English

This term we are reading the exciting novel ‘Letter from the Lighthouse' by Emma Carroll.

The book tells the story of Olive and her brother being evacuated to the Devonshire coast to stay with a mysterious lighthouse keeper.  There, Olive has to solve a mystery about a coded note and her sister's disappearance. 

All of our reading and writing this term will be based around this story. We will be looking at descriptions, diaries and an exciting local legend! 

Maths

This term, we are covering a range of skills in our Maths lessons including: place value, multiples & factors, prime numbers, angles, rounding and units of measure.

Here are some websites that might help:

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/mental-maths

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/maths

Times tables

Remember to practise your times tables at home using TTRockstars to help! On a Monday we have a times tables test with 100 questions up to 12 x 12. The idea is to beat your score from the previous week!

History

Our History topic this term is The Ancient Maya.

(A study of a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history)

Key Knowledge:

• The Maya civilisation came into being around 2000 BC and cities such as El Mirador became large and powerful from 300 BC onwards.
• Cities like Chichen Itza were still thriving in AD 1000 and the Maya civilisation was still in existence in AD 1500.
• It was due to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century that their ancient cities fell to ruin.
•  ‘Mesoamerica refers to an area where a number of societies had been formed before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.
• The Maya believed in many gods. Each could help or hurt them. The Maya would dance, sing and make offerings to the gods as a sign of respect.
• The ancient Maya developed an advanced number system for their time. This included the concept of zero as a placeholder.
• The Maya had a writing system and professional scribes wrote books called codices which included information about astronomy, gods, war and history.
• The Maya people mainly ate maize or corn. They also drank cacao and the cacao beans were eventually used as a form of currency in the Maya civilisation.
• Primary sources come directly from the time of the event
• Secondary sources are created after the event and are often created using primary sources.

Science

Our Science Topic is ‘Living things and their habitats' 

• Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals.

• Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics.

Art and Design/Design Technology

Our art topic this term is Mayan Masks (Sculpture)

(NC links) By the end of the unit, children should be able to:

• Shape, form, model and construct from observation or imagination
• Use recycled, natural and man‐ made materials to create sculptures
• Plan a sculpture through drawing and other preparatory work
• Produce intricate patterns and textures in a malleable media

French

This term, our French theme is ‘Who am I?’  We will learn French phrases to describe ourselves and others; including 'je suis' and 'je ne suis pas'.

R.E

Our topic in R.E this term is 'Creation and Science: Conflicting or Complementary'.

We will:

• explain the Christian and Jew's belief about how the world was created.
• identify what type of texts some Christians say Genesis 1 is.
• write my own version of the story of Creation.
• identify and explain the scientific theory of how the world was created.
• identify and explain the scientific theory of where life comes from.
• know where the science and faith go together.
• express our views about how the world was created.
• ask any puzzling questions about science or faith; on how the world was created.
• know the different views about the existence or non-existence of God.

Music

Our Music this term is focused around the pop song Happy by Pharell Williams. We will be using our key musical skills of listening and appraising, performing, composing and improvising.

P.E

During our P.E lessons this term we will be building our skills of teamwork, mapping, communicating & listening through Outdoor, Adventurous activities.  We will also practise and develop our athletic and fitness skills.

Computing

In our computing sessions this term, we will be revising how to stay safe online.  We will:

• identify safe symbols
• recognise and understand our digital footprint
• understand the importance of balancing our screen time with other parts of our lives.

PSHE

Our topic this half term is ‘VIPs' (Very Important Persons).  We will focus on relationships.  We will identify who our VIPs are within our families and friendship groups and how important kindness and respect are within these relationships. The unit addresses conflicts and resolutions in relationships. We will also look at secrets and dares, as well as healthy and unhealthy relationships.