Humanities - Social Understanding
Our thematic learning topic ‘Heroes and Villains’ will explore one of the greatest civilisations of ancient times as we learn about Greek gods and heroes. We will understand what shaped, defined and inspired these city states and their powerful gods as well as meet a world of legendary heroes and villains We will distinguish between different versions of the same event and explore and evaluate different sources of historical evidence
After half term our topic will be Think Change. The children will be thinking about change with a focus on sustainability. We will consider packaging materials and how long they take to decompose We will think about more sustainable packaging Then we will investigate the importance of water to us and its value as a resource We will link this to how people’s behaviour can damage the oceans, using maps to follow the journey of a river to the sea Finally considering our impact on planet Earth and our responsibility for its health.
In RS, pupils will learn about the Christian Church and worship. They will find out more about the importance of Holy Communion to the Christian faith, and think about how Christians mark rites of passage They will continue to explore the Christian year as they learn more about Lent and Easter Key skills include using religious words and phrases to identify and retell, asking questions and responding sensitively, making comparisons and forming and expressing opinions.
Language and Communication
In English, pupils will explore, read and write myths using The Orchard Book of Greek Myths (Geraldine McCaughrean) as our inspiration Timeless classics, such as Pandora’s Box and Arachne the Spinner will allow pupils to storyboard plots, recognise and develop strong characters in their own writing. Alongside these skills we will continue to refine our punctuation skills and use a range of conjunctions to improve our writing
After half term we will explore the features of a non-chronological report Using technical language, section headings, present and past tenses and key facts, we will learn how to plan and write our own non-chronological report. Alongside these skills we will continue to refine our punctuation, grammar, vocabulary and spelling through regular practice.
In Modern Languages, listening and speaking skills remain our focus, but increasingly reading words and sentences will be integrated as pupils develop decoding skills and link sounds to spellings. At the start of the Spring Term, in French, pupils will be learning about the celebration of La Fête des Rois and Los Reyes Magos and making comparisons between festivals around the world Pupils will look at the story of Cendrillon and then focus on a wide range of animals, revising the ones already learned and building on this knowledge by expanding the vocabulary and phrases The children will look at growing up through different family vocabulary, building on previous knowledge. The term will finish by exploring French Easter traditions. In Spanish, the pupils will be developing their classroom vocabulary, responding to instructions and asking for things Learning about animals will be done
through the story ‘Oso pardo’ and this will allow pupils to explore the concepts of gender of nouns and learn to talk about pets We will end the term with a focus on Easter traditions
Mathematical Understanding
Our first topic is multiplication and division. We will focus on comparing statements (3 x 4 = 4 x 3), multiplying and dividing two-digit numbers by a one-digit number, learning both mental and formal written methods Problem solving will include missing numbers and scaling problems
Next we will look at money, specifically £ and p in practical contexts, converting between the two, adding and subtracting amounts of money and giving change.
We then move on to data handling, interpreting and presenting data using bar charts, pictograms and tables, before looking at measuring, adding and subtracting lengths, units, and measuring and calculating the perimeter of simple 2D shapes.
Following on from this, we will cover length and perimeter This will involve, not only measuring in m, cm and mm, but also comparing, adding and subtracting lengths of shapes in order to calculate perimeter
Finally, we will begin to work on fractions. This will include: understanding and recognising both unit fractions and non-unit fractions; counting up and down in tenths, divide objects, one-digit numbers and quantities by 10; recognise and use fractions as numbers; recognise, find and write fractions of a discrete set of objects, and solve problems that involve all of the above
Throughout the term we will include solving problems as part of the curriculum.
Physical Education and Well-being
In PE at Fitzwilliam this term the children will be working on gymnastics and dance At Dame B’s in PE there will be a rotation of fencing, indoor athletics and swimming. In games, the focus will be on hockey, football and netball. Please ensure that all pupils have a mouthguard, hockey stick, shin pads and long socks Development of key skills and refinement of technique will be integral to all lessons, whilst pupils will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles within team situations
Do encourage your child to get involved with any of these sports outside of school by joining local clubs and discuss the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle.
In PSHEE this term, pupils will consider a range of emotions and strategies for managing feelings, including relaxation and being assertive, to improve our wellbeing The children will then go on to learn about healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, nutrition, dental hygiene and making healthy choices Children’s Mental Health Week will focus on ‘expressing ourselves’ and they will take part in a range of activities to support their wellbeing. The pupils will also reinforce their understanding of using technology safely and effectively throughout the term, with Safer Internet Day on 9th February The children will have a focus on an internet we can trust, using critical thinking skills to check the reliability of information online
Creative and Performing Arts
In Music this term, pupils will study 7th Century Indonesian Gamelan music; learning about the cultural customs associated with Gamelan performances and trying to engage with these customs whilst rehearsing and performing pieces together as a class ensemble Throughout the topic, pupils will have the opportunity to improvise, develop their vocal technique and continue to add to their increasingly broad bank of music terminology The theatrical side of Gamelan, through shadow puppets, will link to the children’s study of Heroes and Villains music
Each week, pupils will continue to expand their recorder repertoire and develop their instrumental technique, alongside having the opportunity to use any additional instruments they play in both composition and performance tasks, where appropriate Throughout the term, pupils will build their confidence and fluency with reading staff notation, and will continue to develop their musicianship skills Pupils will develop their vocal performance skills through the exploration of topic based songs and pieces
When developing their Create, Design, Engineering skills pupils will delve into the visual history of the heroes and villains of Ancient Greece when they use careful cutting and drawing to create an Ancient Greek vase. Clay pinch pots will be the basis for some scary Greek monsters. Linking to our science learning about light and shadows we will also make our own shadow puppets and perform a short play.
After half term in CDE we will use recycled materials to create a 3 dimensional sculpture. We will consider form, colour, light and shape. Materials will vary according to what is available. In addition we will repurpose waste materials to design, plan and create a jellyfish.
Scientific Understanding
In Science, we will investigate how light travels and how shadows are made, developing pupils’ understanding that light can pass through some materials but not others, and how to classify materials as transparent, translucent or opaque
After half term, the pupils will spend time extending their skills linked to our topic We will find out what plants need in order to grow healthily, observe their germination, structure and growth Finishing with finding out how important plants are in our lives and for a healthy planet.
Key skills will include planning investigations, making predictions and taking measurements using standard units.
How you can help: Visit local museums, such as the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Saffron Walden Museum and Cambridge Science Centre These institutions have extended their online resources since lockdown, as has BBC Bitesize Science. Look out also for science programmes onTV orYouTube. With
We have a number of apps that we use consistently throughout our curriculum that lend themselves to our creative approach. We avoid apps that are specific to a particular outcome, preferring content free apps that can help to enhance our pupils' work and understanding. Some examples are: Minecraft, iMovie, KeyNote, Pages and Padlet.
Coding
Another aspect of our digital curriculum is the coding/programming skills that are embedded in all subjects or taught discretely inYears 5 and 6 We have identified a progression of apps that help to develop our pupils ability to code The apps provide variety and challenge and help to develop the computation skills that are crucial learning in our digital work
We combine the coding experiences with physical output Using Spheros, BBC Micro:Bits and Ozobots provides visual outcomes that bring our code to life As our pupils develop further they transition on to written code
ThinkingToolkit
Alongside and underpinning our curriculum we ensure that our pupils are developing as active learners and active thinkers Throughout each subject area pupils are encouraged to use their range of thinking tools and reflect on when and how they are using them. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on how their thinking tools underpin all aspects of their learning and not just in the more obvious ways. How are they creative in maths? How do they enquire in English? How are they critical in Music? How do they think computationally in PE?
This curriculum map outlines the core curriculum for each year group each term but at the heart of our wheel is the individual learner. Each subject area has a progression of skills which enables staff to stretch or support individuals as and when they need a little help, a bit of a push or a just a different way in. Within our classrooms through planning, teacher knowledge and interactions work is differentiated to suit the needs of each individual.