Beech Tree Class Blog 2023-2024
Beech Tree Blog
Weekly Update-20/9/24
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
This week, in our writing, we have started our recount unit of work which will be based around the day in the life of a Roman soldier. We have looked at a WAGOLL piece and identified all the different features that appeared within it and then we have started practising using those different features in the following lessons.
In maths, we have been looking at using number lines to 10,000, estimating on number lines to 10,000 and then rounding to 10 and 100.
In science, we have been creating classification keys as part of our grouping and classifying living things unit. The children have been so enthusiastic and came up with some excellent questions throughout the lesson (based on what they have learnt in their previous two lessons) which could help to group and classify animals.
In art, as part of our unit of work on European Art and Artists, we have been looking at Michelangelo’s work this week. As some of his work was created on ceilings, like the Sistine Chapel fresco, the children were tasked with creating a drawing based on work my Michelangelo. They did this by lying down under their tables, sticking their paper to their tables (underneath) which would act as a ceiling and drawing straight onto their paper. The children found it challenging, however, they really enjoyed it, and some beautiful pieces were created. The children were also not allowed to rub out anything, which made it extra challenging as they had to think carefully about every aspect of their sketches before putting pencil to paper.
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou :)
Weekly Update-13/9/24
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
This week, in our reading, we have read the first two chapters of our class novel (The Thieves of Ostia) and used our retrieval skills to answer a range of different comprehension questions. We have also continued to read our story time book (A Hundred Mile-Per-Hour Dog) which the children are also really enjoying.
In our writing, we have been focusing on using powerful adjectives to create expanded noun phrases, we have also been describing the physical and personality traits of Carl Fredricksen based on an image of him and a short three-minute video clip from the movie. The children have then created their character description using all the skills that we have been focusing on over the last two weeks. The children then edited their work, using purple pens, to improve the overall quality of their work. Finally, the children published their work in their neatest handwriting. They have all worked hard on these and produced some lovely character descriptions.
In maths, we have been focused on comparing and ordering 4-digit numbers and finding 1, 10, 100 and 1000 more or less than a given number. The children have been so keen and enthusiastic throughout every lesson and it’s fantastic to hear them using great mathematical vocabulary when giving explanations.
In art, we have started our unit work on European Art and Artists. Our first lesson revolved around Anselm Kiefer, who incorporates broken buildings into a lot of his work as a reflection of his experiences of growing up in the years just after WW2. The focus involved children using their observational and sketching skills to create detailed drawings of broken and abandoned buildings. The children worked hard on these and produced some lovely pieces of work.
In PSHE, our first lesson focused all around rules, why we have them and discussing a range of different rules for different places. We had some really good discussions, and we also created our own class rules as part of the lesson, which we have put into a class contract.
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou
Weekly Update-6/9/24
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
Welcome back to Rufford Park and welcome to our weekly class blog where we will share the learning we have undertaken in class. It will be updated every Friday each week of term. What a fantastic start to the year! It has been lovely getting to know the children this week. They have settled in really well and I have been extremely impressed with how positive and enthusiastic they have all been whilst settling into our new classroom and routines. I have had such an enjoyable start to each day because the children have welcomed me every day with such happy beaming smiles despite potentially underlying start of term nerves.
We are very excited to share that we have been able to organise a visit to Murton Park this half term to support us with our new topic about the Celts and Roman Britain. Further details regarding the trip have been shared via ParentPay.
In reading, the children have been learning about the importance of reading and how it can support their learning. We have focused on on the different reading skills that we will be using throughout the year, which are represented in the form of dogs e.g Inference Iggy and Predicting Pip. Our class novel, which is related to our topic this term, is called The Thieves of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence, and the children have already made some great predictions about what it might be about just based on what they could see on the front cover. We have also chosen our story time book, which is The Hundred Mile An Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong, and the children have been really enjoying that so far. The children have also made their own lovely bookmarks and created their own book monster. The book monsters will form a lovely display in the corridor out side the Beech Tree classroom.
In our writing, we have started by focusing on handwriting (specifically focusing on size, formation and joins) and we have also been focusing on using capital letters and full stops correctly in sentences, as well as using commas for lists correctly as well.
In maths, we have started working on place value, understanding what it is, how to identify the value of each digit in a number and also show the value of each digit in a number in a variety of different ways. The children have shown great mathematical knowledge and shown a really positive attitude to their learning.
I am here to support both your child and you, so if you have any questions, or are unsure of information we send out, please just let me or the office know (at the class door, via the Beech Tree email address beech@ruffordparkprimary.org.uk or via the Office telephone).
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou :)