Living and Learning: I know what a drug is.
This week in Y3/4 we have been learning about drugs and, in particular, medicines. We have studied how they can be a good drug if used properly, but also how they can be a bad drug if not used as directed.
They studies the packaging of a variety of medicines (Don’t panic! They were all empty!)
Then they had great fun acting out various scenarios to help them know how to be safe round medicines.
Living and Learning : Drug education
Our Living and Learning discussions have focused on drug and alcohol education. We have talked about what we put into and on our bodies and why. We discussed these scenarios in class. Ask your child what they would do in these situations.
Fantastic Foundation (as always!)
Science
This week, the children enjoyed rescuing the frozen minibeasts. We heard lots of fabulous conversations. We talked about ice being a solid and when it melts, it turns into a liquid.
“The salt is making the ice crack.”
“The sugar is making it sticky.”
“The hot water melts the ice the best.”
“We need more hot water! The legs are still frozen.”
Phonics
This week, the F2 children have been recapping all of the phase 3 sounds. We have also been learning to read words with more than one syllable (polysyllabic words)
Please continue to practice the phase 3 sounds at home. You could have a go at playing some of the games on Phonics Play. Below are links to some of the games.
Flashcards – supports sound recognition
Tricky Word Trucks – supports reading tricky words
Pick a Picture – supports blending
Login in using Sphere (username) Spher3 (password)
PE
The children continued to learn the fundamental skills of skipping.
We finished the session with some parachute games.
Literacy
The F2 children made ‘I Spy Minibeasts’ lift the flap books. We thought about different habitats and drew pictures of these on the front of the flaps for clues. Some of the children read their books to the class.
Maths
In maths, our focus numbers this week were 15 and 16. The children explored making teen numbers with Numicon.
We also have been focusing on adding more. The children know that when we add more the total number gets bigger. To support our learning with this, we played two games:
Magic Cloth – We counted an amount of cubes (1-10). I covered the cubes with the magic cloth and added a hidden amount of cubes under the cloth. I revealed the new amount and the children had to work out how many cubes I added. They were fantastic at explaining their answers using first, then, and now.
Grid Game- I taped a grid on the carpet. The children rolled a die and filled their column with the corresponding number of beanbags. The first to fill their column won!
F1
On Wednesday, the F1 children explored counting using Numicon. Some of the children put 2 or more pieces together and counted the holes to find a total.
Outdoor Learning Day
It’s looking like it’s going to be another wet day on Monday. Due to this, we are having to postpone our outdoor learning day. This will now take place on Monday 21st June.
Caterpillar News
The children were very excited this morning when they saw the butterfly!
“It’s beautiful!”
“It needs a friend… it is lonely.”
“The wings are symmetrical.”
Click here to see our first butterfly.
Home-Link Challenges
F2
Practise spelling the phase 2 and 3 tricky words. You could practise spelling these using coloured pens, paint or even playdough.
F1
Go on a letter hunt around your home.
Can you find things beginning with the same sound?
Choose different letters and see if you can find 3 objects beginning with the same sound.
Wonderful Writing
Over the past few weeks, we have thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Ollie’s Magic Bunny‘.
We came up with actions to remember the story in order. Children drew their own story map, listed the key vocabulary and then finally wrote the story.
I was so proud of all the children for their fabulous efforts. I saw some wonderful writing in Year 1 and 2. Here is a little sample of what the children achieved.
Ask your child to re-tell the story with the actions they learnt in class.
Times Tables Rockstars Championship
Well done, Year 3! Look at the percentages for this week. You have nearly all been on this week (up 30% to last week!) and the amount of time you’ve spent on each day has risen. Well done! 
The highly-anticipated championship results are in! Well done to the following children for winning a place on this week’s leadership board.
Your dojo points have been added – claim your prize from Mrs Welsby on Monday. Lookout, on Monday, for the updated leadership board.
Skipping into summer with Skipping School
We have launched a whole school skipping project with Skipping School. Each class has their own class set of ropes and we also have long ropes for every class too. The children are so enthusiastic about it already. There are some tutorial videos below so you can work on your skills at home too!
- Skipping Tips
- EYFS and KS1 ‘Click and Jump’ tutorial
- EYFS and KS1 ‘Big Rope Bouncing’ tutorial
- EYFS and KS1 ‘Double Bounce’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Double Bounce’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Speed Bounce’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Hop and Swap’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Side Straddle’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Forward and Backward Straddle’ tutorial
- KS2 ‘Criss Cross’ tutorial
A calm week in Foundation
After a very busy week last week, it’s been a lot calmer this week!
Literacy
The F2 children chose a minibeast to write about. We then used adjectives to describe what they look like and wrote about their habitats. Check out our amazing writing!
Caterpillars
It’s exciting times in Foundation… all of our caterpillars have now made a chrysalis (cocoon). The children know that caterpillars stay in a chrysalis for approximately 2 weeks. I am hoping this is perfect timing before we break up for half-term!
PE
The children started the exciting new ‘Skip into summer’ project organised by Skipping School. The children will be practicing their skipping skills over the next 6 weeks. To get their skipping journey started, Foundation will be learning three key skills: big rope bouncing, click & jump, and double bounce.
Phonics
F2 have finished learning all of the phase 3 sounds! Next week, we will be recapping some of the tricky phase 3 diagraphs and trigraphs. All of the children are trying really hard in phonics and this is evident in their reading and writing – well done F2!
Art
At the creative table, the children made their very own Matisse-inspired collage called The Snail. They cut up different shapes using brightly coloured paper and stuck them in a spiral pattern.
F1
On Tuesday, the children were finding objects with the same initial sound. Mrs Rippon said, “I have found a cccc cat! I wonder if we can find any other things that begin with a ccc.” They showed fantastic listening skills and were super at finding objects with the same initial sound.
On Thursday, they went on a 2d shape hunt around school.
Click here to watch a snapshot of what we do in music. The children love Mrs Small’s music sessions!
Home-Link Challenge
Living and Learning: I know the importance of sleep
We have been learning about the importance of sleep.
Did you know that people who get good quality sleep are more likely to…
- learn better
- remember more
- make good decisions
- perform better at sport
- be more creative
- feel healthier
- avoid illness
- heal faster from injury
- feel happy
Y ear 3/4 know all of this after our research into sleep.
Children aged 6-12 years old usually need between 10 and 11 hours every night.
Top tips:
- Turn off electronic screens (TV, computer, tablet, mobile) at least an hour before bedtime.
- avoid doing lots of exercise just before bedtime
- avoid lots of sugar (like sweets or fizzy drinks) in the evening
- have a tidy, organised, dark and cool bedroom
Happy sleeping!
Times Tables Rockstars Champions
Well done to this week’s Times Tables Rockstars champions!
We will be running this competition each week until the summer holidays. We do play in school but extra practice at home will be the key to improving their times tables. If you have any issues accessing it at home, please get in contact with Mrs Rowley (beckyrowley@spherefederation.org) asap.
Y6 Swimming survey
As part of the government PE and Sport Premium for primary schools, there is a condition requiring schools to publish how many pupils in Year 6 are meeting the National Curriculum requirements. As school swimming lessons took place earlier in KS2, please could you complete this survey to provide up to date information for your child.
Thank you
Mrs Latham
PE/Health Leader