Murphy

Welcome back to the Autumn term!

We hope you had a lovely summer break.

Over the next few weeks Murphy Class will be following a unit of work on a theme that focuses on ‘Ourselves’.

This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This new curriculum sets out very clearly what children will learn the learning goals in three different areas:

1. The subjects of the curriculum. The learning goals for each of these subjects are at least as challenging as anything taught in the UK curriculum. In many cases, the learning goals are more challenging.

2. Personal development – the characteristics which will help children become more responsible, independent learners.

3. International understanding – which will help children develop both a sense of the independence of their own country and culture and the interdependence between countries and cultures.

Each unit of work is based around specific targets derived from the learning goals for one or more of the subjects.

During this unit we will be focusing on Society, Art, Physical Education, Science, Geography and International.

In Society, we’ll be finding out:

• About the different groups we belong to
• About the things that make us feel happy
• How to deal with anger
• How to stay safe
• How to make an emergency phone call

In Art, we’ll be finding out:

• How to draw portraits and self-portraits
• How to take a portrait photograph
• About portraits by famous painters and sculptors
• How to design a favourite menu

In Physical Education, we’ll be finding out:

• What activities we can do well
• How we can stay fit and strong

In Science, we’ll be finding out:

• About how our hearts work
• About how we are similar to and different from other people
• About different  types of foods

In Geography, we’ll be finding out:

• Which countries we or our ancestors have come from
• How to find our local area on a map
• About different countries we have lived in

• In International, we’ll be finding out:

• About the way children in our host country and home countries live

We already know the interest you take in your child’s work. If you can, please discuss with your child the work they have done as the term progresses and let them teach you.

P.E

P.E will take place on a Tuesday afternoon and a Friday afternoon. As a result, it is important that your child has their outdoor trainers with them at all times. Children will take part in their usual school PE kit, which consists of a sky blue polo top with a school badge, plain royal blue shorts, royal blue track suit and trainers. PE kits should be kept in school all week in case of timetable changes and will be sent home if they need to be washed.  For health and safety reasons earrings and watches should be removed for all P.E lessons and long hair must be tied up.

Homework

Homework will be given out each Friday and due back in by the following Thursday. we try to alternate between Literacy, Maths or topic based activities. Try and encourage your children to be as independent as possible with their homework but it should also be a nice opportunity to discuss their learning from the week.

Reading

Reading is so important for every aspect of your children's learning. Reading and sharing books with your child each day is crucial and will help them to learn new vocabulary, context and the skills of inference and deduction. It needs to be an enjoyable experience for all and it is just as beneficial for them to be read to as it is for them to read themselves.

If you have any questions or comments, please make an appointment or come and chat to us, we are here to help.

Kind Regards

Mrs Bannister and Mrs Andreas

Murphy Class Teachers