Spellings (test on Thursday 11th June)

Mr Chanter's Group

dangerous

poisonous

mountainous

joyous

synonymous

hazardous

riotous

perilous

momentous

scandalous

Mrs Andersen's Group

island

answer

write

wrapper

knife

knock

thumb

doubt

half

calm

 Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you had a lovely warm half-term break and, since then, have managed to stay dry during this very wet week! The children have been really keen to share what they got up to over the holiday and it sounds like they had a fantastic time. Thank you also for supporting the children with their river projects. They have shared some wonderful presentations and it is clear how much effort and enthusiasm went into them.

In English, we have moved on to one of my favourite texts, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. So far, the children have been exploring the similarities and differences between Narnia and the world we know. They have enjoyed discussing the magical setting and comparing it to real-life places, as well as making predictions about what might happen next. The excitement for this text has been fantastic to see, and I am looking forward to the creative and thoughtful work it will inspire over the coming weeks.

In Maths, we have started our new topic on Time. This week, the children have been learning about the relationships between different units of time, including years, months, weeks and days, as well as hours, minutes and seconds. We have explored how many days there are in different months, discussed leap years and practised converting between units of time. The children have also been solving problems that require them to apply this knowledge, helping them to understand how these units connect and are used in everyday life.

We have also begun our new DT topic on Seasonal Foods. We discussed which fruits are currently in season in the UK and why eating seasonal produce can be beneficial. The children thought carefully about how supermarkets are able to sell certain fruits all year round, even when they are not naturally growing in the UK. This led to some interesting discussions about different climates around the world and how greenhouses can provide the ideal conditions for growing crops. We also explored some of the crops harvested in the UK and learned that flour, which is available all year round, is made from wheat. We will be putting this learning into practice next week when we follow a simple baking recipe.

In Computing, we have started our new coding topic using Scratch. The children have begun by creating different shapes and learning how to give clear instructions to the computer. As the topic progresses, they will build on these skills to create repeated patterns and sequences of actions, helping them to develop their understanding of coding and algorithms.

In Science, we have started our new topic on Electricity. In our first lesson, we focused on identifying and classifying different electrical appliances. The children explored which appliances are powered by batteries and which are powered by mains electricity. We discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each, thought about where we might use them in everyday life, and considered why some appliances need a constant power supply while others are portable. The children enjoyed sharing examples from home and were able to identify a wide range of electrical devices.

Next week, the children will be completing their Multiplication Tables Check. They have been working hard to practise their times tables over the last few days and should feel very proud of the effort they have put in. I want them to feel as relaxed and confident as possible when completing the check, so we will continue to approach it positively without placing any unnecessary pressure on them.

On Friday, we are off to Stanborough Lakes! Hopefully the sunshine will make a return by then. The children should arrive at and be collected from school at the usual times. Please see the information below from the centre regarding what children will need to bring:

Clothing and Equipment

• Soft-soled sturdy shoes (these may get wet and muddy). Old trainers, wet shoes or Crocs are best. No sandals, sliders or flip-flops.
• A complete change of clothing, including dry socks and underwear.
• Sensible clothing should be worn (jeans are not appropriate).
• Swimwear and a T-shirt to wear in the water.
• A lightweight waterproof jacket.
• A towel (changing rooms and hot showers are available).

For Warm Weather

• Sun hat.
• Sun cream.
• Water bottle.

For Cold Weather

• Hat and gloves.
• Lightweight layers that can be worn under a wetsuit.

Additional Information

• Children who wear glasses must have a strap to keep them secure.
• Wetsuits and buoyancy aids will be provided by the centre, although children may wear their own wetsuit if preferred.
• If the weather is hot and wetsuits are not required, children must still bring a spare change of clothes.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and, as always, thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,