Dear Parents and Children,

Welcome to Terms 5 and 6 at Borough Green Primary School

We are so excited to share our Term 5 and 6 plans with you.

The Curriculum in Terms 5 and 6 Our third Cornerstones topic is ‘Emperors and Empires’. This topic will run throughout Terms 5 and 6 and will focus on aspects of History, Science, Art and DT. Our English and Reading lessons will link to History, while Maths, RE, PE, Computing, Music, PSHE and French will be taught discretely.

‘Emperors and Empires’ is an exciting history-led topic. We launched the topic with a Stunning Start experience on 18th April. This project teaches children about Roman life, Roman Britain and historical chronology.

In Science, children will learn about plant nutrition and reproduction. They will have plenty of hands-on experience in testing and growing plants as they learn about the parts of flowering plants, water transportation and flower reproduction. In Term 6 children will study light and shadows. They will investigate the phenomena of reflections and shadows, looking for patterns in collected data. The risks associated with the sun are also explored.

In a mini DT project called “Greenhouses” children will be taught about the purpose, structure and design features of greenhouses, looking at the Eden project as a famous example. They will learn techniques to strengthen structures and use tools safely, before designing and building their own mini greenhouse.

The focus in Art and Design will be on drawing botanical sketches with pencils and water colours and creating botanical prints. You will shortly find Knowledge Organisers for this topic on the school website. Please do read these and discuss them with your child both before and during the topic.

The Knowledge Organisers contain the key knowledge and vocabulary we expect children to know by the end of the topic and in school we refer to these during and after their learning to assess what children know and can retain.

Parental involvement: reading, spelling, times tables, topic-based projects

Homework:

Reading at home

As we approach the year end, please take the opportunity to continue daily 15-minute reading sessions with your child. This is one of the most valuable things that you can do to support your child’s education. Reading aloud is a vital skill and builds their confidence and fluency, while extending their vocabulary. Children should be completing Accelerated Reader books regularly and completing a quiz on that book, either at home or in school. Please sign your child’s reading record each time your child reads at home, and they will be awarded one house point.

Spelling

At the start of the week, children will take home a list of spelling words to learn for that week. Regular practice of small groups of words at home will help children to retain their knowledge of the key spellings and will reinforce our spelling lessons at school.

Times tables

At the front of the reading record, you will also find a Times Tables Rock Stars username and password for your child. This is a fantastic website that the children can use to play games and earn points, which in turn, reinforces and consolidates their knowledge of the times tables. Children should use this regularly so that they continue to develop and feel secure with their times tables, to support the work we will do with them in school. Year 4 children will be taking the statutory Multiplication Tables Check in the summer term and it is expected that most children will know their times tables up to 12 times by this point.

KEY DATES – Please see separate letter for trip details

 Museum trip: 24th May

 Theatre group experience: 7th May

 Multiplication Check 3rd – 14th

Arrival at school, equipment and Uniform

All children in Years 3 and 4 should enter by the door from the nursery playground. An adult will be on duty to welcome them in between 8.40 and 8.50 each day, when the register will be taken and lessons begin. In the afternoon, Sycamore and Poplar Class will leave from the nursery playground door. Cherry Class leaves from the middle door opposite the car park (to the left of the main entrance).

All equipment that your child needs in Year 3 and 4 is provided by the school, which means that pencil cases are not needed in school. Children will be allocated their own locker, so any bags must fit into their locker. Large backpacks are not appropriate.

Please note that children should not bring toys or fidgets to school unless prior agreement is obtained from Mr Wheatley, our Inclusion Manager.

PE 

This term, we have PE on Monday and Wednesday. Please ensure that your child comes into school wearing their PE kit on this day. If a child is unable to join in with the PE lessons due to injury, they should still come in their full PE kit as they will contribute to the learning and assessment of skills covered. Pupils with long hair should have their hair tied back at all times and earrings must be taken out or protected with tape during PE lessons. Teachers are not allowed to take earrings out for children,so please ensure it is done before they arrive at school that morning.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Miss Armstrong, Mrs Bowers, Mrs Gordon, Mrs Woodward