Spring 2025

We hope you enjoyed a restful and relaxing Christmas break and are ready for some fun-filled learning and experiences in the new year.

Happy New Year to you all!

This half term our Geography topic will be Deserts- Would you like to live in the desert?  We will:  

• Identify the lines of latitude where hot desert biomes are located.
• Describe the characteristics of a hot desert biome.
• Locate the largest deserts in each continent.
• Describe ways the Mojave Desert is used.
• Name and describe the physical features found in a desert.
• Identify how humans use the desert.
• Explain how human activity may contribute to the changing climate and landscape of a desert.
• Recognise that the Mojave Desert has a different time zone to the UK.
• Describe some of the threats to deserts.
• Give the benefits and drawbacks of living in a desert environment.
• Identify characteristics of two contrasting biomes and compare land use.
• Discussing if a desert environment is hospitable and why.

You will all be able investigate Sound in our Science lessons and we will even be trying our hand with wearable technology in DT.  Our first lesson introduced a range of technical vocabulary which we are hoping to get our heads round!  Do you know what a CAD is ?  Or a LOOP in coding? We will aim to find out!

The RE focus will be looking at the Christian belief that Jesus is the Son of God.  We will conitinue to develop our Class Scrapbooks as a record of our thoughts and reflections.  

Our English text - Hidden Figures- will provide a fantastic stimulus for discussion and written work.  Children have already made fantastic predictions of the themes that may be covered.
English

PE- Dance

Spring Term, Day one and we have already been introduced to our PE 'Dance' Unit.
Children demonstrated some fabulous dance moves and worked in time with the music.
 

Geography 
We began our Geography topic by looking at different biomes- places with similar climates.  Children could match the images with the biome descriptions before embarking on a virtual field trip to the Mojave Desert.  We imagined that we were really there and were inspired to write postcards.  Here are some examples:

Science

To begin the half term, we are doing a little more Classification study.  Week one, we learned about Linnaeus, who he was and looked at his classification system.We began to understand that classification systems group living things according to similarities and differences.

Following on from week one, we used the similarities and differences of living things to be able to determine their classification.  We then moved on to using classification keys.  Looking at cats, we used a given classification key to follow and work out which cat was which.  Having some information on buttercups, we incorporated our computing skills and used a branching database to create a classification key for them.

This week, in Geography we have been looking at different biomes around the world.  Children identified different areas of the world which experience various climates before locating some of the main desert biomes. 

 This week in Science, we have completed our Classification unit, and it ended with a nice (sweet) bang!  We were applying our learned skills in making classification keys, using sweeties!  The lesson began playing Guess Zoo - we had to ask yes/no questions to work out which animal we were.  This helped us consider questions to start our classification key witht he sweets, starting broadly and then becoming more specific as we whittled them down.  As expected, engagement was 110%! The enjoyment of eating th sweeties at the end was definitely the highlight!

Children's Mental Wellbeing Week
We completed daily mile with Miss Scotson's Class.

Story-Telling Week

We started Story-Telling Week with a Webinair- joined by Miss Scotson's Class.  Author Tọlá Okogwu inspired us with story-writing ideas as she walked us through the planning journey.  We developed a character, super power and problem.   We look forward to seeing these stories take shape. 

Jar of Positivity - This is me!

We took some time out today to promote a positive mindset.  Children filled their 'jar' with all things associated with themselves.  These will be displayed in our classroom as we share the best version of ourselves.