Term 2

We have lots of exciting opportunities for the children this term and we are also very excited about learning the songs and lines for our Christmas Nativity!

Maths

In Maths this term we begin to move our learning towards addition and subtraction where the children will be solving problems and applying the strategies taught to solve number calculations.

This week in Maths, the Kindness class have been learning about fact families. The children have used their part-whole models to support their recognition of addition and subtraction and even used dominoes to generate different number sentences!

The Kindness class have been subtracting using the crossing out method. They have answered worded problems by drawing how many they have and crossing them out. 

In Maths the children have been working to applying their subtraction skills by counting backwards on a number line. They have learnt to circle the whole amount and count back by the subtracted amount. 

Today, the children were introduced to 3D shapes. They began to look at the properties of each shape and become familiar with them. The Kindness Class then had to sort the shapes into groups. 

The Kindness Class have continued to develop their understanding of 3D shapes and how they surround us as everyday objects. Today, we have been cutting and sorting 3D shapes into their correct categories. 

English

The texts we shall be looking at in English this term are 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff', 'Goldilocks' and 'The Snowman'. The children will be given lots of opportunities to develop their speaking and listening skills before retelling the stories themselves. 

Today, we had to unjumble pictures from our new text that had been mysteriously cut up! We managed to piece the pictures together to reveal our new text 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. We then enjoyed listening to the story and relaying key phrases!

Today was all about acting! The Kindness class worked together to retell the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff and perform to the rest of the class. The children spoke with confidence and retold the story perfectly. 

Today, we introduced our new text... Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We inferred clues from items inside out story bag. We enjoyed listening to the story and joining in. 

To support our understanding of key vocabulary, the Kindness class worked in pairs and played a game of Bingo. We had to listen carefully to clues and guess the word that relates to out new class story - Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

The Kindness Class were very excited to find out about their new story... The Snowman. 

Using props and images, the children were able to predict what the story might entail before reading the book together. 

To generate a word bank for our newest story, The Snowman, the children were able to feel ice and snow to create some exciting adjectives. 

The Kindness class have been working together to organise a set of instructions on how to build a snowman. This has made them very excited for winter as they hope to build one themselves! 

Today, the Kindness Class were introduced to imperative verbs (bossy verbs) and found them in a sentence. They wrote the verb down and then acted it out. 

Geography -  Where in the school are we?

Today we learned about geographical human and physical features. We explored our school environment to find the different features. Back in the classroom we then sorted different the different features.

This week we explored the school grounds identifying physical and human features captures from an aerial photograph. The children used their cartographer skills of reading maps and remembered  the difference between physical and human features!

This week in Geography, we have focused on direction. The children have used their left and right to follow a map and locate key markers from St Thomas aerial view. 

Design Technology -  What makes a structure strong? - Bends or joins?

This week in D.T we explored various free-standing structures. The children worked incredibly hard to generate vocabulary to describe them, their structure, and the materials they are made from. 

This week in D.T we delved into the stability of structures. The children developed an understanding how and why freestanding structures are strong. The Kindness Class enjoyed building their own structures, laying the blocks in different ways and testing which was the strongest. 

Religious Education - Who made the world?

This week we have been learning how Christians worship God and how they live in ways to please him. We explored our reflective area, sang songs and shared prayers. 

Today, we explored the concept of God being a creator and a sustainer. We discussed what this meant and sorted images that represent what God created and what he provides to sustain the world.

This week the children have looked at the story of the Nativity and what it means to Christians. The Kindness class then retold the story through actions and freeze framed key parts. 

Music - Why do we have to sing in time with each other?

Science - 

How can I identify a variety of materials based on their properties?

Which materials can be recycled?

This week the children have looking at the properties of different materials and deciding which are the most suitable. The children then had to design a house for the Three Little Pigs, choosing a strong material based on its properties. 

Key events -

Anti-Bullying week

The children started their week by wearing odd socks to support Anti-Bullying Week! We read important stories that show themes of kindness, forgiveness and resilience and we even did some role play of scenarios that may arise on the playground and how we deal with it. 

Children in Need 

To support Children in Need, the Kindness class came in non-uniform (in some of the best Pudsey outfits Miss McCulloch and Mrs Melson have ever seen) and generously donated to a great cause. The children enjoyed their cakes and were very excited about their visit from Pudsey! 

Planetarium 

This week the children had a very exciting planetarium visit. l The children were incredibly enthusiastic about space, stars, planets and out universe.

We have even signed up for our class name to be etched onto the Artemis II Spacecraft - sending our name to the moon! 

Christingle 

Today the children had an exciting visit from St Thomas' Church. The Kindness learnt that Christingle is a Christian tradition that uses oranges wrapped in red tape, decorated with dried fruit or sweets, and lit with a candle to symbolise the light of Jesus. They had so much fun making them!