Class 3 is taught by Mr Goodridge. As a mixed year 5 and 6 class we begin to raise expectations for organisation, self-help, and resilience. All children are encouraged to adopt roles of responsibility within the class to enhance their communication skills and confidence. The children in Year 6 lead the school in Collective Worship; organise activities for Rewards Play and are responsible for the pastoral care of their own dinner table. Our children organise a variety of charity events, forge close ties to their community and take the lead in whole school theme weeks. They learn to become the role models for the school.
Our class offers a safe and secure platform for our children to become more independent as they prepare for their transition to secondary school. The issues around SRE, personal safety and healthy living as well as basic economics are highlighted, and the children know that this will contribute towards being ‘secondary ready’. We have close links with our ‘feeder’ secondary schools, especially Anthony Gell, where we have opportunities to visit the school and work with members of staff.
We focus on the core skills of reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar to enable us to complete a variety of writing genres and to write for purpose across the curriculum. We encourage parents to read with their children every night and to ask questions to check for understanding. Class 3 are expected to choose and read books that they enjoy. We actively promote a love of reading, by modelling the reading of texts and encouraging discussions around prediction and inference. Through Collective Worship, drama and speaking in class, children are taught to speak clearly and how to express their point of view.
Using fluency, reasoning and problem solving, we provide differentiated support in our class for the different topics within maths. We regularly challenge the children to timetable tests, and through lesson starters we deepen and secure newly acquired mathematical skills. In Class 3, we support our children to understand how their learning can be applied to ‘real life’. This is particularly apparent in maths, where the subjects are planned to use maths skills that children already have e.g. drawing to scale, using co-ordinates, measuring area, volume and scale reading.
Children are taught to choose appropriate methods to present their work. This encourages independence and ownership of their work. We offer children the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through questioning, experimenting, and researching. We all progress from mistakes we make, which are expected and respected in our learning.
Year 6 Residential at Lea Green
The Year 6 had a fantastic time at Lea Green on their residential. We did lots of fun activities including: bushcraft, making campfires, buggies, learning archery and of course the team swing! Here is a video of some of the highlights….
Autumn Term 2
We had a very busy and productive half term in Class 3, which was filled with excitement, enjoyment and laughter as we approached Christmas. The children completed a variety of written genres in English this term, which has included a biography of Roald Dahl, a recipe for Exploding Chocolate Muffins and a book review for Matilda. The Class enjoyed, creating posters for our English Working Wall, they worked together to recall their prior knowledge of physical and emotive language. In Maths, we embraced division, multiplication, fractions and measurements. The children have worked so hard and with great enthusiasm all term – Well done Class 3!
Science
Science was very experimental and messy this term. Our topic on Materials concluded with potions of fizzy lemonade and Mento and Diet Coke eruptions. The experiments reinforced the Class’s understanding and ability to work scientifically. The children were able ask questions, make predictions, complete fair tests and from their data, they evaluated and interpreted their results. Other experiments investigated how to separate a variety of mixtures and we discovered how evaporation can assist in the separation of soluble substances in water.
History
Class 3 enjoyed learning about the ancient Egyptians this term and were fascinated to learn about the pyramids, how the Egyptians lived, their religious beliefs and how people were mummified after death. The children completed instructions for the mummification of Pharaoh Samways, who had expressed her desire for an elaborate funeral to ensure her immortality after death. Class 3 were so taken by the culture of the ancient Egyptians they enjoyed an impromptu dance around the classroom – Walking Like Egyptians.
Events
As we headed towards Christmas, the whole school came together for Christmas Lunch, a fabulous Christmas party. All the children had so much fun, and it was wonderful to see such huge smiles and happiness.
Our Nativity Play was wonderful. Class 1 were fabulous actors and were brilliantly supported by the narrators and singers from Class 2 and 3. The Year 6 boys and girls had important rolls opening and closing the show, and they all showed off their amazing dance skills. Thank you to all of you who came to watch!
Finally, the term ended with our Christingle service. The children had created their own Christingles that morning and sang Away in a Manger beautifully, it church once the Christingles had been lit. Year 6 led the service, explaining the meaning of Christingle and reading the prayers. It was a wonderful end to a busy term. We hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas.
Our Activities
Designing and Baking Exploding Muffins in DT
This term Class 3 has been studying the life and phenomenal work of the author Roald Dahl. This term we are reading Matlida, which the children are really enjoying. The children were so excited when it was revealed that their DT project this term would be to design their own Exploding Chocolate Muffins. Each week, groups of 3 children, design, create and bake their marvellous muffins. Then much to the delight of all Class 3, we taste and give feedback to our budding chefs. Later this term, each child will write their instructions, in our English lessons.
Please encourage all your children to read any of Roald Dahl’s book as they are always full of fun, written from a child’s perspective and beautifully illustrated by Quintin Blake.
Fundraising for Ukraine October 2022
Class 3 were determined to support the people of Ukraine, following a visit to our school from two local fundraisers. Bea, Year 6, takes up the story:
Last week, we were visited by Swifty and Griff, who spoke about their next visit to the Ukraine boarder. They are going for the third time in October, and we would like to be involved in supporting them. Class 3 are asking school staff, parents and pupils, for donations of dried food such as: pasta, rice and pot noodles, to be given to the people of Ukraine. We would be grateful for any donations of washed, clean clothes such as: socks, hats and warm clothing too. The Ukraine crisis is horrific, and we are proud to be involved with the delivery of aid. Please drop off your donations in the hall by 7th October. Thankyou!
Bea
Donations began to arrive. Class 3 had organised a table and display in the hall, where donations could be left for the appeal. Within the display was the following emotional poem written by Isla, Year 6. Aged 10.
This is a poem about how we can help Ukraine.
How they have lost their homes and are out in the rain.
So do what you can, to help and donate,
Because some people for days have barely slept and can’t wait.
Ukraine has been attacked by Russians,
Please can you bring some blankets and cushions,
To keep them warm, to stay alive,
So, people don’t freeze and sadly die.
Can you also donate some food,
So, people don’t starve and be in a bad mood.
If you were in this situation, what would you do?
I bet that you’d want people to help you too.
So do what you can to help Ukraine,
So, people aren’t living out in the rain.
Isla. Aged 10
Griff was overwhelmed by the generosity of our school community and thanked everyone for their donations. Class 3 helped Griff load the donations into their van. As their teacher, I am extremely proud of all that Year 6 achieved. Their prior knowledge, from watching news reports, was outstanding. Many children asked thought provoking questions, whilst discussing the war with great sensitivity. They then organised and promoted the appeal independently. The Year 6 children, who were supported by Year 5, achieved so much in such a short space of time. You are all amazing!
Here are some of the children’s comments about Class 3 …
“I like Class 3 because the work is really exciting!”
Ava. Year 6
“Mrs Samways is a great teacher because she makes learning fun. On Tuesdays, we get to bake with Jayne, which is also really fun!”
Isla. Year 5
“I love English because I like writing but most of all I like poetry.”
Isla . Year 6
“I like Class 3. Art is very good, and we learn about different art and artists.”
Mazie
“I like maths and science. In maths, we learn about fractions and in science we learn about materials.”
Lily
“I like Class 3 because of… P.E. I love playing football with my friends and we have a brilliant football team.”
Charlie
“Class 3 is great because we bake in D.T. and create exploding muffins!”
Elliott
“I like maths, because I am really good at it!”
Mikey
“In science, we poured water over Mrs Samways head to test if her shower cap worked. It was really funny!”
Vi
Our Teaching Assistants
| Years | No. children | Teacher | T.A. | Days in school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | 7 | Mr. Goodridge | Lydia | Mon all day, Tues am, Thurs all day |
| Year 5 | 4 | Anna | Tues pm, Weds all day, Fri pm | |
| Year 6 | 3 | |||