Dear Parents & Children - Welcome to the Spring Term

Dear Parents,

Over the next half term, Westall class will be following a unit of work on a theme that focuses on islands all over the world. The unit is called Earth as an island.

This unit of work is part of the International Primary Curriculum. This 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 curriculum in your child’s own country. 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 – This 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 Geography, Art, Technology, Physical Education and International.

In Geography, we’ll be finding out:

• About the geographical features of islands

• About the growth and development of islands over time, including capital cities

• How human geography is impacting island life

• How to relocate an island community, taking both human and physical geographical factors into consideration

• How to use six-figure grid references

• About a case study of an island developing as a trade and transport hub

In Art, we’ll be finding out:

• How to sketch aerial images of islands

• About pop artists such as Andy Warhol, and how they created images

• How to create our own simple prints

• How to choose, mount and display images that we create

In International, we’ll be finding out:

• About the global development goals

• About how our lives can affect the lives of others, including islanders

• How plastics are impacting islands across the world

• How we can moderate our behaviour to have a positive impact on the lives of others

• How to share our learning with the wider community to affect change

In Physical Education, we’ll be finding out:

• How to follow an orienteering challenge relating to islands

• How to follow an orienteering loop course

In Music, we’ll be finding out:

• About different genres of island music

• How island music is created, and what makes it unique

 In Technology, we’ll be finding out:

• About the different food groups and their importance in our diets

• How different foods come from different places, and why that is

• How to keep safe when preparing food

• How to prepare simple savoury dishes from islands around the world

• How to plan, create and evaluate an island-inspired dish

Teaching in a thematic way, the national curriculum requirements of English, Maths, RE and Music will be  interwoven with our topic learning. In English we will be looking at a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts and developing our understanding of spellings, punctuation and grammar. In numeracy, we will be developing and applying the number system, securing numerical fluency and calculating. We will also be exploring fractions, measure, statistics and understanding geometry (properties of shape). This term's science unit will be evolution and inheritance, where we will look at how animals and plants have adapted to survive over millions of years.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            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. Discussions about societies and how they are formed/sustained will help to support your child in their understanding of this unit by making modern day links. 

If your child has some work to research, please allow them to complete this themselves with background support from you where appropriate. If you have the opportunity to further their interest in the themes of this topic by visiting a historical museum or similar, please allow them to do so. 

P.E.

Whilst we are learning remotely, P.E. will take place on a Monday afternoon. Please ensure that your child has some loose fitting, comfortable clothing and if possible, a safe and clear space to exercise in.  For health and safety reasons earrings and watches must be removed for all P.E lessons and long hair must be tied up. 

Homework:

Children will receive homework twice per week.

Reading                                     Every night (15 minutes – please comment on your child’s reading record)

Curriculum activities               Given out on Wednesday Returned on Monday

Spelling & times tables           Given out on Friday Returned on Wednesday 

By the end of the unit, we aim for your child to achieve their learning targets. We hope they have an enjoyable time in the classroom and that you have enjoyed seeing your child work with enthusiasm. If you have any comments or questions about your child’s learning, please get in touch.

Kind regards, 

Miss Jones

Westall Class Teacher