It was great to welcome the children back and hear about their holidays. This week we read the story Where the Wild Things Are. In the story Max travelled by a boat across the water, we discussed the different ways we can travel across water. The children made their own wild things masks and puppets and then performed a puppet show using their hand puppets. The children acted out the story using skylanders. We wrote postcards from Max to his mum and letters to the wild things. Each child described what they would like thier wild thing to look like and drew pictures of their wild things.
In Maths, we have been making ten, doubling and finding odd and even numbers. The children have been using a variety of resources and printing with numicon.
Outside, the children have been acting in our travel agents. They have been writing plane tickets and bag labels and thinking about different ways we travel on our holidays.
In Religion, we have been thinking about how God loves us and how we are all unique. The children drew pictures about themselves and what they love.
In Ten Ten, we have been learning about the Internet and how we stay stay.
Home Learning
Take a photo of your child in their local area. For example – outside the church, a local park or swimming pool, Tescos or Sainburys. Please send it in by Wednesday or email it to admin@popepaul.herts.sch.uk
Another term over! We have had a fun week of Easter learning and crafts. The children listened to the story of Good Friday and made crosses using different resources.
Outside, we planted our beanstalks that we grew in class. We hope there is some beans when we come back after Easter,
We made chicks, bunnies and Easter cards. For the CAFOD donations, we made Easter nest cakes.
On Thursday, we had an Easter egg hunt in our playground.
Our focus in Reception this week was The Enormous Turnip. The children acted out the story in groups, trying to pull a big turnip from the ground! They sequenced the story, made tools using boxes to help them pull a turnip out and retold the story by drawing a story map or making a booklet. The children wrote about how they would try to pull a turnip from the ground. Outside the children did observational drawings of a turnip, using water paints and they made their own vegetables and cut and peeled vegetables.
This week we learnt the last Phase 3 sound, er. Then we went over some of the digraphs and trigraphs that are harder to remember. Please practise all the sounds and tricky words we have learnt this term.
In Maths, we have been learning about the number 9 and 10. The children counted 9 and 10 objects. Then we learnt abut making 9 in different ways with a variety of resources. They made 9 using the cherry model indoors and outside and used tens frames. They compared different amounts by using the vocabulary more and fewer.
On Tuesday, we were all happy to see the sun come out so we spent the afternoon gardening. The children loved weeding the class garden and planting lettuce and tulips. While weeding, the children found snails and worms and were very excited to pick them up and hold them in their hands. The children placed the snails in our bug hotel and found leaves and twigs to keep them comfortable. Each day, the children have been watering our garden. A few weeks ago, we planted beans in the class and many of them have grown very tall, we will be planting them in our garden when they are ready.
In Religion, we listened to the story of The Last Supper and the children made a table for Jesus and his disciples outside. Then they acted out the story.
This week the children have been scientists for Science Week. Our whole school question was Does taller mean faster? The children predicted what they thought and then gave fantastic ideas to plan how we would find out the answer. The next day, the children got into groups and measured each other. The children made another prediction based on their group. Then we timed each children running the same distance and recorded our results. 4 groups found that the answer was no and one group found that the tallest was the faster.
During Science Week, we have also been learning about seasons. We went on a walk to look for signs of Spring.
We have been predicting and testing whether something will float or sink and sorting obejects into magnetic and not magnetic. We also did some observational drawing.
The children were excited to watch our tallest adult in the school (Mrs Heymoz) and our shortest adult (Mrs Martides) running. Mrs Martides was faster so this was an example of how the tallest does not mean the fastest.
On Tuesday, Michael’s mum (Dr Holly) who is a scientist, came into school and demonstrated lots of different science investigations and then the children got the opportunity to predict and then take part in the different investigations. Thank you Dr Holly for your hard work and giving up your time to support the school. Thank you to Michael’s dad and Freya’s mum for helping too.
On Thursday, we walked to Dame Alice Owens school. The science teacher, Mr Friedlander took us to their Science lab and we did an investigation to find out who had drawn a picture of him. We were very proud of how the children walked around the school quietly and listened carefully. Thank you to Freya’s mum and Aiveen’s mum for walking with us.
In our outdoor shed, we made a police station. We had fund investigating crimes and helping people.
In Maths, we have been learning the days of the week. Please continue to practise at home. I have put the links of the songs we sing at school below.
We have been sequencing the things we do each day, for example, getting out of bed, brushing our teeth and getting dressed. We also played the game, What’s the time Mr Wolf? We read the story Jasper’s Beanstalk and sequenced the things he did each day. We had a challenge to see how many times we could write our name in a minute. Then we tried again to beat our score. Try at home to see how many different things you can do in a minute.
In Phonics, we have been learning the ow, ear, air and ure sounds. We have one more Phase 3 sound to learn and then will be revising the sounds learnt so far and applying them to their reading and writing. Please complete all phonics sheets in their phonics books and practise the sounds that your child cannot remember.
On Friday, it was St Patrick’s Day. We watched Year 3’s assembly and the irish dancing. After, we made painting of shamrocks, made green pictures and made rainbows outside.
Home Learning
Take a Science Selfie! Can you complete a science experiment at home and take a selfie of you and your family? Below are some websites with some ideas. Please bring in a photo to your class teacher.
This week, our story was Jack and the Beanstalk. The children retold the story through role play using masks. They drew maps to the castle and they made beanstalks with clouds. Outside they built castles in the clouds and built beanstalks using bricks and playdough. The children thought about what would the giant do if it came to Pope Paul School. We had breaking the toys, playing with toys, reading a story, playing in the sand pit and with the cars. Then we planted our own beans and we are going to observe them over time to see how they grow. We discussed what they will need to grow so we watered them and stuck them on the window so they will get sunlight.
In Maths, we have been learning about length and height. The children have been measuring with cubes, pencils, playdough, counters and lots more. They made different size worms using wool and compared the sizes using the vocabulary longer and shorter. Then they put the sizes in order. Then we looked at height. We estimated who we thought was the tallest and the shortest in the class and then measured by standing next to each other and we made a measuring wall with all the children’s heights.
During our esafety workshop, the children learnt the importance of being kind online, what information we should never give to others and what to do if we feel unsafe or upset. Some children took part in role play to demonstrate these important messages.
The children looked amazing on World Book Day. First we had assembly and then we had some visitors to read a story. Thank you to Jack’s gran and Mrs Lines for reading to us. Then we read the story Supertato and decorated potatoes.
Savannah’s dad read a story on Friday. The children enjoyed using the props he bought in to retell the story.
In Phonics we have been revising the digraphs we have learnt this term and we learnt the oi sound. Please practise the digraphs we have learnt this term and complete the oi sheet. Next week, we will be learning the rest of the Phase 3 sounds.
On Friday, we listened to the story of Palm Sunday, the children made palms and we acted out the story.
Next week is Science Week. On Thursday, we will be walking to Dame Alice Owen to see what a science lab looks like and will take part in some activities.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums, we hope you have a relaxing day.
We’re not sure we could have fitted more into this week if we tried!
On Monday, we went to Celtic Harmony for our History trip. Year 3 made shelters, hunted mammoths, made soup, listened to a story and saw how flint tools were made. Thank you to Lucas’ mum who was a helper on the trip.
On Tuesday Year 3 joined Year 4 in an e-safety workshop about keeping safe online. They were set challenges to solve and they enjoyed watching their class mates participate in the workshop through acting, answering questions etc.. They came away from the workshop empowered to become digitally resilient.
On Wednesday, along with Year 4, Year 3 attended a parish mass at OLSV as part of their Lenten preparations. Thank you to Noemi and Dafne who took up the offertory gifts. We also had a visit from Louis’ mum to read her favourite books. The class really enjoyed her storytelling.
Yesterday it was World Book Day. Everyone looked fantastic in their outfits. WBD is a highlight in the school calendar, recognising the power of books. We know that reading is important every day, not just once a year. World Book Day provides an opportunity to come together and share a love of reading, We also watched the live lesson on the BBC like hundreds of schools around the country. Miss Pringle came to Year 3 to read to the class in the afternoon and the children enjoyed seeing her in their classroom too. Your child has been given a World Book Day token. The £1 tokens and £1 books give all children the chance to experience choosing and owning a book – for free. So do encourage your child to take their token along to the relative shops to receive their free book.
We also did a book swap this afternoon. Some members of the class brought in a reading book and got one back in exchange! The children are keen to do this again…so please send in a reading book that your child no longer wants and your child should come home with another!
Wishing you a restful weekend!
Mrs Lines and Mrs McNamara
Home Learning
Next Friday, Year 3 are doing the St Patrick’s Assembly. They have been given their parts already and we would like them to practice them. Also, the class are singing two songs:
NB: Some children have mentioned that their accounts are working properly. I have been in touch with Mathletics and they are going to get back to me early next week. In the meantime, we hope that if your account is working, your child can complete the work set.
https://popepaul.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_7516.jpg240320Margaret Joycehttp://popepaul.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ppnewlogo.pngMargaret Joyce2024-03-08 16:20:062024-03-08 17:34:088th March 2024
In English, the class have continued their exciting unit on Spiderwick. This week, the children have written and performed radio broadcasts and have shared lots of lovely learning experiences with each other, through role play.
In Maths, Year 6 have been finding the area and perimeters of rectilinear shapes.
In RE, the children have continued to learn about the prayer The Examen. They have also reflected on the theme Dignity of Workers, through Catholic Social Teaching and Fairtrade lessons and they have also continued to focus on the Stations of the Cross during prayer time.
On Tuesday, the class participated in a very engaging e-safety workshop, where they revisited the vital message of keeping safe online.
On Wednesday, the children were visited by Max from The Passage; he spoke about the important work he does for the charity. The Passage is based in the heart of Westminster, and provides practical support and a wide range of services to help transform the lives of people who are, or are at risk of homelessness. The Passage takes its values and ethos from the teachings of St. Vincent De Paul, who was a Christian and social reformer and who co-founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633. Vincent believed in action rather than words, and in hands-on service to vulnerable people. The class were very inspired by what he had to say.
Yesterday, the class celebrated World Book Day, along with the rest of the school. The children looked FANTASTIC in their costumes/ pyjamas- thank you so much for supporting them with this. After a special WBD assembly, the children met up with their Reception reading partners and spent some time with them. Following this, the class participated in a speed book sharing event in class. In the afternoon, the class had a very special visitor read to them- Ms Donatantonio!!!
Home Learning
SPaG- Parenthesis activity
Spelling Shed- Words that can be nouns and verbs
-Identifying antonyms and synonyms
Mathletics- Area and perimeter
Daily reading
Well done to those of you who complete every single piece of home learning set for you.
It was lovely to see you all at the parent consultations this week!
On Monday, the children were introduced to the new RE Lenten focus on Catholic Social Teaching (CST).
Throughout the duration of Lent the whole school will be exploring a different principle of CST every week.
This week, the CST focus was ‘Care of Creation. The children had a special assembly in order to explore this principle,; this was followed by a class discussion based on this painting:
The class have also been reflecting on the Stations of the Cross and writing prayers in response.
In Maths, Year 6 have been learning about the order of operations (BODMAS) and in English, the children have been participating in lots of drama work based on the book Spiderwick. The following photos depict the class acting out the role of a Boggart making mischief in the classroom!
In Science, Year 6 have been learning about Inheritance and that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but that normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents. They had lots of fun demonstrating their understanding of this, by drawing pictures of the Little Miss and Mr Men characters and creating what they thought their children would look like!
We would first like to remind you that we have a class trip planned next Monday 4th March to Celtic Harmony. Please see the reminder below:
Year 3 Trip – Stone Age Day, Monday 4th March
The children in Year 3 are on a trip to a Stone Age Day at the Celtic Harmony Camp, as part of their creative topic for this term. The class will be travelling by coach to the Celtic Harmony Camp, Brickendon (near Hertford), Hertfordshire SG13 8NY and will be experiencing a range of exciting activities including:
Watching the Friction Fire lighting display
Gathering food in the forest and cooking with prehistoric herbs
Building their own woodland shelter.
Seeing the flint knapping demonstration, viewing a range of stone tools and hunting the mammoth!
We will be leaving school at 9.15am and expect to return to school before the end of the school day.
We will be outside all day so your child should wear their PE kit, with extra layers to keep warm. Your child should have a coat, gloves, a hat and scarf. Children can wear thick socks with their wellies/old trainers. Your child will also need to bring a packed lunch, with no glass bottles or fizzy drinks, and no nuts please.
This week in Maths the children have been working hard on subtraction with exchanging 10s for 1s and 100s for 10s. In English, we have begun our new unit based on the book Flotsam. The children built up their inference and deduction skills by searching though trays filled with flotsam that gave clues about a character.
In RE the class have spent time explaining what they already know about Lent and Holy Week as well as recalling the three practices of Lent. This week we have also launched our RE focus on the Stations of the Cross and Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Throughout Lent we will be emphasising a different CST principle each week, employing art as a medium for exploration. Following a launch assembly about this by Miss Donatantonio, the children contemplated the concept of “Care of Creation,” discussing and reflecting upon the painting below:
It was so lovely to hear how the children responded to this work of art on multiple levels.
Home Learning:
TTRs Log on and practise your 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables.
It has been lovely welcoming the children back to class this week and hearing them share their half term news with their friends.
In Maths, the children have been working hard to solve subtraction and addition word problems.
In RE they have spent time explaining what they already know about Lent and making Lent Prayer Pebbles, which they have ‘planted’ around the school. This week we have also looked at the first three Stations of the Cross and discussed the care of creation using this painting to inspire them.
They also took part in a reconciliation service, where we discussed the act of forgiveness and how important it is to say sorry to others.
In English, the class have been busy finishing their adventure stories, which are now proudly on display in our classroom.
Please remember that it is World Book Day on Thursday 7th March; children can wear their costumes or pyjamas!
