Welcome back, Deer Class! It feels like it has been a long time away, but we are so happy to welcome you back to school and we are looking forward to seeing you all again in person. You have coped really well with the challenges of remote learning and there are many of you who should be extremely proud of your continued hard work, logging on to our meetings every day and trying your very best with every task you have been set. I know that you will continue to demonstrate that positive attitude when we are back together in our classroom.
Class Learning
Our main topic area for Term 4 will be ANCIENT GREECE. In English, we will be studying the Greek myths Theseus and the Minotaur and Perseus and Medusa, before using these examples as a model for writing our own Greek myth. Which of the fantastical Greek Gods or extraordinary creatures will feature in your tale? Our History lessons will also look at the structure and influence of Ancient Greek civilization, whilst making comparisons to modern-day Greece where appropriate. In Science, we will be continuing our work on Animals Including Humans, looking at bone structures, diets and habitats. Our Maths work is moving on to Fractions, which hopefully will be quite a straightforward topic to ease us back into formal lessons.
In RE, we will be developing our understanding of the Easter story and the significance of Mothering Sunday, whilst in Art, we will be experimenting with perspective and creating drawings that look like they travel into the page! Our French work is moving on to Ancient Britain and learning to discuss the history of our country. Our PE lessons are likely to all be outdoors, as we will be learning to play Handball, so please make sure you have appropriate PE kit in school all week. We hope you have lots of fun being back in school and we plan to fill the last week of term with many enjoyable Easter activities as a special reward for you all.
Home Learning:
There will be no formal home learning tasks set during Term 4.
However, children will have spellings and times tables to learn across the course of the week and practising these at home would be extremely beneficial to them. Below are some links and resources you may find useful in supporting your children with this.
Home Learning is now set on DB Primary. Your child has a copy of their personal login in their Contact Book. Home Learning will be set at different times throughout the term (after Term 4), and will usually follow on from the learning in class. However, I encourage your child to take some time to explore the DB Primary resources – there is a wide range of Maths and English games, as well a secure messaging facility.
DB Primary: https://bethersden-kent.secure-dbprimary.com
As a school, we also have access to Spelling Shed and Times Table Rockstars. Both of these websites allow your child to practise the valuable skills of spelling and times tables in a fun way. We really want to be top of the school leader board! I have had to change children’s login details for Spelling Shed, so the new login details will be sent home with them as soon as possible.
Spelling Shed: https://play.edshed.com/
TT Rockstars: https://ttrockstars.com/
Please continue to support your child with reading, by listening to them read regularly.
Times Tables Challenge
Children will continue to complete a timed Times Tables Challenge every Friday. If children answer all questions correctly within their allotted time, they will progress to the next stage of the challenge. This may mean a shorter time limit, a broader range of questions, or a trickier times table to focus on. However, to ensure that children KNOW their times tables and are secure in that knowledge, each challenge must be passed two weeks in a row before children move on to the next level.
REMINDER:
P.E – Please ensure your child has their P.E kit in school so they are able to participate fully in our PE lessons. Children must be able to remove their own earrings, and watches / Fitbits cannot be worn. Our PE lessons are on Wednesdays and Fridays. Some children may prefer not to wear their earrings on these days, though please be aware that the timetable for Term 4 is flexible and there may be additional PE sessions added on other days.
Please remember that we are trying to minimise the amount of items brought into school. Children should not be bringing their own pencil cases, toys or games to school. Bags and lunchboxes should only be large enough to fit the small number of items that children need to transport each day – school lockers aren’t big enough for giant backpacks!
Lastly, a massive THANK YOU and WELL DONE to the children for sticking with our remote learning, and to each and every parent or carer who has supported them during this time. We can’t wait to have Deer Class back together again.