What we are learning about during the Autumn 2 Term in Mow Cop Class.

English

Children will be gaining a further understanding on how to write a diary entry and understand the features that need to be included. We will then be moving onto Letters of Complaint and a picture book - The Polar Express, just in time for Christmas. 

Every Wednesday, we will have an Extended Writing lesson where a creative approach will be used to encourage pupils to use their imagination. Pupils will be given the opportunity to write at length, whilst using a range of different sentence structures to maintain pace, and keep their audience engaged.

Spellings will be practised each week with a focus on a different root morpheme (e.g. ‘exper’, ‘know’) and which prefixes and suffixes can be added to form different words and meanings. We will be looking at a range of different spelling rules and discuss these in detail in class.

Mathematics

We will be following the Maths-No Problem! scheme and will start the term with further developing pupil understanding of Multiplication and Division. We will begin by looking at how to multiply using all of our times tables knowledge so far. Later, they will learn how to multiply and divide when solving word problems, and how to best utilise their methods.

We will also continue working towards the statutory Multiplication Tests, practicing our multiplication tables daily using the ‘Mastering number’ scheme and also our new MAP scheme, which will help with our mental maths.

Science

This term we have moved onto ‘Sound’ in our science lessons. Children will begin by experimenting how vibrations create sound, using different mediums like our voices, drums and tuning forks. We will then move on to understand how sounds travel using string phones and data loggers. 

Next term, we will be moving onto the topic 'Animals including humans', where we will be investigating how the internal body works and functions. 

Wider Curriculum – History & Geography

Our history focus for the half term will be exploring ‘How did the Ancient Greeks influence the Western World?’ Children will learn who the Ancient Greeks were and what their impact on the Western World was. They will also understand the key differences between the two city-states Athens and Sparta.

Geography lessons will focus on ‘Is the world Human or Physical?’. Throughout this topic, children will be able to identify key human and physical features of around the world, and be able to categorise these and have a clear understanding of what they are. 

Wider Curriculum – Physical Education

This term all children are taking part in Swimming sessions at a local leisure centre. They will learn the basics of getting in and out the pool safely and gain a clear understanding of multiple swimming strokes. 

Wider Curriculum – Art & Design Technology

Children will be creating their own art pieces in their Art lessons using their drawing and painting skills. They will research Gino Severini and his well-known artwork before exploring painting skills such as layering and hatching. Some artwork will be picked to be part of an exhibition outside of school.

In DT, children will will delve into their knowledge of Electricity further. Children will come up with a design for their own interactive circuit to create a working game. 

Wider Curriculum – Music

Mrs Shakspeare will teach music on a Friday. Pupils will enjoy learning new music as well as playing many musical instruments. They will be looking at different classical and contemporary composers and comparing music from different countries and eras, whilst also praciticing their songs ready for the Christmas Performance. 

Wider Curriculum – PSHE

PSHE lessons will continue to be taught through assemblies and class discussions. Children will learn about ways to keep safe including being able to spot dangers, risks or hazards. Later in the term they will learn about rights and respect.

Wider Curriculum – RE

Children will be studying Christianity and the Church. They will be learning about the Bible, including the different genres of writing within. They will explore some stories of the Bible and will begin to link some beliefs to their own lives.

Wider Curriculum – Computing

Children will learn about ‘The Internet’ and how it can be used in day-to-day life. This will include learning how messages are sent from one computer to another and understanding what to include in a web address and why we use them. Later in the term, children will look at making music. Children will be encouraged to be creative by composing, improvising and performing simultaneously.

Wider Curriculum – Spanish

Children will continue to broaden their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary including the phonetic sounds of the alphabet and will learn different seasons in Spanish.

General Class Reminders

• Full school Swimming bag is required to be brought to school on a Tuesday for Swimming lessons. 
• READING BOOKS need to be brought into school every day. Children will have the option of changing their books every Tuesday. Reading with your child is extremely important and we will provide reading records for you and your child to note their reading at home.
• HOMEWORK will be set every Friday and will be due back in school the following Wednesday. Children will also be given spellings to learn and mental maths to practise. Both of these will be tested on a Friday.
• MULTIPLICATION TABLES will be a large focus of our learning throughout the year, in preparation for the Year 4 Multiplication Check. Children will be expected to support their in-school learning by practicing these at home.

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Your child’s attendance in school is extremely important.  Time missed is learning that can’t always be made up.

Please ensure your child attends school for 8:40am each day unless there is a very good reason for them to be absent. School will end at 3:10pm.

If you have any concerns or issues, please do not hesitate to speak to me. Thank you.

Miss Tiernan