Monday 23rd February

Welcome to the start of our second Spring term. The morning and nights are getting lighter so Spring is around the corner we hope. Thank you for the lovely comments that were made at the last blog spot.


Swimming as far as we know is on on Monday so please send the children in prepared with snacks and their kit. The first swimming session went smoothly and the children were all assessed in their swimming capabilities and placed into groups.


There will be no homework this week to ease us all back in to the first week of a long term. Homework will continue next week with the island's homework and spelling sheets and Numeracy. We just ask that you hear your child read as often as you can. We have found that the children who have not made progress in recent tests are sometimes those who are not reading at home as much as they should do. Don't forget to make comments as we all love to read the messages.

Ash Wednesday
This week sees the start of Lent. We will be holding a short service in the hall to mark Ash Wednesday and the children will receive their ashes in the classrooms afterwards. Should you wish to receive ashes in school, please join us at 9am in the hall.
To read about the traditions and customs of Ash Wednesday, go to

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/easter/ashwednesday.htm

LITERACY

This week we are going to be moving on to INSTRUCTIONS. We give instructions all the time to people but it is important that we know how to write them. Think about all the different times you follow instructions. We will be learning all about imperative verbs, specialist language, and how to use time or sequence phrases. Have a go at the games below to get the hang of it:

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=teaseq

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/activities/instructions.shtml - put all your new found skills into practice

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/studentssite/playgroundgames.htm - have a look at all the instructions here for different playground games. Would you be able to write instructions for your favourite game?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/texttypes/instructions/ - try the game

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/Literacy/Keystage2/Writing/Instructions/Introduction/default.htm- work through the lesson

By the end of the week the children:

MUST know how to sequence a set of instructions.

SHOULD be able to use an imperative verb and a time phrase in their set of instructions.

COULD be able to write a set of instructions using bossy verbs.connectives, adverbs and adjectives.

NUMERACY

Tables...tables...tables! It's amazing how quickly we can lose our rapid recall of times tables if we neglect them, even for a couple of weeks. Use the links below to get them up to tip top condition.

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/851/Hitthebuttonv7.swf

http://www.freewebtown.com/weddell/mw/multiples/intro.htm

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/tabletrees.html

and of course there's always

http://www.tutpup.com

In Mrs Harding's group this week we will be exploring subtraction again with and without regrouping. It was lovely to hear lots of encouraging comments at Parent interviews about the homework really helping the children. Please be aware that we are constantly going over lots of concepts every week in the mental starters at the beginning of every lesson.

By the end of the week:

COULD be able to subtract 5 and 6 digit numbers.
COULD be able to complete problems with subtraction.
SHOULD be able to subtract HTU from HTU with and without regrouping.
MUST know all the mathematical terms for subtraction.

To find out more please see:

http://www.dositey.com/addsub/subra4.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/activities/subtraction.shtml

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/interactive/subtraction.htm

Miss Robinson's Group will be building on their fabulous learning of methods for addition and subtration by moving on to solving word problems. We are also linking this work to money too. Please have a look at the links below:

http://www.mathplayground.com/MathHoops_Z1.html

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/mentalmachine2.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/measuring/money/flash1.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/numbers/measuring/money/flash2.shtml - with timer!

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/shop_counter/index.htm

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/wordproblems/index.html

http://www.mathszone.co.uk/ - work on the USE AND APPLY MATHS section.

By the end of the week the children

MUST be able to identify key information in a word problem and know which method to use to solve it.

SHOULD be able to solve word problems involving more than a one-step operation

COULD be able to apply their skills to solving word problems that involve MONEY.

SCIENCE

We will be carrying on learning about muscles in our bodies. We will also be considering exercise too.
By the end of the week :
Children could understand that muscles relax and contract in pairs and draw diagrams relating to this.
Children should know the function of a skeleton.
Children should know what happens when we exercise.
Children must understand that the faster we move the harder the muscles have to work.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/skeletalsmoothandcardiac/heart_beat.shtml


http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/muscle_anatomy.shtml


http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/skeletons.html

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/skeletons/muscles.htm

http://www.medecine-et-sante.com/gimages/muscles-membrinf.jpg

Have a good first week back,

Best wishes,
The Three and Four Team

xxx