Oak Class
Curriculum Newsletter Autumn Term
WELCOME TO OAK CLASS
SUMMER TERM CURRICULUM NEWSLETTER
SPRING TERM 2023
AUTUMN TERM
WEEKLY TIMETABLE
Curriculum overview 2022-23
SUMMER TERM
Oak Class had a great day at the Transport Museum as part of their Travel and Transport topic.
Oak Class have been making their own Kenyan mud huts.
In Oak Class we have been enjoying following plans from the Royal Opera House linked to Hansel and Gretel. The children have joined in well with physical warm ups and using their bodies to become different characters from this opera.
Information letter to parents
In PE where we are doing Team Building, the children enjoyed having Team Leaders from Years 5 & 6. They had to make shapes, follow instructions and be a variety of animals!
Spring Term 2
Children made puppets to go with one of their favourite books on World Book Day.
Creating a binary tree in Computing.
Computing
Our new topic is called ‘Questioning’. Today was about using a range of yes/no questions to separate different objects. In pairs, the children played games of ‘Guess Who’ to see if they could work out the character their partner was holding. The types of questions the children were asking were :
Is it a boy ?
Do they have blonde hair ?
Are they wearing a skirt ?
Do they have glasses on ?
Oak class have been learning to play glockenspiels to the tune of Use Your Imagination.
We learnt about Advent and made Advent crowns.
Oak class enjoying the Autumn sunshine.
In RE we have been finding out about how Jews celebrate Sukkot remembering the 40 years they spent in the desert. The children have been making their own sukkahs.
A Science experiment on climate change and the effect of greenhouse gases carried out by Oak Class.
The children regularly checked to see which ice cubes melted first in the sun, the tray with cling film or without. They made predictions thinking about the effect of the cling film and the way greenhouse gases let heat into the atmosphere but block earth's heat from escaping into space.
We found that the ice cubes in the tray with cling film, melted the quickest as most of the children had predicted.
Help To Keep Our Environment Clean
Oak Class have been reading The Secret Sky Garden and thinking about ways to keep our environment clean and free from litter. They have made posters and recorded the following messages.
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In Computing, we have begun to learn how to use code blocks and debug our program.
Sports Day Fun!
In Oak class we wanted to take action to help the environment so we decided to try to obtain both individual green badges and a Blue Peter Climate Heroes Certificate for the whole class from Blue Peter. The children have been filling in forms to note down activities they have done both at home and at school, including planting pollinator friendly plants such as sunflowers to help bees and butterflies to thrive; turning off taps to save water; recycling; reusing bottles and food containers; switching playtime away from electrical devices towards outdoor activities and turning off electrical devices when not in use. Our particular whole class focus has been to switch off lights and devices and the children have been extremely good at reminding any adults who forget!
They also created some group paintings and individual pictures linked to these activities.
Some of our Blue Peter green badge pictures.
In Oak class we have been telling the time so decided to make our own clock faces with hands, to help work out durations between different activities..
Our new Computing topic is creating pictures. Today, we learnt about Claude Monet and looked at some of his impressionist art. Look at some of our amazing Impressionism art.
Oak Class have been writing a dragon adventure story. They enjoyed reading their story to each other.
SCIENCE - Observing trees and leaves.The children in Oak Class have been looking closely at the detail of trees and sketching them.
Art - In art children have been using different objects and materials to print with. They used clay to make their own tiles which they used to print with three different colours. The children evaluated the success of the tiles and decided to make new ones which needed to be thicker, with a flat surface.
Science Investigation, Are older children faster than younger children?
This week Oak Class have carried out several science investigations. The first experiment was to investigate if 'Older children are faster than younger children'. The children planned activities which they carried out in groups with the help of older children from Lime class.
The second investigation was 'Does the appearance of food affect the taste?' This time the children used their senses to look at, smell, and taste different food. Here they are, sampling the food.
In art the children made their own stencils then used stroking and stippling techniques to paint around them.
This term in PE, we have been practising our throwing and catching skills.
RED NOSE DAY.
Here they all are, Oak Class looking a little 'crazy' to celebrate Red Nose Day!
OAK CLASS RETURN TO SCHOOL WITH A SPRING IN THEIR STEP! SPRING 21
Oak Class all back together again.
Home Learning Friday 8th January and week 1 beginning 11th January 2021
Friday 8th January and week 1 - beginning 11th January 2021
Parent Information
Oak Class are feeling very proud and excited that their accrostic poems are going to appear in a poetry book. Here they are with their certificates.
Oak Class making their crib for Horringer Church
SCIENCE - Oak Class have been investigating the properties of different objects.
We have adopted a giant panda! Thank you to everyone who donated money towards our adoption.
In Computing, this term, we are looking at Online Safety. Today, we discussed about different ways of digital communication. The children learnt how to open an email and respond to a 2respond character on Purple Mash.
Oak class are skipping!
In PE children in Oak Class have been practising hopping, jumping and balancing in PE. They then moved on to skipping with ropes and have all made great progress!
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Oak class have carried out a science experiment on global warming using cling film as greenhouse gas.
Here is our version of WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, in sections but which we all wrote together.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
Autumn Term 2020
A very warm welcome to the children in my new Oak Class. We had a good two days getting to know each other and I look forward to working with you all this year. As we discussed, PE is on Monday and Friday when you will come to school wearing your PE kit all day.
Mrs Hunt
Hi Oak Class,
Please scroll down for Home Learning Suggestions for week 12, the week beginning 13.7. 2020.
Thanks,
Mrs Hunt
Home Learning Suggestions Week 1
Week 2 Home Learning Suggestions
Home Learning Suggestions - week 3
Home Learning Suggestions week 4
Home learning suggestions, week 5 18.5.20
Home Learning Suggestions week 6 1.6.20
Home Learning suggestions week 7. 8.6.20
Home Learning Suggestions week 8, 15.6.20
Home Learning Suggestions week 9 22.6.20
Home Learning Suggestions week 10 29.6.20
Home Learning Suggestions week 11, 6.7.20
Home Learning Suggestions Week 12 beginning 13.7.20
Hello Oak Class,
I just want to let you know that from now on I will be posting notes to you, which you can respond to, on Oak Class Blog on Purple Mash. I am also setting up and sending emails to you all also on Purple Mash.
However, at the beginning of each week I will post Home Learning Suggestions for you to do during that week here on our class page. I have attached week 1 above this message.
I hope you had a good Easter and look forward to being able to 'talk' to you online via our blog and emails.
From Mrs Hunt
14th April 2020
Hello Oak Class,
Just wanted to say I hope you all had a Happy Easter with one or two eggs?! Rebecca and Alice had lots of little eggs which I hid around the garden for them to find - actually there must still be two or three out there as they couldn't find them all and I couldn't remember where I'd hidden them!
The weather was lovely although it's a little colder today but I am still managing to go out for a walk every day in the fields nearby. I expect you are all still playing in your gardens, on your trampolines, in your sandpits or maybe going for bike rides.
Anyway, I will be in touch again soon, meanwhile, take care and stay safe,
Mrs Hunt
Computing
Good afternoon Oak Class. I have today set you a 2do on a new topic called 'Creating Pictures' which you might like to do. In this topic, you can research different styles of art and artist using the internet and any books you may already have at home.
The artist is Claude Monet and his impressionist style of art. Once you have found out about him, you need to log in to your Purple Mash account, click on your 2Do and open the photo that says impressionism. You can choose what to paint. Remember when you have finished your picture, type your name at the bottom, save your work and hand in to me. I look forward to seeing your amazing art work. I'll share some of your work on the website
Take care and keep safe
Mrs Asker
Thursday 2nd April 20
Dear Oak Class,
First of all I would like to say how much I have enjoyed talking to you and your parents this week and to hear how you're getting on. It sounds like you are all doing well and making the most of this special time together. I have rung you all but still have a couple of families to actually speak to so I will keep on ringing!
We are going to have a new site where you will be able to send things you have been doing, pictures or writing or whatever you choose and I will be able to respond to you . So if there's something you would like to share with me, maybe with the whole class, look after it until I tell you how to do this.
Meanwhile for those who would like to, Mrs Asker has kindly offered to set up a 2Do for you on Purple Mash with instructions on how to access this. It's called creating pictures and involves researching an artist, finding out about their style of painting before having a go yourself. If you remember we researched Henri Matisse and you created your lovely snail paintings. Otherwise feel free to continue to choose your own activities from the websites listed under home learning on our web site.
It was interesting to hear some of the different activities you have chosen to do including reading, times tables (some of you have tried Rock Stars Times Tables), writing stories (lots of you plan to write a fantasy story to share), planting seeds, keeping a diary, playing a musical instrument, learning Spanish songs, looking for habitats, cooking for your family as well as playing in your garden or going for walks and bike rides.
So continue to have fun whilst staying at home and I will be in touch again soon.
Mrs Hunt
Thursday 26th March 20
Hi Oak class,
I hope you are all well. I just wanted to let you know how lots of children are creating rainbow pictures which they are putting in their windows to bring a smile to each other. I wonder if any of you have already done this? When I go for my walk in the lovely sunshine this afternoon, I will look to see if I can spot any rainbows and I'm sure people will enjoy your picture if you join in with this activity!
I hope you and your family are having fun learning together!
Mrs Hunt
Hi Oak Class,
I hope you are all well and enjoying home learning! As you can see, we have a home learning page with lots of interesting websites for you to use. I also sent home your common exception words and it would be fantastic if when I next see you, you were able to write them down correctly spelt! Working together we have already made good progress with spelling and it would be great to be even better! I also set Times Tables Rock Stars up for you to have fun whilst learning your times tables. In addition you have Mathletics where I will add new tasks for you over the coming weeks.
I have been tuning in to Joe Wicks daily workout and gradually getting better at each of the exercises! I hope you are able to spend some time outside particularly while it's so sunny.
I have sent your fantastic cards and letters to the nursing home and I am sure they will really cheer the residents up!
I will add more to our class page but meanwhile, keep learning and having fun!
Mrs Hunt
Oak Class have made cards and written letters to cheer up the residents of a local care home.
We have been making domino runs!
The fabulous World Book Day costumes in Oak Class.
The children in Oak Class really enjoyed the dance workshop linked to The Enormous Crocodile for World Book Day.
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Oak Class were very interested in our visitors from Linton Zoo today, we were able to see a Spiny Stick Insect, a Hissing Cockroach, a Tenrec, a Bearded Dragon and a Milk Snake.
The children have used non fiction books and iPads to research and find out facts about grizzly bears for their information sheets.
Be Bright, Be Seen - Oak Class look fantastic in their bright clothes to promote road safety!
On Safer Internet Day, Oak class discussed friendships whilst reading Digiduck’s Famous Friend.
Oak Class have been looking at the work of Henri Matisse, in particular "The Snail" (1953).Initially they wanted to get an idea of the size of the original piece of art so measured the area and used pale coloured sheets of paper to make a snail shape. Next they mixed paint to create strong, vibrant coloured sheets which they used to create their own version of The Snail.
Oak Class have been enjoying yoga during our P.E sessions.
This term our topic is Alaska.
Oak Class are looking at features of non fiction books and enjoying finding answers to their questions.
Oak Class 2019/20
OAK CLASS CURRICULUM MAP
Children in Oak Class had a challenge this morning. They had to estimate how much money was in the jar! The coins were then shared between the children to count and add together before we worked out who had made the closest guess!
Children in Need 2019
Oak Class carried out their own investigation into the most absorbent material. They made predictions, recording their findings methodically and carried out an evaluation.
Oak Class have become experts on The Great Fire of London. Here they are creating their own version of London on fire!
Oak Class went on a Science walk around the village looking at materials and their properties
A surprise visitor!
Children in Oak Class were excited to find an outline of a dragon in the playground this morning, together with bright, sparkly jewels, ribbons and material all scattered around. They set about investigating who had been in our playground and were delighted to discover a large, golden egg which they decided had been left by our mystery dragon!
On our return inside time was spent reading and finding out about dragons before the children thought that the dragon that had been to visit was a Draco Occidentalis! The egg is now in a warm, safe nest.
Curriculum Map, Summer Term
The children really enjoyed watching the Theatre Royal production, The Goose Who Flew and the follow up drama workshop. Here are some pictures of the children in action!
This afternoon children in Oak Class enjoyed a taster cricket session which they found a lot of fun!
In Science we are investigating how to keep healthy, devising exercises and thinking about ways to eat healthily. Today we made rainbow fruit kebabs which managed to tempt even the fussiest eaters!
Erupting our volcanoes!
Oak class have been enjoying making 3D shapes and recording the properties of each shape they have made, including faces, edges and vertices.
The children in Oak class have been making their own volcanoes!
We have been impressed by record breaking domino runs, so decided to try and make our own this afternoon. We found they need patience, resilience, team work and creativity! Everyone was engaged and extremely enthusiastic!
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Finally, we had great success!
Curriculum Map Spring Term
In Oak Class we have been thinking about properties of materials and carried out experiments to find the best resource to make wings for our Christmas play, Operation Christmas.
ICT
We are beginning to understand what an algorithm is and that computer programs execute by following precise and ambiguous instructions. In pairs, we took it in turns to read a shape algorithms using the commands forward, backward, left, right, move and turn. The child following the instructions had to guess what shape they were making.
Next, we wrote our own algorithms for different size squares and rectangles. We learnt new commands - left 90, left quarter turn, right 90, right quarter turn and half turn.
Last week Oak Class enjoyed their trip back to Victorian England when they visited Colne Valley Steam Train for the day. We all dressed in Victorian clothes and watched Punch and Judy, listened to interesting talks about the signal box, the waiting room, and First Aid. We also experienced life in a Victorian classroom with an extremely strict teacher! Children in Oak class were very good at sorting mail on the Royal Mail carriage and were interested to learn about the Penny Black. Following a picnic lunch outside, we rushed to catch the steam train where we met Queen Victoria and her entourage! Later on we danced to the Organ music and were pleased to be joined by the Queen to whom we sang the National Anthem. Finally, we returned to school tired but far more knowledgeable about life as a Victorian.
ICT
In ICT, Oak class have been practising logging on to the computers using their own username and password, learning keyboard skills and having a competition to see who can locate the letters quickest.
If the children would like to practise their skills, please click on the link below:
Child Safety Week - Monday 4th to Friday 8th June 2018
As part of child safety week we had a visit from Abbeycroft Leisure to talk about the importance of water safety and how to always following the SAFE code -
Spot - spot the dangers whenever you're near water
Advice - take advice, read the signs, ask a lifeguard or adult for help
Friend - always go with a friend or family, its more fun, and they can help in an emergency
Emergency - know what to do in an emergency
The children perform some rescues using jumpers, balls, ropes, paddles and woggles.
Oak Class went on a very sunny Spring walk and observed many creatures in their habitats.
Oak Class 2017/18
Linked to our topic, we have designed and made Totem Poles.
We all enjoyed a drama session which encouraged us to think of ideas for our fantasy story writing.
World Bookday
During RE the children learnt, then acted out the parable 'The Lost Sheep' before writing their own version of the story. (Photos were taken by members of the class.)
The children have enjoyed carrying out a scientific investigation where they were given specific materials to chose from to produce a house which is water resistant. This afternoon they worked together in groups of threes with children who had chosen the same materials. It was great to see the collaboration and problem solving that took place. There were many interesting discussions and debates while the children predicted which materials to use and then adapted when necessary, their ideas to achieve their goal. We have yet to test the water resistant properties!
In Oak Class during music we used the song 'In The Groove' to sing, clap and move to whilst finding the pulse. We then used Glockenspiels to accompany the song following simple notes on the interactive whiteboard.
YOGA DURING PE
The children are enjoying yoga in their PE lessons where a story is used to encourage a wide variety of movements.
The children really enjoyed visiting West Stowe where we went to the museum and the Anglo Saxon village and learnt more about life as an Anglo Saxon. We also managed time to play in the playground.
ON OUR RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER CHRISTMAS, THE CHILDREN ENJOYED GOING ON A HABITAT HUNT AROUND THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. THEY RECORDED THEIR OBSERVATIONS NOTING HOW FEW CREATURES THEY COULD SEE AND HOW COLD IT WAS IN CONTRAST TO OUR AUTUMN HUNT.
We have been thinking about ways of belonging to different groups, including families, schools, clubs and religions. We decided to make our Oak village using lego working together to provide a school, playground, swimming pool, food and clothing shops, houses, cinema and camping area!
This term we have been finding out about the Anglo Saxons using the internet and information books. One day we enjoyed role playing the journey across the sea to Britain! We then wrote our own diary entry describing our voyage.
Sailing to Britain
We have been making Anglo Saxon villages and jewellery as well as shields!
In Science we have been looking at the changes in season around the school environment and recording our observations.
Autumn Observations
