Sycamore Class

Subject

Sentence explaining curriculum

English

We will be studying stories and concentrating on how to create drama and suspense using different types of literary features including: alliteration, onomatopoeia and similes but specifically focusing on metaphor and personification.

Maths

We will be focusing on angles, shape and statistics in the lead up to SATs. Additionally, in our DT lessons, Maths will link with our cooking as we measure in practical ways and make links between imperial and metric measure.

Science

To link directly with our Design Technology topic pupils will be exploring the different types and shapes of microbes and will observe first-hand how microbes can be put to good use in the food industry. They will also learn how some microbes can be harmful and what they can do to prevent themselves from getting ill.

Humanities

There will be a brief link to Geography as we look at where our foods come from in Britain and across the World.

RE

In RE, we will be studying the 10 commandments and considering their relevance to us today.

Art and Design

Design and Technology will form our overarching topic for this short term as we focus on cooking. In small groups, we shall be looking at how to make quiches and adapt recipes for different tastes. We shall also be looking at kitchen safety, the nutritional values of different foods and the Eatwell Plate.

Computing

There are only three lessons for computing this term and so we shall be using these sessions to look at menus for our café and using formatting skills to create our own menus. E-safety will also be discussed.

PE

Mrs Gilchrist will be teaching netball.

Modern Foreign Language (KS2)

We shall be learning all about how to talk about different foods in French.

Subject

Sentence explaining curriculum

English

We will be studying explanation texts in order to write our own explanations.

Maths

We are currently finishing off our unit of work relating to algebra. We will then focus on reading, writing and converting between standard units of length, mass, volume and time from a smaller unit of measure to a larger unit, and vice versa whilst solving problems relating to these. We will then move onto investigating area and perimeter and using formula to solve problems relating to the area and volume of shapes. Finally, we will learn about ratio and proportion.

Science

With Miss Burrow, the children will be looking at how animals and plants are adapted to the environments in which they live.

With Mrs Gilchrist, the children will be studying Forces. The children will learn that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object. They will understand that when forces are balanced on an object then the object will not move. In addition, they will be undertaking investigations in order to identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance and friction that act between moving surfaces.

During this term, we will also have a Science themed week, where we shall carry out various activities relating to simple, physics, biology and chemistry.

Humanities

We will be continuing to focus on Geography and the different biomes and climate zones found on Earth and this will link closely with our science work of habitats. We shall be comparing places in terms of their physical and human geography: looking at maps and investigating natural resources, agriculture and patterns of land use.

RE

Following on from our RE week in January we will be exploring Buddism in more detail.

Design

In Design, we will be continuing to look at the history of clocks, how to design products for a purpose, how clock mechanisms work and eventually designing and making our own working clocks. We will link Maths to our design as we make accurate measurements and look at how angles are used to create clock faces.

Computing

The children will be focusing on developing their word processing skills and using Power-point to create a branching key using hyperlinks (linked to Science).

PE

Mr Perry will be focusing on cricket and we will be continuing gymnastics for our indoor PE.

Modern Foreign Language (KS2)

In French we shall continue to work on learning vocabulary relating to animals as well as learn the months of the year and revise days or the week.

PSHE

In PSHE we will be following the SEAL unit of ‘Going for Goals’.

Subject

Sentence explaining curriculum

English

We will be looking at the book Flotsam by David Wiesner and using this as a stimulus to help us to write our own stories focusing specifically on character.

Maths

Initially the focus will be on decimals and percentages and then we will be looking at algebra.

Science

We will complete our work on ‘Evolution and Inheritance’. Following this, we will begin our next topic relating to ‘Living things and their Habitats’.

Humanities

We will be focusing on Geography and the different biomes and climate zones found on Earth and this will link closely with our science work of habitats. Later, we will move to looking at comparing different places in terms of agriculture, physical geography, climate patterns and human geography. We will make links to mathematical concepts through time zones of the world.

RE

We will focus on what Christians, Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists believe about the beginnings of life on Earth and compare this to the scientific theory of creation, encouraging children to look at what they believe and why.

Art

In Art, we will be looking at the work of the Canadian landscape artist ‘Ted Harrison’; colour mixing and creating our own landscapes using his techniques. This will link with our geographical work at we look at landscapes from different parts of the world.

Design

In Design, we will be looking at the history of clocks, how to design products for a purpose, how clock mechanisms work and eventually designing and making our own working clocks. We will link maths to our design as we make accurate measurements and look at how angles are used to create clock faces.

Computing

Our ICT topic is spreadsheets and we will be using a graphing program in order to make comparisons between countries in Geography.

Music

Building on previous years’ work.

Being able to read, write, perform and appraise written notation using the 3 non-tuned percussion instruments.

Starting to use the final percussion group – the tuned family of instruments.

Being able to use the tuned instruments in a melodic way.

Being able to use the tuned instruments in a harmonic way - chords.

Learning that ‘chords’ are the basis for all western music.

Starting to learn about different western musical genres and how they ALL use a chordal structure .

Realising that pitch too can be notated and started to learn the basics.

Learning to play the recorder from notation.

Further ukulele skills!

PE

We will continue our gymnastic sessions and Mr Perry will be focusing on skills.

Modern Foreign Language (KS2)

In French we continue learning vocabulary relating to animals in particular, focusing on differences between masculine and feminine nouns, as well as using nouns in the plural.

PSHE

We shall be looking at a theme of ‘Getting on and Falling out’.

Subject

Sentence explaining curriculum

English

We will be watching a short film entitled ‘The Lighthouse’ and using this as a stimulus to help us to write our own newspaper report.

Maths

Initially the focus will be on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions and then applying this to problem solving. Following this, we will be looking at geometry, focusing on the language of position and direction.

Science

Our topic is Evolution and inheritance, where we will be looking at fossils and extinction; how fossils are made; the work of Mary Anning and Charles Darwin and how people in families look similar because of inherited traits. Following this, we will be looking at how animals are adapted to the habitats and environments that they live in.

Humanities

We continue our work on World War Two. The focus this term will be: evacuation, rationing, the work of women and a link to local history.

RE

We will be considering how to make our society more equal through history, research and debate.

Art and Design

We continue to study the work of Henry Moore. After this, we will complete a textile-based object through a make-do-and- mend project.

Computing

We will be focusing on programming using ‘Scratch’. We will design and create a game which will be tested by children at Yardley Hastings School.

Music

Building on previous years’ work. Being able to read, write, perform and appraise written notation using the 3 non-tuned percussion instruments. Starting to use the final percussion group – the tuned family of instruments. Being able to use the tuned instruments in a melodic way. Being able to use the tuned instruments in a harmonic way - chords. Learning that ‘chords’ are the basis for all western music. Starting to learn about different western musical genres and how they ALL use a chordal structure. Realising that pitch too can be notated and started to learn the basics. Learning to play the recorder from notation. Further ukulele skills!

PE

Gymnastics will be our focus this term.

Modern Foreign Language (KS2)

We shall be learning all about how to describe our families as a link to science and making a family tree, which we will talk about in French. We shall also be looking at Christmas in France.

Subject

Sentence explaining curriculum

English

We will be reading Chalk by Bill Tomson and using this as a stimulus to help us to write our own short stories.

Maths

Initially, the focus will be on place value looking at numbers up to and beyond 1,000,000. Following this, we will be looking at applying addition subtraction, multiplication and division strategies.

Science

We will be studying the topic of light. We will be investigating how light appears to travel in straight lines and how objects are seen because they give out or reflect light into the eye. In addition, we will learn about reflection and refraction.

Humanities

Our main focus will be history based on World War Two. We will use a range of sources to help us to learn about what life was like then. 

RE

We will be learning about the lives of people of faith from different religions. The children will be identifying key events in their lives, looking at how their faith and beliefs have influenced them to overcome challenging circumstances, and how it has inspired their lives and work. They will compare and contrast these experiences throughout the unit.

Art and Design

We will be studying the work of Henry Moore and creating art to link with our WW2 topic.

Computing

We will be focusing on different strands of e-safety including rules for staying safe online.

Music

Building on previous years’ work. Being able to read, write, perform and appraise written notation using the 3 non-tuned percussion instruments. Starting to use the final percussion group – the tuned family of instruments. Being able to use the tuned instruments in a melodic way. Being able to use the tuned instruments in a harmonic way - chords. Learning that ‘chords’ are the basis for all western music. Starting to learn about different western musical genres and how they ALL use a chordal structure. Realising that pitch too can be notated and started to learn the basics. Learning to play the recorder from notation. Further ukulele skills!

PE

We will be undertaking circuit training activities in order to improve fitness and stamina.

Modern Foreign Language (KS2)

We will be learning how to ask and answer questions; revising colours, numbers and days of the week; learning new vocabulary for a variety of different animals that we can then use to build sentences in written form and continuing to listen to songs and stories in French.