Emperors (Year 2)

Our class is called Emperors.  We are taught by Mrs Tott and supported by Miss Lennard and Mrs Djafari.

PE Days

Emperors will have PE on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. Children will need to wear their PE kit to school on this day and will remain in them all day. They will not need uniform to change into.  Please ensure your child has the correct PE kit so they can participate successfully. 

Library Slot

Your child will get an opportunity to visit the school library on Thursday afternoons. Here they will have the chance to borrow a book that they are interested in: a book they will read for pleasure. These books will go home and returned by our next library slot. 

Home Learning

Your child should be reading with an adult at home daily. Please make a note of this in their reading journal. It would also benefit your child to do some weekly practise on numbots (their log in can be found in their home learning book).

Every week each child will bring home their home learning book containing a couple of questions about what the children learnt last week and some new learning from this week. This will be handed out every Friday and should be returned the following Wednesday. Please note, home learning should not take more than 30 minutes. If your child is struggling with this, please make a note for us in their home learning book. 

Summer 2 Update (July 2023)

Wow – a whole year has come to an end, and I simply cannot believe that the wonderful Emperors Class will be moving up the school to join the juniors in KS2. As we draw close to the end of the academic year, I wanted to take the time to update you on the progress and achievements of our brilliant children.

In English, we have been focusing on extending sentences using conjunctions to create multi-clause sentences. Our aim has been to reinforce the importance of using capital letters, full stops, and beautifully joined-up handwriting. We explored this concept through engaging instruction writing based on the story 'How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth' by Michelle Robinson. Additionally, the children used their imagination to write their own short stories inspired by the tale ‘SuperJoe does not do cuddles’.

In maths, we have covered a variety of topics. We began by working on statistics, which involved reading tables and understanding graphical representations of data. We then delved into geometry, specifically position and direction, and the children grasped the concepts remarkably well. Building upon their fraction knowledge, we also focused on making 1/2 and 1/4 turns, as well as identifying right angles. Furthermore, we dedicated a portion of our time to revisiting mental strategies for addition and subtraction, consolidating the children's mathematical skills.

Our science topic this term was plants, and it proved to be an exciting and educational journey. The children explored how seeds and bulbs grow into mature plants, while investigating the necessary requirements for plants to flourish. We even had the opportunity to grow our own plants, observing and documenting the entire process. As part of an experiment, we placed cress seeds in different conditions, ranging from water and no water to light and no light, as well as soil and no soil. The results were quite intriguing, especially when examining the plant that grew in the absence of light and appeared yellow! Additionally, our tomato, pepper, and apple plants are progressing exceptionally well.

In geography, we explored the fascinating question, 'How does the geography of Kampong Ayer compare with where I live?' Through this inquiry, we examined the geography of Kampong Ayer, a diverse community situated in Brunei on the tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, and made comparisons with St Albans. This exploration enabled the children to identify similarities and differences between the two locations, including schools. It was a valuable learning experience for all involved.

During our RE lessons, we delved into the meaning and significance of Hajj, aiming to answer the question, 'Does completing Hajj make a person a better Muslim?' The children demonstrated impressive knowledge and understanding as they learned about the various rituals and processes associated with Hajj. Moreover, we were fortunate to have a Muslim visitor deliver a captivating assembly about Hajj, and the children also had the privilege of engaging in a Zoom call with another Muslim lady who shared her personal experiences of Hajj. These encounters provided valuable insights into the importance of Hajj within the Muslim community.

In art, our class had the pleasure of working with Mrs Campbell-Pugh, who introduced the children to various artistic techniques. This half term, the focus was on drawing optical illusions, which sparked the children's creativity. They produced stunning sunflowers inspired by the renowned artist Van Gogh, showcasing their exceptional artistic skills.

Our outdoor PE lessons have been thoroughly enjoyable, particularly with the recent sunny weather. The children enthusiastically engaged in activities that focused on improving their throwing and catching skills. I was delighted to witness their perseverance and teamwork as they supported and encouraged each other during these exercises.

In PHSE, the children demonstrated remarkable maturity during our 'Changing Me' unit, which involved discussing body parts. This topic provided an opportunity for meaningful discussions about the changes that occur in humans from infancy to old age. These conversations have prompted the children to reflect upon their own feelings about the upcoming transitions they will experience as they progress into the Juniors.

In Computing this term, the children had the chance to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. They created their own quiz questions, fostering critical thinking and information retrieval. Additionally, we revisited the much-loved ScratchJr platform, allowing the children to develop their coding skills using blocks of code.

I must express my immense pride in the class and the progress they have made. It has been a pleasure teaching and guiding them throughout the year. I am confident that they will continue to flourish in Year 3.

Looking ahead, I would like to remind you to encourage your child to engage in enriching activities during the upcoming summer break. Reading, exploring nature, and pursuing various hobbies can all contribute to their ongoing personal and academic development.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful and restful summer.
 

Best Wishes,

Mrs Tott and Mrs Djafari

Summer 1 Update (May 2023)

The weather is warming up and I can’t believe how close we are to the end of the year! It has been another half term full of learning and fun – let’s have a look at everything we have been getting up to.  

In English, our focus has been on expanding sentences with conjunctions and crafting multi-clause sentences. We have been emphasizing the importance of using capital letters, full stops, or maybe even a well-chosen exclamation mark. To kick off the term, we delved into the captivating world of "Julian is a Mermaid" by Jessica Love, a beautifully illustrated and inclusive story. We then started work on our unit on traditional tales where we compared different versions of the classic story Rapunzel. We found great enjoyment in a version with a slightly more modern twist where Rapunzel makes a plan to escape on her own and not rely on a prince to save her. This inspired the children to write some witty recounts written from her perspective.

Our mathematical explorations began with the concept of ‘Doubling and Halving.’ Our budding mathematicians have enthusiastically delved into the realm of doubling, starting with single-digit numbers and gradually progressing to doubling two-digit numbers. The children have fearlessly embraced division, starting with sharing and grouping equally. We have also dived into the fascinating world of fractions, focusing on halves, quarters and thirds within the context of shapes and quantities. The children understand that fractions are splitting something into equal parts. They made some excellent bar models to help with their working out too!

This term, our scientific curiosity led us into the realm of plants. We have been uncovering the mysteries of how seeds and bulbs transform into mature plants, and will soon be investigating the essential ingredients for a plant's healthy growth. To bring the learning to life, we have just embarked on a hands-on adventure of growing our own plants, closely observing and documenting their growth process. We all thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Batchwood Woods, where we were able to identify various plants and living things, as well as take part in a seed hunt. Check out the pictures!

In our historical explorations this half-term, we have set our sights on answering the intriguing question, "Why was Charles sent to prison?" We have delved into a range of historical evidence, discovering the life and times of Britain during the First World War. The children have been fascinated by the difference in technology and methods of communication – we learnt all about Morse code and deciphering other coded messages. We also heard how important animals were during the war and that they held a vital role. We even wrote a touching dedication to all the horses who served.

Our RE lessons this term have centred on Islam. We have been delving into the themes of community and belonging, with a special focus on understanding the significance of mosques. The children have explored the different features within the mosque, their significance, and why many Muslims visit there. We then contemplated whether this experience provides many Muslims with a profound sense of belonging. It was lovely to hear about how we can all find a feeling of belonging in different areas of our lives, whether that be as part of a religion, a social group or family.

The class have continued to receive specialist music lessons from the talented Mr. Mitchell. Their passion for music has flourished under his guidance.

This term in art, we have been looking at 3D form and exploring moulding clay into the shape of flowers. We have learnt to coil, roll and pinch clay into the shape. Using direct observations to ensure the models looks realistic. In DT this term, we have been designing, making and decorating our cardboard roll cars. We learnt how to make axles and wheels and to fix them to the underside of our cars using support strips.

The children have been enjoying energetic and active PE sessions taught by Mr. Tate on Tuesdays and Mrs. Tott on Wednesdays. I have enjoyed seeing them immerse themselves in the joy of movement and exercise, particularly in our teambuilding lessons where problem solving and teamwork is the key to success. I have seen so many of the children be beautifully inclusive of their classmates and develop their communication skills.

In PSHE, our focus for this half-term has been on "Relationships." The children have engaged in meaningful discussions about the value of family and the importance of nurturing positive relationships. We have also explored friendship dynamics, conflict resolution through positive problem-solving techniques, and the meaning of trust and appreciation.

In computing, the children have embarked on an exciting journey of using technology to create music. They have been exploring how different rhythms and patterns make us feel, and have even crafted their own digital melodies. It has been fun listening to music such as Holst’s Planets to get an idea of how music can create an image or a feeling. We then had a go ourselves, making music to suit an animal, with an elephant piece being low pitch and slow tempo, to a mouse being high pitch and quick tempo.

Finally, many of the children completed their SATs in the week of this half term! They have shown such resilience during these and I continue to be really proud of the progress they are all making. I hope this update provides you with a glimpse into the remarkable achievements and engaging learning experiences our young learners have had this half term.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful half term!

Best wishes,

Mrs Tott, Miss Lennard and Mrs Djafari

Spring 2 Update (March 2023)

Well happy holidays everyone and I hope you are all excited for the coming break. The children in Emperors have continued to impress me with their learning and have made some good progress this term. I have noticed they have really matured lately and their friendships and kindness towards each other is continuing to develop and blossom. Let’s see all the fabulous learning they have done this half term…

In English, we started the half term with a short piece of descriptive writing. Now it may have been only short, but wowee, the children blew me away with their vocabulary choices and using their senses to describe a desert seen. I actually felt like I was there! Then we had World Book Week where the children all enjoyed our class book, King of the Sky, a touching story about an Italian boy who has to leave his home to start a new life in Wales. The children engaged with this test beautifully and then wrote some rather moving poems. After that, we dived into a spot of non-fiction, writing a non-chronological report about sharks. The children loved finding out lots of interesting facts about these magnificent creatures – I think we all learnt some new! Then as part of an assessment piece, we all wrote another non-fiction text on our class butterfly.

In maths, we have spent quite a bit of time on written methods for addition and subtraction. This is a good method for those slightly larger numbers that we cannot use mental strategies for (e.g. 34 + 27). The children learnt the importance of breaking two digit numbers into tens and ones before adding or subtraction each column (always starting with the ones). They explored this with base-10 equipment first before presenting it pictorially. This led them nicely into writing it in number format. We had to revisit the process and importance of regrouping when it came to adding two numbers that take us higher than 10. After this, we then did a spot of geometry, looking at the names and properties or popular 2-D and 3-D shapes. We also learnt words like vertices, faces, regular and irregular.

In science, we continued with our extra-long unit on humans including animals, although this half term there was much more focus on humans. We have looked at what we need to have healthy bodies, starting with what makes a healthy diet. We have learnt all about the different food groups and how much of each group we should aim to be having in each meal. We have also studied some food packaging and how these can give us an indication of how healthy our snack choices are and how to keep our diet balanced. After moving away from this unit slightly to cover some very important and interesting work on the process of growing our own food during Science Week, we came back to humans and the importance of hygiene. We learnt what hygiene means and why is helps to keep us healthy. We then looked at germs and microorganisms, how they spread, and how we can prevent them from making us and other unwell. We carried out a great experiment using cinnamon, water and soap to show how soap works against germs. We then followed that with another great experiment of seeing the effects of different surfaces and clean and unclean hands on bread! The results we gross!

In geography, we have been asking the question ‘why does it matter where my food comes from?’ This has linked so beautifully with our science unit and our learning from Science Week, and the children have been so engaged in finding out all about where we get our food and the processes some need to go throw to get from farm to fork. We now understand why Devon has so many dairy farms and why we have to rely on other countries to send us fruit like bananas.

Our RE lessons this term has been all about Easter. We have revisited the Easter Story and heard about the different days in Holy Week. We were lucky enough to have a visit from Canon Will Gibbs who was able answer some of our questions about Easter and explained the Easter Story in more exciting detail. We have also learnt about the different Christian symbols for Easter and how there is link between the resurrection of Jesus and the signs of new life in spring. It is always lovely to have the children, regardless of their faith, find links between religions and non-religious practises, images and ideas. We have learnt a lot from each other. 

The children have made some stunning artwork with Mrs Campbell-Pugh this half term! I hope you were able to see your child’s beautiful Emperor butterfly at our school exhibition this week! We have focused on our skill of drawing by experimenting with different tools such as oil pastels and chalks and focusing on how we can show light and dark through the use of one colour. We produced some amazing 'dancing dogs' as inspired by Keith Haring's graffiti artwork and some beautiful Emperor butterflies for the art exhibition using negative and positive shapes. We also applied our skills to create a piece of artwork for the King's Coronation. As part of book week, we turned bricks into our favourite books

In DT, we began to explore 'winding' types of mechanisms through creative cog making.

In PE on Wednesday, we have been perfecting how to jump with excellent technique. The children have been demonstrating how to use their legs to help propel them into the air and land safely. They continue to strengthen their bodies and maintain balance during this. They really enjoyed the shark and mud monster games, which added a bit of competition to their jumping.

Just like our geography and science has been beautifully linked, so has our PSHE. Our Healthy Me unit allowed us to understand even more just how important healthy diet, exercise and hygiene is to keep our bodies healthy. We have looked at stress and how this can have a negative effect on our health and what we can do to stay calm. These lessons have been great at allowing the children to see the important link between physical and mental health as well.

Finally computing. This half term we have been learning about pictograms. We have seen what they are, how to read them, how to make them, and how to do all this digitally on a special programme. The children designed their own pictograms, gathered their own evidence and allowed others to read and interpret it.

I hope you all enjoy the next two weeks off. Please can I remind you to keep on reading with your children and encouraging them to go on TTRS every now and again. I promise keeping this little and often will really benefit their learning in school.  If you have any questions or worries about anything, please let me know so I can support in any way I can.

How can you support your child at home in preparation for KS1 SATS?

A reminder that the KS1 SATs papers will be taking place in the month of May. These will be carried out in a very relaxed way. However, you can support your child in showing their true potential in the following ways:

• Read with them and to them often! Sitting down together reading and talking about a book has so many benefits to a child’s reading and writing ability.
• Times Table Rock Stars is a great tool to practise and become fluent in timetables. We want children to be confident with their 2s, 5s and 10s.
• If your child lacks confidence in maths, you can use the same log in as TTRS for Numbots. Having a solid and fluent understanding of number bonds to 10 is crucial.
• Find fun and short opportunities for your child to write. Make a diary entry or short recount of an exciting day out, or write a book review for their favourite story. Then they can build their stamina for writing while practising their capital letters and full stops.

Many thanks for all your support!

King Regards,

Mrs Tott

Spring 1 Update (February 2023)

Well, blink and you’ll miss it! That’s what this half term has felt like. But although it has been short, it has been absolutely jam packed full of learning and exciting activities.

In our English lessons, the children have done a whole range of writing activities to go along with the story How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. We spent plenty of time reading and enjoying the book at first, getting comfortable with retelling the story. The children made some brilliant freeze frame poses to show all the different emotions that the boy shows during the course of the book and then put this into a storyboard. Their sentences continue to improve as we practised using conjunctions before writing an extended book review. Finally, they spent some time thinking about where the story could go next, with the children writing a part two, describing an adventure the boy went on with his star. As a class, we always enjoy story time and this half term we managed to finish Astronaut Girl. We are currently reading and laughing along to Omar – Accidental Trouble Magnet, which the children voted for.

In maths, the children have been doing a lot of work on the part whole. This area of maths applies to many other areas which is why is so important to get right. The children were able to make part whole models (bar and cherry) using a range of apparatus including Cuisenaire rods. We then moved on to using these models to find missing numbers in questions, and even explored the inverse of addition and subtraction. Also we learnt that addition is commutative and that we can add numbers in any order but still get the same total. And most recently, we started to apply and use this understanding of the part whole to work with money. This half term we also made the exciting switch from Numbots to TTRS and the uptake of practise at home has gone up, which is brilliant! We have been working through our TTRS booklets in class focussing first on the 10 times table. Please keep up the practice of this at home!

The class have shown further curiosity in our science lessons as we reach the end of the first half of the longer unit called ‘animals including humans’. We have looked at animal offspring and the different life cycles of different types of animals including frog, butterfly and human. The children spent some time researching about survival, including how long different animals can last without food and water. We then looked at what different animals eat and can now explain the meaning of carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. In the final week we then took part in an experiment to see how different exercises effected our heart rate. Also, we all had great fun looking at a range of exotic animals when Zoolab came into the school. We even got to touch them!

This half term in history, we looked a range of interest history makers. We started the unit by looking at Guy Fawkes. Then we spent the rest of the time getting to know the actions of Malala Yousafzai, Margaret Thatcher, Hatshepsut, Marie Curie, Grace O’Malley and Elizabeth I. The children then learnt about all the significant things they did, some positive, and maybe some negative. They were able to share their thoughts on who they believe was the most important history maker and why.

Our RE unit this half term had us looking at Muslim prayer. We looked at the use of prayer mats and the children designed their own patterns. We also looked at the different poses many Muslims perform during prayer and the meaning that they each have. However, and most importantly, we understood how this shows real commitment in the lives of many Muslims, and looked at how we can show commitment in our lives to achieve our goals.

Our computing lessons continue to be enjoyed by many and this half term the children have been looking at algorithms. We now know that algorithms are sets of clear instructions given in a specific order. In order to explore this, the children programmed beebots to follow a simple set of instructions.

Our PSHE topic this half term across the school has been ‘Dreams and Goals’ thinking about what we want to aim for in life and how we can help ourselves and each other to succeed. We have celebrated diversity within the classroom and around the school by introducing our new inspiring sports star, Alex Scott. We have had a number of whole school events this half term including celebrating the Lunar New Year, NSPCC Number Day, Safer Internet Day and Child Mental Health Week.

PE with me on a Wednesday has continued to be great fun! The children have been learning how to put together and perform a sequence of gymnastic movements within zigzag patterns. They have been building on what they learnt last term, using their champion movements and positions.

This term’s art with Mrs Campbell-Pugh has been looking at developing their printing skills through positive and negative prints including over lapping colours and layering. The children have used classroom objects, Styrofoam, shells and slab relief blocks to create their prints. We have been focusing on using only our primary colours and using specific vocabulary. We looked at the work of Andy Warhol and Louise Nevelson to inspire our masterpieces.

Please remember I am always on the door to answer any questions you might have. Also all helpful documents about the class are available in the class page on the school website.

I hope you all have a rest full half term and see you soon!

King Regards,

Mrs Tott

Autumn 2 Update (December 2022)

Another term down and I can’t believe how fast time is flying! The children continue to impress me with their growing resilience and maturity towards each and every lesson.

In our English lessons, we have worked hard on understanding different types of sentences including statements and questions, and what punctuation is needed with them. We wrote a lovely set of instructions after reading How To Make Friends With A Ghost and the children can now explain what an imperative verb is! We then moved onto a poetry unit where we listened to, studied, wrote and performed different types of list poems. This allowed us to practise using commas in lists and enhance our use of adjectives. Thank you to the parents who were able to join us for the Wondrous Writing session – it was a joy to have so many of you there! The class also did an amazing job writing to persuade, after reading the gripping and unnerving story The Spider And The Fly. I was blown away by their adjective choices and use of rhetorical questions. As a class, we always enjoy story time and this term we laughed along to The Twits by Roald Dahl. Our Reading Ambassadors had great fun putting together a class book full of our best bits from this hilarious story. We have also read Polonius the Pit Pony, a lovely short story about resilience, The Three Little Wolves and The Big Bag Pig, a funny twist on the classic tail, and we have just completed Astronaut Girl.

In maths the children have been continuing to practise their number skills including understanding equal and unequal, greater than (>), less than (<) and understanding that the equals symbol (=) means ‘the same as’. We explored different measurements of length, mass and capacity using a range of equipment and tackled a number of mental strategies to help make calculations easier and more efficient in our heads. Next term we will be making the exciting move from Numbots to Times Tables Rock Stars so the children can practise their 2, 5 and 10 times tables. However, the children should still practise their Numbots every now and again to ensure their skills are fluent. They will be able to use the same log in for both websites at home!

The class have shown further curiosity in our science lessons as we bring our unit on animals and their habits to a close with a mini beast hunt! It may have been a tad chilly to see a large variety, but the children were not put off and we were still able to spot a good few critters! We reminded ourselves what all living things have/do (MRS NERG) so we could begin to understand the difference between living, dead and never been alive. We then studied a variety of different animals and how their have adapted to the environment they live in. We studied the different biomes we have around the world and realised that not all animals would be able to survive in each one.

The children have loved our geography topic this half term, which was biomes, as it linked so beautifully with our science topic. We started by looking at Antarctica, learning interesting facts like how it is the coldest, windiest and driest place in the world. We now know the difference between a country and a continent and that different parts of the world have different climates. We compared places like Antarctica and the Sahara Desert and how animals like penguins and camels are suited to these environments. We even wrote a letter from Antarctica to the Arctic, as a penguin to a polar bear!

Our RE unit this half term had us looking at why Christians believe God gave Jesus to the world. We have looked at how most Christians prepare for Christmas and discussed what advent means. We also looked into the belief that Jesus was sent to save the world.

Our computing lessons continue to be enjoyed by many and this half term the children have been looking at photography. We started by making sure we knew the basics on how to physically take a photo on an iPad and a digital camera, and the differences between the two devices. We also remembered the importance of asking permission before taking any photos of another person. Our photography skills really improved as we experimented with framing, choosing between landscape and portrait, and finding the perfect lighting.

Our PSHE topic this half term across the school has been ‘Celebrating Difference’ and it is always a pleasure to sit down with the children and share what makes us different and how this makes us special. We have celebrated diversity within the classroom and around the school by introducing our inspiring sports star, Kathy Williams. We have had a number of whole school events this half term including NSPCC Speak Out Stay Safe and Just Talk Week. Both of these important campaigns reminded children of the importance of mental health and that if anything is making them feel sad or worried, speaking to someone can help. It was also wonderful to see the children explore possible careers in our Aspirations Day in November. Thank you to all who volunteers who shared their passion for their career with our school!

PE with me on a Wednesday has continued to be great fun! The children have been learning how to put together and perform a sequence of dance moves while in the role of an explorer. They have used their bodies to express the determination, curiosity and fear of an explorer trekking through the jungle. We even took the chance to move like different jungle animals, including panthers, cobras and parrots. With Mr Tate (new to our school this term) the class have been playing the more competitive game of tag rugby, learning the important skill of agility.

This term’s art with Mrs Campbell-Pugh has been looking at cross-stitch, as children tested their patience and resilience with the intricate but beautiful task of sewing a cross-stitch Christmas decoration. And I must say, they look stunning!

Please remember I am always on the door to answer any questions you might have. Also all helpful documents about the class are available in the class page on the school website.

I hope you all have a magical Christmas, and I look forward to seeing the class in the new year!

King Regards,

Mrs Tott

Autumn 1 Update (October 2022)

I can’t quite believe it has been half a term already! I can honestly say it feels like I have known Emperors Class for years and I could not be more proud of how well they have settled. It has been a busy half term, jam packed with new routines and learning, and the children have taken it all in their stride. Their resilience is growing day by day, as is their ability to take initiative in their own learning. I am excited to see just how much we can achieve this year!

It is quite clear that the children in Emperors Class love to read, which is such a wonderful passion to have, as it opens so many doors. The children have laughed along to our class book, The Twits by Roald Dahl – some even went straight to the library to take it out themselves! In our English lessons we have worked hard on our sentences, learning what a conjunction is and how to use them to extend out sentences. We have studied lovely books like Scaredy Squirrel and Zerrafa Giraffa. We also read Frog and the Stranger which tied in nicely with our teaching of kindness and respect for others, even if they are a bit different to us. We have used rainbow colours to demarcate the different sentences and show exactly where to put full stops and capital letters.

In maths the children have been showing their curiosity by exploring the value of different numbers and amounts. We have used base-10 to show ten and more, learnt how to group in 10s and 5s, and started to order larger amounts from smallest to largest. The children have shown how well they can manipulate different resources including beadstrings and tens grids to help demonstrate their understanding. We have also started reasoning in maths lessons, being able to explain why and how we know what the answer is. Some of the children show a great liking for Numbots which has aided their understanding of number greatly – this site will benefit all children and should be practised regularly at home.

The class have shown even more curiosity in our science lessons as we bring our unit on materials to an end with an investigation. We have discussed and recapped the different types of common materials and what properties they each have such has ‘waterproof’, ‘fragile’ and ‘flexible’. We studied the inventor John MacAdam and how he was the creator of a brand new material which is so commonly used today (Tarmac) and we even looked into the process of recycling and why it is so important into today’s society. We then rounded off the unit nicely with an investigation to see which material would be best suited for a shopping bag for Grandma.

The children have loved our history topic this half term which was 1960’s toys. We all enjoyed jumping back to the sixties and looking at some popular events, people and items from the time. We even enjoyed listen to a spot of the Beatles while we learnt, just to really get a feel for it! As we looked at many toys from the decade, we spotted a few that were quite familiar. Toys like Barbie, LEGO and Monopoly are still popular today. However, the children have been able to identify how some changes have occurred over time, namely the development of technology and the ability to make ‘Smart’ toys which connect to the internet or interact with the player. Then finally, to round off the unit, we all thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the Hertford Museum to see some of these toys for real and even have the chance to play with some. Their behaviour was impeccable and I was very proud them.

Our RE unit this half term has been kindness, with the aim of asking the question ‘is it possible to be kind all of the time?’ As kindness is one of our learning powers and values, we have spent a lot of time looking at this and discussing when it can be difficult to be kind. However, through looking at Christian stories such as The Good Samaritan and The Paralysed Man, the class have learnt that we would always try our best to be kind to everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done. The children have approached this big questions well and are developing their reasoning skills in order to answer them deeply.

Our computing lessons have been enjoyed by many this half term and the children have managed to log in with their personal log in details. This has allowed them to access a shared document and save it to their own area. As a class we have looked at IT (Information Technology), what it means and what examples we can find in school and out in the world. The class can now identify different types of IT found in shops like ATMs, tills and chip & pin machines. They also learnt what the purpose of the barcode was and how scanners are used to read a bunch of information.

Our PSHE topic this half term across the school has been ‘Being Me in My World’ and it has been a pleasure to sit down with the children and discuss what makes them them. I have found these lessons a calming experience where the children feel comfortable to share their thoughts and ideas and know that they will be listened to by their peers. We have looked at worries and how we can help ourselves by going to our trusted five. We have also looked at rights and responsibilities and how our actions have consequences. We focused on Sir Mo Farah for Black History Month, learning about the amazing achievements he has accomplished and how he demonstrates all of our learning powers and values. We then did some lovely work on the importance of mental health and how to take care of our minds during Hello Yellow on the 10^th October.

PE with me on a Wednesday has been great fun! The children have been learning how to link movements together smoothly. We have practised ‘champion’ positions, showing strength in our bodies, pointing toes and straightening arms. We have also used a range of apparatus (which the class have managed to arrange ever so safely) to allow the children to move in a range of different ways. By the end of the unit the children were linking jumps, balances and movements together fluidly. With Mr Bird the class have been playing a more competitive game of dodgeball, learning the important skill of how to successfully dodge on coming fire, while still aiming for their own opponent.

This term’s art with Mrs Campbell-Pugh has been looking at colour through painting. We described the colours of objects and made as many tones of one colour as possible using white. We looked at the story "The Day the Crayons Quit" to create a great display. We then experimented with colour on a larger scale with cherry blossom, using cotton buds to dapple the impression of flowers in a range of shades of pink. We also explored how we could make a colour darker without using black.

It was lovely to meet and properly speak to so many of you at the parent consultations. Please remember that if you ever have any questions, I am more than happy to chat on the door or make an appointment for a proper meeting. Also, all helpful documents about the class are available in the class page on the school website.

I hope you all have a wonderful half term, and I look forward to seeing the class in a week.

King Regards,

Mrs Tott