Week beginning - Monday 10th February 2020

Despite the windy weather conditions, we enjoyed going for a stroll around the local area. The objective of the walk was to identify the sounds that could be heard. The findings would be used to create sentences that include a verb (a doing word, for example quacking) and a noun (an object, for example duck). The quacking of the duck. The children created some fantastic sentences. When we returned from our walk we shared the sentences we had written. The following day I provided the children with stimulus around North America, the continent we are focusing our learning around at the moment. Using the information they were provided with, the children highlighted the key words. They shared these as a class and I recorded them on the working wall. We then worked together to find other words that belonged in that particular rhyming family. Next the children magpied these words to put into sentences. We then arranged them according to how the layout of the poem should be, referring back to The Sound Collector. Lastly the children typed their poems up on the computer. 

In Maths we have been focusing our learning around division. The children were reminded of the terminology we use when discussing division: divide, division, dividing, sharing, grouping and equal. The children first calculated number sentences using counters or an alternative resource of their choice. Towards the end of the week the children were introduced to division questions within word problems, these supporting their reasoning and problem solving skills. 

This week we have been studying the work of Henri Rousseau, a famous artist. The children began by looking at some of Rousseau's work; identifying their likes and dislikes of the paintings. Guided by Mrs Baker, the children learnt how to effectively sketch, with influences from plants in the outside area. The following lesson, the children learnt how to carefully mix colours to ensure the best result. They had the opportunity to experiment with both paint and oil pastels. The children have now sketched a picture, inspired by Rousseau and will go on to use paint or oil pastels.

Have a lovely half term, keep safe and make wonderful memories to share on your return to school. See you on Monday 24th February as we shiver into Antarctica, our next continent to study.