Autumn 2
Autumn 2 – World War II
Theme: WWII
We will be continuing to study WWII this half term. We will learn about this through our class book ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ as well as a new book called ‘Rose Blanche’. Rose Blanche tells the story of a young German girl during WWII and will be used to support learning in Reading and Writing. For each aspect of our learning we will delve deep and create real experiences for the children to gain an insight into what life was like during this period in time. This learning will take place as part of our English lessons and is separate to our History topic, which you can find further down the page.
Vocabulary: war, bomb, army, Neville Chamberlain, Blitz, radio, Spitfire, barrage balloon, gas mask box, evacuee, Winston Churchill, Air raid shelter, ration book, Anderson shelter
English: Writing
During our writing this term we will continue to develop key writing skills and use these when planning and writing different text types. First of all, we will be exploring persuasive writing, before writing a persuasive letter from the point of view of a character from ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’. We will then explore a book about a girl during WW2 called ‘Rose Blanche’, before rewriting her story in third person, using the writing techniques that we have learnt.
Alongside these lessons, Pupils will take part in regular Grammar and spelling lessons in order to build up their confidence and word banks.
To support this at home, try these following links:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhrrd2p
Vocabulary: Noun, adjective, verb, adverb, preposition, determiner, full stop, comma, colon, hyphen, apostrophe, sentence opener, sentence structure, embedded clause, conjunction
Guided Reading/Reading for Inference
Within our guided reading and Reading for Inference sessions, we will continue to practise each Reading for Inference skill that we learnt last year across a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts. We will also explore a range of comprehension techniques such as retrieval, figurative language and author’s choices. Our class reading book is Goodnight Mr Tom, which we will continue reading this term.
To support with their reading at home, pupils should access Bedrock and Read Theory.
https://app.bedrocklearning.org/
Vocabulary: Visualise, Background knowledge, Breakdown, VIP words, GIST, Thinking like a detective, inference, retrieval, language, author
Maths
We will be revisiting some fractions knowledge before learning how to simplify fractions, compare and order fractions, add and subtract fractions, multiplying fractions, divide fractions and find the fraction of a number.
Towards the end of the term, we will be focusing on Geometry. In Geometry, we will be learning about position and direction. We will be learning about quadrants, translations and reflections.
We will also be developing our reasoning and problem solving skills. We will be using White Rose Hub to explore a range of concrete, pictorial and abstract concepts within our learning.
In addition to this, the children will continue to take part in weekly Number and Lightning learning to develop our speed and accuracy in arithmetic.
In order to support with this at home, please use the following links:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/mental-maths
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z826n39
Vocabulary: equivalent fraction, simplify, improper, denominator, numerator, integer, whole, x axis, y axis, grid, translate, quadrant, reflection, coordinate
Science: Light
As part of our science topic, we will be exploring light. We will learn how light travels and how we can see objects because of this. We will also use this knowledge to explore why shadows have the same shape as the object that casts them. We will also look at how we can independently plan and carry out an investigation that is linked to Light.
Vocabulary: light, light ray, light source, reflect, reflection, object, shadow, mirrors, rainbow, filters
Other Curriculum Areas
Computing – Programming: Intro to python
As part of this Computing topic, we will be learning that websites can be altered by exploring the code beneath the site. We will be designing, writing and debugging programs that accomplish specific goals. We will also be solving problems by decomposing them into smaller parts.
Vocabulary: algorithm, code (computer), computer command, decompose, import, loop, nested loop, random numbers, remix, script libraries, variable
RE – What does it mean for a Jewish person to follow God?
We will be continuing to learn about the religion of Judaism and how Jewish people live. The focus this term will be around our key question ‘What does it mean for a Jewish person to follow God?’. We will also explore different questions that children come up with during lessons.
Vocabulary: Judaism, Jewish, Synagogue, Star of David, Torrah, Shawl, Kippah, Seder plate, Menorah, Hanukkah
MFL - French – In France
We will be learning how to say many of the different things that you would find in France.
Vocabulary: le pont - the bridge, les messieurs - the gentlemen, les dames - the ladies, les jardiniers - the gardeners, les enfants - the children, les animaux -the animals, les oiseaux- the birds, la tour Eiffel - the Eiffel Tower, un jardin - a garden, la Seine - the Seine (River), une galerie d'art - an art gallery, un parc d'attractions - a theme park, le musée du Louvre - the Louvre museum, l'Arc de Triomphe -the Arc de Triomphe
Art – Sketching figures from World War 2
We will be using our sketching skills to draw soldiers, pilots and other important WW2 figures.
Vocabulary: sketch, symmetry, background, detail
Music - Songs of WW2
We will be continuing to explore songs of World War 2 to develop greater accuracy in pitch and control. We will be identifying pitches within an octave when singing and using knowledge of pitch to develop confidence when singing in parts.
Vocabulary: Morale, Britain, Troops, Frontline, Vera Lynn, Contrast, Musical terms, Tempo
PSHE – Health and Wellbeing
We will be learning about diet, oral hygiene, physical activity and the facts around immunisation. We will be exploring rest and relaxation and how they affect physical and mental health. We will also look at strategies for being resilient in challenging situations and planning for long-term goals.
Vocabulary: goals, relaxation, meditate, mindfulness, diet, dental hygiene, rest, physical activity, technology, mental health, resilience, immunisation, habits
History - Persia and Greece
We will be learning about empire kings in Greece, gods and goddesses, Greek language and Greek and Persian wars.
Vocabulary: Darius, empire, Persian Empire, Cyrus, Babylon, slaves, succeeded, satrapy, satrap, tax, city-state, polis, agora, acropolis, temple, gymnasium, theatre, Zeus, Olympus, shrines, Poseiden, trident, Ares, Hera, alphabet, alpha, beta, Homer, Iliad, Achilles, besiege, Battle of Marathon, strait
Geography – Agriculture
We will be learning what agriculture is, what arable and pastoral farming are, how landscape changes, farming in wales and how the food we eat affects farming.
Vocabulary: Agriculture, arable farming, pastoral, farming, mixed, farming, growing, season, plough, graze, dairy farmers, marshlands, forests, hedges, erosion, yields, fertilisers, pesticides, organic food, seasonal food, local, vegetarian, vegan, shorn
DT - Mechanical systems - cams
We will be designing, making and evaluating a cams mechanical system. This will be a wooden WW2 plane that moves.
cam, axle, shaft, crank, handle, housing, framework, rotation, rotary motion, oscillating motion, reciprocating motion, annotated sketches, mechanical system, input movement, process, output movement, design, make, evaluate
PE - Basketball and Health and Fitness
In Basketball, we will be using ball skills to play competitive games, work on tactics and analyse our performances.
Vocabulary: assist, backboard, basket, block, bounce pass, chest pass, dribble, drive, foul, free throw, guarding, overhead pass, rebound, travelling, turnover
In Health and Fitness, we will be working on circuit training. We will be creating own circuits for others to try.
Vocabulary: Balance, control, agility, core, heart rate, circuit
Key dates:
1.11.21 - Back to school
15.11.21 - 19.11.21 - Anti-bullying week
22.11.21 & 24.11.21 - Consultation evenings
15.12.21 - Christmas lunch
17.12.21 - Autumn term finishes - Last day of term