Autumn Term One: English - Greek Myths
The children start by reading a selection of Greek myths, using drama and inference to empathise with the characters and looking at the different themes in myths. They look at the author’s use of devices to build cohesion and different ways of indicating parenthesis. For the final writing task, they brainstorm, plan and write their own myths, focusing on including powerful language and using devices of cohesion.
Autumn Term Two: English - Animals on the Move
In this unit, the children explore the Big Question: Which animal makes the toughest migration? They read the interactive eBook, using the skills of skimming and scanning to find answers to questions and using the organisational features of the eBook to find information. They revise and develop using relative clauses to present information clearly. In their writing task, children plan and write a chronological report about a specific animal migration.
Maths
Autumn Term One: Science - Earth and Space
In this unit, the children will embark on a captivating journey to explore the wonders of space and the celestial bodies that inhabit it. They will delve into the mysteries of planets, from the scorching deserts of Mercury to the gaseous giants like Jupiter, learning about their unique characteristics and their place within our solar system. As they gaze upwards, they will uncover the secrets behind Earth's intricate movements, understanding the phenomenon of day and night as the planet rotates on it's axis. The children will also unravel the enigmatic dance between Earth and its moon, discovering the causes behind the moon's various phases and its influence on tides. Through engaging lessons, interactive activities, and visual aids, young learners will develop a profound appreciation for the cosmos while gaining a solid foundation in astronomy and planetary science.
Autumn Term Two: Science - Properties and Changes of Materials
This ‘Properties and Changes of Materials’ unit will teach the children about different materials, their uses and their properties, as well as dissolving, separating mixtures and irreversible changes. The children will sort and classify objects according to their properties. They will explore the properties of materials to find the most suitable material for different purposes. The children will work scientifically and collaboratively to investigate the best thermal insulator to make a lunch box, making predictions and forming conclusions.
Furthermore, they will have chance to find the best electrical conductor, in the context of making floodlights brighter. They will have the opportunity to work in a hands-on way to explore dissolving, identifying the different variables in their own investigations. They will find out about different ways to separate mixtures of materials, using filtering, sieving and evaporating. Finally, they will learn about irreversible changes, and participate in two exciting investigations to create new materials, including casein plastic and carbon dioxide.
Autumn Term One: History - Ancient Greece
In this unit about ancient Greece, the children will gain an understanding of where and when some key events during the ancient Greek period took place. They will explore what is meant by the terms ‘trade’, ‘civilisation’ and ‘empire’ and explore how, towards the end of the ancient Greek period, Alexander the Great grew an empire resulting in the Greek civilisation spreading more widely.
When learning about daily life in ancient Greece, children will explore what life was like for different people who were enslaved during ancient Greek times. They will then independently research and feed back on different elements of daily life in ancient Greece. The children will also explore the differences between life in ancient Athens and ancient Sparta. They will learn about early democracy in Athens and take part in a debate about life in Athens and Sparta and will use ancient Greek pottery as a primary source to help them gather evidence about the ancient Greek Olympics and make comparisons between the ancient Games and the modern Olympics.
Autumn Term Two: Geography - Marvellous Maps
Marvellous Maps allows children to further explore the range of maps available to geographers and to develop their understanding of the key features of maps. They will study a range of maps and atlases, including digital maps, and compare their features. The will learn to use the eight compass points to give directions and give grid references to locate places on a map. By comparing maps of the same place, children will learn about the way that places have changed over time.
