Homework

18 October 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

There’s a democracy theme to this week’s Talk Time as we think about electing our new Junior Leadership Team (JLT). It’s important for everyone to feel their opinions are important and their thoughts and feelings are listened to and valued. Democracy is about knowing that sometimes we are given the power to choose and make decisions as individuals and as a group. This leads us to this week’s Talk Time:

I can talk about what characteristics a good leader should have.

Thinking about the term democracy, take some time to think about what characteristics make a good leader and the reasons why.

Also, think about situations at home when voting can help solve problems.

Additionally, if you would like to become a member of the JLT…

Use this time to think about your own characteristics and why you feel you would be a good representative for your peers. Use these ideas to prepare a speech to share in school on Wednesday 23^rd or Thursday 24^th October for the upcoming elections on Thursday 24^th October.

11 October 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

Vocabulary is the focus of this week’s Talk Time.

Thinking about the new topic vocabulary, I can begin to use these words at home.

This half term, we’ve all been historians, learning specifically about The Great Fire of London/Ancient Greece/ Stone Age to Iron Age and Ancient Egypt. Here’s a list of key words that are being learnt and applied as part of our learning:

Years 1 and 2 History vocabulary:

Years 3 and 4 History vocabulary:

 Years 5 and 6 History vocabulary:

Some of these words have already been discussed in lessons but there may be others that are going to be covered in the coming weeks.

Encourage your child to think back to their History learning so far. The following questions might prompt your child to remember even more about the vocabulary:

• What does this word mean?
• Can you use the word in a sentence?
• Can you (where possible) give an example of this?
• Have you seen a picture or video that links to that word?
• Can you link this word to one or more of the other words?

Which of these words would you group together?

04 October 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s Talk Time is a social one:

 I can talk about the protected characteristics.

Protected characteristics are aspects of a person’s identity that are protected under the Equality Act 2010. This law makes it illegal to discriminate against someone based on these characteristics, helping to promote a fairer and more equal society. Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on protected characteristics.

There are 9 protected characteristics

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex (gender)
• Sexual orientation

This week, we’d like you to have a conversation with your child and discuss the following questions about the protected characteristics:

• Why is it important to treat people equally?
• Do I have a protected characteristic?
• Can you describe a situation when fairness and equality are especially important?
• Can you name all of the protected characteristics?

Is one more important to you?

27 September 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s Talk Time relates to the knowledge we’re gaining in our History lessons this half term.

The statements below detail what children are learning across this half-term.

I can show off my knowledge of history.

Years 1 and 2 – The Great Fire of London:

I know and can use words and phrases relating to time and chronology (eg old, new, past, a very long time ago, present, ancient, modern).

I know what houses were like before the Great Fire of London and that fires were quite common.

I know that Samuel Pepys’ diary helps us to know what the Great Fire of London was like.

I know why the fire spread quickly and how it was eventually put out.

I know what changed as a consequence of the Great Fire of London.

Years 3 and 4 – Ancient Greece:

I know that ancient Greece was divided into many city states and I know that Athens and Sparta were the most powerful. I know some of the main characteristics of the Athenians and the Spartans.

I know about the influence the gods had on Ancient Greece.

I know about the influence Ancient Greece has had on the Western world (e.g. philosophy, arts, science, maths, literature and politics).

I know that democracy is a Greek word meaning ‘government by the people’ and that our government today is a legacy of the Athenian assembly and council.

Years 5 and 6 – Stone Age to Iron Age:

I know how Britain changed between the beginning of the Stone Age and the Iron Age.

I know the main differences between the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages.

I know what is meant by ‘hunter-gatherer’.

I know about and can name some of the advanced societies that were in the world around 3000 years ago.

I can compare life in Britain 3000 years ago to life in Ancient Egypt.

I know that the Ancient Egyptians had a writing system called hieroglyphics.

I know that the Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for pharaohs and that the biggest was built around 2500BC.

At school, we refer to 8Rs to promote good learning behavior. You can read about them by following the link. See how many your child knows.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BJvRtT_rKqxoFvLCdpdcyoQ4OrbmKrON/view?usp=sharing

This week’s ‘Remember 2s’ (R2s) directly link to three of the 8Rs:

• Remember – Think back to history lessons, learning, tasks, games etc.
• Reflect – Which facts are you most confident with? Which ones do you need to work on?

Resourceful – For facts you’re unsure of, how can you improve your understanding? Who could you ask at home or at school?

20 September 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

There’s a social theme to this week’s Talk Time:

 I can set some goals for the year ahead and understand how I can achieve them.

 The start of a new academic year brings new beginnings and opportunities. Setting goals can have many benefits such as giving direction to figure out what you want, stay accountable and motivated. The types of goals you might consider setting could be related to your learning in school, something to work on at home, or taking up a new skill/hobby outside of school.

Here are some top tips to help get you started on setting some achievable goals:

1. Reflect on the past year with a grown up at home and create a wish list. Are there any goals you’d like to continue, update, stop or start?
2. Start by setting small and achievable weekly goals.
3. Tell your friends and family about your goals.
4. Plan for any obstacles to help keep you motivated.
5. Reward yourself at each step.

Living and Learning

Each week’s Living and Learning statement features in the school calendar – check out the prompt to support you and your child in this area. Find the statements in the calendar – you’ll see it in the Find Out section of our website.

13 September 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s Talk Time homework brings together the learning that has happened in our Living and Learning sessions last week. The children will be reading and talking about the Acceptable Use Agreements in class this half-term, as well as a copy being sent home to be agreed, signed and returned to school.

As well as considering these agreements within their classrooms, also talk about how these agreements can be applied at home and take the opportunity to set or reaffirm some ground rules for the use of technology in and around home.

Living and Learning

Each week’s Living and Learning statement features in the school calendar – check out the prompt to support you and your child in this area. Find the statements in the calendar – you’ll see it in the Find Out section of our website.

06 September 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

There’s a social theme to this week’s Talk Time.

In our school, we have 3 school rules:

1. We’re ready.
2. We’re respectful.
3. We’re safe.

Is it important to have rules to follow in and outside of school? Is there a rule that we’re missing?

This week’s R2s (‘remember tos’) will help you to provide a balanced argument before you reach a conclusion:

• What are the reasons for having rules to follow (the pros)?
• What are the reasons against having rules to follow (the cons)?
• Reach a decision. Is it valuable to have rules to follow?
  • One list may have more points than the other.
  • Some points have a greater importance than others.

One way to approach this Talk Time is to have a debate with people in your household. This will not only help you generate ideas but also practise a range of oracy skills. Last year, one of the oracy focuses was building on the views of others and reasoning. When someone raises a point that you’re in agreement with, use one of the following phrases to start your response:

• I agree with you because…
• That’s a good point. I also think that…
• Furthermore, I’ll add that…

On the other hand, you may disagree with a point made by a family member. When that’s the case, it can be hard not to interrupt them. Another oracy focus from last year was turn-taking. To be respectful of others’ opinions, wait until a person has finished speaking and then respond using one of these sentence starters or one of your own:

• I hear what you’re saying but…
• That’s a good point. However…
• I take your point but…

12 July 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s homework relates to our food technology lessons this year:

I can prepare some food at home and then review how it might be changed in some way.

This week, we’d like you to have fun making a simple dish at home. This could be cooking a dish that you’ve made in food technology lessons this year, helping to cook a meal that you eat at home, or as simple as preparing small healthy snack after school!

Here are some steps for you to follow:

1. Have a discussion with an adult at home and chose a simple recipe you’d like to make.
2. With the help of an adult, follow the recipe to make your dish. Remember to practise all the skills that you have learnt in your food technology sessions this year.
3. Taste your dish!
4. Review and reflect on your dish. Did you like it? Could you make it better? Would you add or remove any ingredients, spices or toppings?

Be ready to share what you made in class next week. If you really liked a dish, you could bring the recipe to share with your peers!

05 July 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This final Talk Time of the academic year relates to your end-of-year report.

I can talk with adults at home about my report, recognising successes and strengths.

It’s important to remember that your achievements come in many forms. Your key strengths could relate to your learning behaviour, your attainment in a particular subject or your speed of progress.

This is also a great opportunity to apply your understanding of the 8Rs for learning:

• responsive
• ready
• (safe) risks
• responsible
• resourceful
• resilient
• remember
• reflect

Being reflective will be the most prominent of the 8Rs in your conversations as you’ll identify successes recognised by your teacher in the report but also other strengths that you’re aware of. Consider which of the other 8Rs you currently excel at the most. Perhaps you’re a very responsible individual who always demonstrates good learning behaviour. Maybe you’re extremely resilient and have a never-give-up attitude. It could be that you’re very resourceful, using what’s around you to support your learning and not always seeking help right away.

28 June 2024

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s Talk Time has a Living and Learning focus:

I can share my views about health.

We’re proud to be a happy and healthy school. Each year, we ask you to complete a short online health questionnaire. Your views can help us to become even happier and healthier.

Parents/carers: please complete this survey with your child, to find out their views on some of our key health issues at school, and comment at the end. You can find the link to the survey here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdX0MMIeXO3Ppu7bWbcl3rC76uwyN2aR772mLvCXqAGTkX1Bw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please submit before Friday 05 July 2024.

Year 5/6 – complete your My Health My School pupil diary from Saturday 29 June for the next seven days and return it to class once completed.