Welcome to Swans

Class Teacher - Mrs Cotton

LSP - Miss Merryweather

email:     class.swans@burnttree.sandwell.sch.uk

Our learning

Autumn Term

Maths

In maths this term, we are focusing on the core area of place value before moving on to learn about calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).  We will complete the term with a unit about fractions where we will be comparing fractions before calculating with them.  We will also be refining our arithmetic skills over the term as well as maintaining a focus on times tables.

English

Our focus for writing during the first few weeks of the autumn term is on punctuation and grammar.  We will be learning about different word classifications and applying these to write a range of sentences.  Over this time, we will be planning and preparing to write a character description based on the main character in the short film, ‘Reverso’.  In the second half of the autumn term, we will base our writing on the text, ‘The Spider and the Fly,’ by Mary Howitt.

Please continue to use Spelling Shed through your Wonde log in.  Spellings (learned through interactive games) will be available every week on a Friday and they will be tested the following Friday.   

Reading

Our text of the term is The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf. The children will identify and define unfamiliar vocabulary to deepen their understanding of the text. This will be further developed through answering a range of VIPERS questions. We will also read a wide range of other texts to expose children to various authors and genres. Some of these texts will be chosen by the children based on their interests and talents.

Science

Over the term, we will be learning about materials and their properties.  We will study processes such as heating, cooling, dissolving and separating and investigate how they alter a material’s state.  We will plan and predict results before conducting our own investigations.  We will represent our findings effectively through the use of tables and graphs.  

History

Our learning during the first half-term is based on the Vikings - were they raiders, traders or something else?  During this learning, we will be considering when in history the Viking era was, learning about the importance of trading routes during this time as well as considering what the Vikings achieved and how this impacts us today.  We will present our work in a variety of ways including through talk, presentations, posters and writing.

Geography

Our learning during the second half of the autumn term is ‘Energy’.  In this unit, we will learn why energy sources are important to us and how they help us live our every day lives.  We will use graphs and maps to study the distribution of energy in a specific geographical area as well as conducting fieldwork to locate the most suitable position for a solar panel within our school grounds.

Art 

In Art during the first half term, we will be studying drawing through the idea of outer space and the future.  We will make observations of existing art, expressing our thoughts and ideas effectively.  We will sketch our own perception of what our future would look like, linking it to space.  We will then create a collagraph as a background to our final piece before making our final choices about what images from our future world predictions we would like to use.  We will evaluate our own work and those of others within our class.  We will also be using paint and mixed media to explore portraits.  During this unit we will experiment with materials and techniques and construct self-portraits that represent aspects of ourselves. 

DT

During the second half-term, we will be creating an interactive pop-up book using a variety of mechanisms.  We will follow a design brief incorporating sliders, levers, spacers and layers to ensure that our pop-up book is a success! 

Music 

In our first unit, we will link our learning back to the Egyptians through composition and notation.  We will learn a song based on the Egyptians and then study hieroglyphics as a way of musical notation. We will learn about note length as well as reading pitch notation.  Finally, we will work together to create a piece of music using hieroglyphics and stave notation.  In our second unit, we will link colour to musical pieces.  We will creat graphic scores and vocal compositions based on our responses to particular colours.

PE

Over the autumn term, we will be developing our skills in the areas of ball skills (handball), racket skills (badminton), gymnastics and dance.  One of our lessons each week is with Mark, our sports coach and the other is taught by Mrs Cotton.  Remember that on our PE days, you can come to school in your PE kit (black shorts or jogging bottoms, a white PE shirt and a black jumper).

Computing

In computing this term, we will begin by thinking about keeping ourselves safe online.  We will learn about how to create a safe password as well as developing our understanding of app permissions.  We will follow this by learning how to use search engines safely and accurately.

French

This term, we will be learning how to read, write, speak and listen to French within the topic ‘Monster Pets’.  We will learn animal names and their body parts, in French, in order to create our own ‘Monster Pet’ which we will then describe!

RE 

In Religious Education this term, we will be focusing on Christianity and considering how teachings about God being holy and loving, make a difference in the world today. We will then think about what sort of world Jesus wanted.  Within RE we will represent our thoughts in a variety of ways such as through discussion, shared writing and art.

PSHE

This term, we will be thinking about ‘Being Me’.  We will be setting goals for ourselves as well as learning ways in which we can deal with new challenges.  We will think about our rights and responsibilities as well as how our behaviour choices affect ourselves and those around us.  In our second unit of the term, ‘Celebrating our Differences’, we will be thinking about our own culture and that of others.  We will further develop our understanding of bullying and how we can support each other.

Look at what we have been doing...