Mr O’Neon will continue in class on Monday and Tuesday and Mrs Purver in class on Wednesday and Thursday. We also have Mrs Crockford and Mrs Woodward who will be supporting the children this year. On a Friday, the children will be supported by Mrs Crockford and will continue with their subject specialist lessons for Art, French, ICT, Music and P.E. In Year 3, the children will also have fortnightly swimming lessons as part of the P.E education.
In term 2, year 3 and 4 will work hard on producing an exciting nativity. This will sometimes disrupt our PE hall slots but PE continues to be on a Tuesday and a Friday. PE kits need to be in school on these days.

Topic:
For our first Geography topic of the year, we will be exploring some of the fundamentals, including comparing human features such as buildings and bridges, with physical features such as rivers and valleys. We will learn new terminology such as key and symbols, locate and use grid references and identify locations using an eight-point compass.

Art:
During this term the children will learn about still life and will explore how artists use different techniques to show the form of an object. The children will compare a still life painted on the walls at Herculaneum from the time of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in
Italy in 79 C.E. with pop art by Andy Warhol from the 1960s. The children will look at the still life work of Morandi, using his work to investigate the meaning of form, and how artists use different techniques to create the illusion of three dimensions in a two dimensional drawing. The children will practise using different pencil techniques to show form and then draw their own still life from observation using cross-hatching.

Science:
This term the children will be studying rocks. This unit introduces the children to key knowledge of rocks including their appearance and simple physical properties. It introduces key substantive knowledge, particularly recognising different types of rock. The unit also introduces disciplinary geology knowledge and how geologists work to find out more about rocks on earth and beyond. The children will learn that a geologist is a scientist who studies rocks and will be introduced to some of the things that geologists might study, such as properties of rocks, composition of rocks, and what rocks can tell us about life on earth long ago. When learning about how sedimentary rock forms, children will learn that fossils form when things that have lived are trapped within rock and how this process allows us to learn about plants and animals from thousands and millions of years ago. Within this topic there is opportunity to study soil closely and to recognise that soils are made from rocks and organic matter (decaying things that have lived).

Maths:
The focus of this term will be addition and subtraction. We will be ensuring that the children have a good grasp of these areas so that we are able to progressively build on their knowledge and understanding. We will use manipulatives where necessary to help children to understand and will follow the ‘Maths Mastery’ approach to learning. We are keen that the children have a solid foundation in-order to build upon. As ever, times tables will have an important role to play in ensuring your child feels confident in number. We will be focussing on fluency in recounting times tables and have regular activities to encourage participation and home learning.

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English:
This term, we will focus on features of an explanation text, based around the digestive system, which the children learnt about last term. We will also explore writing a diary, based around the book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which is our class text. We also hope to end the term writing winter themed poetry. In reading, the children will use the text, The Snowman written by Michael Morpurgo, based upon the book written by Raymond Briggs.

R.E:
Incarnation/God is our theme this term and our big question is What is the Trinity? As always, we will relate this to children’s own lives and beliefs. The children will be exploring the baptism of Jesus and how all three members of the trinity appeared. The children will learn about how symbolism is used to represent the Trinity and how Christmas hymn writers have used symbolism.

P.E:
Will be on Tuesdays and Fridays. We will be going swimming alternative Fridays. In class, this term we will covering a ‘dance’ unit and on Fridays, the children will be focusing on ball skills. PLEASE make sure your child has their FULL PE kit in school, at all times and that it is clearly named. PE is a vital part of the curriculum and children need to have the correct kit with them.

ICT:
This term the children will be learning about online safety and spreadsheets. Each computing session consolidates the understanding of using a computer safety and being safe online but this topic allows for a more focused exploration.

French:
During this term, the children will be studying the unit: Où habites-tu? The children will be learning about how to say their nationality, the country they live in and the language they speak. As well as this they will be learning to speak the negative and say where they do not live.

Homework and Spellings:
On a Friday, children will be sent home with a new homework challenge. The children can bring in their completed homework on any day but must be handed in by Friday. The homework will include:
- Daily reading of a home reader (20 minutes, building to 30 minutes and minimum of 3 x weekly)
- Number bonds or times tables
- Spellings, these will be tested on a Monday
- Family Talk task (which will be outlined in the school weekly newsletter)
- Other types of homework (as outlined in the homework policy)

If you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to working with you together this term.

Many thanks for your continued support,
Mr O’Neon, Mrs Purver, Mrs Crockford and Mrs Woodward.

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​Useful websites:
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Hit the Button

www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
An interactive game for practicing times tables
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BBC Bitesize Science
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2pfb9qScience activities and quizzes
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Storyline Online
https://storylineonline.net/
A selection of stories read aloud for you to enjoy