St John's C of E Primary - Nurturing Excellence

Woodpecker Class

Welcome to Our Woodpecker Class Page!

English

In English this term we will be studying ‘A midsummer night’s dream’. We will be looking at this story in our guided reading sessions to aid our comprehension, but we will also be applying it to our learning of language devices such as similes and punctuating speech. We will also continue to focus of our diagonal joins which will lead to cursive handwriting.

Maths

This term in Mathematics we will be continuing to build on our knowledge from the autumn of place value and the 4 operations. We will be working hard to ensure that students are confident with using the column method as this is something that they will need throughout their education. We will also start looking at multiplication and division. We will practice using arrays, groups and more to solve problems, building our understanding of how the operations are connected. Through activities, we will develop strategies to multiply and divide with confidence, building strong foundations for more advanced math skills.

Science

This term in science, we will be learning all about plants. The children will explore what plants need to thrive, identify different types of plants and learn about the life cycle of a plant. We will also be carrying out some experiments to observe how plants respond to different conditions.

History

In History, we will be travelling back in time to the Tudor period. The children will learn about key figures, including Henry VIII and his six wives, and explore what life was like for rich and poor people during this era. We will also look at Tudor houses, clothing and food, comparing them to modern day life.

Music

This term in music we will be introduced to the ‘gamelan’. ‘Gamelan’ is the name for a traditional Indonesian percussion orchestra. It consists largely of percussion instruments, which typically include metallophones, gongs and drums. By listening to gamelan music from Java and Bali the children learn that gamelan music is built around a basic melody known as the ‘balungan’ which is built on one of two groups of pitches using 5 or 7 notes. Throughout the course of the unit the children learn to play a piece for gamelan called Lancaran Cobowo on the glockenspiel which uses three different interweaving parts accompanied by untuned percussion.

PSHE

In PSHE, we will be focusing on personal safety. The children will learn about recognising safe and unsafe situations, understanding how to seek help, and learning strategies to keep themselves safe at home, school and in the community.

In PE this term, we are focusing on swimming. We will develop our confidence in the water while practicing skills such as floating, kicking and basic stroke technique. Our goal is to improve our swimming technique and learn how to stay safe in and around water.

In RE, we will be learning about the Christian concept of salvation. The Children will explore the Easter story, discussing its significance for Christians and how it influences their beliefs and actions. We will also reflect of the themes of hope and new beginnings.

Art

Our Art lessons this term will focus on landscapes and symmetry. The children will study famous landscape paintings, experiment with different techniques to create their own scenic artwork. They will explore symmetry in art, using this knowledge to create balanced and visually appealing pieces.