Winding Rivers, Misty Mountains

WINDING Rivers, MISTY Mountains is our topic for the Spring term!

During this term, your child will learn about the characteristics and physical processes of rivers, including how they shape the landscape over time, their significance around the world and the impact of flooding.  They will learn how to use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and a key to locate and plot geographical places and features on a map, as well as how contour lines are used to show topography of an area.  They will have the opportunity to learn about the stages of the water cycle and about mountains and their different formations, studying mountain ranges in the United Kingdom and around the world.  They will also learn about habitats and how human and natural influences can have an impact on the environment.

Maths

Throughout Maths in the Spring term, the children will explore multiplication and division which involves consolidating their knowledge of their times tables up to 12x12, multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers by a one digit number and factor pairs.

Later in the term, we will be exploring fractions and decimals which includes finding common equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions and counting in tenths and hundredths.

Reading and Writing

During the Spring term, the children will have the opportunity to write in a variety of genres and adapt their writing to suit their audience. Examples of these genres are setting descriptions, diary entries, non-chronological reports, persuasive writing and information leaflets. All of these journeys are intertwined with our topic and feature technical vocabulary related to rivers and mountains.  Regarding grammar, they will continue to revise and apply their knowledge of fronted adverbials, expanded noun phrases, pronouns and conjunctions.

Below are the books which will be used in English and Guided Reading:

Foundation Subjects

Science 

The Spring term's science learning is strongly linked to our topic as we will be learning about The Water Cycle, Habitats and Changing Environments.  This will involve practical investigations and require the class to answer questions such as: How does pollution affect habitats?, What do squirrels eat?, Where does water go?, Why does it flood?, and Can worms sense danger?

Art and Design Technology

 The Art topic this term will have the children learn about the techniques that artists use when composing landscape images, such as colour and atmosphere. This term also includes a trip to the Art Gallery to really help immerse them in the topic!

DT will teach the children about home furnishings and the significant designer William Morris who was prominent during the Victorian era. They learn techniques for decorating fabric, including block printing, hemming and embroidery and use them to design and make a fabric sample.

RE 

During the RE topic we will explore and explain the concept of devotion and in particular how it is expressed within Hinduism. The children will have the opportunity to show how devotion affects their own lives and those around them. Later in the term, the class will explore how stones are used as symbols in religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.

PE

The first half of the spring term will see the class take part in Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA) within the school which involves team building, problem solving and orienteering.  They will also practice their gym skills. Within the second half of the term they will take part in Invasion Games, especially football, and also work on their leadership skills within team games and the sporting environment.

PSHE

PSHE this term will encourage the children to look at the theme of 'living in the wider world'. This will cover the following aspects: belonging to a community, media literacy and digital resilience, and money and work.

Computing

The children will use Purple Mash to cover the following topics: writing for different audiences, coding and animation.  All lessons are taught with online safety being the underpinning message behind everything that they do.