Christmas is coming

We had our final rehearsal with the conductor of the Big Sing Concert, Mr. John Hancorn, who was full of praise for our quality of singing, number of children attending and enthusiasm for the musical Baa! that we have prepared. Final details have been communicated to you by letter and we are all set to go on Tuesday 2 December. It will be a great day and a wonderful precursor to our own KS2 Christmas Concert. Christmas is definitely on its way, with Advent beginning on Monday.

Homework this week is to learn two final songs that we have been preparing, we are almost there with them, and to plan and draw a storyboard for a story under five headings: 1 Opening, 2 Build up, 3 Problem, 4 Resolution and 5 Ending. We have been working on this form of story structure called a ‘Story Mountain’ in class. The children will then write the whole story under timed conditions next week.

Sing Up!

A fabuluous set of festive songs to refine for our Big Sing Concert at Brighton and KS2 Christmas Concert is the main homework this week. The Musical ‘Baa!’ is for 2nd December but the traditional carols will form part of our KS2 concert. So, for both occasions the children need to know the words thoroughly.

Maths Minute is still gripping the children with excitement as all children can see their personal improvement since we began. There is a sheet for each child also for homework.

Science Investigation

Not being able to resist our fascination with 1066, our Science Materials  investigation carried out this week posed the question ‘What would be the best material that Duke William could use to get across the English Channel?

We had great fun discussing this and carried out an experiment which was very hands on. Ask the children what they did.

Homework this week is to create a table of materials around the home and record some on it. Then write some sentences about the uses of the materials.

Big Sing is progressing extremely well. We had a visit from John Hancorn, who will conduct us on the evening. He said the children were making ‘a lovely sound’. A letter concerning tickets and allocation of seats will be coming this week.

Anglo-Saxon Workshop

A superb introduction to our Learning Journey Myths and Legends-the Anglo-Saxon Workshop gave us an insight into the lives of these invaders of 1500 years ago. The children learned about archaeology and took part in activities. We saw a model of an Anglo-Saxon village, handled wool that they used to make clothes, explored artefacts that have been found locally in Sussex, and, the highlight for many, (including myself), examined a full size photograph of an Anglo-Saxon body in a grave. Fascinating!

We are studying Norse Legends and Myths at first and have begun with the Norse Story of Creation. We will study the legend of King Arthur later in the term.

Homework this week is to practise our new Minute Maths Strip. The children have to write the answers on their strip in a minute. We have started these in class with great excitement. The children have to achieve 20 or more consecutive correct answers to get on to the next level. There is also a Maths Challenge  to put their knowledge into practice.