Term 5 Week 3
The highlight of our week was our trip to Donnington Castle.
The children were so excited as soon as we arrived, and it was lovely to see them so engaged straight away. We stood in front of the gatehouse and had a quick talk about what the castle might have looked like in the past and why it was important during the English Civil War.
Throughout the visit, the children became history detectives. They looked really carefully at different parts of the castle and sketched what they could see, noticing things like cracks, missing stones and the shape of the windows. They then labelled their drawings and started thinking about what might have happened to the castle over time.
I was really impressed with how they shared their ideas. Many suggested things like cannon damage, fire or the castle being left and falling into ruin. They were able to explain their thinking using what they could actually see around them, which was great.
We also spent time thinking about what the castle might have looked like before it was damaged. The children talked about where soldiers might have stood, how they would defend the castle and why it was built so tall. This led to some really nice discussions and thoughtful sketches.
It was lovely to see so many of them finding their own little spots to sit, read, write and chat about their ideas. They were calm, focused and really made the most of the experience.
Of course, we also enjoyed lunch in the sunshine, with some beautiful views around us.
In Science, we have been learning about teeth and how to keep them healthy. We set up our own investigation to find out which drink can cause the most tooth decay .
The children worked together to plan the investigation, thinking carefully about what they were changing and what needed to stay the same to make it a fair test. We used eggs to represent teeth, as the shell is similar to enamel, and placed them in different drinks.
The children made predictions, discussed their ideas and are now observing what happens over time. It has been great to see them thinking like scientists and using the correct vocabulary when explaining their thinking.
Photos to follow.
In Maths, we have been focusing on fractions. We started by building our understanding of the whole, before moving on to placing fractions on a number line. The children then worked on comparing and ordering unit fractions and have recently been exploring equivalent fractions.
I have been really pleased with how their confidence is growing. They are beginning to explain their thinking more clearly and are using what they know to solve problems.
Photos to follow.
In English, we have started our new class text The Wind in the Willows. We began by reading the opening of Chapter 1, The River Bank, and discussing what we noticed.
The children then worked on writing a descriptive prediction, putting themselves in Mole’s position and thinking carefully about what he might see, hear and feel as he comes out into the sunlight.
We focused on using fronted adverbials and noun phrases to add detail and interest to our writing. The children had some great ideas and really tried to use their senses to bring their descriptions to life.