English

This half term we have been reading The Dark by Lemony Snicket. We read and enjoyed the book and used the book as a base to create some suspense writing. We began to use inverted commas for speech, adverbs to add detail to how our characters were feeling and adverbial phrases to create a setting. We wrote letters of advice to Lazslo, the main character, who was afraid of the dark to try to persuade him to overcome his fears. We tried out our ideas and advice in a conscience alley to see if we could persuade each other.

Maths

This half term we have been improving and developing our multiplication and division skills. We learnt our 3, 4 and 8 times tables. We looked at repeated addition and using arrays to help us identify calculation families. We looked for patterns in the 2, 4 and 8 times tables which would be able to help us to solve calculations. When we became more confident with the facts of these times tables, we used them to solve word problems. We have continued to use Times Tables Rock Stars to help us to recall our times tables facts quickly.

Science

This term we have been looking at light and shadow. We have explored different light sources, how light travels and reflective materials. We investigated which materials were the most reflective and we looked at their uses. We also carried out experiments to investigate how shadows are formed, how to make bigger and smaller shadows and learned the terms opaque, transparent and translucent. We used this knowledge to help us to build shadow puppet theatres and we performed The Hare and The Tortoise.

History

We have continued our topic based on the Titanic disaster called Why Did Delia Buy a New Hat. We looked at all the facilities available to passengers on-board the Titanic and how amazing this was for a vessel at that time. We studied how depending on which type of class passenger you were affected your chance in survival. We imagined what it must have felt like to be Delia, leaving home and boarding the Titanic and we wrote a diary entry to develop our skills of empathy.

Computing

We have been learning how to use a spreadsheet programme. We used 2calaculate on Purple Mash. We looked at how we could use a spreadsheet to input data and then to represent data in different ways such as bar charts and pie graphs. We began to learn about the different tools available such as more than and spin buttons, and how their functions can help use to calculate.

Art and Design

We have been looking at colour and printing this half term. We learned how colours can be split into warm and cool colours and we explored how this can be used to create pleasing designs. We also explored primary and secondary colours and painted our own colour wheel. We used fish as a focus and tried hard with developing our observational drawing skills. Then we created a fishy printing block and used it to make repeated patterns using warm and cool colours.

P.E.

We have been developing our fielding and striking skills. We learned how to throw under arm and increase our accuracy. We also improved our catching skills. We learned how to strike a stationary ball and to work as a team either striking or fielding. We also had a dance coach come to school who taught us a fabulous street dance routine.

Spanish

In Spanish this term we have been learning all about the body. We learned how to say and read the words for various body parts as well as learning simple classroom instructions and colours.