What we are learning in Lilac Class for the week beginning 9.11.26

In Maths this week in Lilac Class, we are moving onto multiplying and dividing whole numbers by 10, 100 and 1,000.  We will be looking carefully at a place value and Gattegno chart to support learning and find out what happens to the movement of the digits in the calculation.  We will then start our new block of learning entitled ‘Fractions’.  Lilac Class are at first finding fractions equivalent to a unit fraction and a non-unit fraction.  We will then be recognising equivalent fractions using our knowledge of common factors and multiples to establish whether fractions are equivalent.  We are also exploring the multiplicative relationship between the numerator and the denominator. 

In English this week in Lilac Class, we are starting to plan a non-chronological report about the different layers of a tropical rainforest using the features of report writing.  For example, using subheadings to organise information and fronted adverbials to introduce information.  Our reports will inform the reader about how rainforests are structured and what groups of animals live in the different layers.

For our Whole Class Guided Reading, our text is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, and we are reading Chapter 10 this week.  We are still continuing with developing our summarising skills and looking beyond the text by answering such questions as ‘What impression do you get of the cave where they sleep?’ and ‘How do they know the Witch’s magic is weakening?’ 

In RE, we are exploring the qualities that a Messiah should have and what a Messiah is expected to be.  Lilac Class are designing a ‘Wanted!’ poster for the Messiah. The Jewish people are waiting for the ‘anointed one’: a Saviour. What should this person be like?  For Time and Place, we are continuing our learning about how Mayan society was structured and the differences between an absolute and constitutional monarchy. 

For Science in Lilac Class, we are writing up our pattern seeking experiment that explores the relationship between mass and weight as a force. We will then be identifying different forces acting on an object.  For example, buoyancy, air and water resistance and friction.  In ICT, we will use a storyboard to plan a short video.  We will then film it and evaluate the effectiveness of our video. 

In Art, Lilac Class will be making Mayan pottery based on original Mayan artefacts.  This week we are finishing off our sketches of our pottery, examining real Mayan pottery for inspiration!  For our Spanish lesson this week, Lilac Class revising the vocabulary and phrases that we have learnt so far.  We will then be learning the words for different colours in Spanish.