Red Squirrels

Spring Term Learning

Red Squirrels

Happy New Year!

We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas break and had lots of quality family time together.

Thank you very much for the lovely Christmas cards and gifts that we received; it was very thoughtful of you to think of us.

We have been extremely impressed with the wonderful homework projects the children completed last term. It was great to see the different ways the children present their ideas! Thank you very much to parents for supporting your child. The children have really enjoyed sharing their learning with the class and we are looking forward to seeing the projects for this term (more details to follow).

Our learning this term

In English we will be looking at the story ‘The Stone Age Boy’ by Satoshi Kitamura, focussing on expanded noun phrases and setting description. The children will also create a holiday leaflet for Skara Brae focussing on the features of information texts.

In Maths this term, the children will be learning about Multiplication and Division. The children will learn multiplication and division facts and how it links to repeated addition and repeated subtraction. Year 3 pupils will begin to multiply and divide larger numbers using both practical and written methods. Please continue to practice times tables at home regularly using TT Rockstars. The children also enjoy listening to the BBC ‘Super Mover’ videos.

In Science the Year 2 pupils will learning about Animals including Humans. Year 3 pupils will learn about Forces and Magnets. During the units the children will have the opportunity to take part in scientific investigations.

Year 3 pupils will be continuing our history topic, Stone Age to Iron Age. The children will find out how life changed from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Year 2 pupils will be learning about significant individuals from the past and present including Mary Anning and David Attenborough.

In Geography the Year 2 children will be learning about environmental regions, investigating hot and cold climates. Year 3 pupils will be studying the UK. They will learn about the four countries making up the UK and finding out about the human and physical features.

This term the children will be taking part in swimming lessons on a Monday morning at Hereford Leisure Centre. The children will also continue to have a PE lesson on a Friday afternoon. Please ensure that your child has a full PE kit in school.

We are looking forward to seeing the children continue to progress this term.

Our door is always open so please feel free to come and talk to us about any further questions or queries that you may have.

Mrs Homer and Miss Corbin

Supporting learning at home

Reading – it is of utmost importance that children read regularly at home in order to apply and cement the knowledge they get at school. The children should be reading their school reading book at least three times a week. We encourage the children to read their own texts in addition to the school reading books to help develop a love of reading. The children will be bringing an extra book from the class library that they can listen to as a bedtime story.

It is also important to talk to the children about what they have read, to make sure they understand what they read rather than just decoding it. If you would like some example questions to support your child with this, please just ask.

Please sign your child’s reading diary so that we can count how many times they have read so they can achieve a rainbow reading certificate! The children will receive a certificate every five times they have read. We will hear the children read their reading book at least once a week, alongside our reading for meaning sessions and reading comprehension sessions.

Times tables - Please help your child to practise their times tables at home. Year 2 pupils need to practise the 2, 5 and 10 times table. Year 3 pupils need to practise 3, 4 and 8 times table. By the end of Year 4, pupils need to know all of the timetables up to 12x12

Spelling – Your child will continue to have weekly spellings for them to practise. As well as practising the spellings please complete the second sheet where they write the words into a sentence. This ensures that the children understand the meaning of the words, allowing them to apply them to their writing.

Please Don’t Forget…

P.E. will be on a Friday this term; please ensure the children have a full school P.E. kit in school so they can take part. Long hair must be tied up and earrings must be removed or covered up.

Bookbags are expected to be in school each day, and taken home each night; this is to enable staff to read with children, and change books when appropriate.

Please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled to avoid loss!

Healthy, nut-free snacks can be bought in from home each day, and children can eat them at breaktime.