This is an overview of the curriculum and some of the activities that are taking place in your child’s class this term.

We hope you find it useful.

Literacy

This terms literacy work has two main areas; poetry and extended writing (both fiction and non-fiction). During the term we will also be briefly studying parody, advertorials and formal writing.

As ever, we will also be reading a wide range of texts and developing comprehension skills.

Numeracy

As ever, our numeracy topics are many and varied. We will be covering positive and negative numbers, fractions and decimal fractions, 2D and 3D shapes, angles, the metric system. We will also be developing the pupils problem solving skills using all of these topics.Of course, as the term goes on, we shall be endeavouring to revisit the number skills of the previous years ie multiplication, division etc and developing the children’s formal written notation of these.

Science

Our science topic this term is 'Light' and 'How We See Things'. This topic develops children’s previous knowledge of materials. We shall be looking at how materials change form, how this can be induced, whether or not it may be reversed etc. The topic allows substantial opportunity for children to be actively engaged in practical investigations.

Geography

This term we will be studying Rivers. We shall be familiarising the children with significant rivers of the world, their surroundings and their location. In addition, we will be concentrating on the way a river ‘works’: That is, we shall be studying how a river is formed, how it affects the landscape, why it meanders, how waterfalls are formed etc. Furthermore, we will also be looking at the human geography involved ie the way in which a river has an impact on those who live in the vicinity in terms of agriculture, industry etc.

Design and Technology

This term we will be planning, designing and constructing a controllable vehicle, incorporating skills we have developed in Science when investigating circuits. The children will be keeping a Design and Technology Diary recording the progression of their design.

Physical Education

This half term we are practicing and developing Gymnastic skills, looking at balance and using floor apparatus. The subsequent half term we will be playing basketball. We shall be studying the skills of the game as well as the generic skills of team based ‘invasion’ games: finding space, recognising when to release the ball etc.

Religious Education

This term we will be studying Hinduism, identifying similarities and differences with Christianity and other major religions. We will study all aspects of Hindu life, including home, clothing, places of worship, etc.

Information & Communication Technology

This term our topic is ‘Control and Monitoring’. This is an in-depth topic that requires the children to be able to create and implement a program to operate systems remotely (!). For example, the children will create a program that operates a set of traffic lights at a cross-roads. This is usually a very popular topic that the children enjoy very much, and I am sure that this year will be no different.

In addition, the children will continue to be encouraged to use the internet as a valuable means of research for all areas of school.

At the end of this year the children will be carrying out assessments in the three core subjects of Literacy, Numeracy and Science. If you have any queries regarding the above please do not hesitate to contact the teachers.