Term 1 Week 7

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of another busy and brilliant half term. Over the past seven weeks our class has been bursting with curiosity, creativity and determination, especially in English.

English - Discovering Pompeii's Past

This term we travelled back in time to the ancient city of Pompeii, exploring what life was like before Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. Before putting pen to paper, we took part in a technical vocabulary lesson where children worked together to match key words and their meanings. Words such as eruption, archaeologist, ancient and preservation soon became part of their everyday vocabulary and this was clearly reflected in their writing.

Armed with this new knowledge, the children went on to write their own non-chronological reports about Pompeii’s past. They carefully included all the key features of the text type including titles, subheadings, paragraphs, captions and technical vocabulary, and presented their final pieces with pride. Their layouts were thoughtful, their facts were well researched and their drawings brought each report to life.

Each child’s work tells the story of a city lost and found, showing not only what they have learned about history but also how much their confidence and writing skills have grown.

It has been a wonderful way to end the term, combining history, language and creativity in one powerful topic. We are so proud of how far everyone has come.

Creating Roman Mosaics

To bring our learning about Pompeii to life, the children explored how art and design were used in Roman times. After looking at examples of real Roman mosaics, they planned and created their own designs using small coloured tiles. The process required patience, precision and teamwork, and the final results were stunning. Each mosaic reflected the children’s creativity and attention to detail, just like the ancient artwork discovered in Pompeii.

Science - Exploring Conductors and Insulators

In Science, we have been learning about conductors and insulators. The children carried out an exciting experiment to test which materials allow electricity to flow through and which do not. They used wires, bulbs and a range of classroom objects to discover that materials such as metal and tin foil are good conductors, while paper and cloth act as insulators.

The children really enjoyed taking part in this investigation and showed great teamwork as they tested, observed and recorded their results. It was a brilliant opportunity to put their scientific thinking into practice.

Maths: Mastering Column Addition

In Maths, we have been focusing on addition using the column method. The children began by using place value counters and grids to understand how each digit holds its value before moving on to adding larger numbers with and without exchange. They showed great concentration and accuracy when setting out their work neatly in columns and checking their answers carefully.

It has been wonderful to see their growing confidence in applying their understanding to real-life problems, such as calculating distances and solving word problems. Their perseverance and pride in presentation have really stood out this term.

Over the past seven weeks, we have achieved a great deal of learning across every subject. From writing about Pompeii and creating stunning mosaics to carrying out science experiments and mastering column addition, it has been a half term full of curiosity, creativity and hard work.

Now it is time for a well-deserved rest. We hope all our children and families enjoy a wonderful half-term break filled with fun, relaxation and time to recharge. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back, ready for more exciting learning as we head towards Christmas.