The Inventor’s Shed

This term, we will be looking back at some of the most famous and influential inventors and scientists over the last few centuries, and how their inventions have changed the world we live in today.

In English, the children will be writing their own narratives inspired by the book ‘Heal the Earth’ – we can’t wait to see all the different ways the children come up with helping those around them! Tying in with our topic of inventors, we will also be practicing our non-fiction and biography writing when we look at the pioneering work of the Wright Brothers. The children will be putting their poetry hats on and

writing some personification poems based on the life and travels of a steam train, we shall then be putting these together to create a very special class anthology. We will also be inspired by ‘Rosie Revere, Engineer’ in the second half of the term as we plan and advertise our own inventions.

In Maths, we begin by focusing on multiplication and division. This will cover aspects such as the grid method, column multiplication, arrays, and sharing. A HUGE element of this is also times tables so please ensure you

are practicing with your child at home as it has such a big impact on the children’s learning!

We then look at shape and money before moving on to time after half term. Alongside this, the children will continue to develop their mental maths skills with the help of their KIRF sheets (which you should have a copy of at home). TT Rockstars and Hit the Button are two valuable websites to visit frequently to help boost times table and number bond skills.

In Science, Phantom class will be focusing on sound and how sound travels. We shall be looking at pitch and volume and how these factors cause different vibrations and how this effects the soundwaves that reach us. The children will even have the chance to make their own ‘phones’ – we wonder how far they can get the sound to travel! Hercules Class shall be focusing on light where we will be looking at shadows, reflections, white light and light sources. Not only that but we will also be attempting to make our very own rainbows by looking at how light can be split into its spectrum of colours!

In computing, the children will be becoming film producers creating their own short movie clips using green screen effects and making movie trailers for our class book this term. They will also have the opportunity to film a short documentary based on an inventor of their choice! As always, we will continue to practice our general

computer skills such as using the internet, making PowerPoints and using Word and DB Primary.

Naturally, history forms quite a big part of our topic this term as quite a lot of the inventors and inventions we will be learning about, happened a very long time ago! In the first half of the Spring Term, we will be looking at the history of flight and the past 100 years of the RAF. Most of us can’t imagine not being able to hop on a plane and visit new places. How easy

modern technology has become! In the second half of the term, we will be looking at inventions, both old and new, and the children will have the opportunity to be inventor’s themselves and design their own inventions which they will be able to share with the rest of the school and their families during their ‘Inventor’s Day’. This will involve planning, designing, constructing and advertising their product.

We are looking forward to a very busy and exciting term of inventions. The Spring Term will, of course, end off with a dramatic production by the Year 3’s and 4’s in the second last week of term.

Happy inventing!

Mrs Erasmus and Mr Stubbs

REMINDER: KIRFS FOR SPRING TERMYear 3 – Spring 1 - I can recall facts about durations of time. Spring 2 - I know the multiplication and division facts for the 4 times table.Year 4 – Spring 1 - I know the multiplication and division facts for the 9 and 11 times tables. Spring 2 - I know the multiplication and division facts for the 7 times table.

PHANTOM - HOMEWORK

Children will receive homework each Friday. These are then due in the following Friday when their spellings and

times tables test will also take place.

Please continue to read at home and record this in the reading record. These will be checked on a Friday as

usual.

Don’t forget to use TT Rockstars and Hit the Button when practicsing.

HERCULES – HOMEWORK

Children will receive homework in their homework folders, along with their spellings, each Friday. These

are then due in the following Friday when their spellings test will also take place.

Please continue to read at home and record this in your child’s reading record. These will be checked on

a Friday as usual.