Year 4 a force to be reckoned with! Learning many Roman battle manoeuvres, I’m sure no one would want to challenge us!

Having spoken to many students across the year group, the trip was a raging success, and we are incredibly thankful to Ufton Court for facilitating an amazing day for Aragon! Year 4 showed just how great they are, and we are welcomed back next year!

Thank you to Glenthorne High School for inviting Year 5 and 6 over this week to listen to author talks. Year 6 had a fantastic time this morning meeting Jack Meggitt-Phillips and listening to how he finds inspiration to writes his books and creates his characters.

The school council would like to announce the winners of our Autumn Wreath Competiton.

Thank you for embracing our idea and helping us raise money for our school playground. Looking through all the entries was great fun. We were overwhelmed by the effort placed and creativity of the wreaths and found the decision for 1st, 2^nd and 3^rd place very difficult. 

However, we are very pleased to announce 1^st place goes to Parla from 4B (for her beautiful owl design), 2^nd place goes to Savannah from 3G (with a fantastic witch design) and 3^rd place goes to Mason RP (with a very cute pumpkin design). All three wreaths are on show outside Mrs Ryders Office so go ahead and take a look. 

The prizes were awarded in our celebration assemblies today.

Watch this space for our next competition.

Year 5 were lucky enough to be visited by a teacher from 'The Past Presents' and participate in a Saxon and Vikign workshop!

The children got to:

• Re-enact a battle between the Romans, Celts, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
• Discover the different items that went into a warrior's burial
• Wear traditional Anglo-Saxon clothing
• Raided a monastery, taking with them valuable items
• Practice writing with a quill and ink
• Learn about the day-to-day life of an Anglo-Saxon: drying herbs, exploring artefacts and the types of weapons used
• Prepare a Viking longship for a voyage across the sea