Checkendon CE (A) Primary School

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 5 week 2:

We continue steaming ahead learning about the geographical and human features of Spain and now begin with Canada - such interesting counties to explore. In PSHE we continued with understanding that our bodies are unique and that there is no perfect body image as the media might show. We have looked at differences and similarities, including disabilities. It has been so encouraging seeing children doing better and better as the weeks go on, embedding their learning. The children also enjoyed interhouse Boccia games this week over a lunchbreak. Today was our annual bluebell walk - do see the photographs below. Thank you to all of you who were able to join us. Next week: we continue exploring Canada!

Pupil Voice: I am enjoying the tests so far.

I enjoyed the bluebell walk.

Boccia was fun - we don't know which house won yet...

The first week back of judo was fun.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 5 week 1:

Welcome back to the first of our two short summer terms. We are full steam ahead with revision and exam techniques this term as part of English (reading comprehension & GPS) and maths. We have also been listening to the children read on a 1:1 and are checking their book bands, R4P books, as well as the choices the free readers are making. Our learning project is: A comparative study of the UK, Canada and Spain (geography). We will be having the odd traditional English over this period and our first English unit is : Roald Dahl narrative poetry, which we began today by reading Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf - what a humorous poem! Next week: we have our annual bluebell walk on Friday 26th with a prompt start of 1:30pm, should any parents wish to join us. Please do ensure that your child has walking boots / wellies and a raincoat for the weather. We will also aim to return to guided reading with : Elephant in the Garden.

We have had no Internet over the last few days and so are unable to provide the pupil voice this week.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 4 Week 6:

The end of the spring terms has arrived. It is wonderful to hear the birds chirping in the mornings. We have had a busy final week completing our 'Policing the Net' learning project about how to stay safe online. We have also enjoyed doing some algebra in maths. In English we planned and wrote the start to a new sequel chapter to Kensuke's Kingdom for a narrative assessment. We enjoyed a fabulous workshop from two ladies as part of our PSHE - IMPS - looking at basic first aid and safety - see our photos below. We enjoyed our Easter church service on Wednesday too, but especially our early finish on Thursday. Year 5s have some Easter Activity booklets (optional) to complete during their holidays, while the Year 6s have 10-4-10 GPS, Reading and Maths revision. Don't forget about additional SATs resources that are available on our class information page (scroll to the bottom). We look forward to seeing you all on Monday 15th at 8:40am.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Silver Birch Term 4 week 5 class blog:

A lovely week finishing off our learning project on electricity and beginning our final learning project on IT: Policing the net. We are learning about being safer online. In maths we have worked on fraction - decimal - percentage. In English we focused on grammar, learning through our class text: Kensuke's Kingdom. On Friday we enjoyed a special visit from our writer's week scientist - Mark - who came in and did a workshop on water, as this week is saving water week. Our Year 6s and a parent, came in on Thursday for the SATs information meeting - see our class information page for the PPT. Next week: a few lessons in maths on algebra. On Wednesday we have our IMPS (first aid) morning in class. We break up on Thursday at 1pm. We look forward to welcoming children back on Monday 15th April at 8:40am. Year 5s have a brief Easter revision / fun activity booklet(s) to complete, while our Year 6s have 10 days of 10 minutes on GPS, reading and maths (total time 30 minutes per day), in preparation for their end of KS2 exams in May.

Pupil Voice:

I now know more about water

I know more words in Italian

I enjoyed starting algebra

I am excited for the Big Write

I enjoyed doing the water day with Mark.

Silver Birch Term 4 week 4 class blog:

Another busy week - we have now completed our assessments for the spring terms. We then continued with decimals in maths - beginning to look at %. In English we continued with Kensuke's Kingdom. On Tuesday afternoon, we enjoyed a visit to the Oratory senior school to take part in a science workshop - see photos below. In PE we plan to start our first cricket session, looking at under / over arm ball bowls and accuracy using a bucket and then the stumps. Next week: On Thursday 21st at 3pm there is a Year 6 pupil and parent SATs briefing in Silver Birch. The Year 5s will be dismissed at 3:20pm as usual. On Friday 22nd the Year 6s have their weights and measures by the nursing team at OCC. Friday 22nd is also the last celebration worship at 9am for families to attend, where the spring term class and sports cups are handed out. We look forward to welcoming you there.

Pupil voice:

I am glad that the spring term assessments are over.

I am excited to start % in maths next week.

I enjoyed our test week.

I am excited to start cricket in PE.

I am enjoying wearing our red noses today.

Our World Book Day 2024

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 4 week 3

What a fabulous whole-school writing week. We began the week with looking at the father of electricity - Michael Faraday in English. We identified the key features of a biography, carried out research and make notes. We then wrote a 1st draft, edited it and wrote a final, 2nd draft to use for assessment as well as placing it up on display in the school hall. On Wednesday we began our explanation texts in English - again identifying the key features by looking at explanation texts. We considered our prior learning of instruction writing further down the school and how this can be turned into explanation texts. We completed a class experiment on the balloon kebab - how rubber / elastic can slow down air evaporation / reduction in air pressure by resealing itself. We then looked at water density and carried out submarine experiments. We loved our science workshops on Wednesday with Sparky (Mark) and used three of his experiments (water vortex, slime - chemical bonding and chemical reaction and air pressure to launch rockets ). We concluded the week by selecting one of the 5 experiments to independently write our own explanation texts - on display too. We think you'll be blown away by our writing. A huge thank you to our wonderful PTA, who have funded the Sublime Science workshops for each class. We enjoyed dressing up as a scientist or favourite character and recommending a book to others in our class on Thursday, as part of our World Book Day celebrations this year. We also looked at famous black authors and solved some clues to work out some famous classic books. In maths we continued with decimal numbers and compared them to fractions. Next week: is our assessment week for reading comprehension, GPS and maths. How quickly the spring term is moving. along

Pupil Voice:

Now I feel a little more confident in writing in biography writing.

I have enjoyed writing week and it has helped me with my writing and learning to do my challenges.

I found it quite fun as science isn’t something I’d expect to be as fun, but the teachers and Spark made it extra fun.

I loved it when Spark came in and taught us all about science.

I liked how fun it was doing all the experiments.

I am happy that my writing has got neater this week.

Silver Birch Term 4 week 2 blog:

Back in the swing of things but it is rather wet-wet-wet! On Tuesday we had a very nice surprise - a cup of hot chocolate, as our school heating isn't working. A busy week looking at the character of Michael and his dog Stella and Kensuke, in Kensuke's Kingdom through English. We wrote and collaboratively presented poems about the sea, completed lots of grammar work and wrote a letter of advice to Michael. In Maths we completed our fraction work with multiplying and dividing fractions and began our unit on decimals and %. In science we completed our science learning project on light - ready to begin electricity next week. In MFL, we learnt to count to 10 in Italian. Next week: we have our whole school writing week from Monday 4th to Friday 8th. Parents and family members are warmly invited to the school hall on Friday 8th at 3:20pm to see the writing display, where each child will have 2 pieces of writing on show. We look forward to seeing you there. The display will remain up for a few weeks for those of you who are unable to make it. Next week we also have a Y5/6 netball tournament at Langtree (Wednesday) 1-3:30pm. Thursday is our World Book Day, so please do come dressed as your favourite scientist (or book character) and bring along a book you'd recommend to others to read.

Pupil Voice:

I can now understand and answer questions up to 2 decimal places.

I enjoyed learning how to play volleyball.

So far, I've enjoyed our new maths unit on decimals.

I am excited for the writing week next week.

In Italian, I enjoyed count to ten.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 4 week 1

Welcome back to Term 4, the 2nd of our spring terms. We launched this term with a science learning project on light. We discussed light, rainbows and prisms. The children then created periscopes and reflected light off angles. In maths we continued with fractions (adding and subtracting) and began multiplying a fraction by a whole number. In English we began Kensuke's Kingdom - a text based unit. We planned and wrote a 2 verse poem on a storm at sea and then presented them to the class using our S&L skills. In PE we continued with judo and are due to start cricket - weather dependant. As the field was so boggy, we planned and played a game of volleyball this week. In our MFL, Italian class we learnt how to hold a short conversation. See our photos of our final week's gymnastics using the low, high and climbing wall bars. Also below are the photos from our Viking Workshop. Next week: please remember to bring £8 to buy your new coloured judo belt if you would like to own one.

Pupil voice:

I now understand how a periscope works.

I enjoyed the Viking workshop last term.

I excited to play volleyball (due to the wet ground).

I enjoyed doing our grading in judo.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 3 week 5

What a short term - just five weeks! This week we completed our learning project: Who needs a surname? - based on the Scots, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and the arrival of the Normans. We had a fabulous Viking Workshop all day on Wednesday - see photographs below. Thank you Viking Peter. We continued with fractions in maths - this will continue into Term 4. In English we finished our Beowulf text and continued to write through our history learning project - writing a comparison text of the Anglo-Saxons lives and ours today; creating a timeline of Alfred the Great; and writing a letter to William of Normandy, as a spy investigating Edward the Confessor, king of the English, before the 1066 invasion. We enjoyed being spies! In PE we used the wall bars, low and high apparatus, to complete our gymnastics unit. See photographs next term. Next term: we welcome back children on Monday 19th at 8:40am. We begin with a learning project about Light (revision and new learning), followed by Electricity (revision and new learning) and finally Internet Safety. In English we will be using the text: Kensuke's Kingdom. In PE we begin cricket.

Pupil Voice:

I enjoyed our fraction unit in maths.

I enjoyed being a Viking / French spy.

I am looking forward to using the wall bars in gymnastics.

I am enjoying learning Italian.

I loved having the Viking in class this week.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 3 week 4

This week we have planned a short sequel story, completed our first draft, edited it and then today, completed our final draft for assessment. Our stories are wonderful! In maths this week we have been learning about, proper fractions, equivalent fractions, simplification of fractions, improper fractions and mixed number fractions. Today we began order fractions from smallest to largest, placing fractions on a number line, as well as sequencing fractions. In our learning project we learnt more about the way the Anglo-Saxons lived in settlements. On average a settlement had 15 long houses. We also learnt where their 7 kingdoms were located. We also looked at secondary sources (photographs) of items found at Sutton Hoo. Although our science learning project has been completed, we are still observing the 'rust' on our two nails, one in water and the other in salty water. In Guided Reading, we have continued with Friend or Foe and have been deducing and inferring from the text. In Italian we discussed the television show called Bluey and Muzzy. In PE we used mats, lower and high apparatus to create routines and also looked at jumps on apparatus. Next week we will get the climbing frame out and include this in our routines. We are also looking forward to our Viking Workshop on the 7th. Don't forget that we break up at 3:20 on Friday the 9th. We welcome children back on Monday the 19th at 8:40am.

Pupil Voice:

I am looking forward to using high apparatus in gymnastics.

I enjoyed doing our first draft and our big write in the Beowulf sequel.

I enjoyed learning about fractions this week.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 3 week 3

We have now completed our science learning project on states of matter, including our assessment. We have begun: Who needs a surname? Our history project looking at the Scots, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and the Norman invasion (briefly). In maths we have finished off with capacity / volume of 3D shapes (A= LxWXH). In English we completed our newspaper articles with a Big Write for assessment (see our focused photographs). It was based on what we thought happened in the epic battle between Beowulf and Grendel. We have now begun The Sea-Hag, the sequel and are looking at the key events in the story, the character's points of view and then used a WAGOLL to identify excellent words and phrases. We then broke the story down into key events / mapped it out. This will then lead into narrative writing. Thank you for the Viking Workshop return letters. It was good to see you at our parents meetings this week. Next: We begin fractions in maths - a very important unit of our maths learning across the year. Year 6s should consider completing a task or two a week from the class information page - Year 6s SATs resources from January onwards. They should just select an area that they would like to work on.

Pupil Voice: I now know the formula to calculate the volume of a 3D shape.

I am excited to learn about fractions.

I enjoyed writing, drawing and colouring our character perspective story boards.

It was fun learning Italian this week.

I enjoyed gymnastics (floor and low apparatus) .

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 3 week 2

What a fabulous week. In English we wrote a character description and a setting of our choosing from the story. We then began looking at newspaper key features and planning a newspaper article on our version of the battle between Grendel and Beowulf, and how we would report, the battle ended. Next week we will write this report. In Maths we continued with our learning on finding the area of triangles (A= 1/2 b x h). In Science we continued with our experiments looking at how to speed up the rate of evaporation using various dish drying fabrics. We agreed that the 'tumble dryer' worked best. We then looked at how changing the state affected the mass by weighing an empty balloon vs a fully blown up balloon - discovering that gas has a mass. We then weighted ice cubes and let them melt and compared the mass, discovering that water is more dense (heavy). Finally we weighed a tea-light and them burnt it and weighed again, discovering that a little mass had been lost due to evaporation. We considered if each was a reversible or irreversible change. In PSHE, we continued with our Think Positive and in PE our gymnastics moving from balances to rolls on a mat. Please look out for the Year 6 SATs revision resources and meeting date letter. Also for Year 6s on the class information page - there are some resources to help with SATs revision if you would like to make a start. Next week: please complete and return the Viking Workshop permission and payment. We will finish our science learning project and begin our history one.

Pupil voice: I enjoyed doing the science experiment with the balloon, ice cubes and candle.

I enjoyed doing our gymnastics with some crazy moves.

I enjoyed and surprised by learning that ice is less dense (lighter), than water.

I can now explain the water cycle, including kinetic energy!

I now know the formula to find out the area of a triangle.

I enjoyed planning our newspaper report.

I have enjoyed the story of Beowulf.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 3 week 1

Welcome back everyone! We certainly seem to have missed school and are enjoying being back together. In English we have begun our text: Beowulf - based on the Anglo-Saxon poem about a monster, with Beowulf the hero saving the day from the foul fiend, Grendel. In Maths we have begun our unit on area and perimeter - starting with area of composite / compound shapes using the formula A = L x W. We will be looking at finding missing lengths and converting units of measure so that the same unit is being used. In Science we have begun our science learning project - Who likes a fry up? Looking at changes of state (Solids, liquids and gases). We have begun with a big focus on investigations (see photos - rates of dissolving various types of sugars). In PE we have Judo and gymnastics this term. We are listening to readers 1:1 and checking book bands and range of reading. Don't forget about the reading jigsaws please. Our new PSHE focus this term is: Think Positive! Next week: home learning returns. Please do look out for parent meeting sign-up sheets at the school entrance. Also see our diary dates below.

Pupil Voice: I am excited to start gymnastics in PE.

I enjoyed doing the experiments in science this week.

I am looking forward to seeing which nails will galvanise faster in water / salt solution.

I have enjoyed learning about perimeter and area in maths.

Silver Birch Spring Term 2024:

Term 3 diary dates:

INSET day Monday 8th January

Pupils return Tuesday 9th January 8:40am

Additional learning project weeks 1-4 with Mrs Lovegrove - textiles and the Vikings (sewing DT). Postponed due to family matters.

Parent meetings 23rd an 25th January 2024.

Tuesday 7th February - class Viking Workshop Day £10 each - full day in school workshop.

Break up 3:20pm Friday 9th February.

Pupils return Monday 19th February for Term 4.

Term 4 diary dates:

Pupils return Monday 19th February

Whole-school writing week Monday 4th March

World Book Day - dress as your favourite scientist/ or a book character Thursday 7th March 2024.

Parents in to view writing in the hall 3:20pm Friday 8th March

Silver Birch to The Oratory - science week - all afternoon 12th March

Year 6 SATs parent and pupil meeting Thursday 21st March 3pm.

Wednesday 27th Easter Service in church tine TBC

Thursday 28th March - break up day 1pm finish.

Pupils return Monday 15th April 2024.

Please see Silver Birch Class Information page for further diary dates and the spring term curriculum letter.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 8 2023

Our final week this term saw us conclude the text of Goodnight Mr Tom in our English lessons. We then very much enjoyed watching the film

In Maths we completed our unit on representing and interpreting data by looking at how to read and draw pie charts, as well as calculating the mean of any given data

Art lessons were rounded off by looking at the work of Andy Warhol and the pop art that he specialised in. We had great fun recreating our own pop art self portraits using block colours.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 week 7 2023

This week in English, we have been continuing our class read of Goodnight Mr Tom. We practised our knowledge of direct speech and applied the the punctuation rules to a writing a paragraph about a conversation between Willie and his mum, when he returns to London. In Maths we consolidated our knowledge of diameter and radius of circles and used this to calculate and answer reasoning and problem solving questions. We have then looked at how data can be represented in tables and pie charts, and how we use them to interpret the given information. Our Learning Project lessons this week have focused on Art . We studied the works of the artist, Graham Sutherland, who was commissioned to paint the war damage and destruction caused by the bombs dropped on major cities during the Blitz. We then used secondary resources to create a piece of replica art work using oil pastels. On Wednesday we enjoyed our WWII dress-up day with all of our arts and crafts, cracking codes and creating board games. Furthermore, we collectively made; strawberry jam, marmite and corned beef sandwiches, sausage rolls, short bread biscuits, boiled eggs and carrot buns to share with our parents as part of a 1940s tea. We loved dancing our WWII jive and singing 'Bless 'em All'. Thank you for coming to visit us and supporting your child with their costume. Next week: our annual Christmas Service in the church at 10am on Wednesday 20th, with an early break up of 1pm. Monday 8th January 2024 is an INSET day, followed by pupils returning on Tuesday 9th at 8:40am.

Pupil Voice: I enjoyed doing the jive dance in front of our parents.

I enjoyed creating a piece of replica art based on Graham Sutherland's destruction art style.

I know how to handle something when it goes wrong in a dance.

I am now officially making progress in football from our football tournament yesterday.

I know now how to interpret a two-way table in maths.

Enter text...

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 6 2023

We started our English lessons this week by writing a final draft of our letters to Prime Minister Chamberlain, about our reaction to the declaration of war. Following on from this, we then discussed VE Day and wrote an opening paragraph for a newspaper article. In Maths we have continued working on line graphs, interpreting them and using them to solve reasoning and problem solving questions. We have now begun learning about circles. Our Learning Project lessons concentrated on clothes worn during the 1930's and how they would have been adapted during the war due to rationing and a 'make do and mend' attitude. We loved designing an outfit for a woman or gentleman, and exploring styles, colours and patterns that would have been fashionable during that era. Continuing with our Art focus, we then looked at examples of propaganda posters and how they were used to communicate information to the people. We then designed our own posters and included persuasive slogans. We then moved onto mixed media - using fabric (up cycling instead of canvas) to create a pastel WWII search lights image. In Guided Reading, we continued reading our class book 'Friend or Foe' and enjoyed reading about when the two evacuees Tucky and David, arrive and are chosen by their host family. On Tuesday, the school got to watch the Oak Class nativity and were really impressed by their performance and talent. Next week: our WWII dress-up day is on Wednesday 13th. Please come dressed in your outfits from our trip to DRM, earlier this term. Parents are invited into the hall for a 2:50pm start. We plan to delight you with our learning. You are welcome to come into the classroom afterwards to look through your child's workbooks. Thursday is the Y5/6 boys football tournament. Friday 15th is families end of term celebration worship at 9am in the hall.

Pupil Voice: I enjoyed the little ones act their nativity.

I enjoyed learning about circles: circumference, centre point, radius and diameter in maths.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 5 2023

This week we have been completing our autumn assessments in Maths, English and Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation.

Our Monday afternoon Learning Project lesson was a little bit different to our usual ones as we put on our wellies and headed off to the church yard. Whilst there, we located the gravestone of William Temple, who died as a result of his injuries sustained in the D Day landings. We each took a photograph of his gravestone from different angles which we will later use in our IT lesson. After our short walk, we returned to school to listen to a talk given by the Reverend Kevin. He gave us lots of insightful and interesting information about William Temple. We heard that he was in the parachute regiment and that he married a woman from Checkendon in 1941. In Maths, we have been working on common factors, inverse operations and order of operations: BODMAS. At the start of our English lessons, we listened to the famous speech by Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, declaring the outbreak of war. We stepped into the role of a mother, a solider, a factory worker or the wife of a soldier and then hot seated each other to answer questions about how we felt and how the news would affect us. We then used these ideas to plan a letter that we would write to the Prime Minister about our reaction to the news. We then wrote the 1st draft of our formal letters to be edited and written up as a final draft next week. Our French lesson focused on consolidating our understanding of counting numbers 11-20. We practised our knowledge by solving Maths questions in French, as well as using a fortune teller to quiz our friends. In our IT learning project: Superimposing images - we used our digital photographs of the headstone and merged / edited a 2nd WW black and white image - we have experienced a little of what it might be to be a graphic designer. The children's complications were brilliant! Thank you for your support with the book fair. Last week we enjoyed a NewsRound that involved a magic trick (see photograph), we were all in awe. In Music, we continued singing our WWII songs, ready to perform to the parents on the 13th. We ended our week with continuing our jive dancing in PE. Next week: we look forward to watching the KS1 nativity. A polite reminder about the £3 donations towards food technology for the 13th.

Pupil Voice: We have now finished our Judo PE lesson, but look forward to starting again in January.

I can now use the word 'Christmas' in class.

I can now use a line graph in maths.

I enjoyed our additional PE / athletics lesson.

I enjoyed writing a formal letter to Prime Minister Chamberlain in English.

I enjoyed superimposing old B&W images over new colour images in IT.

I enjoyed doing the calculations in French.

I enjoyed watching the drama club perform in worship.

I am looking forward to trying to spot our class 'Elf on the Shelf' daily.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 4 2023

Continuing our work in English on evacuation, this week we used our previous knowledge of identifying the features of a diary, and included these in an empathetic diary entry . We imagined that we were writing through the eyes of Willie, from Goodnight Mr Tom, and how he felt to have arrived in the village of Weirwold and to be told he was to live with Tom Oakley. We included his thoughts and feelings. We then focused on figurative language and prepared examples such as similes. metaphors, personification and alliteration ready for an acrostic poem, which we wrote later in the week. In Guided Reading we continued to read Friend or Foe and (see photos), traced our evacuees journey from London to Exeter, and finally to Barnstable in Devon, using atlases. Alongside reading Friend or Foe, we are also now reading Goodnight Mr Tom, as part of our English texts. In our Maths lessons we have continued to work on consolidating our skills of long division and applying our knowledge to answer reasoning questions. We have now moved onto factors. Our Learning Project lesson at the start of the week, involved a discussion around rationing. It was interesting to see how much people would have been allowed of the food that was in short supply, such as eggs, butter and meat. We realised that chocolate was a luxury and that fruit such as bananas were not available. We discovered that the government encouraged people to grow their own produce such as carrots and potatoes, and that people were quite inventive in cultivating gardens on top of their shelters , in parks and school grounds. We also looked at some WWII recipes that showed how people had to adapt or change the ingredients that were rationed. On Wednesday, we all enjoyed our class trip to Didcot Railway Museum as part of our WWII learning project - What can we learn from a World War? It was a fabulous day - a big thank you to our parents for supporting their children with their 1940s costumes / outfits and appropriate lunch with some baked goods too. See our photographs below. In French, we learnt numbers between 11 and 20 and practised this new knowledge by solving a puzzle and starting to play a domino loop game. Mrs Mottram got to visit some ex-Checkendon pupils, new to Langtree, on Tuesday afternoon and it was a pleasure to see how well they had settled in. Next week: digital photographs at our churchyard, followed by a talk about our local area during WWII, by Revd. Kevin Davies.

Pupil Voice: I enjoyed going into the WWII shelter at DRM.

I learned to find factor pairs.

I better understand how steam / diesel trains work.

I now know that the larger the train wheel, the faster it can move.

I enjoyed writing an acrostic poem about the war.

I can now count from 12 - 20 in French.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 3 2023

This week, we have continued to put ourselves in the shoes of an evacuee. In English, we have begun to explore the feelings and emotions of a child evacuated to the countryside by writing a letter home, explaining their new life away from the dangers of cities being bombed. We then began our new unit all based on the text: Goodnight Mr Tom. We looked at the front / back covers and discussed the text style, as well as introducing ourselves to the main characters, completing an analysis of a character using both text and film. In Maths, we have been using the chunking and long division method to divide 3 digits numbers by 1 and 2 digit numbers. We have been consolidating our previously learnt knowledge of multiples to help us. We then continued using two different methods of chunking and comparing them. Our Learning Project has been focused on exploring the differing roles of men and women before the war, and how these changed once war broke out. We discovered that women did not usually work before the war, but after it was declared they had the opportunity to fill the jobs of the men who were away fighting for their country. Some of these jobs included ambulance driver, factory worker and working on a farm as a land girl. We also found out that not all men went off to fight and that those excused included Air Raid Precaution Wardens and shop keepers. We then looked at food rationing during WWII and how Potato Pete was used to promote the growing and eating of potatoes, as well as how well-known nursery rhymes were adapted to further promote the 'grow your own' message. In French, we used our previously learnt knowledge of numbers 1-12 to ask and reply to 'how old are you?' We also played a game with a partner where we had to say our age if we landed on a birthday cake. On Friday we dressed up in our home clothes and brought in donations towards Children in Need. Next week: we have our class trip to Didcot Railway Museum on Wednesday 22nd - please come dressed warmly for cold / wet weather in your WWII outfit with a WWII style packed lunch and water. Please carry this in a small backpack. From 1st to 9th December - please would you bring in £3 each so that I can purchase ingredients for our WWII dress-up day in school on 13th December - parents are invited to this at 2:50pm. You should wear your same WWII costume / outfit on this day too. Don't forget about our annual book fair on Thursday 30th November and Friday 1st December, before and after school.

Pupil Voice:

I can now divide 3 digit numbers by a 2 digit number

I now know that children were evacuated to the countryside during World War II

I better understand how to use expanded long division.

I enjoyed doing PEED in English

I am looking forward to practising the jive in our dance lesson

I can now ask 'how old are you?' in French

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 2 2023

What a super start to the week we had by continuing our Learning Project, looking at the effects that the Blitz had on our major cities. We discovered the devasting effect the bombing raids had on people's houses, but also explored how families could protect themselves by hiding in different shelters, including an Anderson and Morrison shelter, as well as being able to shelter in the London Underground. We found out how important it was for children to practise air raid and gas mask drills too. We then focused on writing either a poem, letter or diary entry about a real event that involved the bombing of Reading during the Blitz seen through the eyes of a young boy. In English we have been identifying the features of newspaper reports, then we planned a newspaper report to include some of them and wrote an article about the Blitz and then the evacuation of children from London. In Maths we have been working on multiplying a 4 digit number by a 2 digit number and applying this knowledge to develop strategies to answer problem solving and reasoning questions. We then began our lessons on dividing numbers. In Guided Reading we have excitedly begun our new book Friend or Foe by the famous children's author Michael Morpurgo , which centres around two boys, who were evacuated from London and faced a terrible dilemma when they encountered a German soldier. In French we have continued practising and consolidating our knowledge and understanding of numbers 1-12. We even attempted some French maths as well as enjoying playing Bingo. In PE we continued with our second Jive Dance lesson, linked to 1940s WWII period. See photos below. We are really enjoying our jive and have been able to add some flourishes. We remembered the fallen in school on Friday as part of Memorial Day. Many of us will hopefully be coming to the PTA Bonfire night at school at 6pm tonight. Next week: .please return the permission slips / payment for our WWII trip to Didcot Railway Museum this week. Don't forget about our upcoming annual book fair at the end of November / start of December, before and after school in the school hall.

Pupil Voice:

I can now do the jive.

I can now write a newspaper report with a headline, columns, indents, reported and direct speech.

I now know why it is important to be safe on bonfire night.

I can now count from 1-12 in French.

I now know how to do a cold write (letter, diary entry or poem) about the Blitz for assessment, from a child's perspective.

I now know how to do short, compact division with remainders using 1 and 2 digit divisors.

I enjoyed our music lesson singing: Siegfried Line and Bless 'em all.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 2 Week 1 2023

We have had a fabulous start to the week as we excitedly began our new Learning Project about World War II. We considered what knowledge we already knew. then brainstormed questions for what we would like to find out and then discussed how and what we would use to answer them. We then explored what life was like in the 1930's including clothing, food, sweets and children's entertainment, and compared the similarities and differences to today. In English we have consolidated our knowledge of the features of a diary, and then used these to write a diary entry using emotive language to describe how we might have felt on hearing the news of the outbreak of World War II. We then identified the features of a report and included these in a police report outlining a tragic accident that took place on a train station platform, as the soldiers embarked on their journey to fight for their country. We also researched the use of Gas Masks, the Black Out and Air Raid Shelters and prepared our own information leaflets - crucial information for the times. We ended the week by reading a recount of a Blitz experience and developed our empathy by asking and answering questions in pairs of different people in the recount (photograph below). In Maths, we used our understanding of multiplying 4 digit numbers by 1 digit numbers to answer reasoning and problem solving questions. We have now begun to extend our knowledge by practising the grid and long multiplication methods to multiply 2 digits by 2 digits. We then revised 3 methods of multiplication: grid, column (with an added working row) and partitioning and used this to decide the most efficient method for multiplying 3 digit by 2 digit numbers. In French this week, we have begun work on learning numbers from 1 to 12. We used actions to help us to remember how to pronounce each number and also enjoyed watching a video clip of French children counting. By using the tune to a French song, Frere Jacques, we sung a song about numbers and performed a song sung in rounds. In music we began our WWII song unit with Mrs Davies. In PE we began learning the jive - a popular war time dance. Please look out for our class trip letter for 22.11.23. On our very last day of Term 1, we enjoyed a talk from Diana Barnett, Greener Henley, who focused on wasps in our local environment. It was a very interesting talk. See photograph below. Our Y6 SVAs were ready to start the new term off by leading Friday worship (photograph below). Next week we begin division in maths and a newspaper writing unit in English.

Pupil Voice:

I am pleased that we have handed in our environmental poems for the Greener Henley competition next May.

I loved doing the wartime information leaflets.

I enjoyed using the long, column multiplication method.

I liked writing a police report.

We are looking forward to being able to dance the jive for our parents on the 13th December.

I loved starting our Judo lessons this week with Mr Hutton.

I had fun counting up to 12 in French.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 week 7 2023.

What a fabulous week we had last week. Our residential was amazing and we made memories that we won't forget. Please see photographs below. In English we completed our Big Write on a persuasive diary entry about recycling, adding a glossary and illustrations to our writing. In Maths we have been multiplying and dividing 3/4 digit numbers by 10, 100 and 1000, and solving calculations using reasoning from known facts with numbers with 1 or 2 decimal places. In Science we complete our investigation on conditions for mould / bacteria growing on fresh produce. We have also had fun using a data branching system to categorise amphibians, and then consolidated our knowledge by having a go at making up our own data branching diagram using animals and plants. In French we drew on our knowledge of all the work we have studied on Greetings this term, and then played a Domino style loop game matching Greetings from English to French. We ended the term with a visit from Diana - Greener Henley who gave a fantastic talk on taking care of our local environment.

Please remember that we break up on Thursday at 3:20pm. Children and teachers return to school on Monday 30th October at 8:40am for Early Morning Work. Next term our learning project focuses on World War - in particular WWII. We look forward to our class trip to Didcot Railway Museum on 22nd November - dress in WWII costumes and bringing along a WWII style packed lunch. We also have our WWII dress up day in school on 13th December - where we'll be preparing a 1940s tea. Parents are invited to join us for tea and a sharing of our work books in an open classroom at 2:50pm on the day. Please keep these dates in your diaries.

Pupil Voice: I can now do the 'leap of faith' (residential).

I am now no longer scared of heights.

I enjoyed my residential.

I enjoyed doing abseiling.

I can now link pages in a Google Slides document.

I now know that if you leave some fruits and bread out in the open, they go mouldy in around 3 weeks.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 week 6 2023

This week in English we have begun work on writing a persuasive diary entry detailing the journey of a recyclable item such as a plastic or glass bottle, or an aluminium can. We read information from a text and identified the key features of a diary. We then used the internet and our research skills to gather information on the recycling process. Using a given framework, we completed a plan which we will use next week to write a first draft.

In Maths, we been have working on dividing numbers by 10, 100 and 1000, answering questions on varied fluency, and then consolidating our knowledge by solving problems and answering reasoning questions.

In Science, we checked our decay investigation that we set up last week. We took photos and recorded the weight change as well as describing any observational changes. We also had fun identifying and classifying different amphibians by using the data branching system.

In French, we further developed our vocabulary in French greetings by learning how to answer to 'What is my name?' and understood the correct address for Mr, Mrs and Miss. We then learnt a new song which incorporated all our of learning this term.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 Week 5 2023

We had a fabulous Harvest service in church this week - thank you for all your donations. - the food goes to the Wallingford Food Bank and is dispersed to families in the surrounding area. Please remember our class residential next Wednesday 11th. Please arrive promptly at 8.15am for registration. We then depart to the coach for 8.25am to say our goodbyes to any waiting parents and leave at 8.30am. We return on Friday 13th by 3.45pm, traffic permitting. Please remember one backpack for the coach and one manageable bag to be stowed away. A packed lunch and a named water bottle will be needed for Wednesday. On the coach you made read, doodle, play small games with those seated next/neat to you. The beginning of the week saw us editing our persuasive letters on an environmental issue in English and then peer assessing our work by using our individual targets. We then completed a detailed plan in preparation for designing and creating a flyer to persuade the reader to agree with our chosen issue. We worked collaboratively with a partner and thought carefully about which persuasive features we would include in our flyers. We then completed our persuasive environmental flyers - considering a local issue like dog fouling or graffiti. We completed the week by holding a class debate for and against the use of plastic bags. In Maths we have focused on using multi steps to calculate answers to problem solving and reasoning questions. We have also begun work on multiples with the Year 5 working on finding multiples of 2,3,5 and 10, and the Year 6 on finding common multiples of 2,3,4,5 and 10 as well as LCM for well-known times tables (up to x 12 ) In our Learning Project , we have launched a new Science topic on Classification and Micro Organisms. Firstly we explored what classification and toxonomy meant, and discovered that animals and plants can be classified into 5 kingdoms ; Monera, Protactista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. We then worked with a partner to group a selection of pictures of organisms into the relevant categories according to their features. As some of the words were tricky, we worked collaboratively to create mnemonics to help secure the spelling of each word. We posed a question regarding the rate of decay on fresh produce - what observational changes we notice, as well as weighing the item. In PE we played a mini - netball game. By singing a song and playing a game of Pelmanism in our French lesson this week,, we were able to consolidate our previously learnt knowledge of French greetings. By using evidence in the text ,in our Guided Reading session, we were able to draw a picture of the character Dr Kalmenius based on the description the author had used.

Next: on Thursday 19th October at 3pm ,we will have our short termly, celebration worship in the hall - parents are welcome to attend

We break up on Thursday 19th October as Friday 20th October is INSET. day for staff.

Now to end with a pun: Where do bad rainbows go? To prism. It's a light sentence but it gives them time to reflect.

Pupil Voice

I now know that in life you sometimes have to debate an issue that you personally don't agree with

In Maths, I enjoyed drawing the Carroll diagrams to sort multiples

I learnt how to play snap in French

I enjoyed holding the debate in English today.

I learnt that in Science there are healthy and unhealthy bacteria

I can see how some fruits rot and grow mould.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 Week 4 2023

It is that time of year again - the BBC 500 word story competition. If children would like to participate - then please do read all about it on the link (already shared with pupils in class): https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words/about-500-words/zctk7v4 Scroll down to see the video explaining / sharing ideas. If you do enter (optional), please do bring your story in to school to share with your teacher, and the class if you feel comfortable. We'll also take a photocopy to display in class and send your original back home for you to enter yourself.

This week's Learning Project began by imagining what it was like to be a child working down the coal mines during the Industrial Revolution. We began by researching information about work conditions, types of jobs and the dangers and health risks associated with these. Using our knowledge, we then wrote ' A Day in the Life Of ..' in the format of a diary. We then concluded our learning project by playing a 'global warming' emitters and cleansers game and drew a diagram and wrote an explanation. Finally we completed our 3 sticky facts to end our Go Green learning project. In English we have been identifying the key features of persuasive texts and have used these to create a poster to persuade people to recycle. We then looked at various persuasive texts, identified the key features, planned and wrote a persuasive letter about an issue close to our hearts and selected an audience e.g. teenagers and vaping. Maths began by focusing on negative numbers. We practised placing these on number lines and also used these to help calculate the difference between negative numbers. We learnt a song in French called 'Salut Ca Va?' This helped us to consolidate new vocabulary on Greetings and in particular how to ask how a person is and how to respond. We enjoyed playing a dice game which gave us the opportunity to practise our French conversation skills acquired over the past 2 lessons. In PE / Netball we looked at intercepting and had some expert peer coaching on goal shooting from our four children who attend after school netball club. Next week: Our final swimming lesson so please remember those life saving skills and pack a short or long sleeved T. Shirt and short or long bottoms, for the test. We also have our Harvest Service in church (all families welcome) at 2:30pm on 4th October - food donations gratefully accepted.

Pupil Voice:

I now know how to write a diary entry as a child from the Victorian era.

I now understand what it might have been like to have been a Victorian child.

I enjoyed using the inverse method to solve multi-step problems in maths.

I now know how to intercept in netball.

I now have a French earwig.

I can now write an explanation text about global warming.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 Week 3 2023

A great start to the week with lots of positive learning! In Maths we have been using various strategies to subtract large numbers, including counting on, decomposition and compact methods. We then went on to solving subtractions using mental methods as well as subtraction / find the difference in word (shopping) problems. In English, we have started to research and deepen our knowledge of our chosen environmental issue, using skills such as skim reading and scanning the text, picking out key relevant points, collating our information into note form and presenting it an organised layout. We then converted our research into a poetry plan, wrote a first draft, self and peer edited it before writing our final draft as a Big Write - assessment. Our Learning Project lessons have been focused on further developing our skills at using 6 figure grid references to locate places on a map. This was then followed by looking at natural resource distribution around the world (Gold, silver, diamonds, coal etc.). In PE we continued with netball and swimming. We held our parent and pupil information meeting about our upcoming class residential from 11th - 13th October. Please see the PDF / PPT, sample menu and kit list on the Silver Birch Class Information page - scroll down. French lessons have given us the opportunity to practise French greetings through role play.. We also learnt the importance of etiquette when greeting a person and making sure we used the appropriate formal or informal greeting in the correct situation. Next week: we are going to attend a class cross-country race with other local primary schools on Thursday 19th, so our Greener Henley visitor will now come and talk to us about our local environment on Thursday 19th November. Don't forget about our parent meetings on Tuesday 26th and Thursday 28th September 2023.

Pupil Voice:

I now understand how to round, + or - and then adjust in maths.

I now know how to write a 'voice' poem about an environmental issue.

I can now use different ways to greet people in French.

I really enjoyed diving to the floor of the swimming pool to collect a rubber brick, as well as swimming 5m underwater.

I now know how to properly use an atlas.

I have learnt a new drill in netball.

I am excited for our class residential.

I now know how to plan, edit my plan, write a 1st draft, self and peer edit and then write a final version using my targets.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 Week 2 2023

What a super start to the week with fabulous learning taking place! In Maths we have been sharpening our skills at rounding numbers up to 1,000,000. We then moved on to expanded column addition, as well as adding 3 or 4 numbers (5 digits) together with accuracy using a variety of mental strategies such as; doubles, near doubles, number bonds and adding from the largest to smallest numbers in a column. We are excited to get started on our new Learning Project - Go Green, all about how we can make a difference to our planet. We recapped our learning in Y2 about 2 grid references; Y4 about 4 grid references ;and moved onto end of KS2 - 6 grid reference points to locate exact positions on a map. During our English lessons, we have launched our Poetry unit, looking specifically at those poems written about Our Green Planet. By exploring different features, we are understanding how a poet can use language, in particular figurative language, to create imagery and effect. In our Guided Reading sessions, we have begun reading our new book by the famous author , Phillip Pullman, entitled Clockwork or All Wound Up. In French we brainstormed any knowledge that we already knew about the country itself and have learnt some instructions that Miss Lloyd, will be using throughout our French learning. In PE we have enjoyed our 2nd swimming lesson and in netball we can use the; bounce pass, chest pass, shoulder pass and overhead pass. Next week: we will write a structured poem. In maths we will recap subtracting large numbers and in our learning project - we will look at map symbols. Our parent and pupil residential talk has been postponed from the 20th - a new date will be announced ASAP, please keep an eye out on your email.

Pupil Voice

I can now plan a structured poem.

I enjoyed learning the 4 netball passes.

I now know what an overhead netball pass is.

In maths I enjoyed using the expanded method to add 5 digit numbers together.

Silver Birch Class Blog Term 1 week 1 2023

Welcome back - we are very excited to start our new school Year. Miss Lloyd will be teaching Mondays-Tuesdays and Mrs Mottram Wednesdays-Fridays. Swimming started this week, for 5 weeks. Judo will then begin in Term 2 on Thursday mornings. Please see the Silver Birch Class Information page for the autumn term curriculum letter, as well as a copy of the parent information PPT.

Here are the important diary dates:

Term 1 diary dates

- Return to school for pupils - Monday 5th September.
- Class swimming starts Thursday 7th for 5 weeks.
- Parent information meeting / welcome Friday 15th 8:50am (PPT attached).
- Parent and pupil residential meeting Wednesday 20th 8:50am.
- Langtree School have their open evening on Thursday 21^st September 5.30 - 8pm.
- Gillots School have their open evening on Thursday 28^th September 6-8.15pm
- Parent meetings Tuesday 26th September Mrs Lloyd (online / in person).
- Parent meetings Thursday 28th September Mrs Mottram (online / in person).
- Silver Birch cross country event at Langtree 1-3:30pm.
- Harvest Festival Service on Wednesday 4th October at 2:30 families all welcome - at church.
- Class residential Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th October 2023.
- Henley environment group talk about our local habitat 2-3pm 19.10.23. to our class.
- Break up day Thursday 19th October 3:20pm, staff INSET Friday 20th.
Term 2 diary dates
Pupil new term starts Monday 30th October 2023 8:40am.
Class WWII trip to Didcot Railway Museum 22.11.23. in WWII dress-up clothing & lunch please.
Anti-bullying week Monday 13th November 2023.
Annual Christmas book fair in the hall 8:40am and 3:20pm on Thursday 30th November and Friday 1st December 2023.
WWII dress-up day, parents to visit classrooms for afternoon tea 2:50pm 13th December.
Whole school church service Wednesday 20th time TBC.
Break up day 1pm Wednesday 20th December.
Monday 8th January INSET day, pupils return Tuesday 9th.