Our School Curriculum for the Summer Term 2008
In addition to the Yearly Outline Curriculum Plan [available from the School Office], this page will give you more details of planned work for this term. We hope that you will be able to help your son/daughter explore and discuss these areas as well as set homework.
All year groups will be having English and Mathematics lessons every day. You can support your child in a variety of ways including: reading and discussing books with your son/daughter; helping him/her to learn spellings and number facts [eg multiplication tables]. Other subjects to be covered are detailed below - the first table details the curriculum for the Lower School (Years 3 and 4), and the Upper School (Years 5 and 6) curriculum is shown in the second table. Below the Upper School table is some additional information regarding SATS and the extra things you can do to help your child during this week.
Lower School:
| Subject | Examples of areas we plan to cover |
| Art & Design | Our focus will be: colour and texture; drawing flower heads in aquarelles; developing designs in batik or transfer crayons on fabric; embroidery; painting in the style of Australian Aboriginal artists. |
| D & T | The children will be designing, making and evaluating their own healthy flapjack! Parent helpers may be required and your child may need to buy some extra ingredients. |
| Geography | The children will be studying the local area of Brentwood, which will include map work, the environment, land use, links with other places and current changes. |
| I.C.T. | This term children will consider how technology can record, playback and reproduce sounds using music composition software. The children will also be learning about how computers can simulate real situations. |
| Music | We will be undertaking a practical project this term that will combine ongoing skills work, performance, listening and composition. The children will learn how sounds can describe things and create their own music. |
| P.E. | This term the children will be having lessons in: dance - using different music; gymnastics - symmetry and assymetry; athletics - running, jumping & throwing; cricket; rounders; tennis. |
| R.E. | We will be studying a variety of topics including: relationships; coping with loss; the Trinity; God our father and helper; the Bible; Christian lives; St Thomas of Canterbury; coping with change. |
| Science | We are studying "Green Plants" which will involve practical growing of a variety of plants. In the 2nd half of the term, this will be extended to studying "The Environment " as a whole. |
Upper School:
| Subject | Examples of areas we plan to cover |
| Art & Design | Our focus will be: colour, shape & form; designing & making carnival masks using modroc, tissue overlay & paper rolling techniques. There are close links to the geography topic of the Caribbean. |
| D & T | Your child will be cooking Caribbean style! We will be making Jamaican Gingerbread and Healthy Fruit Cocktails. Parent helpers may be needed and your child may need to bring in some extra ingredients for the cocktails. |
| Geography | The children will be learning about the Caribean. They will focus on living in St. Lucia. This will include various studies such as physical and human features, climate, environmental changes, tourist industry, etc. |
| I.C.T. | We will be looking at how computers can store data and then help users to search and sort it. The children will be using the Internet and practising a variety of searching techniques. Safe Internet usage will be taught (linked with Geography work) as usual in accordance with the school policies. |
| Music | We will be enjoying music from a range of cultures and countries around the world. Songs in a variety of languages will be learnt and used to inspire composition. |
| P.E. | This term the children will be having lessons in: dance - Caribbean style; gymnastics; athletics - running, jumping & throwing; cricket; rounders; tennis; swimming. |
| R.E. | We will be studying a variety of topics including: relationships & feelings; trust & loyalty; coping with loss; the Ascension; God our father and helper; the Bible; Christian lives; St Thomas of Canterbury and coping with change. |
| Science | Year 5 are studying light and electricity in the 1st half term. In the 2nd half, they will be studying "the environment". Y6 are building up to the SATs tests and then will be engaged in a range of practical investigations. Sex education will also be included (more details to follow). |
In addition, you may also wish to:
- research ideas at the local library and help your child to develop his/her library skills;
- search the internet for relevant websites and activities; (please look at the LINKS page of this website);
- watch relevant television programmes that may support their work, or visit a museum or place of interest;
- simply talk to your child about what they are learning.
Top Tips for SATs Survival!
* Get lots of rest - 12 hours is the target!
Brains do a lot of work while we sleep. The brain is digesting the information from the day.
A good long rest will help the child to remember what they have been learning in school. It also reduces
hyper-activity during the day.
* Take the TV, mobile phone, Nintendo out of their bedroom.
These stimulate the brain at a time when it should be getting ready to rest.
* Eat healthy food and cut back on snacks and treats - drink lots of water.
The brain is a muscle so a healthy diet will help the brain to work well.
* Do small amounts of revision followed by a break (eg 15 minutes revision followed by a game)
Children often revise better when working with others, so get involved yourself or maybe invite a friend
around.
Ask them to work at the kitchen table and switch off radios and TVs that may be a distraction.
Ask them at the dinner table what they have been learning today.
Use the computer - there are lots of good activities. www.bbc.co.uk - search for revisewise
* Get some exercise - children that exercise before revision remember more.
* Get an early night before the tests and eat a good breakfast.
* Walk to School: the exercise will help to get the brain working.
* Reassure your child that they can only try their best and that their best will be good enough.
No amount of money or bribery will help at this age (save that for the teenage years!)