Chestnut Class

Welcome to Chestnut Class!

In Chestnut Class, we currently have 31 pupils, including Years 2, 3 and 4. The class teacher is Mrs Hazlehurst. Their teaching assistants are Mrs Smith and Mrs Clarke, and we have a 1:1 assistant Mrs Kember.

The curriculum map of our topics can be seen as follows:

Term 6 2014-15

Welcome back for the final term of this academic year! It is a long one and there is a lot to pack into the term.

This term, we shall be continuing our Topic based around The Anglo-Saxons and learning more about their beliefs and lifestyle. This Topic has proved popular and our earlier work based on chronology and historical events, and just last week about King Alfred the Great, led us onto a discussion about the current Royal Family. We have already completed a display all about Kings and Queens of the last 100 years and are very much looking forward to our planned trip to Sandringham Estate on the 7th July.

In our Literacy, we shall be looking at poetry by Roger McGough and writing some in the same style. We shall be doing lots of writing related to The Anglo-Saxons too e.g. a Biography of Alfred the Great. In Numeracy, we shall be covering time, addition and subtraction strategies and revising our work on shape (besides a lot more!)  We shall be continuing our Science work, RE and French with Mrs Gibbin on a Wednesday.

There is lots to look forward to this term then, including Sports Day, which we shall be preparing for. Let's hope it is a good one!

Term 5 2014-2015

This term our topic is Myth and Magic. We shall be looking at the Spiderwick Chronicles in Literacy amongst other stories. Numeracy shall have a strong focus on multiplication, division, fractions and measures. Our history topic is all about the Anglo-Saxons, hopefully leading to a trip based around this - yet to be confirmed. We shall still be learning French with Mrs Gibbin and she will also be taking us for Science. We have already begun our life cycles topic with her which promises to be exciting! Kelsie will be taking the Year 2's and Y4's for PE whilst the Y3 children will be going swimming. This started last Friday and the children will be taught by Sophie Allen - more information about this can be found below.

Swimming with Sophie Allen

On Friday, Sophie came in to take an assembly all about her Olympic dream. Sophie took part in the London 2012 Olympics. She told us all about the determination and perseverance that she had to put in and all about how long she had been swimming for. We were very lucky to see videos of her qualifying and also pictures of her receiving her medals. After the assembly, she came to each class to talk to us, show some of her medals and answer any questions. All of us received a signed photo to keep.

Term 3 2014-2015

This term, we shall be concentrating on 'Fun Stuff' which incorporates lots from many different subjects!

In Science, we shall be learning about our bodies. In particular, we shall be learning about our muscles and bones. We have already begun to learn a song to help us remember all of their names!!! You can follow the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abgJD054sds    

In RE we shall be thinking about 'Belonging to a Christian Community' and shall be visiting the local church in a few weeks time to meet with the vicar and learn about baptism. There will be some role play so watch this space for photographs!!! In PSHE we are thinking about our health and wellbeing. We shall be discussing our daily routines and taking care of ourselves. Our Geography topic involves studying the oceans, continents and countries within them. Art will consist of painting and collage. Liz will still be joining us for music and this term we shall be having dance sessions with Kelsey.

As the term progresses, please keep checking back to see what we have been up to! It promises to be fun, fun, fun!!!  

12.1.15

Today we began our Geography topic thinking about countries, continents, oceans and seas. As a challenge, we were given a map of the world with many different Disney films identified. Our task was to use either an atlas, globe or iPAD app Globe to identify the countries that these films were set in. We knew lots of the films but it was trickier finding the exact countries! A fun activity. There was certainly a lot of excitement!!!

21.1.15

Today, Chestnut Class visited St. Gilbert and St. Hugh Parish Church for a Christening. Reverend Walters led the service which formed part of their RE topic this term 'Belonging to a Christian Community'. Parents Sophie and Josh took baby Abby along with Godparents Martella, Cole and Thomas.  We thank Reverend Walters for taking the time to help us develop our understanding. 

                       Term 1 2014/15        

This term our main topic is we shall be thinking about the foods we eat, where they come from and how they are produced. There will be an exciting day out at Abbey Farm in Woodhall Spa to further our understanding. Linked in with this we shall be thinking about Harvest and what it means around the world to different people.

Term 2 2014/15

This term, our Food and Farming topic continues. We have enjoyed looking at the various aspects this covers so far, in particular making fruit salads and fruit kebabs, writing instructions to go alongside. Our science topic 'Teeth and Eating' runs alongside this and last week we investigated the effects of different liquids on our teeth if we didn't brush our teeth using hard boiled eggs.

Reading Plea! (and DOJO points)      

Mrs Hazlehurst  has a reading challenge that takes place throughout the week. Every time the children read at home in the evenings or over the weekend AND have a comment entered into their reading record, they can collect 3 DOJO points.

Each child has the ability to earn DOJO points throughout the week for many different things and at the end of the week, these are totalled up as a class and Golden Time awarded accordingly.

Spelling Logs

Children will be bringing home  their spelling logs each day. This is a new initiative this year and it is hoped that with your help, it will improve your child's spelling ability. Every week we shall be focussing on a particular sound or spelling rule and there will be examples of these spellings in the children's logs. In addition, there will also be words that your child has spelt inaccurately in other areas of their work. Please help your child to practise them. They will not be tested, but through regular practise should begin to spell them in all curriuculum areas accurately. Many thanks for your support.

Homework

Homework will be sent home on a Friday. Homework books are due back into school on a Wednesday. Please help your child with their homework. Very often the homework will be linked to an area that we have been working on in class time.  Having the books back earlier allows us to get them updated ready for Friday. Thank you for your cooperation in this.

PE sessions

Chestnut Class will be taking part in PE sessions provided by Elite Sports on a THURSDAY afternoon. All children need to have a PE kit in school for this. They will be outside for these activities (unless too wet) and so need to have suitable clothing to keep them warm on the chillier days. Please make sure also that your child has suitable footwear to run around in.

Useful websites

Below you will find a list of links to different websites that have fun games and activities to help with your child's learning. As we use them in school, the children will decide if they want them to appear here.

Numeracy  

Multiplication

We are determined this year to work on our mental maths skills and importantly our multiplication tables. Some of us have them to learn as our maths target. Please help your children to learn them. It really does make a huge difference to their maths confidence. We have enjoyed the below website to help us towards our goals.

http://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games

Symmetry

The children very much enjoyed using this programme to create their own symmetrical pictures.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/symmetry-artist2.html

Money:

A lovely game for choosing the correct coins to pay with. This has different levels to challenge children.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/shopping/index.htm

Slightly more tricky - choosing equivalent coins!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/snap/index.htm