Easter HAF Programme Vouchers will be issued on Saturday 26th March 2022

Easter benefits-related Free School Meal Vouchers will be issued on Friday 1st April 2022 (£30 per eligible child)

Central Idea: Shelters, for humans and animals, is a basic need.

This week, Team RM have had another exciting week of developing their skills - this time by making concrete to build a shelter using bricks.

Together, they have measured the sand and have added just the right amount of water to make cement. Our team have been busy problem solving by measuring the blocks and talking about how many they need to make a rectangle.

Emma said: "We need to bake it now to make sure the cement gets hard. We need it to be strong."

Although Trevor did all of the heavy lifting, our youngest learners were there to offer generous support and encouragement.

Jack said: "I think you are the best, Trevor!" The Early Years adults all agree.

Central Idea: Shelters, for humans and animals, is a basic need.

The week began with the team enhancing the shelters they made last week. They joined materials in different ways to make the joins stronger and the shelter, more robust.

"My shelter is different to my friends but I still want to talk to them."

The children in Team RMC have been discussing how we can remain connected in different shelters. By using the 'telephones' some children have spoken to friends, while in different shelters. This has brought great joy.

Their learning continued to flourish, with phonic and early writing skills developed, by writing and posting notes to their friends.

Central Idea: Learning about the past helps me to understand the present.

A wonderful week was had in 1M this week as we continued our inquiry into objects from the past. We looked more closely at the history of the hot air balloon and learned some very interesting facts about aviation which the children are sure to share with you at home. We made some wonderful hot air balloons.

In science this week we tested out different types of paper, we used our classifying skills and performed simple tests by seeing the effect water had on the different pieces of paper. We love scientific investigations!

We have been fantastic mathematicians! We have been counting in 2s 5s and 10s as well as learning about place value within 50.

Central Idea: Finding out about the past helps us understand our place in time.

This week our inquiry has taken us on a tour around our school. The children have been researching how Marden has changed over time. They have been excited to look at old pictures of the school and particularly the pictures of the old swimming pool. Next week they will interview Mr Reynolds, our LSA in years 3/4, about what it was like here when he was a pupil. The burning questions they have written include the most important 'What did you have for school dinners? and 'What was the chef like?'

We enjoyed our Mothers Day morning on Friday. We designed and made photo frames for the selfies we took with our mums. A little keep sake to remind you of the day your mum came to school with you.

In our Year 1 maths learning we have explored length and height. The children have impressed me with their knowledge and vocabulary when comparing lengths. They worked on challenges using Cuisenaire Rods - finding rods which were longer, shorter and the same length as well as finding rods twice the length of another or finding a different combination of rods that equalled the same length.

In Y2 maths this week, we have explored shape: our key focus has been on naming 2D and 3D shapes, identifying sides and vertices on 2D shapes as well as exploring vertical lines of symmetry.

Central Idea: Our lives and histories are journeys.

A very exciting week has been had this week as we continued our exploration of our central idea by focusing on the Great Fire of London. As a result, our week has been very much fire inspired.

We began by exploring the Great Fire of London, finding out about what it was, why it happened and why it was such a significant event. We then carried out a science experiment which involved us heating different materials and seeing what happened to them, with our key focus on finding out (when they cooled) whether they were reversible or irreversible.

After writing descriptions about the fire using figurative language considering our senses, we then (with the help of our mums) created our own Tudor/Stuart houses from cereal boxes. The best was then to come as we placed our houses into a 1666 London formation and saw the full effects of fire take hold, spreading from house to house.

In maths this week, we have explored shape: our key focus has been on naming 2D and 3D shapes, identifying sides and vertices on 2D shapes as well as exploring vertical lines of symmetry.

Central Idea: Evidence of past civilizations can be used to make connections to present day societies.

Inquiry-This week the children have been using their knowledge of our chosen Ancient Civilization, Egypt. They have finished and published their time travelling narratives to create our very own class book. The children were so proud of these narratives and the front covers they designed that we have begun reading them to KS1. We have also started looking at the structure of a Pyramid for something exciting we are hoping to create! The children explored what makes a good structure using only 30 marshmallows, spaghetti, paper and plastic straws and blutack. They had so much fun doing this and they created some great structures without a single bit of input from me!!

Maths- In maths we have continued looking at money, specifically adding and subtracting amounts of money. The children have used resources to practically explore adding and subtracting money in our very own 3B shopping challenges and shown their understanding through written calculations and group work.

Science- In science this week we have looked at forces and we focused on how much force is needed to move a toy car along different surfaces. The children came up with this big question and planned out their fair test looking at the things they must keep the same and the things we are going to need to change in order to complete the test. We had lots of fun outside and everyone was able to conclude our investigation! Well done!

Thank you for all your boxes! We look forward to showing you what we have done with them during your visit to our museum on Friday 1st April!

Central Idea: Exploration can lead to discoveries, opportunities and new understandings.

This week in maths we have been continuing our journey along The Silk Road. We have been studying the travels of Marco Polo through a creative writing session where we wrote a story about the first part of his journey. We have continued to look at the first goods that were exchanged and how this has developed in the established trade of today.

In maths we have continued to look at fractions. We have been finding both unit and non-unit fractions of an amount. We have also been looking at tenths and hundredths. Converting fractions into decimals.

It has been another busy week looking at The British Museum China collection and recreating some of these artifacts ready for the 3/4 museum showcase next Friday.

Central Idea: The legacies of Ancient Civilisations may influence modern Britain.

This week we have been looking at another Ancient Civilisation in more detail - The Romans. We have thought about the question 'But how do we know?' which then involved looking at discoveries such as: mosaics, pottery, weapons, clothing etc. We had an amazing time at The British Museum where we could further develop our understanding, as well as look at some incredible discoveries up close. The children were an absolute credit to everyone as their behaviour was impeccable. The children did some great Museum Adventure story writing on their return which incorporated fiction and non-fiction with a dash of imagination. Our week ended with starting our DT project on designing Roman and Greek inspired footwear. We are excited to bring our designs to life.

In maths we have looked at dividing by 10 and positioning tenths and hundredths on a number line.

Please remember our Mother's Day event on Monday - we look forward to having you in class with us, you are welcome from 8.30am.

Can we remind you that PE is an important part of the curriculum and so a full PE kit needs to be in school for our lesson on a THURSDAY.

Children will need trainers in school on Wednesday 30th March.

Central Idea: Migrants both influence, and are influenced by, the world around us.

Maths - This week we have continued to look at fractions, becoming increasingly confident with adding and taking them away. On Tuesday, the children were able to take all the elements they had learnt so far (converting mixed numbers, finding common multiples, adding and simplifying) and apply these to challenging problem solving tasks. We are now looking to apply this to subtracting fractions before we then begin to look at multiplying fractions.

Inquiry - Our inquiry journey has seen us complete our learning on the Vikings, specifically looking at their role as migrants in Britain. We have now moved on to look at Brazil, using our geographical enquiry skills to locate different human and physical features of the country (as you can see above.)

Science - Through science we have been experimenting with forces, looking at gravity, air resistance and water resistance. Our challenge now is to apply all this learning to our inquiry and create Viking long ships that both look the part and can float.

As per last week's newsletter, please continue to save any junk modelling pieces that you will need for building your Viking long ships. These can come into school any time before next Thursday.

Central Idea: Migrants both influence, and are influenced by, the world around us.

Maths - This week, we have continued our learning on fractions. We have been identifying mixed fractions, improper fractions and proper fractions. From this, we have been subtracting and adding fractions. Through this, the knowledge on fractions is becoming a lot stronger. Children have been using cubes to identify what happens to a whole number in a fraction when they add or subtract another fraction.

Inquiry - This week for inquiry, we have been looking at Brazil. We have used our geographical skills to identify Brazil on the map, along with the cities in Brazil and the bordering countries. We have also used our IT skills to create climate graphs based on the climate in cities in Brazil.

Science - For science, we have used all of our knowledge this term on forces (gravity, air resistance and water resistance) to create a plan for creating a Viking long ship that both look similar and can float.

As per last week's newsletter, please continue to save any junk modelling pieces that you will need for building your Viking long ships. These can come into school any time before next Thursday.

Central Idea: Exploration leads to discoveries, opportunities and new understandings.

Inquiry - The children have been using their knowledge of the impact of the Slave Trade by writing extended narrative pieces which has drawn on their skills of writing in the first person with a viewpoint. We have also used our inquiry skills to research the Windrush generation to help us deepen our understanding of some of the reasons for and consequences of migration. We have been enjoying finishing off some of our artwork in response to slavery, whereby we have incorporated a poetic phrase inspired by traditional spirituals which would have been sung by the enslaved Africans. The theme of freedom has also inspired poetry which children have composed using the book, 'Henry's Freedom Box' as a stimulus.

Maths - We have been revising equivalence and the converting of fractions to calculate and solve multi-step problems. We have all also been revising written methods for calculations using the four operations. This has required great use of our knowledge of multiplication and division facts in order to quickly and accurately find common factors and multiples. Please continue to learn times tables at home - use any opportunity to 'drill' your child and test them for their knowledge, even chanting tables 'old school' method!

Reading - During reading comprehension, we have begun to explore less familiar texts that offer us an added challenge of differing language styles, genres and new vocabulary. We have spent time focusing on reading skills such as scanning and skimming as well as exploring new vocabulary to help us find our way around a text, ensuring good fluency and comprehension.

• Talk through the information they have found out – do they tell you something exciting, e.g. clubs that they will be able to join? Do they have any concerns? Are they pleased/disappointed with anything?

• This will also be a good opportunity for you to have a look at the policies, practices and procedures such as timings, uniform and behaviour expectations for yourself.

• Hopefully your child’s Secondary school will be arranging an event for you to be able to ask questions; perhaps you could start to think about any questions/queries you may have.