Owl Class

Welcome to Owl Class!

A stunning Tawny Owl

This year, all classes are named after woodland creatures. Being the wisest in the school, we are named after the majestic, mysterious and magnificent owl!

Welcome to Term 4!

This term our topic is Frozen Kingdoms! This project teaches children about the characteristics and features of polar regions, including the North and South Poles, and includes a detailed exploration of the environmental factors that shape and influence them.

English

SKY SONG

This term in English will see Owl Class reading Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone.

Eska from Sky Song…

I want to tell you who I am, I really do, but the truth is: I don’t know. The Ice Queen stole my memories the day she locked me in her cursed music box. And every day she makes me dance in her frozen palace I wonder: did I have a family before all this? Did I have friends? Did I belong to one of the tribes scattered across the kingdom of Erkenwald? One day I’ll break free from this music box and I’ll find out who I am and why the Ice Queen is so desperate to steal my voice…

Our first writing task based on this book is creating an information text for an Arctic animal. These will be on display very soon!

Knowledge Organisers

Check out our new Knowledge Organisers! For each Connected Curriculum topic, we will be creating a Knowledge Organiser. It is a short document which will enable children to refer to key points throughout our learning. Feel free to keep a copy at home to discuss which elements we have covered so far.

Maths

In Maths, we are completing our unit on algebra before moving on to converting measures.

We will continue to apply mastery learning of Maths using White Rose.

Click here to visit White Rose Maths.

We are also focusing on embedding arithmetic skills through Numeracy Ninjas and short arithmetic tests. Your child’s Numeracy Ninja tests are sent home weekly for you to track their progress and help support them where necessary.

Our Big Question for this term is, ‘What does it mean to be a Muslim today?’. Check out our RE Knowledge Organiser to see what we will be learning about.

Whole Class Guided Reading

We have started to use our Guided Reading sessions in a different way this year. We are now embarking upon whole class reading sessions and the children are really enjoying it. Our first book is ‘Cogheart’ by Peter Bunzl. Each child has their own copy of this brilliant book and we are using reading ‘VIPERS’ to analyse it as we go.

Click here to find out more about Cogheart.

OVEREADING VIEW ON COGHEART

Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2017 | September 2016 Debut of the Month

In a nutshell: tick-tocking frequently airborne adventure

From its opening scene aboard an airship harpooned in mid-air, Cogheart is filled with fabulous visual images and a tangible sense of adventure. It follows the story of Lily, whose inventor father is missing, presumed dead after the airship crash. What secrets was he keeping and why are others so determined to find them out? Lily is a great character but readers’ hearts are likely to be won by her companion Malkin, a clockwork fox, one of many automatons created by her father. The story proceeds at speed reaching its climax – where else – but on the face of Big Ben, the world’s most famous clock!

The Branford Boase Award Judges’ Comments – ‘what he does with the ideas is really good and the world-building is excellent’; ‘children reading this will feel inspired’; ‘imaginative and fun, would make a great film’.

This is definitely one for fans of Philip Reeve’s steampunk classic Mortal Engines, and they would also enjoy The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling. ~ Andrea Reece