Curriculum Advice for the Autumn Term 2009                   

 

 

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].

 

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.

 

 Lower School:

 

Subject	Examples of areas we plan to cover
Art & Design	The focus will be on colour mixing to make secondary colours plus tints and shades.  The children will design and make clay tiles and jewellery based on Indian patterns.
D & T	The children will be gaining a basic understanding of pneumatics by making a moving monster!
Geography	The children will be learning about India, considering physical features and climate.  For the human aspect they will focus on the Indian village of Chembakolli.  The topic may also include some tasting and cooking of Indian food.
I.C.T.	We will be using word processing packages, practising typing skills and sending e-mails [more details to follow].
Music	The children will be working on a practical project that will develop their ability to create simple rhythmic patterns, using notation as a support.  The 2nd part of the term will be spent working on the Christmas production.
P.E.	This term the children will be having lessons in: gymnastics - travelling and pathways; dance - using stories as a stimulus; games - football, netball, basketball, rugby and hockey skills; swimming.
R.E.	We will be studying a variety of topics including; God's creation, looking after our environment; the Hindu faith and beliefs; the meaning of baptism; how we are all different; how Jesus changes peoples lives; the importance of sharing and giving; Advent and Christmas.
Science	We will be studying forces such as gravity and friction.  Through practical experiments, we will explore forces and the ways they affect our everyday lives.
Spanish	We will be learning about pets and classroom objects.  We will be learning how to say what pets or objects we have and we will also begin to be able to describe them in simple terms.

 

 

Upper School:

 

 

Subject	Examples of areas we plan to cover
Art & Design	The children will be exploring townscapes, learning about perspective and sketching architectural features around Brentwood.  They will also be using what they have learnt to create 2D textured collages of buildings.
D & T	The children will be researching bird boxes and then designing and making their own box using a variety of materials.
Geography	In the first half of the term, the children will be learning about water and rivers including topics such as flooding, pollution and the River Thames.
History	In the second half of the term, we will be looking at the "Horrible History of Brentwood"!
I.C.T.	This year we will start by looking at how computers store data and information and how we can check whether the data is correct.  After half-term we will be sending and receiving e-mails [more details to follow].  We will also use ICT to support a range of other subjects.
Music	The children will be working on a practical project that will develop their ability to sing and play music in two or more parts.  The 2nd part of the term will be spent working on the Christmas production.
P.E.	This term the children will be having lessons in: gymnastics - bridges; dance - exploring and planning dances in groups and translating narrative ideas into movement; games - hockey, football, netball, basketball and rugby.
R.E.	We will be studying a variety of topics including; the creation; caring for our world; the Jewish faith and beliefs; confirmation; we are all different; lives are changed; sharing and giving; Advent; the Christmas story.
Science	Before half term, we will be investigating green plants (Year 6 will also study sex education).  After half term we will be exploring materials and their properties.
Spanish	We will be learning about food eaten in Spanish tapas restaurants.  We will be learning to show likes and dislikes for dishes, how to ask for food and how to play the role of waiter/waitress.  Some tasting of Spanish tapas may also be incorporated (please ensure the school has up-to-date information about which foods your child can/cannot eat)

 

 

 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;

 - 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.