Welcometo London Base!
15th September2011 Dear Parents and children, I hope you all had a lovely summer and feel fully refreshedand keen to embracethe excitement and challenges of a new school year! This will be a particularly exciting year for us all as the Olympic gameswill be inspiring our classroomand wider school activities making learning relevant, interesting and fun. The Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect will make London Basea fantastic placeto learn and grow. Our theme this first half term will be 'Food For Thought' and this will link all areas of the curriculum. The children have discussed what they would like to know about food and raised questions for us to research including; ‘Where does our food come from?’ ‘How and where does food grow?’ Which foods are good for us?’ What do people eat in other countries?And my favourite …. ‘How is chocolate made?’ We will be finding out about the nutritional value of foods and planning healthy menus. We will be developing geographical skills and knowledge by researching diets in other countries and learning how climate effects the types of food grown. We will look at how much food is imported, calculate food miles and consider the environmental implications of this. We will then look at locally sourced produce and discuss the advantages of using this both to our health and the environment. Our Science focus ‘Healthy Humans’ will explore how to develop a safe and healthy lifestyle and we will be attending the Life Van to support this work. We will investigate how our bodies change during exercise and explore the benefits of this. As part of our whole school initiative to promote Olympic style health and fitness the children will continue to take part in a programmeof daily exercise. I would be very grateful if you could ensure that your child has named PE kit including trainers for outside activities. Our Literacy work this first half term starts by looking at stories based in familiar settings. We will analyse story structure and begin to write our own stories about people and places we know well but with an exciting twist involving superherocharacters! Later we will be linking with our topic ‘Food for thought’ to examine some non -fiction texts; information books about healthy eating, recipesand menus. We will learn the skills of writing clear and sequencedinstructions. Maths this term starts by practising number skills, counting on and back in ones, fives and tens, and recognising and writing numbers to 100 confidently. We will learn number bonds and halves and doubles of numbers and apply these to speed up mental calculations. In measures we will be using equipment to measure accurately in c.m., linking again with our scienceresearch on healthy growth. Later in the term we will be working with coins up to £2. You might like to play somemoney gameswith your child so they can becomefamiliar with the different values. Our Rainbow themeis ‘New Beginnings’. This encouragesthe children to understand that they are all unique and a very special part of our class and school. We will begin by producing our own class charter outlining the rights and responsibilities of every child and their part in creating a happy, safe and fair community for all.
This year we aim to extend the values of the ‘Rights Respecting School’ into the community, and beyond. Through our learning about other countries involved in the Olympic gameschildren will be encouragedto be aware of their rights and responsibilities as global citizens. We will be continuing the Home Learning approach that has proved so popular in the past. Activities will be given out on Tuesdaysand books should be brought in for sharing on Monday morning. Pleaserememberthe home learning is simply suggestions on how you can support your child so feel free to adapt activities to your child’s own abilities and interests. The BBC Website (www.bbc.co.uk/schools) is an excellent resource to research any area of the curriculum. Education City is also a wonderful way to support or extend your child’s learning and has recently added new exciting material. The priority, however, is still reading with your child. This is a most important year for the development of reading skills as we move from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn'. Pleaseread every day with your child and spend time discussing the books to ensurethey are understanding what they are reading. You are welcometo come in and help your child choosenew books within the band marked in their reading diary. Thanks.
Pleasedo comein and seeme if there is anything you would like me to know about your child or if you have any questions or concernsabout anything. I am always available after school at 3.15 p.m. Best wishes,
Mrs Rees