Curriculum News – Page 7 – Toftwood Infant and Junior School Federation

Science Autumn 2 2023

Year 3

Year 3 began this half-term by looking at their exciting experiment from Autumn 1 – mummifying tomatoes! The children were very pleased to see that their preservation techniques had worked and the tomatoes had survived being buried in salt for 2 weeks. Following this, they have been learning about light sources and their necessity in our everyday lives. They have completed many investigations including classification of light sources and reflective materials. They also investigated patterns in shadows when manipulating the light source.

Year 4

In Year 4, the children have been looking at how we hear sound and have learnt the names of different parts of the ear. We thoroughly enjoyed trying out the different experiments to discover that sound is made by a series of vibrations. The children’s favourite experiment was using the tuning fork in the water (even if the vibrations from the tuning fork did make the water splash a little)!

We have also looked at how to change the pitch and volume of different musical instruments. The children were surprised to find that with some instruments it was very difficult to change the pitch. By far, the children’s favourite experiment was making string telephones from cups and string and seeing which materials were best at passing the vibrations through the “telephones”!

Year 5

In Science, Year 5 have been looking at Materials. We began the half term off by comparing and grouping together different objects that were in a bag based off of their properties. Children picked up an object in a bag, described what it felt like and then guessed what material it is made from, before taking it out and then classifying it.

Children then looked at soluble and insoluble solutions where we grouped material into categories: those which dissolve in water, those which don’t dissolve and those where there appears to be a different sort of change.

We then planned and carried out an investigation to attempt to separate mixed materials. We looked at whether it was possible to separate:

Coffee and water
Paperclips and water
Salt and water
Rice and water

To do this we used a sieve, filter paper and a magnet.

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Later on this half term, Year 5 looked into irreversible changes where we completed a ‘rust race’ investigation. We left nails in different liquids over the week to see which liquid caused the nails to go rusty and at what speed. We discussed the differences between a reversible and an irreversible change.

Year 6

In Year 6 this term we started Science by learning about animals, including humans. We learnt about the circulatory and digestive systems and carried out an investigation into how exercise affects our heart rate. We found that after 2 minutes of continuous exercise our heart rates speed up to help oxygen reach our organs more quickly. We also learnt about how to live a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise and what effect this can have on our health. Over the course of a week, we did regular exercise each morning to see if this helped us to be more alert during our lessons. Most of us found that we did find it easier to concentrate in our morning lessons after five minutes of continuous exercise.

In the second half of the term, we have been learning about light. We have carried out lots of practical investigations to explore refraction, reflection and the spectrum.

Computing Autumn Term 2023

Reception

The children in Reception have been exploring the new technology in their classrooms and learning environments.

The have been learning how to use the computers, interactive screens, library book scanners, pretend phones, computer keyboards and cameras.

Year 1

In the autumn term, year 1 have focused on the Information Technology strand of computing. In first half of the autumn term, the children focused on what technology is and how to use computer technology like using a mouse and a keyboard to write their name and to login.

In the second half of the term, the children learning about digital painting and being introduced to a variety of painting tools. This developed from them being able to use their mouse to control the tools to draw pictures of themselves to them being able to recreate art work like pointillism by Georges Seurat.

Year 2

In Computing this term the children have focused on two strands of Computing, Digital Literacy and Computer Science.

When focusing on Digital Literacy the children have collected data and sorted it into different formats. They have created pictograms and tally charts, surveying the class to collect their data. They have also presented this on 2Count on Purple Mash, creating their pictograms on a digital device. The children spoke about how this was an easier format to see the data and diminishes lots of errors. The children spoke about different ways to categorise including by attribute.

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When focusing on Computer Science the children have been retrieving what they learnt in Year 1 about algorithms. They having been sharing ‘sweets’ and seeing how they can share equally into different sized groups – this has linked to their Maths learning on division in Autumn 2. The children had a go at ‘coding’ a robot with an algorithm for getting ready for home time. Except Rob the Robot (the teacher) needed quite a lot of debugging in the algorithm to perform the instruction correctly. The children then had a go at coding using 2Code on Purple Mash, the children have coded two different sequences; The Princess and the Frog, and The Magician, and a snail race!

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The children have also been practising their typing this term. They have completed a typing game on Purple Mash called 2Type.

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Computing Autumn Term 2023

Year 3

In Computing, the children have been introduced to networks and have been exploring each week how they operate. This has included learning about the features of a device and considering the inputs, processes and outputs a device may have. The children have consolidated their understanding of the purposes of different digital devices, as well as comparing artwork created in real life to one created digitally.

Year 4

This half term we have been learning the computer science concept of ‘sequence’ and understanding this means being careful to put the order in which things are done. We have had lots of fun learning the block code language, Scratch. We have been careful to program the blocks one after the other to make the correct sequence for the computer to understand and execute. We have used the knowledge of sequencing to create a game that uses inputs from a keyboard to control a Sprite to move around a maze and to draw a line.

Year 5

In Computing in Year 5, the children have been creating and editing videos. Year 5 began the topic by looking at different videos and analysing and comparing them. Children then discussed different filming techniques:

● Long shot – filming one person, showing their whole body and where they are

● Moving subject – a person moving from one place to another

● Side by side – filming two people at the same time

Year 5 then planned their own video on how to stay safe online using a storyboard. The children then filmed their videos using iPads in groups using the different filming techniques. Year 5 concluded the topic by re-watching and evaluating their videos.

Year 6

This term in Year 6 we have been working on coding. We gave clear instructions, known as algorithms. We focused on repetition, selection and conditional selection. We used Purple Mash to complete set activities to practise using the algorithms and using different variables to complete different tasks. We created our own games involving the variables such as timers and directions through Purple Mash. We then looked at and focused on Online Safety and how to keep others and ourselves safe online. We reflected on our screen time use and how this can affect our wellbeing.

RE in Autumn 2

Year 3

Following last half-term’s learning on Christianity, the children have been introduced to Hinduism and have enjoyed exploring how the religion compares to others. The children have learned where and when Hindus pray, and the many fascinating representations of the Hindu god Brahman. The children have then accurately compiled all of their learning to answer this half-term’s Big Question, ‘How do Hindus make sense of the world?’

Year 4

In Year 4, we have been working towards answering our big question “Where do religious beliefs come from?” The children have been focusing on Judaism and have enjoyed investigating different religious artefacts such as a Kippah and the Torah. They have been researching different Jewish festivals and why they are important. The children enjoyed discussing which Jewish festival they would like to take part in.

Year 5

In Year 5, we have been answering our big enquiry question “How do people express their faith through the arts?” We learnt about how religious messages are expressed through art and then produced their own religious icon. The children wrote a prayer to go with their religious icon. In addition to this, children listened to four music tracks from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish community. They were all able to evaluate the music and discussed how it made them feel and how it made them want to respond.

Year 6

This term year 6 combined our RE and history topics to answer the Big Question of “How does faith in God help people during times of suffering?” We learnt about the Jewish faith and how Jews suffered during the Holocaust in World War 2. We studied some passages from the Old Testament which promise God’s strength and presence during times of trouble. The children looked at the experiences of Anne Frank and Simon Winston during the war and how they each responded differently according to their faith in God.

In autumn 2 we have been learning about the Islamic faith in order to answer the Big Question of “What are the sources of authority for Muslims?”. We have been particularly thinking about the Qu’ran and teachings of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH). We learnt about how the Qu’ran should be treated and looked other sayings from the Hadith. The children thought about what they could mean and how Muslims can apply the teachings to their daily lives.

Maths Week England 2023

At the start of the week the children had an assembly all about how we use Maths in our everyday lives. We introduced the theme for Maths Week England, which was ‘3 is a magic number’ and talked about some of the exciting things that would be happening during the week!

Reception

In Reception during maths week the children explored triangles within their provision. They used their cutting skills to cut out different triangle shaped characters and decorated them at the making table. The children looked at a range of triangles and tried to match them to their outline. We also enjoyed reading the story ‘The Greedy Triangle’.

Year 1
The children were so excited to complete the tasks for Maths Week! We were learning about 2D shape this week and the children made lots of connections to the theme and a triangle having 3 sides and 3 corners. They thought carefully about the orientation of shapes and as a class we tessellated the triangles they decorated to make a larger triangle.

Year 2

Year 2 really enjoyed Maths Week! During our daily Maths lessons we solved a problem of the day, including making 3 in as many different ways as possible and finding 3 around the classroom.

We learnt about tessellations and how equilateral triangles can be tessellated to make a giant triangle. As part of our early morning work each day, the children decorated triangles, cut them out and added them to our class tessellation which was shared with the other classes in the year group at the end of the week.

We also enjoyed listening to stories with different mathematical themes and singing maths songs, including a counting in 3s song!

Year 3

For Maths Week in Year 3, we have been exploring the number 3 itself and how we can it can be seen or found in a variety of ways. We operated a carousel between the three classrooms, with each class visiting a different teacher to complete an activity about the number 3!

In LM3, the children had an exciting activity to count triangles. The children were surprised to find that it wasn’t as easy as it first appeared, as there were several ways triangles could be formed aside from the obvious individual ones.

In CT3, the children drew large triangles in their books and listed all things with three sides that they could think of – pizza slices, tortilla chips and coat hangers were just some of the excellent ideas they could think of!

Finally, in HP3, the children drew all of the triangular objects they could think of or see around the classroom onto their coloured sugar paper, to make some lovely posters to go on display!

Year 4

For this year’s maths week we explored the number 3! We used resources and puzzles during our maths starters to challenge ourselves with our 3 tables. The children made links between the 3, 6 and 9 times tables and used this knowledge to support answering questions. They also had fun learning and performing times tables songs. The children particularly loved the Taylor Swift version of ‘Shake it Off’ which taught them their 6’s.

Year 5

The children enjoyed having the opportunity to take part in the”3 is a magic number” competition. They also enjoyed some of the puzzle posters, which challenged them to think logically, work methodically and demonstrate their resilience.

Year 6

Year 6 enjoyed exploring ‘three is the magic number’ as the focus for Maths Week England 2023. The children completed the daily challenges that were provided by the Maths Week England website. Some of them certainly took a lot of thinking, particularly the socks problem! We also took part in the TTRS competition by completing times tables questions in class. Some of the children also took part at home to contribute towards their class score.

Autumn 2023

Reception

Reception children undertook activities linked to bonfire night at the beginning of November. Activities included discussing experiences of bonfire night, watching videos of the celebration, finding out about firework safety, and creating firework pictures.

During independent learning time, reception children have had the opportunity to find out about dinosaurs and explore the dinosaur bones.

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Whilst playing with the small world play castle, some children were intrigued to learn about real castles.

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Reception children learnt about Remembrance Day. They made their own poppies in class and had a class assembly where they observed a two minute silence. They watched a CBeebies video called ‘poppies’ which is a lovely video showing how the poppies grew in the field after all the grass had turned to mud.

Year 1

Year one children found out about extinct animals and also those that are endangered. They made a timeline to show when the animals became extinct.

Year 2

Norwich’s Past

Year 2 children have learnt about life in Norwich in the past. They studied the cathedral and castle in Norwich. Lessons included looking at artefacts relating to Norwich’s past, comparing old and new landmarks in Norwich, and finding out about castles and how they were defended.

See grid below to show understanding before and after the topic.

The children participated in a History Day- see special events tab for further details.

Year two also looked at the significant person William the Conqueror. They created a timeline for his life.

Night time

As part of our topic Night time the children have learnt about a significant person from the past, Guy Fawkes. The children wrote about who Guy Fawkes was and why he is an important historical person.

They picked some items that Guy Fawkes might have used in 1605 and described how he would have used them. They then explained the difference between objects that Guy Fawkes could have used, compared with what he might have used today.

Autumn Term Geography

Reception

Reception children have been very busy exploring their immediate environment, including talking about animals and plants in their outdoor area, which is known as ‘Ted’s Den’. They have also observed seasonal changes to the weather and the trees.

During independent learning time, Reception children have developed their sense of place by discussing the maps and leaflets in class.

Year one

Year one have been learning about animals and how they adapt to their region. This built on from work in reception when they studied the topic ‘Around the world’.

Year two

Year two children have been locating significant landmarks in Norwich and comparing old and new landmarks. Work included using google maps.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day was marked in an assembly at the Junior School. The children learnt about Armistice Day on the 11th November 1918. At 11 o’clock on that day, nations who were fighting laid down their weapons and this signalled the end of the war (known then as the “Great War”). Today, we know it as the First World War. Armistice is an agreement for peace.

One year later, the first two-minute silence was held. King George V had asked the people of Britain to pause and remember all those who had fought and died in the service of their country.

In in 1920, King George unveiled the nation’s new war memorial called the Cenotaph, where people go to remember the fallen.

The children found out about the Royal British Legion and how it remembers the fallen by launching the Poppy Appeal, where members and volunteers sell millions of red paper poppies. In the weeks leading up to 11th November and on Remembrance Sunday, people are asked to wear a poppy as an act of remembrance.

The children listened respectfully and with interest.

On Wednesday 8^th November, key stage one children were extremely lucky to be joined by the Mayor of Dereham. He talked to the children about why we wear poppies, the significance of the poppy and encouraged the children to join in with reciting a special passage to remember the soldiers who fought in the wars.

On the Friday the Infant School participated in class assemblies for Remembrance Day, including a two minute silence. Reception children also had the opportunity to make poppies.

Autumn 2 – Ian Gardner assembly

Ian visited us to talk about the parable of The Good Shepherd. He talked about how different the sheep that he had brought in looked, and asked the children ‘did that matter?’ The children said no! When one of the sheep were lost, it didn’t matter that it was the little one. We would always treat everybody the same and it didn’t matter what they looked like or how they may be different.

Black History Month

Year 3 enjoyed watching a video and researching the life of Mary Seacole, who was born in Jamaica over 200 years ago. She broke social rules and prejudices to travel the world, run businesses and help those in need – even in the most dangerous places. She was best known for her work as a nurse in the Crimean War and is remembered as an incredible woman and inspiring role model. They used their findings to engage in a discussion and debate about her achievements. In music, the children learned to sing a Ghanan folk song Tue Tue and to play it on the ocarina.

Year 4 have been ‘celebrating our sisters’ in relation to this year’s Black History month theme. We have learnt about Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman and the part which they played in the Civil Rights Movement. We discussed the important of equality throughout our school and what we can do to ensure we treat everyone with respect. Finally, we created some beautiful art work to celebrate our differences. In music, the children learned a Rap celebrating Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

Year 5 have been finding out about Harriet Tubman and her “underground Railway” where she devoted her life to secretly freeing slaves. We designed panels for a patchwork quilt, which has symbols to represent messages like, get your wagon ready or take the mountain path to find a safe house. The symbols were used, partly to remain secretive, but also because the slaves could not read or write.

Year 6

To celebrate and recognise black history month in Year 6, we researched influential women that have contributed to different industries such as sport, science and medicine, politics, entertainment and broadcasting, literature arts and music. We presented the information that we found in a variety of ways such as: posters, storyboards and drawings. We discussed the theme of this year’s black history month and that this is an opportunity to for everyone to learn about significant Black and Mixed Heritage people and their contributions to Britain and worldwide.