We were so lucky to have chance to experience Archery in school.
Miss Overton had organised a company coming in show us the basics of archery, such as: our position, aiming, stance and how to release.
We had such great fun, we didn't want it to end! They pick had a group of winners who had some great scores!
Thank you for visiting us in Team JD.

During Spring term in team JD we are focusing on living things and habitats. The key knowledge we will be focusing on is , grouping living things in variety of ways, classification keys, local and wider living things in our environment and recognising that environments can change and the dangers that run alongside this.

This week we have investigated the seven characteristics of living things. (Mrs Gren) Movement , respiration, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition. 
By the end of the lesson we could name the characteristics of each representation, explain the characteristic and describe examples in animals and plants.  

Test us! - Can we remember what the seven characteristics are? -Mrs Gren 

This Term we are learning all about the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons!

During art we investigated what Viking ships looked like, all the different elements that made up a Viking ship. 
We then had practised drawing one and labelling the different sections of ship. 
We will be looking the different shapes and sizes of ships. Our overall focus will be to sketch a Viking ship using charcoal. Using shading to create texture.

Also during this term we will develop further knowledge of shape and form when modelling and constructing for larger scale models. We will select appropriate materials and research historical evidence to produce boat and shield designs relatively accurate to the period.

Our topic this half term is Tennis.
​During tennis this week, we have been learning how to hold a tennis racket,  moving and catching, moving with balance and catching the ball, ball control and working in partners to throw and hit the ball in a variety of directions.
We have found trying position the racket in the correct hold and hit the ball tricky. We will recap our newly learnt skills next week.

We had a busy last few days before we broke up for Christmas. We had chance to make a difference by doing an Elf run for Barnsley Hospice. This was raise awareness and money for  Barnsley Hospice. This was also our feel good Friday day. So we had chance to do our daily mile at the same time.
We all had a super time for a super charity!

On our last day before Christmas break up. Mr Davison and Mrs Bamforth were super kind and bought us lots of lovely treats to celebrate how hard we had worked.
We had delicious hot chocolate, squirty cream and marshmallows!
We had the hot chocolate outside in the nature reserve, it was an absolute treat! 
We then had chance to play hide and seek and explore all areas of the nature reserve. 
We had the best day!
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Over November and December we were busy working hard designing and creating our cards and calendars for our lovely adults at home.
We had lots of fun, cutting, sticking and spreading glitter and sparkles everywhere. 
For the calendars we had to do a collage using different materials to create every digit. When doing the Christmas cards we had different designs for the year 4's and 5's. Year 4's were Christmas trees and the year 5's were candles.
We really hope you enjoy looking at our calendars all year round.

Literacy
In our writing this week, we have looked closely at the key features of non-chronological reports, as well as the key skills we will need to write our own.

Maths
This week in Year 4, we have focused on subtracting three 4-digit numbers, practicing our column subtraction skills. In Year 5, we have been working hard in the topic of money; looking at the various coins and notes in the UK, as well as understanding the relationship between pounds and pence.

Computing
This week, we have been learning all about databases and how they can be navigated to find specific information. Next week, Team JD will be looking at creating their own databases!

During our weekly ukulele lessons. We have been learning how to hold it, strumming, chords and basic songs.
Currently we are learning songs: I'm  A Believer by Smash Mouth and  Wellerman (sea shanty) by Nathan Evans.
we started by holding the instrument with its back snug against us., nestling the body of the ukulele with our right arm. Gently but firmly, holding the neck of our ukulele in the crook of our left hand, resting it comfortably in the webbing between our thumb and index finger.
​Strumming chords is also the backbone of learning to play our ukuleles. Strumming patterns involve different ways of playing up or down strokes on your ukulele.
Chords are a combination of three or more notes that we play together to create a pleasing harmony. Chords are the foundation of playing songs on a ukulele or any other stringed instrument.
We are really trying hard during our lessons.  We are enjoying our new songs we are learning.