Week ending Friday 18th March 2022

Hello everyone,

We hope this round-up finds you well and if you or your family are currently at home self-isolating, then making a speedy recovery.

English
In our English lessons we are now using our research to write biographies.  In lessons, we are also revising areas of grammar and punctuation to help the children improve their writing as well as preparing for the grammar and punctuation test.  We are continuing to read regularly at school and also practise the skills needed to answer questions in reading tests.  The homework that is set each week consolidates what we have been learning at school so it's really important that children do this preferably with your support.  

Maths
In our Maths lessons we have begun a new focus on 'algebra'. Within this, the children this week have learnt about function machines and finding the rule, expressions and simplifying expressions. This will help form a good foundation for when they transition to Year 7 and the Key Stage 3 curriculum. The have also undertaken more arithmetic to put these skills to excellent use. They are definitely improving on accuracy, speed but most importantly, confidence and resilience. 

Science
Our lesson this week focussed on efficiency and we learnt how to calculate the efficiency of a machine using an equation.  I asked the children to have a look at home to see if they could see any appliances which have efficiency ratings on them.  We will be using more equations next week to find out the power of an appliance.

Geography
This week we learnt about population pyramids - a tool that governments use to measure changes in their countries' populations and to plan policies and services to meet needs.  Using the pyramids we could see how different factors can affect population such as war, migration and improved medical care for example.

Computing
We are continuing to learn how to use spreadsheets and this week learnt how to use formulas to carry out automatic calculations.  This linked nicely with our maths lessons in which we learnt about formulas in algebra in the form of 1 and 2 step rules in function machines.

PE
The children had an excellent time swimming this week. The sessions were spent with the instructors assessing the children's progress in the pool and seeing how far they could swim independently. Lots of them were confident and able to swim 50 metres, but most importantly for all children it was confidence in the water  that was most heart warming to see. It's been a fantastic few weeks of swimming with great results so far. During our session with Coach Edwards, the children undertook a 12 minute Cooper run, where they had to run between two cones, 25 metres  apart, for 12 minutes.  Sixty four  runs, that equates to one mile! I know some managed much more, and came back into the classroom looking rather red! Well done!

And to finish off, for Red Nose Day... a great joke from Ralfie; "What did the chicks say when they saw an orange in the nest? Look what Ma-ma- laid!"
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Have a fantastic weekend everyone and stay well. I hear the weather is going to be beautiful and spring has finally arrived! 

Thank you,
Mrs Ware and Miss Ruby