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Term 3 & 4 Newsletter – Class 4


Happy New Year and welcome to 2024! I hope everyone had a good and restful Christmas. The children have already settled back in to the swing of things, which is great to see. We will continue to be joined by student teacher, Miss Green on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, who will be supporting in class and teaching a variety of lessons.

Reminders – Please make sure all belongings in class (water bottles and jumpers) are named to avoid missing items. On Thursdays in term 3, the class have the great opportunity of forest school. The children will need warm and named forest school clothes, brought in on the correct day.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Miss Mayhew

damayhew@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

Geography

Our theme for both of these terms will be rivers.  We will be looking at the different features of rivers and relating these to real life examples. Across both half terms, we will also be doing in-depth studies on different rivers such as the Thames, the Amazon and the Nile and looking a little closer to home by finding out about the river Uck and flooding.

Whole Class Reading

This term we are reading an abridged version of William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. We will use these sessions to give all children an opportunity to read aloud and answer questions and work on our key reading skills.

Maths

We will start the year by learning about fractions before moving onto decimals in term 4. The year 5s will also look at percentages. We will also continue to have a big focus on times tables throughout the year, which children should be practicing at home regularly. It is especially important for the year 4s in order to prepare them for their multiplication tables check that will take place in the summer terms. More information about this will be given nearer the time.

RE

This term we will be considering the questions, ‘Why is the Torah so important for Jewish people?’ and ‘What did Jesus do to save human beings?’

Art & DT

Before half term, we will be looking at pointillism. We will be exploring Seurat’s "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" and using these techniques in our own work. After half term we will be looking at food technology and celebrating culture and seasonality

Music

In term 3, we will be looking at music notation and working on creating our own rhythms. After half term, we will be exploring composition and creating our own piece of music based on rivers. The children will of course continue weekly singing practice with Mrs Bayman. Following the very popular recorder performance at Christmas, the children will also continue to develop their recorder playing this term.

Literacy

This term, we will be reading ‘The Explorer’ by Katherine Rundell. This is an adventure book set in the Amazon. We will be using extracts from this book to help us inspire our writing. We will also be continuing to work on our handwriting. We will also be doing some river poetry and non-fiction writing.

Spelling

During these terms we will be continuing to use Superhero Spellings. This approach has 3 stages: learn, build and show. The children will be given opportunities to practice the words for the rule throughout the week, before completing 10 dictation sentences on Fridays. These will be stuck in the back of homework books for the children to refer back to if needed. The children will be split into year groups during these spelling sessions. The year 4s will work with Mrs Vance and Mrs Harper whilst the year 5s work with me. An overview of each weeks spelling rules can be found on the Class 4 page of the website and in the children’s homework books. It is expected that the children practice these words at home too.

Science

This term in science we are learning about states of matter. This will involve different experiments using solids, liquids and gases to get the children working scientifically. After half term, we will be looking at animals, including humans. This will involve digestion, food chains and teeth.

PSHE

In PSHE we will be following the Jigsaw scheme of work. In term 3 we will be looking at ‘Dreams and Goals’ and moving onto ‘Healthy Me’ in term 4.

PE

This terms PE will be focusing on dance and gymnastics. Gymnastics will carry on throughout term 4 and dance will be replaced with net games. Miss Zara will be coming in on Tuesday afternoons and the other session will be led by me on a Monday afternoon. Full PE kit is expected.

French

Mrs Page will continue to teach French this term on a Tuesday afternoon.

Computing

Computing will be taught through the use of the brilliant programme of Purple Mash. We will be starting off by exploring concept mapping and moving onto coding after half term.

Homework

Each week the children will get a copy of their weekly spelling words to work on at home. A comprehensive list of the terms spellings can be found in the children’s homework books and on the Class 4 website page. The children are expected to work on these spellings in whatever way suits them.

Reading is required every night which is to be shown in their reading records. We are also encouraging the children to read a variety of books that will challenge them; these can be from school or from home. A completed reading record is to be returned to me and in return a reading certificate will be received in assembly. We expect children to be independent in choosing their reading books and taking it home, but if you feel your child needs extra support with this, please let me know.

On Wednesdays, the children will be sent home with a homework menu for the term. Each week the children will select one task to complete. This is to be handed back in on a Monday. This homework will be completed in their home learning books.

Mathletics work will also be set every week on the same days as above. Please let me know if there are any problems with mathletics and we can get the children set up at school if needed.

Key Dates

w/b 5th February – Children’s Mental Health Week

Monday 5th February & Wednesday 7th February – Parent consultations

Friday 9th February – Careers fair in the hall

Friday 9th February – Last day of term 2

Monday 19th February – First day of term 3

Thursday 7th March – World Book Day

Tuesday 26th March – Easter Service

Thursday 28th March – Last day of term 4 and Cup Assembly

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