Living and learning : relationships
We have be learning about healthy relationships and boundaries in our Living and Learning sessions over the last few weeks.
We read a story called ‘More than one friend’. It made us think about leaving people out, having more than one best friend and being ourselves in friendships.
Friendships should make us feel happy and safe. If children have worries about friends, we encourage them to Start Telling Other People. Talking to an adult they trust – at home, outside the family, or at school.
Seaside Poems
This week, we’ve explored differences and similarities between cities and the seaside.
Literacy
We’ve been reading Seaside Poems– collected by Jill Bennett. We used the poems to explore features of coastal environments- the seaside.
Later in the week, we were introduced to our word of the week: city.
We sorted pictures of cities and the seaside.
We revisited the name of the city we live in and some features that Leeds has, that makes it a city.
In our writing, we also compared the environments of the city and seaside. We wrote about what we would see in each.
Maths
We have deepened our understanding of numbers up to ten by engaging in various activities:
- Combining two parts to form a whole number
- Dividing numbers into two equal groups
- Exploring doubles and non-doubles to understand odd and even numbers
Phonics
This week, we’ve continued to focus on phase 4 words with long vowel sounds.
In provision, we’ve been reading words on boats and matching them to the correct picture.
Art; Watercolour landscapes
We’ve been painting coastal landscapes, using famous existing paintings as our inspiration!
Poetry Picnic
Each week we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud, we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. We talk to the children about how this can help us become better readers. This week’s poem is called Thunderstorm.
Science
We tested whether foil boats float by constructing them and setting them gently on water. Then we loaded them with counters or toy cars to see how much weight they could support before sinking.
Check out our other learning…
Reminders and Dates
Monday 16 June, 6.00-6.30pm- Zoom: Reception to Year 1 information meeting. This remote meeting is an opportunity for you to meet the Year 1 teachers and to find out a little more about Key Stage 1.
Wednesday 18 June- Class photos.
Wednesday 2 July, 10.00-11.30am- Meet your new teacher. Your child will visit their new teacher this morning.
Thursday 3 July- Class trip to Nell Bank.
Friday 4 July, 3.15-4.15pm- Rec/KS1 FOSP summer disco.
Tues 8/ Thurs 10 July, 8.35am or 3.15pm- Learning journey drop-in.
Friday 11 July, 9.15-10.30am- Sports Day.
Swimming
Rainbow- 25 June, 9 July
Sunshine- 18 June, 2 July
Year 3,4 Class News
Today, we have had a drop-down morning where we spent time learning all about Buddhism. The children learned where and when Buddhism began and the core beliefs of Buddhism. We spent time learning about the festival of Wesak and how Buddhists celebrate.
Help at home by asking your child to recall some of the knowledge they have learned.
Design and Technology – stable structures
This half term, KS1 are taking part in some Design and Technology.
First, we looked at the design process.
PLAN – MAKE – EVALUATE
This week, we have been looking at what makes a stable structure.
A stable structure is strong, has as flat base and is free-standing.
We moulded playdough into different 3D shapes and made predictions about which would be the most stable and why.
In our classes, we placed each structure on a flat surface (a whiteboard) and tipped it. We measured how high we could lift the board until the structure started to roll off.
In 1A and 1/2B, the pyramid was the most stable. In 2C, the cuboid won!
After this, we made some structures using paper and masking tape. We balanced books on each structure to see which was the strongest and most stable.
The cylinder was the strongest because it does not have any corners or weak points. This meant the weight of the books was distributed more equally.
Year 3/4 Reading
This week in Year 3/4, we explored the poem “I Opened a Book” by Julia Donaldson. The children loved diving into the imaginative world the poem describes. We turned our classroom into a retrieval treasure hunt and searched for hidden questions around the room to test our understanding of the poem. To finish, everyone had a go at performing the poem to the class with great expression and enthusiasm. A fantastic week of reading and creativity!
Help at home: Read the poem aloud and try to use intonation, tone and actions.
I Opened a Book
by Julia Donaldson
I opened a book and in I strode
Now nobody can find me.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
My town and my world behind me.
I’m wearing the cloak, I’ve slipped on the ring,
I’ve swallowed the magic potion.
I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king
And dived in a bottomless ocean.
I opened a book and made some friends.
I shared their tears and laughter
And followed their road with its bumps and bends
To the happily ever after.
I finished my book and out I came.
The cloak can no longer hide me.
My chair and my house are just the same,
But I have a book inside me.
What a Knight!
This week, children in Year 6 have started rehearsals for this year’s production – What a Knight! Thank you parents for helping your child learn their lines. It makes a big difference.
Our chorus, Year 5, have started rehearsals for the songs. Mr Welch assures me that they sound great!
Help at home: Continue to support your child in learning their lines.
Reading
This week in reading, the children have been exploring a non-fiction text linked to our current Design and Technology topic, with a focus on Women in Design. The text introduced them to several pioneering female designers, including Charlotte Perriand, Ray Eames, and Nanna Ditzel, who helped shape the world of modern design despite facing many challenges and barriers. The children really enjoyed learning about their achievements and the impact they’ve had on everyday objects we often take for granted!
Alongside developing their understanding of the content, we focused on key reading skills such as retrieving information, inference and thinking about the author’s language choices. The children were also encouraged to consider why the writer included particular details and how they should be critical users of online material. It was fantastic to see such thoughtful discussions and engaged reading throughout the week – well done, everyone!
English – Michael Recycle
We have been reading Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel. It is teaching us all about recycling and looking after our planet.
We have also used it to spot rhyming words and write rhyming sentences.
The sky and the river are smelly and brown.
Soon fifty-foot bugs will take over over your town.
Help at home by involving your child in recycling your household rubbish.
1A’s target treat
We have been working hard on following the target ‘standing smartly in the line with a silent voice’ and we have earned the last healthy pizza topping on our chart. Well done 1A! As a reward for all of our efforts we watched an episode of Bluey today.
Our next target is ‘to be ready at carpet time.’
Wetherby taster day
The Year 5’s had the opportunity to visit Wetherby High School and experience what it is like to be a high school pupil. They were thrown in at the deep end and completed a whole day of lessons just like a Year 7! The day began with PE. The children were able to use their basket ball skills that they had learnt earlier in the year. They had a go at different skills and even did some races!
Art was a great lesson in which the children learnt about a New York graffiti artist called Jean-Michel Basquiat. They looked at some of his artwork and discussed colour, shape, line and form. They then had a go of creating some art in the same style. They used pastels to add colour and shape to their own images.
The last lesson of the day was cooking. The children all made their own pizza rolls. They did a great job of following instructions and the recipe, although some of them looked like a ghost by the end of the lesson due to excessive use of flour! They also did a great job of tidying and washing up. It was spotless!
The children had a great day and behaved so well, remembering to use their manners at all times.
s! 
