Corvus and Draco - Reflect and Review

Dear Parents,

It’s been lovely to get together as a class again following half term. 

Corvus

As Writers, we edited our letters, written in the role of Roz the Robot. We thanked the Beaver family for helping us to build a lovely home. We then started studying our new book, Ice Palace, by Robert Swindells, focusing on the first lines of the book and trying to capture the bleak, cold atmosphere of Ivan’s land. 

As Mathematicians, we have been consolidating and expanding our knowledge of column subtraction, learning how to exchange tens for ones and hundreds for tens so that we can subtract effectively. 

As Scientists, we have started to explore electricity, learning about what electricity is and identifying appliances that run from the mains or on a battery. 

Draco

In English, we analysed the opening of The Ice Palace and looked at how the writer creates a strong sense of time, place and character. The children loved annotating a section of the text. Vocabulary focus for the week: ominous, crisp and dramatic.

As Geographers, we explored the physical features of Antarctica and worked in small groups where we had individual responsibilities to research information: one person acted as a reader, the other person acted as a note taker and one person conducted questions to clarify information. This was a very enjoyable lesson for all, and the children worked collaboratively to collect information. 

Next week in English, we continue our exploration of Ice Palace, contrasting summer and winter in Ivan’s land and creating kennings. In Maths, Corvus will continue with column addition and subtraction, looking at how it is affected by mixing two and three digit numbers. In Science, we will be building a variety of electrical circuits, trying to make bulbs light up, exploring insulators and conductors, and using switches. 

Children in Year 4 to 6 will be visiting the Commonwealth War Graves on Tuesday for Remembrance Day. Parents are welcome to join us on the walk down, leaving around 10.15am.

For children selected to visit Christ Church on Wednesday 19th, we have been informed that the children need to arrive at Christ Church earlier than expected and therefore children will need to be at school for 8.05am. They will require normal school uniform and whilst Christ Church will be providing a lunch for the children, you may wish to send them with a packed lunch if you feel it is appropriate, especially if they have dietary requirements or have particular feelings about food choices!

Home-learning

Maths Homework books will be due on Monday so please make sure that they are brought in for marking. 

Every child should also have a Times Tables Rock Stars login, which they can use to practise their times tables. Corvus are currently consolidating their knowledge of 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables if you would like to direct their practice, with Draco adding 6s and 4s to that list.

Dates

8th November - School Open Day 10-12
11th November - Y3 Police Visit to School
11th November - Y4-6 Remembrance Service at War Graves, 10.30am. Parents Welcome
13th November - Draco and Corvus HSA Cake Sale 
14th November - Coffee Friday at drop off
18th November - Wild Robot Cinema Trip
19th November - Christ Church Cathedral Singing Trip (Selected Student)
24th - 28th November - Aquila Residential
3rd December-  Christmas Dinner and Jumper Day
11th December - Hercules and Science Museum Visit
12th December - Christmas Service at St Peter and Paul's (2-6 only)
12th December - HSA Christmas Bazaar after school details to follow
15th December - Reading Passports Returned to School
19th December - End of Term 1pm finish time