Nova

Waterfall

Module 5

Power of Reading

LO: I can create a freeze frame of a scene from a familiar story.

We have been reading 'The Adventures of Egg Box Dragon' and this week we have created freeze frames depicting scenes from the story.

Buildings are important to different people.

LO: I can explore different places of worship.

We had a great road trip to the Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend. Students from Nova class were very respectful and enjoyed looking at the intricate details of the Gurdwara. They took photographs of the building and features, then later used these images to sketch the Gurdwara.

Maths

LO: I can find possibilities for combinations.

LO: I can classify using Venn, Carroll and Tree diagrams.

LO: I can add odd and even numbers.

Nova class has been working hard on our mathematical skills this week. We have been exploring a range of different algebra and pattern skills, including finding probability, finding patterns in odd and even numbers and using diagrams for classification.

Power of Reading

LO: I can describe a character.

LO: I can write a set of instructions.

Students in Nova are reading 'The Adventures of Egg Box Dragon' during our Power of Reading lessons this module. We began our learning by designing and creating our own box dragons. We then wrote instructions for how to make them.

Module 4

Magnets and forces affect the earth.

LO: I can use magnets to explore magnetic forces.

Students in Nova have been exploring magnetic forces, identifying magnetic and non-magnetic materials.

Design and Dash!

Some of the students from Nova Class took part in a KSENT competition for Science Week, designing, making and evaluating cars. We travelled to The Orchard School in Canterbury and took part in the competition to see which materials and designs worked best. We discussed our creations and how we could make improvements and adaptations to help our cars travel further. We all showed impeccable behaviour and sportsmanship. One of our cars even won the prize for the best design!

The world is made up of countries and continents.

LO: I can find countries using a map and globe.

Students in Nova class have been using maps and globes to find different countries from around the world.

Magnets and forces affect the earth.

LO: I can use equipment to perform an investigation.

We were investigating friction during Science. We looked at which surfaces created the most friction, causing cars to travel the least distance when rolling down a slope.

Our food comes from near and far.

Students in Nova class have been looking at packaging to find out where foods are grown. They have then used these food to create healthy recipes.

As part of our PE curriculum, we have been enjoying swimming lessons this term. We have been practising skills to master the front crawl and backstroke.

The works of Dame Barbara Hepworth have inspired our Art work this term. We have sketched some of her sculptures and created sculptures of our own using a range of materials.

The focus of our Maths lessons during this module has been Fractions.

We have been using a range of resources to support our learning and understanding.

Module 3

Transdisciplinary Theme: How the World Works

Central Idea: Our environments change throughout the year

Lines of Inquiry

Our experiences change our understanding of the world.
Seasonal changes can be seen in our environment.
The environment affects the foods we eat.

Pupils in Nova class have been busy exploring the woodland during Forest School, observing seasonal changes to the environment and measuring weekly rainfall using a weather station. We made kites during Forest School on a particularly windy day. We created bird feeders to help our local wildlife survive the winter, too.

We have been looking at traditional foods from around the world, understanding that people from different countries eat different foods, depending on what grows there. Each week, we have been focusing on a different country and cuisine; locating the country on a map and learning some facts about it, before creating and trying a traditional dish. We have explored dishes from China, America, France, Italy and Mexico!

During our Drama lessons, we have been learning to play the role of different characters, speaking aloud in front of our peers and thinking about the different ways these characters would speak and move.

Jumping in a range of styles and directions has been our focus during PE this module. We have improved the height and distance of our jumps and have also practised our skipping technique, both during PE and Forest School sessions.

Our Power of Reading text this module has been 'Rapunzel'. This version is a twisted tale and differs from the original story. We have discussed how the characters are feeling throughout the story and have made predictions about what might happen next. We have made a witch's potion and used the witch's ingredients to create poems, too.

We have been practising multiplication and division during our Maths lesson this module. We have used a wide range of different resources to support our learning.

Module 2

Transdisciplinary Theme: Who are we?

Central Idea: History and Culture influences who we are

Lines of Inquiry

Human life cycles dictate the flow of the monarchy.
Different festivals are celebrated in different ways.
Health is important for our bodies and our minds.

Nova Class had a fantastic morning watching the Christmas pantomime 'Snow White' at the Woodville in Gravesend... Oh, yes we did!

The students enjoyed clapping, dancing and shouting 'BOO!' at the evil queen and were all fabulous ambassadors for our school.

We all had a great time and the Nova Class team and are very proud of our students.

Nova Class have been practising their cutting, measuring and weighing skills during Cooking lessons this term, to create a range of seasonal recipes. We have made winter coleslaw, gingerbread cookies, apple crumble and sausage rolls so far this module. We have enjoyed trying the dishes we have made too!

Nova class are visiting Dartford Library this term as part of our community participation, promoting a love of reading.

Learning Objective: Participate in discussion about books, poems and other works that are read to them and those that they can read for themselves, taking turns and listening to what others say.

Students in Nova Class are learning about monarchs past and present during this module. We have used a timeline to identify when King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth II reigned, and looked at differences between the two periods.

Nova Class are learning about King Henry VIII. We are creating fact files all about Henry VIII and his life.

Our Power of Reading text this module is 'Wild' by Emily Hughes. We have been looking at the characteristics of the child in the story and the features of the setting in which she lives. We have visualised what a woodland may be like and have made our own illustrations based on the book.

We have discussed whether or not we would like to live in the woods like the child in our Power of Reading book, 'Wild' and the reasons why.

English: I can explore an environment linked to that in my class story.

Nova class have visited Shorne Woods Country Park to explore a woodland setting, similar to that described in our class text 'Wild'. We walked through the woodland, created leaf and bark rubbings, explored muddy puddles and listened to the sounds of the woods.

Visitor from The Kent Fire Museum linked to our IB curriculum topic.

Terry, from the Kent Fire Museum, came to visit us at M@DPA. We discussed the Great Fire of London and got to try on lots of fire helmets of different ages, exploring how they have changed over time.