This half term, our core book is ‘Trash’ by Andy Mulligan. It is the story of three young dumpsite boys, Raphael, Gardo and Rat, who live on the trash heaps of Behala and sort through it, hoping to find anything they can sell or recycle. Their lives are rugged, poverty stricken and unadventurous. This changes when the boys find something in the trash: a bag, with a key and a wallet. When the police show up to question them, even offer them money, the boys decide to evade the authorities to figure things out for themselves. The children will be using the book to write a narrative based on the boys finding the wallet. 

The computing focus this half term is e-safety. Children will learn what a digital footprint is, how to behave appropriately online and how to report inappropriate behaviour. They will also be given tips on how to manage their screen time.

This half term children will have the opportunity to capitalise on all aspects of maths to complete investigations – using and applying the skills they have been taught this year.  They will also continue to practise their mental arithmetic skills in preparation for the KS3 curriculum in secondary school.

In PE, the children will refining the skills needed to participate successfully in a range of athletic events. 

This half term, children will be learning about Evolution and Inheritance. They will learn about the works of Charles Darwin and his theory of human evolution. They will also learn that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but not identical to their parents. Children will then move onto learning about adaptation and that living things have changed over time to adapt to the surroundings in which they live.

Our topic this half term is ‘The changing body’ and we will cover the following areas:

Puberty

- explain how girls’ and boys’ bodies change during puberty and understand the importance of looking after myself physically and emotionally.

- express how I feel about the changes that will happen to me during puberty.

Babies – Conception to Birth

- understand the menstrual cycle and that a male and a female are needed to conceive a baby.

- describe how a baby develops from conception through the nine months of pregnancy, and how it is born.

- understand some of the baby’s requirements during the first months of life.

Key vocabulary: hormones, penis, vagina, semen, menstruation, womb, pregnancy, embryo foetus, placenta, umbilical cord, labour and midwife.

We would recommend the books ‘What’s Happening To Me?’ by Susan Meridith, if you are looking to discuss these topics before or after they are taught in school. If you have any questions about the topics that are being taught we would be more than happy to discuss this with you. 

During DT week the children will learn about French food before creating and following their recipe to make ratatouille. They will then evaluate how successful they were in making a delicious dish.

This half term in history, the children will be learning about the Islamic Civilisation (The Golden Age in Baghdad). They will learn how Baghdad became a major center for trade and commerce, connecting the East and West and how art, architecture and calligraphy flourished during this period.

In geography, the children will be learning about the impact of human and physical geography on natural resources in relation to Brazil in South America. 

In music, the children will practise the songs from their end of year production 'Old School Days'.

• Sports Day - Tuesday 24th June

• End of year production - Wednesday 9th July 2pm

• Leavers assembly - Friday 19th July 1pm