SSE - Phonics

Happy Friday!

It's Science Week!

It's officially British Science Week 2020!

If you are creating your own science project for our roadshow on Friday please be reminded this is due tomorrow!

We can't wait to see all of your exciting projects!

Please click here for more information about the homework challenge.

Fact Hunter Award

Congratulations to Helena for finding out six facts about a rainforest!

Science Week 2020! Years 1-6

British Science Week: 6th - 15th March 2020

Dear Parents/Carers,

To celebrate British Science Week, we are running a whole school science based learning challenge where the children can pick one or more of the challenges below to complete at home. This year’s theme is ‘Our Diverse Planet’. We want to encourage young people to celebrate the amazing diversity we see across the world. From biodiversity to cultural and societal diversity, from the diversity of knowledge to STEM careers and subjects. There are lots of ways to explore this theme - we’d love to hear some of your ideas too!.

This year we are holding a Science Week Roadshow on Friday 13th March, where children can bring in science projects they have made, created and tested at home to share with parents and other pupils in the school.
There are some great websites to get inspiration from including:

• https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/sites/oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/files/STEM%20Futures%20brochure.WEB_.12Sep_1.pdf
• https://primarylibrary.crestawards.org/all-superstar-challenges/61747644
• https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/activity-packs/

1. Design and present your own science project for our Science Week Roadshow.

Of course you can be as creative as you like but any ideas linked to the theme ‘Our Diverse Planet’ would be fantastic! Your project must be eye-catching, colourful, neatly presented and interactive (if possible!).

Your project could involve any of the four STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

• You could create a model or prototype.
  You will need to include:
  *Information on your design including it’s purpose
  *How your design functions and how you have tested it
  *Reflection on your design including any challenges you faced and how you could improve it.

Some examples made in University of Mead STEM Squad group will be on show, which includes an electrical quiz board and a cardboard prosthetic hand invention.

• You could design and set up your own science investigation.

All great science investigations start with a question. For example ‘How do shadows change over the time of the day?’ Think about the science topics you have learned in class and are there any other experiments you would like to do. You will need to include:
*A prediction of what you think will happen (hypothesis)
*Equipment needed
*Method of how to carry out your investigation
*Results – Was your prediction correct? Why?
*A conclusion of what you have learned!
Your investigation can be practical and something that can be shown in our roadshow.

• A well presented information board

You could also link this with this year’s theme and poster competition listed below. Use the information on the next page to get some great ideas! Other themes to base your board on:
*A person you have heard about in the news.
*A significant person with a STEM career or who has achieved something unbelievable.

2. Design a poster for this year’s British Science Week Poster Competition on the theme ‘Our Diverse Planet’.

Get creative and enter the British Science Association’s annual poster competition, on the theme of journeys (more details on: https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/ ).
The 5 best posters from our school will be entered into the UK-wide competition with the chance for students to win an array of prizes, or you can enter your poster at home yourself.

Any entries for our Science Week Roadshow will be due by Tuesday 10th March 2020. KS2 entries are to be given to Mrs Hillyear and KS1 entries are to be given to Miss Redgrave. Good luck! Try to be as creative as possible and think outside the box! We look forward to seeing some fantastic entries this year!

Yours Sincerely

Mrs Hillyear & Miss Redgrave

Year 3 and 4 Learning Challenge

Here is the learning challenge for years 3 and 4 for Spring 2 and Summer 1.

	Picture	Language	Dance	Historical Events
Basic	Learn 5 facts about a famous artist.	List 10 different languages spoken.	Learn a dance move.	Draw a timeline of your own life.
	Find a painting that inspires you and tell your friend why.	Produce a poster promoting another language in school.	Find out the names of 5 famous dancers.	Tell your family some historical events that have happened.
Advancing	Create a drawing of a landscape.	Describe yourself in another language.	Make up your own dance routine.	Research a popular historical event.
	Write a setting description from your favourite picture.	Write a range of greetings in another language.	Teach a dance routine to your friend.	Put main historical events on a timeline.
Deepening	Paint a recreation of a famous picture.	Write a conversation between two people in another language.	Explain how dance has changed over time.	Produce an information leaflet about a historical event.
	Compare and contrast two different artists’ work.	Produce a short story in another language.	Compare two types of dance.	Compare and contrast two historical events.

Germany Celebrates Black History Month

Kellis, Anmona, Amiyah and Asia visiting Germany to present on British Jamaican Culture

Now that October is well and truly over, Germany is reflecting back on the projects, profiles and stories we have learned during Black History Month.

Black History Month is important to all those in Germany, and the children were excited to research and showcase inspiring Black British men and women.

'I am glad we did Black History Month, because it shows that Britain did not always give black people the same rights as white people, and that there were lots of important Black British people we did not know about." said Brea.

Brea with her project on Trinidadian Journalist Claudia Jones

Germany would like to give a special thank you to Kellis, Anmona, Asia and Amiyah from USA, who gave us a special presentation on British Jamaican culture.

Reuben with his project on Lilian Bade, the first black british woman to join the armed forces. 

Learning Challenge Awards

Francesca in Northern Ireland, Yvie, Jasmine, Kellis and Jacob in U.S.A and Abigail in Canada have been working hard at home and extending their knowledge through their learning challenge work.

Learning Challenge Awards

Havin in Canada and Muhammad and Sam in New Zealand have been working hard at home and extending their knowledge through their learning challenge work.

Learning Challenge Awards

Afnan and Austeja in Germany, Tomi, Isabel and Reinaldas in Canada and Elma in Mexico have been working hard at home and extending their knowledge through their learning challenge work.

WOW Award

I have made my teacher happy

Amaan, Angelo and Moksha in Barbados-For completing extra work at home on our Bear Hunt story
Devor, Elena, Michael, Junior, Jake, Luka and Ines in Kenya class.-For moving up a book band.
Haydar from Kenya -For completing his bingo homework.
Dovydas and Mahir from Wales.-Completing homework.
Diamond and Isabel  in Australia-for moving up a book band
Isabel in Australia-for completing all of this half terms homework bingo!
Kajus in Northern Ireland-for creating an amazing fact file about Northern Ireland.
Benjamin, Eduardo,Aayan and Elda in Palau-for moving up a reading level.
Kydeigh and Nevaeh in Palau-for fantastic home learning.
Jokubus in Madagascar for moving up a book band.
Aryja, Valentino and Arya in Madagascar-for completing Bingo homework.
Ria, Donovan, Lexi,,Dora, Darius and Amber in St Lucia-for completing  home learning.
David and Merkhima in New Zealand-for moving up a book band
Paulina, Merkhima, Jett, Janisha and Daniel K in New Zealand-for completing homework bingo.
Max and Bogdan in Egypt-for completing Bingo homework.
Shay, Poppy, Scarlett, Logan and Hollie in Jamaica-for excellent work and research into our Bear Hunt story at home.
Jaime, Kiyah and Austeja  in Germany-for researching Russian words to make our new student feel at home.
Millie-Rae  and Aaliyah in Germany-for research for Black History Month
Wilson in Argentina-for his amazing acting as a barrister at the Royal Courts of Justice
Donald in Argentina-for defining each of his spellings and writing them in sentences
Wadi in Scotland-for producing an amazing 3d map of Scotland for his learning challenge.

Learning Challenge Awards

Lukas in Wales, Jovan in Northern Ireland have been working hard at home and extending their knowledge through their learning challenge work.

Year 3 Learning Challenge

We are delighted to provide you with the new Year 3 Learning Challenge for the first half of the Autumn Term, based on our new Geography topic about the United Kingdom.

This project based learning challenge works with children choosing which of the activities they would like to complete and will compliment learning in class. The children will receive a special Learning Challenge certificate at the end of the half term on completion of a project that shows a significant level of effort and challenge undertaken.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support. The most impressive pieces of work will again be shared with the headteacher and in our next showcase. We look forward to seeing your fantastic projects again. Good Luck!

Kind Regards
Year 3 Team

Choose from the following projects below:

Year 5 Autumn 1 Learning Challenge

Learning Challenge

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are delighted to provide you with the Learning Challenge for the first half of the Autumn Term. The activities are split into Basic, Advanced and Deep Learning. This allows us to look at learning at Mead, and is designed to ensure that children not only acquire factual knowledge but also gain a further understanding about how their new skills or knowledge can be applied to their own lives or be used to further their cognitive and social development.

The theme of the Learning Challenge for the first half of the Autumn Term is ‘What does culture

mean?’. It is entirely up to the child whether they select the poem, significant person, music or painting, or a combination of all 4. They can also select the activities that they want to attempt, though we would encourage them to deepen their learning as much as possible.

Although the Learning Challenge is entirely optional, and in addition to the daily homework expectation of 15 minutes reading, 15 minutes times tables rehearsals and 15 minutes spellings practice, we have found that a large proportion of children have voluntarily taken up the challenge and have gained a great deal from it. We would therefore be grateful for you to encourage this at home. The children will receive a special Learning Challenge certificate at the end of the half term on completion of a project that shows a significant level of effort and challenge undertaken by the individual child.

Should you have any problems regarding this, or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank you again for your continued support, and look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Painting

'Sisters' by Claude Clark

Poem

‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou

The free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wings

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with fearful trill

of the things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill for the caged bird

sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

Significant Person

Muhammad Ali

Music

'What a Wonderful World' by Louis Armstrong

Year 4 Learning Challenge

13th September 2019

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are delighted to provide you with a new Year 4 Learning Challenge for the first half of the Summer Term, based on our topic ‘Who are our European Neighbours?’

This new learning challenge works the same way as the last one, with children choosing which of the activities they would like to complete, but it is more project based and will compliment learning in class.

Although the Learning Challenge is entirely optional, and is in addition to the daily expectation of 15 minutes reading, 15 minutes times tables rehearsal and 15 minutes spelling practice, we have found that a large proportion of children have voluntarily taken up the challenges in the past and have gained a great deal from it. We would therefore greatly appreciate your encouragement to participate. The children will receive a special Learning Challenge certificate at the end of the half term on completion of a project that shows a significant level of effort and challenge undertaken.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support, and look forward to working with you this academic year.

Yours faithfully,
Miss Spinks
Year 4 Lead

Our topic is all about  ‘Who are our European Neighbours?’

Choose from the following projects below:

Project 1	Project 2	Project 3	Project 4
Using an atlas or the Internet, make a list of 10 European countries and their capital cities.	Use the Internet or books to create a fact file about any European country.	Design and write a postcard, imagining that you have visited a European city of your choice. Tell the reader what you liked and disliked about the city.	Make a set of Top Trump cards for different countries in Europe giving points for different attribute. E.G. population, weather etc.
Project 5	Project 6	Project 7	Project 8
Design and draw a poster persuading people to visit a European city of your choice.	Research and display in a bar chart, the population of 6 different countries in Europe.	Create a PowerPoint giving the class 10 fun facts about Europe.	Write a non-chronological report about the European country of your choice. Don’t forget to include all the features of a non-chronological report: introduction and conclusion; headings and subheadings; topic sentences; technical vocabulary; pictures and captions.

Year 4 Learning Challenge

Congratulation to Havin and Fizzah in Greece Class who has put in a considerable amount of effort into their Topic Learning Challenge; 'Let's Navigate London' The children loved watching their presentations especially listening to Fizzah's pamphlet of what London has to offer, and looking at Havin's model Buckingham Palace, newspaper report on the fire of London and all her effort she put into very piece. Well done girls on your homework in the last week of school!

Learning Challenge Awards

Charlotte F and Isabel in St Lucia have been working hard at home and extending their knowledge through their learning challenge work.

Wow Awards

These children have made their teacher very happy:
Marvellous, Nevaeh, Olivia, Nicolas and Harrison in Barbados class for their progress in RWI and for moving up a group
Janisha in Jamaica for her amazing perseverance with her independent writing
Merkhima in Jamaica for writing a great lift-the-flap book
Layla in Jamaica for moving up a book band
Alice, Janisha, Majus, Ella Dempcee and Francesca in Jamaica for great progress in RWI
Isabel, Hazel, Daniel, Maathumai, Ryan and Mickey-Ray in St Lucia for moving up a book band
Eleni, James and Rio in Palau for moving up a book band
Sumad in Palau for completing your homework bingo
Tehzeeb in New Zealand for completing your homework bingo.
Tiana in New Zealand for moving up book bands.
Nina in Greece completing three learning challenges
Joshua, Aamir, Daniel.O, Luka, Gabriel and Seiar in Australia for moving up book bands.
Ruby in Germany for moving up a book band.
Alex in Germany for moving up a book band
Sophiat in Germany for her creative model of London.
Amelia in Germany for her leaflet on London.
Jannat in Germany for her poster on London
Molly, Sophie A, Sophie and Hollie in Chile for their brilliant ideas to become more eco friendly in school
Kajus in Madagascar for Bingo homework
Riddhi in Egypt for Bingo homework.
Safiyya, Lily and Anthony in Greece for completing homework.
Tanisha in Mexico for an excellent book review of Wonder (our class reading book)
Amanda, Amelia in Mexico class for completing the maths challenge

WOW Awards

The following children have made their teacher happy:
Roberto in Australia for extra learning at home.
Paige and Linh in Australia for moving up a book band.
Tomi in Greece for completing learning challenge.
Charlotte F and Gracie in St Lucia for moving up a bookband
Dempcee-Leigh in Jamaica for her fantastic improvement in attendance
Jett in Jamaica for moving up a book band
Albert, Filip and Frankie in Kenya for moving up a bookband.
Oghomwen for Bingo homework and Tiana for moving up a book band in New Zealand
James, Fareeda, Millie,Sienna and Max in Palau for completing their bingo homework
Eleni, Max, Jake, Sienna, Aiden and Lara in Palau for moving up a RWI group.
Lottie in Palau for moving up a book band.
Daisy in Egypt for moving up a book band.
Vanesa in Germany for a wonderful model of London.
Alfie in Madagascar for being so kind and helpful.
Olivia-Rose and Vansh in Madagascar for Bingo homework.
Felicity, Gabriela, Afnan, Aaliyah, Folasade, Bailey, Lennon, Samuel, Rehan, Ellie-Mae and Millie-Rae in Scotland for moving up a book band.
Maisie and Thai in Scotland for amazing behaviour this week.
Harry and Tanisha in Mexico receives a maths reward Jack in Wales for fabulous maths homework
Mia-Lea, Dominik, Bella, Jolin in N.Ireland for moving up a reading level

Learning Challenge Awards

Isabel in St Lucia have been working hard at home and extending her knowledge through her learning challenge work.

Wow Awards

The following children have made their teacher very happy:
Sophia and David in Palau for moving up a book band

Claudia in Chile for moving up a level in reading

Nina, Isabel Anya, and Reinaldas in Greece class for completing their learning challenge.

Alex, Ali, Michael, Ian and Alexander in Kenya for moving up a book band.

Dan in Germany for moving up a book band.

Aiden in Germany for moving up a book band.

Ruby in Germany for reading 10 books.

Elena and Linh in Australia for bingo homework
Maxim and Roberto in Australia for extra learning at home.

Elise and Ronnie in Egypt for moving up a book band.

Jovan and Mariama in Madgascar for moving up a book band

Melissa in St Lucia for moving up a book band
Yannis in St Lucia for making a book about a shark.

Jacob-Lee in Mexico for reading comprehension homework

Mya, Jasmika, Austeja, Charly, Riley R, Olivia and Logan in Scotland for moving up a reading level
Hanzalah, Anya and Tomi in Greece for fabulous maths homework