How have we reached the end of another half term? It seems to be that the weeks have flown because the learners in Team CB have been so busy working so hard over the course of the last 6 weeks. This week has been no exception. Read below to find out  what we have been up to.

Writing:
In our writing this week we have completed our independent writes on a special place that is important to us. The class have provided clear, well-organised information about their chosen location and shared key knowledge with their audience. From Turkey to Greece, the Lake District to Cleethorpes, the children have loved writing about places that matter to them, being sure to give the reader extra information through the inclusion of subordinate clauses and detail where things are in relation to each other through prepositional phrases. Well done Team CB - you truly are super writers!

Maths:
In Maths this week we have moved on to looking at column subtraction. We began the week by identifying the minuend, subtrahend and difference in different representations. Once we were secure in this, we then looked at where these were placed in a column subtraction, ensuring we knew to start with the whole always when subtracting. Later on, we progressed to solving simple 2 and 3 digit subtractions using column method. The children are confident in knowing to start from the ones and work  their way through the place value columns. Finally, we explored what happens when we have subtractions that involve the need to regroup. This is something we will revise further on our return after Easter. 

DT:
In our DT over this half term, the class have been working tirelessly to create their own tie-dye t-shirts. They began by designing their shirt complete with the equipment they would need and the stitching they would do. Once they were happy with their design, they worked with Mrs Fitchett to bring their ideas to life. The children used plain white t-shirts to tie-dye and then over a series of sessions completed sewing to add to their shirts. As part of the design, make and evaluate process, children then reflected on the parts they had found challenging, the strengths of the project and what they would do differently next time. 

Geography:
In our Geography this week we have continued to explore the rainforest in more detail and in particular the impact of deforestation. As a class we compared Manaus to Wombwell on an aerial map and identified human geography features. We then looked at the physical geography and the notable differences between the two areas. Children identified that in some areas of the rainforest on their map, there were brown areas. We discussed how this indicated deforestation. Having discussed the impact of this, we looked at arguments for and against the chopping down of trees and took on different roles to try and change each other's views about whether this should be allowed to continue or not. 

I hope you have a lovely, restful half term and I look forward to seeing the children on their return in 2 weeks!

Another week has been and gone in Team CB and as usual the class continue to amaze me with all they are able to learn. It is lovely to see the smiles on faces as new learning 'clicks' and the children talk excitedly about what they have been doing with family at home. Read below to see what we have been up to. 

Writing: 
This week in our writing we have planned and written our shared write of an information text about Brazil. The class thought carefully about how they built their sentences to include prepositions and subordinating clauses. They have produced some excellent written pieces with clear information, conveyed in a very clear way through the use of headings and subheadings to organise their points. Next week we will be producing our independent writes which will be based on an area of interest around the world for each child. This may be somewhere they have visited before or somewhere they wish to visit.

Maths:
This week we have concluded our learning on column addition. We began the week by exploring what happens when we need to regroup ones, when adding. We used manipulatives to support our understanding, physically exchanging ones for ten where appropriate. We then progressed to looking at regrouping tens, before doing multiple regroups within one calculation. The class picked up this procedure really quickly and were confidently able to apply their understanding to solving a range of problems including identifying missing digits. In our Maths next week we will begin to look at column subtraction. 

One Life:
In our one life lesson this week the class explored the theme of Stereotypes. As a class we discussed what stereotypes were and how they may make people feel. This was a really powerful discussion with the children and one that will continue to develop the children's understanding of this half term's theme - Compassion. 

PE: 
In our PE sessions this week we have continued to refine our skills in both dance and games. During our Dance sessions, we have been working on cheerleading. This week we were creating a short dance phrase based on the arm positions we have learned so far, along with various methods of moving about an open space and jumps. The class have really enjoyed this unit of dance and have shown an excellent retention of the different positions. In our Games session, we have been applying the skills learned to engage in small active games of hockey where children have dribbled, passed and created opportunities to shoot using the hockey stick. 

Check back next week for our final week before Easter to find out what more we have been learning.

Spring 2 has been such a busy half term for Team CB. The class' attitude to learning continues to impress the adults in class and around school. The children have given their all as they always do and have demonstrated excellent learning at all points across the week. Read on to find out what we have been up to this week. 

Writing:
In our writing this week, we have been busy learning about prepositions in more detail. The class began by identifying different prepositions once we knew they could be used to detail a position of something. Once we were  secure in this, we then generated prepositional phrases using images and scenes linked to Brazil to support our understanding. Finally, we integrated these into sentences linked to our shared writing focus. We also spent time within the week looking at subordinating conjunctions and how to form complex sentences through adding a subordinate clause. This grammar based learning will support us next week as we begin our shared writing of an informational text linked to Brazil. 

Maths:
In our Maths this week we have explored column addition. We began by identifying the addends and sum in a calculation before setting these out in column method. Following on from this we then worked at adding pairs of 2 or 3 digit numbers using the formal written method. This did not involve regrouping at this point as this will be our focus next week. After securing the procedure, children applied their learning to a range of word and problem solving questions linked to addition. 

Geography:
In our Geography this week, the class explored the rainforest in more detail. As we are learning all about Brazil we studied the Amazon rainforest in depth. Firstly we identified the different layers within the rainforest before learning about  what each layer was like and what plants and animals could be found there. This supported us greatly in our reading lessons as we have been reading a text about deforestation and the impact that this has on habitats for animals and how it is affecting issues such as the climate crisis. 

Spanish:
Our Spanish this week centered around learning how to express likes and dislikes of different fruits using the phrases 'me gustan' and 'no me gustan'. The class were excellent at asking each other questions about if they liked a particular fruit or not and were able to reply confidently to one another. Next week will be a consolidation point of all our learning around fruit this half term. We will complete reading, writing, speaking and listening tasks to demonstrate what we have retained over the half term. 

Pop back next week to find out what more we have been up to in our penultimate week before the Easter holidays.

This week has been a busy week for Team CB who have worked hard completing a range of assessments as part of our termly assessment week. Read on to find out what else they have been up to:

Writing:
In our writing this week, the class have been busy conducting their own research linked to Brazil. This has been a focus over several sessions as the children wanted to learn more about the country ahead of our shared write where we will produce an information leaflet on the country. Children were impressed to find out about Christ the Redeemer, the Amazon rainforest and even the national language spoken there. 

Maths:
In our Maths, we have worked hard to complete both arithmetic and reasoning papers linked to what we have learned over the Autumn and Summer term. The children showed excellent perseverance and resilience when they completed these and were receptive to the feedback given post event. Next week we will be moving on to column addition where children will further refine their arithmetic skills. 

Science:
In our Science this week, the class learned about the life of Mary Anning. The children watched a dramatised performance of how Mary Anning became known for finding 'curiosities' and how these were later known to be fossils. The class were so fascinated they were even spotted on the school field looking for their own!

PE:
In our PE this week, the weather meant our outdoor hockey session could not run, however the children loved completing their wellbeing unit on yoga where they practiced breathing exercises and varied poses linked to yoga. 

See what more we have been learning about by checking back next week.

During our week we have been incredibly busy immersing ourselves into our learning. This week has included extra excitement as children were encouraged to dress up on Thursday for World Book Day. Read on to find out what we have been working on. 

Maths
In our Maths this week we have spent a significant amount of time further developing our understanding of the bar model and how to use one. We have used our  knowledge of where numbers go in a bar model to determine whether missing digit problems were missing parts or missing wholes. We then used our understanding of the bar model to create equations which would support us in finding the value of the missing number. Next week in Team CB it is assessment week, and then we will continue to embed our learning linked to column addition. 

Literacy
In our Literacy this week we have been exploring information texts. The hook into learning began when Miss Baxter explained she wanted to plan another holiday but did not know where to go. After some suggestions she felt she did not know enough about the locations and would need more information, which led to exploring information texts. From this as a class, we looked at fact and opinion, identifying the key features of information texts as well as text mapping a model text to support our understanding over how the text should sound. 

World Book Day
On Thursday, the school celebrated World Book Day. We all came dressed up as our favourite book characters and started the morning by reading to our morning Nursery children. This was a lovely experience for our children to read to the younger ones, who thoroughly loved them reading their favourite texts with such expression and intonation. In the afternoon different adults around school bobbed in and shared their favourite stories with us - it was a truly lovely experience!

Spanish
In our  Spanish this week the class have consolidated their learning on the 10 key fruits they have learned. We practiced orally pronouncing them before completing tasks where we had to listen carefully and identify the fruit spoken. We then used our reading skills to determine which text matched which illustration. 

Music
For our music session this week we continued to explore music that made us feel happy. We listened to the song Music is All Around. The class considered what they could hear, how old they thought the music was and whether or not they liked the piece.. Once we had spent time listening and appraising, we then worked as a class to practice learning the verse and chorus of the song. To conclude our learning, we played notes E G A on the glockenspiel to support our final performance.

Check back next week to see what more learning we have been doing.

 It has been a truly wonderful first week back in Team CB! The class have come back raring to go and with an exceptionally mature attitude towards their learning. We have been ready, reliable and resilient at all points of the week. Well done Team CB! Read below to find out what we have been exploring:

Literacy:
In our writing this week we have been focusing on the skill of editing and making improvements to our writing through checking, improving and adding. To do this, we have worked in pairs to check our grammar, spelling and punctuation, as well as overall cohesion. Once we were happy with this, we then progressed to improving writing through the use of synonyms for commonly used words. Finally, we worked on adding in additional details through expanded noun phrases, adverbials or conjunctions. Next week, we will be moving on to starting a new unit of writing linked to our new class text Atlas of Adventures where the children will produce some non-fiction writing. 

Maths:
Our Maths has focussed on part whole models and bar model this week. We have explored closely the way in which addition and subtraction equations can be used to describe the additive relationship in 2 and 3 digit numbers. The children began by exploring how an equation can be placed into a bar model using knowledge of which numbers were the addends/sum and which were the minuend/subtrahend. We then used the bar model to generate 4 addition equations and 4 subtraction equations in each scenario. Next week, we will progress to identifying knowns and unknowns using the part whole models. 

Science:
In our Science this week we have continued with our work on Rocks. More specifically, we have taken a closer look at the role of fossils. We discussed what a fossil was and what type of rocks fossils are. Once we knew this, we were interested to find out how fossils were formed. To support us with our understanding, we created our own fossil sandwiches to represent the different stages of fossilisation. The class loved doing this and could carefully articulate the different stages of creating their fossil sandwich. 

Geography:
In our Geography, we looked closely at human and physical geography features this week. We began by identifying what these two terms meant before sorting a series of images into whether they illustrated examples of human or physical geography. When we were secure in this, we then progressed to comparing maps of the UK and Brazil to study the physical features of these in more detail. Children were able to articulate a range of points from interpreting the maps, such as the terrain in the area, the extent to which the land was surrounded by sea and such like.

PE:
A new half term, means a new PE focus. In our Dance sessions, we are working on cheerleading this half term. The class thoroughly enjoyed their first session this week where we learned a series of arm positions and stances that are used in cheerleading. The class worked in pairs to create a short dance phrase featuring different positions that they held for a count of 8. 
In our Games session, the class have been exploring hockey in more detail this week and have been applying the skills they have learned over the course of the last Term to support them in controlling the ball and hockey stick. Well done Team CB! You have demonstrated great resilience across your sessions this week  - keep it up!
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Pop back next week to see what else we get up over Spring Term!

Today marks the end of another half term in Team CB. It certainly feels like time is flying by this year. The class have been absolutely phenomenal this half term and I am so proud of their effort and enthusiasm for learning. Read on to find out what we have been up to in our final week. 

Maths
In our Maths we have continued to explore mental methods for solving addition and subtraction problems. We have focussed specifically on skills such as partitioning and finding the difference and using this concept to solve a range of problems. The class worked well to understand which method they would use and could reason why. When we return after the holidays we will draw this unit to a close before focussing on column addition. 

Literacy
We have completed our independent writing of a prequel linked to the Firework Maker's Daughter. The class had the choice of whether they wrote about the Goddess of the Emerald Lake and her origins, or Razvani the Fire Fiend. Both versions tell truly compelling stories and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them. Be sure to nosey at our new display where the children's writing is rightly celebrated for all their fantastic hard work! Next half term, our text driver will be the Atlas of Adventures where we will focus more on non-fiction writing. 

RE
In our RE session this week, we looked at the world around us and discussed what Christians believe about the way the world was created. We story boarded this, before looking at what views Christians may hold of God considering his ability to create Earth. The class came up with fantastic language such as powerful, smart, creative and so on. We then looked at the terms omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent and omnipotent as words Christians would use to describe why he was special. This then led us to looking at what makes us as individuals special. 

Science:
In our Science this week, we carried out an acid test to determine whether rocks we had were sedimentary or not. The class were fantastic at carrying out such careful observations and were able to interpret their results accordingly. When we return from the holidays we will progress to looking more specifically at fossils and how these are formed. 

Art: 
In our Art it has been a very busy and productive week. The class have been busy with completing their tie-dye t-shirts linked to our Geography topic of South America, and completing their needle work. The class love working with Mrs Fitchett and were thoroughly enthused throughout the afternoon. 

Well done on another fantastic half term Team CB! Get plenty of rest and I will see you in a week!

Time has flown during Spring 1, so much so that we are already in our penultimate week before the half term break. As you can imagine, its been incredibly busy in Team CB with lots of learning taking place. Read on to find out what we have been up to.

Maths:
In our maths this week we have been looking at manipulating the additive relationship and securing mental calculation. To do this, we have used a range of strategies such as adjusting, redistributing and partitioning to help us answer addition problems in our head. We have discussed which are helpful and when we would use them with most effectiveness. To help us see this clearly, we have made use of concrete resources before moving to more abstract forms. On Friday this week it was also NSPCC numbers day. For this the class took part in a variety of activities throughout the day linked to number. In our Maths we completed a tables race challenge, before using our knowledge of addition and subtraction to crack the code which was "STAY SAFE SPEAK OUT". In our reading, we looked at a football extract featuring lots of number information such as goals scored, matches representing their national team, shirt number and so forth. 

Literacy:
In our writing this week we have written a prequel to tell the story of how the fire imps came to be. The class thought carefully about how to structure this, detailing the character and setting, build up, climax and ending. They worked hard to incorporate adverbials and expanded noun phrases in their writing. This shared write will help us in our task next week which is to complete an independent prequel about the Fire Fiend's origins or the Emerald Goddess'. Be sure to check back next week to find out how we got on. 

RE:
In our RE we have spent time exploring the different special people within the church. We looked at vicars and bishops and the difference between them, before looking closely at their vestments to see what we can learn from these. 

Computing:
In Computing, we have been exploring how we can have the same commands in a different order and that the outcome would be different. To support us in understanding this, we used beebots and generated 4 different algorithms using the same command buttons to see where they ended up.

Pop back next week to see what we have been up to in the final week!

This week has been a week full of new learning for the children in Team CB. We have worked hard to develop new skills and knowledge across a range of subjects. Read below to see what we have been up to. 

Maths:
In Maths this week we have been completing our unit on right angles. As a class, we started the week by exploring rectangles and squares and the shapes they made when they were cut across the diagonal. We discussed similarities and differences in the triangles they created as well as discussing whether or not one had a greater area that the other. Following on from this we then explored using such shapes to join four right angles at a point and make different patterns using our understanding of squared corners. Towards the end of the week we used geosticks to create and then draw different polygons with at least one right angle. Next week we will begin to look at mental methods for addition and subtraction. 

Literacy:
In our writing this week we continued to further explore how to record speech using inverted commas and ensuring that punctuation comes before closing speech marks. We worked on creating our own conversations to practice the skill of writing speech and used different words for said within our reporting clause to give more information about how something was spoken. As we had then completed our skills section of writing, we progressed to planning our class writing. As a class we planned out a prequel for the fire imp transformation and will begin to write this next week.

Science:
In our Science this week we have been exploring the three different types of naturally occurring rocks. We used sweets to create the different forms of rock including sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous. We also explored how the Earth is made up of rock in different forms and used a scotch egg to illustrate this point further. 

Geography: 
In our Geography this week, we have explored different countries that make up South America. We began by using a world map to identify where the United Kingdom was in comparison to South America. From this we were able to make simple inferences about climate, population and so forth using our newly acquired knowledge of what the equator is. We then zoomed in on South America and used Digimaps to discover the different countries within the continent. We will continue this learning next week as we look in more detail at hemispheres, lines of longitude and latitude and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 

Check back to see what else we get up to!

Another week in Team CB has led to lots more learning opportunities for the children. Read below to see what we have been up to this week. 

Maths:
In our Maths this week we have started a new topic on angles. We began by exploring what an angle was, learning that this was the amount of turn. From this, we we made our own angle finders to make big angles and small angles and discuss that angles must have straight lines and the turn is around a fixed point. Once we had explored this, we then moved on to looking more specifically at right angles. By the end of lesson we discovered that right angles have a square corner and is equivalent to 1/4 turn. We used the classroom to hunt for right angles using our square corner to check. Later in the week we identified right angles in different shapes including triangles and quadrilaterals. We will continue to further explore angles next week. 

Literacy:
Our Writing this week has focussed on looking at specific elements of spelling, punctuation and grammar that will aid us when writing our prequel. We have explored in detail what an adverb is - learning that it gives more information about a verb. We have constructed examples of adverbs of time, place and cause and then investigated how we can alter the position of the adverb in the sentence. From this, we have cultivated a small piece of writing describing Razvani the Fire Fiend, where we have incorporated different adverbs to give further detail within the paragraph. 

PHSE:
This week we have continued with our usual One Life sessions, centered around this half term's theme of bouncing back. In our lesson this week, we explored how to bounce back in friendships and why the words we say matter as they can often leave a bad taste in our mouth if they are not words of kindness. 
We have also been lucky enough this week to have Compass Be deliver a workshop on emotions. The class learned about what emotions and common daily emotions are through an activity called How would Sam feel? The class explored how Sam might feel and respond in different situations and how he could ask for help and support. The workshop also included a task where the children explored ideas of when and why they might feel different emotions. It was a fantastic session that the children took a lot from. Well done Team CB!

Computing:
This week we began our new unit in Computing. The focus over this term is for children to focus on the skill of programming, with the aim to programming a robot by the end of the unit. In this week's learning, the class focussed on describing a series of instructions as a sequence. The class pretended to be robots, following their partner's instructions.

Check in with us next week to find out more about what life looks like in Team CB!