Thank you for all the contributions of egg boxes etc, very appreciated and will be put to very good use.

We had a great day on Thursday for World Book Day, with the children drawing their own versions of Dave the Pigeon, from the book series and following a reading of the first chapter of a new book by Swapna Haddow. Using Neil Gaiman’s ‘Fortunately, the Milk’ book, a hilarious recount of a dad’s adventures when he went out to buy milk, we had fun coming up with nonsense names for everyday items. Finally, we made and decorated milk carton/time machines!  

This week in English, we will be continuing to write our own stories based on the feature books, Perfect and King of the Sky, both by Nicola Davies.

In guided reading this week, we will finish reading the book ‘Fortunately, the Milk’ by Neil Gaiman. Having used an extract last week, we continued to read the book, so this will be a good opportunity to finish it. The children will investigate the text and answer questions about comprehension and composition.

In Maths this week we will be continuing with multiplication and division. The focus this week will on division of a 2-digit number by a 1-digit number. Initially without any need to exchange, moving on to answers with a remainder later in the week. Times tables learning will continue throughout the week, with opportunities for the children to practise their tables and complete a times table challenge.

In art this week, the children will investigate the work of another designer, Charles Rennie Macintosh and then starting constructing their puppets. We will continue work on our UK topic as well this week, a geography focus, looking at the United Kingdom. This week, we will be taking a closer look at England.

Mrs Johnson will be starting the Salvation unit this week, further considering why Christians call the day Jesus died ‘Good’ Friday and Mrs Hawker will be continuing the next science unit, looking at light.

Maple class have PE on Thursday with myself and Mr Luckhurst, and then swimming on Friday as usual. Please do email if you have any questions about this and remember to send your children in with everything they need for these sessions. If in doubt please do ask.

Reading Records will generally be changed on a Monday and Thursday. We would continue to ask however, that children bring their books and Reading Records in to school each day and that they aim to read daily, ideally with an adult – details of this can then be recorded in the Reading Record. Pleased do contact me if you feel your child’s book is either too easy or too difficult, or if your child’s book has not been changed. There are times when a book will be sent home more than once, either because a child is reading chapter books, or if it is felt that the book needs to be read more than once to enhance familiarity.

I am always happy to answer any questions you may have, so please do contact me if you have any queries, using the class email address:

maple@st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk

Best wishes

Mrs Smallcombe and the Maple Team