Welcome to Horse Chestnuts
"From proving to improving"
Welcome to Horse Chestnut Class at St. Mabyn Church of England Primary School where through God's love: we learn, grow and flourish together. The adults who support the children's learning in the morning are Mrs Howells and in the afternoon Mrs Bray and Mrs Jenkins
Within the classroom, we all model and build the characteristics of good learners through developing good learning habits and through an ethos of growth mindset and the power of 'yet'. It is great to be back after the Christmas break knowing the days will start to get longer.
Topic Africa and the Kingdom of Benin
Reading is a key focus for our class, children will complete a half termly Star Reading test and select books within the appropriate level to read independently. Children are expected to read every day and record their reading in their reading record book. Reading records books are regularly checked in school. We will read a selection of Fiction and Non-fiction stories linked to water. Our whole class guided reading book is the Journey to Jo'burg where we will explore the issues around diversity and inequality. Please set time aside each day to share reading books with your child, asking them questions and record their reading in reading record books.
In Maths, we will continue to develop fluency within the four number operations using our '99 club' challenges and fluent in 5 and will focus on multiplication and division and perimeter and area. Times tables will be essential to your child not just in their primary learning but in Secondary education and beyond, as such - time spent learning these is never wasted time!
In writing, we will continue to explore ambitious vocabulary and spelling patterns; spellings will be sent home weekly on a Monday and tested the following Monday. We will use talk 4 writing to learn a wishing tale and write our own version. Children will learn to imitate, innovate and invent texts based on this theme and will apply their learning in History to write a Non- chronological report about Africa.
In RE, we will be answering the big question- What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?
Our focus will be how Hindus practice their faith at home and as a community. Our value is Trust with the story of Noah being used as a model to follow in God's footsteps. We are having weekly collective worships led by Revd. Seymour and Revd. Thwaites.
In Science, we will explore and design investigations around shadows and reflective surfaces and apply that knowledge to create Shadow puppets.
This term children will have the opportunity to learn about online safety as part of the safer internet day on 8th February. Using Purple Mash children will develop skills using spreadsheets and begin to create animations.
Outdoor learning is proving to be very successful and will continue with a focus on lighting fires, natural art, making shelters and using our lovely the environment to support curriculum areas.
Every morning we complete a wake up shake activity, which may include activities outside weather permitting, this supports our drive to increase physical activity during the day and is led by our sports ambassadors. Our PE sessions are on a Tuesday afternoon with Mrs Bray and supported by a P.E specialist. Our focus this half term is dance.
Topic Africa and the Kingdom of Benin
Reading is a key focus for our class, children will complete a half termly Star Reading test and select books within the appropriate level to read independently. Children are expected to read every day and record their reading in their reading record book. Reading records books are regularly checked in school. We will read a selection of Fiction and Non-fiction stories linked to water. Our whole class guided reading book is the Journey to Jo'burg where we will explore the issues around diversity and inequality. Please set time aside each day to share reading books with your child, asking them questions and record their reading in reading record books.
In Maths, we will continue to develop fluency within the four number operations using our '99 club' challenges and fluent in 5 and will focus on multiplication and division and perimeter and area. Times tables will be essential to your child not just in their primary learning but in Secondary education and beyond, as such - time spent learning these is never wasted time!
In writing, we will continue to explore ambitious vocabulary and spelling patterns; spellings will be sent home weekly on a Monday and tested the following Monday. We will use talk 4 writing to learn a wishing tale and write our own version. Children will learn to imitate, innovate and invent texts based on this theme and will apply their learning in History to write a Non- chronological report about Africa.
In RE, we will be answering the big question- What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today?
Our focus will be how Hindus practice their faith at home and as a community. Our value is Trust with the story of Noah being used as a model to follow in God's footsteps. We are having weekly collective worships led by Revd. Seymour and Revd. Thwaites.
In Science, we will explore and design investigations around shadows and reflective surfaces and apply that knowledge to create Shadow puppets.
This term children will have the opportunity to learn about online safety as part of the safer internet day on 8th February. Using Purple Mash children will develop skills using spreadsheets and begin to create animations.
Outdoor learning is proving to be very successful and will continue with a focus on lighting fires, natural art, making shelters and using our lovely the environment to support curriculum areas.
Every morning we complete a wake up shake activity, which may include activities outside weather permitting, this supports our drive to increase physical activity during the day and is led by our sports ambassadors. Our PE sessions are on a Tuesday afternoon with Mrs Bray and supported by a P.E specialist. Our focus this half term is dance.
We have got an exciting history project of the Kingdom of Benin- children will learn about this ancient civilisation, its rise and ultimate decline and how people lived. The outcome of this topic will be a class based Museum showcasing the Art, music, dance and knowledge the children have learnt. Please see the knowledge organiser below which highlights key vocabulary and learning.
Mrs Bray will use African drums to teach the children the elements of music through percussion and African songs.
This half term we have arranged 3 creative workshops through Endelienta, the children will explore creative writing, music and Art with specialists who will be working with the children. The first of these workshops will be Tuesday 11th January.
Homework will be set please see the homework grid below, children are expected to complete homework independently and hand it in promptly for marking. Children will need to complete one topic activity per week from the homework grid. If your child needs resources to complete activities or loan of a Chromebook please speak to Mrs Howells. In addition, weekly Maths and English short tasks will be set
All homework books should be handed in every Thursday to be marked and handed back out on Friday.
Reading should be completed every day and recorded in their reading record book
If you need any further assistance about the way we work in the classroom please speak to Mrs Howells.
Homework will be set please see the homework grid below, children are expected to complete homework independently and hand it in promptly for marking. Children will need to complete one topic activity per week from the homework grid. If your child needs resources to complete activities or loan of a Chromebook please speak to Mrs Howells. In addition, weekly Maths and English short tasks will be set
All homework books should be handed in every Thursday to be marked and handed back out on Friday.
Reading should be completed every day and recorded in their reading record book
If you need any further assistance about the way we work in the classroom please speak to Mrs Howells.
Recorder Support Sheets