Willington Lower School Autumn Term 2016 Oak Class Mathematics We are basing our Maths this half term around the theme of ‘Yum, Yum!’. Our lessons will often be as practical as possible, for example, using money, learning how to measure out ingredients and applying our knowledge of number to ‘real life’ situations. Being the Autumn Term we will also have a particular focus on the basic operations of addition and subtraction, looking at improving our written methods and getting those ‘nuts and bolts’ under our belts so we are ready for even greater challenges in the Spring Term! This term’s topics are ‘Romans’ and ‘Yum, Yum!’ English This term we will be using ‘pure imagination’, exploring the wonderful story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl. We will be working on skills building this term, looking at the ingredients for creating a ‘perfect’ recipe for writing! Handwriting will be a big focus this term, we will be learning letter formation and joined up handwriting in line with the school’s handwriting policy, to do our fabulous writing justice! Art We will be getting quite arty during our Romans topic this term, using our study as inspiration , we will be trying to recreate some of the style of the period. Before half term we will be looking at Roman Villas and designing our own mosaics. After half term we will look closely at Celtic knot-work and learn how to etch designs onto polystyrene tiles to print with paint. The children will also be learning weaving techniques used by the Celts to construct their roundhouses and basket work. PE Oak Class have PE in the school grounds on Monday afternoon and at the Village Hall on Friday afternoon. Please make sure children have appropriate footwear on these days, thank you. History We will be looking in depth at Romans before half term, beginning with looking at our area and nearby sites, taking a interesting trip to Verulamium in St Albans in September. After half term we will move on to the Celts, finding out how they were beaten by the Romans and what their lives were like in comparison. We will be having lots of fun days too – the children will have a chance to take part in a Roman school day and eat some Roman food too! Homework Homework will be given out on Fridays and is due in on Wednesdays. Spelling are given out on Mondays and should be learned for a test by Friday. Daily reading at home will be rewarded in class so please do sign your children’s reading records if you hear them! We run a ‘Reading Raffle’ in Oak Class and children who read lots at home will have a better chance of being picked out of the hat and winning a prize! Children will need their reading book and reading record every day in school so please encourage children to put them straight back in their bags after reading. Please ensure all children have a water bottle in school. This will be sent home on Fridays. German As you’ve probably realised by now the children are learning German this year and I have already been impressed with their enthusiasm! In the first term we will be covering the basics – greetings, counting to 20, classroom commands and talking about the weather, as well as discussing our families.