Term 2 

Invasion!

In Term 2, Brazilian Parrots have continued to develop their historical knowledge of the Anglo-Saxons, shifting their focus over to the raiding parties of Vikings. As we dived into the topic, we explored the images and impact on life that occurred when the Vikings’ first co-ordinated assault on the British Isles set the tone for all future raids and battles. As these battles between Viking and Anglo-Saxon continued, both groups began to notice the growing losses, eventually learning to live side by side. The children were delighted to participate in a Viking Immersive Workshop Day, participating in Viking themed activities such as weaving fabric, grinding wheat to pursue the creation of bread and playing a traditional game of ‘pig knuckles.’ They were enthralled!

Maths

In Maths, our class has been developing and consolidating their confidence through addition and subtraction using numbers up to 4-digits. We have immersed our learning in a variety of methods that recognise the importance of using place value columns to calculate accurately, numbers lines to support our ability to round numbers effectively and finally, building a solid foundation of how efficient methods can support our mental maths. These mathematical skills have all contributed to the children building confidence in solving multi-step problems that incorporate the skill of problem solving!

I would also like to congratulate all the children on their continued practice of their weekly times tables. The progress is being recognised and we are making progress accordingly.

English

In English, our children have worked incredibly hard to learn about and produce work showing two styles of writing, closely tied to our historical topic for Terms 1 and 2. The first piece of writing challenged the children to produce a scene in the form of a playscript, developing rapport between a Saxon couple debating between the positives and negatives of moving to rural England during the 8^th – 10^th century.

As part of our second piece of writing, we developed our knowledge of non-chronological reports. These reports aim to answer our Topic enquiry question: “How did the Anglo-Saxon and Viking invasions change Britain?” The children showcased their historical knowledge very well by incorporating key vocabulary to highlight their understanding of time. This brilliantly reflected how the children could make effective juxtapositions between the two historical groups.

Science

As part of our Science topic for Term 2, the children have been exploring and building their understanding of sound. The children have investigated how different objects (instruments ad everyday objects) produce sound and cause vibrations to form. Throughout these processes, it has been important to study how sound waves impact pitch and volume when sound is produced. As part of growing their knowledge, the children have worked well to examine how ‘muffling’ sound can impact the level of volume travels across a space, using a decibel meter through the use of different materials, performing fair tests.

PE

As part our PE curriculum for Term 2, the children have been focusing heavily upon the development of their practical skills in basketball. The focus on this term is building on ball-handling skills, shooting and passing; skills which largely contribute to raising the children awareness of how to effectively work as part of a team. They have been working well in a series of basketball activities such as weaving the basketball and bull in the ring to raise passing awareness and shooting.

The children were also amazed to be visited by a real-life professional basketball athlete, Paul Sturgess. Mr Sturgess (or Tiny, as his teammates call him), visited Jubilee Primary School to work with the children in raising awareness over how our ‘differences’ and ‘unique’ qualities should be celebrated in life. Mr Sturgess delivered some exciting basketball drills and stories from his life.  I believe the children will remember this for quite a long time!

Other News

In RE, the children have been studying the Nativity, exploring the concept of symbolism and how meaning can be interpreted through the use of imagery, tying closely to familiar Christmas symbols. An exciting part of this term has been learning about the Christingle, planning and creating their own, which were revealed and displayed during the KS2 Carol Service.

As part of our PSHCEE lessons, the children participated in some fantastic class conversations about the concept of ‘anti-bullying’ and how we all can encourage the people around us to be supportive of each other, regardless of interests and who we are. They produced some lovely advice posters, which highlighted their growing knowledge on what advice can be given in times of need or support.

As Term 2 comes to an end, I want to acknowledge the hard work and growing enthusiasm many of the children are displaying in their learning. We are always challenged with difficulty in learning new things, but with a growth mindset and a positive attitude to learning, the success and results can be brilliant. The children have displayed those attitudes so well this term and we are excited to see where that leads us into the New Year!

Term 1 , 2025-26 

English
This term, our classroom has thundered with the clash of swords and the roar of brave warriors as we dived into the world of Anglo-Saxon poetry! We ventured into the legendary tale of Beowulf, where the children brought the story to life by acting out the epic showdown between the fearless hero and the monstrous Grendel. Fuelled by this adventure, the class became poets themselves—creating heroic verses bursting with mighty verbs, dazzling adjectives, and rich, descriptive noun phrases.
We’ve also been perfecting our presentation and mastering our cursive handwriting, making sure our brilliant ideas look just as impressive as they sound!

Maths
In Maths, we’ve been boldly exploring the land of four-digit numbers, uncovering the secrets of place value. The children have amazed us with their persistence and problem-solving power—rounding numbers to the nearest thousand, hundred, and ten with growing precision.
Meanwhile, our times table training has kicked into high gear! Each week, the class rise to the challenge of timed multiplication battles, sharpening their speed and confidence as they prepare to conquer the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.

Science
Our curious young scientists have been on a fascinating expedition inside the human body, discovering the strange and spectacular workings of our digestive system! We began our quest by exploring the animal kingdom, building food chains and webs to show how creatures capture and share energy. Then we journeyed through the twists and turns of the human digestive tract—from the satisfying crunch of that first bite to the incredible way our bodies absorb nutrients and remove waste. What a wild (and wonderfully icky!) adventure it’s been!

Harvest

The Year 4 students have been busily preparing a heart-warming Harvest Festival assembly, celebrating the spirit of giving and community care as the colder months draw near. Through thoughtful performances, joyful songs, and plenty of cheerful energy, they’ve been exploring why it’s so important to support those in need within our local community. Their hard work, enthusiasm, and teamwork have filled the classroom with music, laughter, and a wonderful sense of togetherness.

Reading

In Reading, our Year 4 Brazilian Parrots have embarked on an exciting journey back to the Anglo-Saxon era, discovering what life was like in those distant times. Through the thrilling adventures of Eric the Viking, the children have sailed across stormy seas, uncovering new lands and facing the perils of exploration. Along the way, they’ve also deepened their understanding of the devoted monks and nuns who lived and worked within peaceful monasteries. Linking past to present, we’ve discussed how to stay safe in nature by learning about the causes and dangers of volcanoes and tsunamis—valuable lessons for life’s many adventures.

Other News

This term, the children have been making waves at Larkfield Leisure Centre, splashing, gliding, and growing in confidence with every stroke! Their enthusiasm and determination in the pool have been truly inspiring to watch.

Back at school, our PE lessons have been bursting with energy as the children took on the fast-paced world of tag rugby. They’ve mastered teamwork and strategy—learning to communicate, find space, and support one another like true sporting champions!

Term 6, 2024-25

End of Year Reflections

As we reach the end of another fantastic school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible effort and progress the children have made. Each pupil has worked hard, tried their best, and continued to grow in confidence, resilience, and independence. We’ve shared so many wonderful learning experiences throughout the year, from exciting Science experiments to creative writing and thought-provoking history lessons. It has been an absolute pleasure to teach this class, and I have genuinely enjoyed every moment we’ve spent together. Well done to everyone for a brilliant year!

English

This Term, our English learning has centred around the genre of myth writing, with a particular focus on Roman mythology. We began by exploring a model text about the Roman god Jupiter, which cleverly explained how bees came to have their stingers. Using this as inspiration, we identified the key features of myth writing, including their structure, the use of powerful language, and how mythical stories are used to explain natural events or life lessons.

As a class, we then worked together to plan and write a new myth based on Mercury, the Roman messenger god. Our innovated myth taught an important message about being grateful for what you have – something the children were able to reflect on through their writing.

After this, the children explored a range of Roman gods and goddesses independently and used their knowledge to plan their own original myths. They worked hard to include expanded noun phrases, prepositions, and direct speech to develop their characters and settings. Finally, the children edited, improved, and published their myths in their best handwriting. The results were imaginative, thoughtful, and demonstrated fantastic progress in both narrative structure and descriptive language.

Maths

This term, we began by completing our unit on fractions, building on the learning from last term. Canadian Bears learned how to add and subtract simple fractions and how to partition a whole into equal parts. They also practised finding fractions of given amounts, for example, working out what 2/3 of 30 is. This helped to strengthen their understanding of the relationship between division and fractions.

We then moved on to the topic of mass. The children developed the concept of using scales to measure mass in grams and kilograms. They learned to compare masses, find equivalent weights, and solve problems involving adding and subtracting mass. This unit gave them a practical insight into how we use measurement in everyday life.

Finally, we began our unit on capacity and volume. The children explored how to measure liquids using litres and millilitres. They learned to read different types of measuring containers and gained confidence in estimating and comparing capacities.

Across all units, there was a strong focus on using mathematical vocabulary and applying reasoning to problem-solving activities. The children enjoyed using practical resources and showed excellent progress in applying their skills to real-life contexts.

DT

In DT, Canadian Bears have been focused on greenhouses – what they are, how they are used, and how their structures support plant growth. We began by learning about the key features that make greenhouses effective, including their ability to let in light, retain warmth, and protect plants from the elements.

To explore how to make strong structures, we created mini-frames using matchsticks and blu-tac, testing them by applying hand pressure to see how well they held up. We discovered how using triangular shapes and secure joins helped improve stability.

Next, we investigated which materials would be most suitable for the coverings of our greenhouses. We poured water over different materials to test for waterproofing, observing whether or not the water seeped through. This helped us make informed decisions when it came to the final builds.

Finally, we designed and constructed our own miniature greenhouses using lollipop sticks for the frames, wood glue to hold them together, and a combination of plastic sheets and paper to form the walls and roof. The children worked brilliantly throughout the project, showing creativity, teamwork, and excellent problem-solving skills. The finished products were impressive and showed a clear understanding of the design process from start to finish.

Topic

This term, we continued our Emperors and Empires history unit, building on the learning from last term. Our focus remained on the Roman Empire, with a deeper look at key events and people who shaped its expansion and influence.

We began by learning about different Roman emperors, comparing their leadership styles, achievements, and the impact they had on the empire. This led to an exploration of the hierarchy in Ancient Rome, where we examined the roles of different social classes and how Roman society was structured.

One of the highlights of the term was learning about the Roman army. The children were fascinated by its organisation, strength, and discipline – and how it played a vital role in the empire’s success. Following on from this, we explored the Romans’ attempts to expand into Britain, beginning with Julius Caesar’s first invasion and leading into the Roman conquest under Emperor Claudius.

To finish the unit, we learned about Boudicca’s rebellion, examining why she fought back and what her legacy means today. The children enjoyed taking part in discussions and activities that encouraged empathy, critical thinking, and debate. It was a fantastic way to conclude our Roman topic with a real sense of historical curiosity and understanding.

Science Week – Change and Adapt

As part of Science Week, our learning focused on the theme of change and adapt. Throughout the week, we explored how and why animals evolve over time to suit their environments. Using examples such as giraffes, camels, polar bears, aardvarks, pangolins, and anteaters, we discussed the physical adaptations that help these animals survive in harsh or unique climates.

A key part of our learning focused on the finches of the Galápagos Islands, which have evolved into over 13 different species. We discussed why this may have happened and how their different beak shapes are suited to specific types of food.

To investigate this further, we conducted an experiment to test which beak type would be most effective for picking up different foods. Using tools like tweezers, spoons, and pegs to represent beaks, and items like beads, cotton balls, and rubber bands to represent food, we timed how many pieces of each food could be collected in 20 seconds. This helped us understand how adaptations develop through need and environment.

To end the week, children designed their own animal adapted to an extreme environment and explained how its features would help it survive. It was a week full of curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning!