Year 3
What a week! It has absolutely whizzed by - almost as quickly as the children ran during our afternoon of indoor athletics in Newmarket. Every child took part in every event, in a busy, noisy and very warm hall filled with children from lots of different schools. We are incredibly proud of them all… and we suspect/hope bedtime was a little easier that evening too!
DT – cardboard needed
Next Friday afternoon, we’ll be starting a castle-related DT project. Please could you save and send in a small amount of sturdy cardboard (strong enough to stand up, but not too thick, as the children need to be able to cut it). If you could send this to school before next Friday, that would be much appreciated. Don’t worry – we’re recreating one castle feature, not building a full-scale fortress!
English – fractured fairy tales
In English, the children completed a cold task (no input at all). They produced some imaginative retellings of Jack and the Beanstalk from the giant’s perspective - it turns out the giant has quite a lot to say! We have also been working on our model text, The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs. The children have learned the text map (almost!) by heart, reordered a jumbled version of the story, and completed spelling, grammar and punctuation activities based on this delightfully twisted tale.
Maths – multiplication: the grid method
In maths, we have learned the grid method - the next step in our multiplication journey - to solve 2-digit by 1-digit calculations. We began using place value counters, organising them carefully into the grid, and have now progressed to writing the numbers straight in. The children have used their times table knowledge and addition skills brilliantly and have approached this work with confidence.
Science – light and shadows (in the dark!)
We are really enjoying our science topic on light, and today explored it in the most scientific way possible… by working in the dark!
We have learned what a light source is, why we need light, and investigated how shadows are formed. We also observed how shadows change when a light source moves closer or further away, and when it shines from different directions. Our understanding of transparent, translucent and opaque materials has helped us explain what we could see.
History – leadership and Boudicca
This week, we began exploring leadership through our history learning, starting with Boudicca’s early life and her marriage to Prasutagus, King of the Iceni. The children have demonstrated excellent recall of key facts and have begun to consider some big questions — including whether Prasutagus’ agreement with the Romans was the best choice for peace. The sense of injustice in the room was real, and the children shared thoughtful ideas about the Iceni tribe’s relationship with the Romans and how this might have shaped how they viewed their leader.
Other Learning
There was no PE, Music (due to the trip) or RE this week.
In French, we read and retold a story about a visit to a pet shop — lots of super speaking and confident vocabulary from the children!
Have a lovely weekend.
Miss Murphy and the Year 3 Team
Year 4
Oh dear, I feel this half-term is going to whizz by, we have already come to the end of week 2 of 6!
The children have been really focused this week and are working hard on all that is asked of them. They particularly enjoyed the sewing this week, not a single pricked finger! They are really good! They also enjoyed starting our new topic and it raised a lot of questions. Some great reading last week well done but not enough for us to get Bookster Bear we came second, we need everyone reading!
Our Learning this week;-
Maths - we have continued with fractions, placing fractions on number lines, and recognising integers. With Mrs Murray the children were identifying angles.
English - we have completed last term's text by writing our invention of the text about Sutton Hoo. With Mrs Murray the children had a reading comprehension about
Topic - Volcanoes! This has got the children excited and full of questions. We looked at the construction of Planet Earth discussing the; crust, mantle, outer core and inner core.
Computing - Programming with Scratch.
Science - Experiments with sound.
DT - Finishing our book cover.
Art - This week we looked at and channeled our inner Monet and copied his water lilies picture.
Have a great weekend
Mrs Chittock and the Year 4 team
Year 5
In Maths, this week we have looked a money. We've made different monetary amounts using the fewest notes/ coins and today learn a quick strategy for adding near pounds to monetary totals. Congratulations to those children who have passed a level of times table mountain this week. We told you your speed would come back with practice! In English, we have started to look at Romeo and Juliet. We have looked at Act 1 (the lovey dovey bit) and Act 2 (the angry fighty bit) and written summaries of both. We've also planned our own devious conversations between Juliet and Frair Laurence, which we will be continuing to work on next week.
In Computing this week, we tinkered with Micro:bits becoming familiar with how to code and programme them. We will be using Micro:bits all this half term, coding them to do all sorts of exciting things! In Science, we looked at the differences between the different states of matter and drew particle diagrams. In Geography, we looked at the locations of some major British rivers. We also thought about why so many cities are next to rivers.
Year 5 had a very interesting discussion in PSHE and what is and isn't safe to post online. Lots of children were very shocked by the permanence of the internet - just because you've deleted it, doesn't mean it isn't saved somewhere or recoverable! They also discussed which popular apps it was currently illegal for them to use!
On Monday, we had a great session at Newmarket Academy. We had a go at tri-golf and basketball in our PE session, and then made a lightbulb illuminate using potatoes as an energy source! The Academy staff were very impressed with Y5's effort, behaviour and enthusiasm. Well done, Year 5!
Next Monday (19th) , we will be having a meeting after school about the Horstead Residential trip which is rapidly approaching! More information will be emailed out.
Have a great weekend!
Miss Rutter, Mrs Grosvenor and Mrs Marsh
Year 6
Dear Parents and Carers,
Here is a summary of what Year 6 have been learning in what has been a very busy week:
In maths, we have been revising place value with decimals. The children have also been learning how to multiply decimals by an integer and divide decimals by an integer. They have worked hard to apply these skills in problem-solving tasks.
In English, we have been writing a discussion text. The children have been using emotive vocabulary to engage the reader and practising using the subjunctive form to express formal or hypothetical ideas in their writing.
In geography, we have been learning about the human and physical geography of different coastal towns in Suffolk. The children have been using four-point and six-point grid references to locate places on maps.
In RE, we have been learning about the Hindu concept of atman and discussing how this belief may impact the way a Hindu person lives their life.
In PSHE, we explored how different drugs can be classified. We discussed the difference between medicinal and non-medicinal drugs and learned that all drugs can be dangerous if not used correctly.
In science, the children have been learning about Charles Darwin and his voyage on the HMS Beagle, discovering how his journey helped shape his ideas about evolution.
Home learning for this weekend is a reading task. The children have also been given spellings to practise, which are available on Spelling Shed.
Just a reminder that the Horstead meeting will take place at 15:20 on Monday. Please allow time for the school to empty before entering. Access will be via the stairs by the Year 6 classroom, where the information session will be held.
Thank you for your continued support.
Have a super weekend,
The Year 6 Team
