Welcome to Kestrel Class

The Kestrel Class team

Class Teacher: Miss Newbould

Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs Fletcher

SEND Teaching Assistant: Mrs Dean

PPA Cover Teacher: Mrs Chastney on Tuesday afternoons

Together, we work hard to create a classroom environment which inspires confidence and a love of learning. Our learning is theme-based and this is reflected in the look and feel of our classroom. From surviving Prehistory to flying over France, we use our Geography, History and Art topics to draw together our other learning.  

I am passionate about creativity and am always thinking about the next artistic project we can do as a class. I believe that learning should be fun and that the new skills learnt should be applied in real life situations and challenges.

How we learn in Kestrel Class

• We focus on building their independence and the children will be taught how to use different resources to help themselves (word banks, dictionaries, maths resources). 
• Much of our learning involves teamwork and children having the opportunity to discuss their thinking.
• We will be supporting the children to develop confidence and resilience. We talk a lot about Growth Mindset and the importance of believing that everyone can improve with effort and practice.
• We love feedback in Kestrel Class and children are encouraged to give each other helpful feedback, improve their own work and listen to the feedback from adults.

Summer 2023-24

Why do people migrate to the UK?

This term, much of our learning will be inspired by our Geography topic: Why do people migrate to the UK? We will be exploring some of the differences across Europe and developing our knowledge of European countries and capitals. We will compare some European countries to Britain and investigate the routes that people could take to travel here. 

Our writing in English will help us to explore some of the folklore across Europe as we look at the stories recorded by the Brothers Grim and some other traditional European tales. I'm sure the children will have fun writing their own versions of Hansel and Gretel. 

Our Science and DT this term both look at circuits and electricity and you may liek to visit this website to try out some (safe) experiments at home: https://www.weareteachers.com/electricity-experiments/

Knowledge Organiser

These Knowledge Organisers show all of the sticky knowledge (facts that we want to stick in the children's heads) and vocabulary that we want children to be able to know by the end of the topic. You might like to ask your child about some of these words or ideas at home. Find this term's knowledge organisers for RE, Science and History by scrolling to the bottom of the page. 

Reading in Kestrel Class

Now that your child is in KS2, we like to build their independence to choose their own book and write in their reading record. To support them in making the right book choices, we carefully curate the books we have available in class.

When children first join us, they can choose from our selection of class 'bridge books' which are chosen to help the transition from levelled reading books into chapter books. Once an adult has checked they are ready to move on, they will begin to choose their own books from our class selection. This selection is kept small and changed at least once a term to keep the offer of books exciting. Adults regularly talk to children about their reading choices to support them in this journey.

Reading Passport

Our reading passport books in Year 3 and 4 have such a range of exciting fiction and non-fiction texts. These will always be available for your child to read and borrow from class. Once your child has read seven of these books themselves, they can bring their passport into school to be awarded a £5 book token. 

Our texts this term

Hansel and Gretel by Anthony Browne

This term, we will be exploring the gruesome tale of Hansel and Gretel by looking at a brilliant retelling of the story by Anthony Browne. Although the language in the story is very similar to the Brothers Grimm original, the dark and complex pictures update the tale and provide some rich opportunities for thought and discussion from the chidlren. 

"Hansel and Gretel is perhaps the darkest and greatest of the fairytales from the Brothers Grimm. This extraordinary book brings the classic childhood tale to a new generation courtesy of one of the world's greatest picture book artists, Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Anthony Browne."

Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave their Homes? And Other Big Questions by Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young

To support our Geography learning, we will also be reading this fantastic non-fiction book all about refugees and migrants. 

"What does it mean for people to have to leave their homes, and what happens when they seek entry to another country? This book explores the history of refugees and migration around the world and the effects on people of never-ending war and conflict. It compares the effects on society of diversity and interculturalism with historical attempts to create a racially 'pure' culture. It takes an international perspective, and offers a range of views from people who have personal experience of migration, including the campaigners Meltem Avcil and Muzoon Almellehan, the comedian and actor Omid Djalili and the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Aimed at young people aged 10 and upwards, the book encourages readers to think for themselves about the issues involved. There is also a role-play activity asking readers to imagine themselves in the situation of having to decide whether to leave their homes and seek refuge in a new country.

Part of the groundbreaking and important 'And Other Big Questions' series, which offers balanced and considered views on the big issues we face in the world we live in today."

Important information

Uniform

General uniform:

Dark blue sweatshirt/cardigan, light blue polo shirt, grey trousers/skirt/shorts, grey/navy/white socks or tights, dark coloured school shoes or boots in winter

PE kit:

Randwick PE Shirt, navy shorts/cycling shorts/skirt, trainers, change of socks (white/grey)

In cold weather, navy blue joggers/leggings and a school sweatshirt are recommended

Forest school kit:

Navy blue joggers, usual t-shirt and school jumper. They can wear their shoes/trainers to school and bring their wellies with them in a bag. Don’t forget a waterproof coat!

- Please clearly name everything -

Helpful Websites

These are websites that we use to support your child's learning in school. Your child might like to build on thier learning at home and complete thier own projects. Do get in touch with me if you would like a copy of the children's school log in details. Most of these websites will also allow you to set up free accounts for projects at home. 

On Scratch, children can use coding to build a whole range of creations:  https://scratch.mit.edu/

Book creator allows children to make thier own eBooks: https://bookcreator.com/

Brush Ninja is brilliant for creating animations: https://brush.ninja/

Chrome Music Lab allows children to explore music and compose thier own pieces. We particularly use the Song Maker app: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/

DK Find out is an online encyclopedia for children. We often use it to complete research for science, history and geography topics: https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/

Spelling frame supports children with learning the spellings for their year group and has a range of games that the children enjoy: https://spellingframe.co.uk/

Doodle Maths and Tables

All children from Year 1 upwards have a Doodle Maths and Doodle Tables account set up. We ask children to practise doodling regularly at home to build on their maths learning in school. Each week, one class will be awarded the trophy for 'Top Doodling Class' for the most number of children in the 'Green Zone'. There is also a certificate and small prize for the child who has impressed us with regular practice at home. 

You might like to download the apps at home if you have a device your child regularly uses.  Please get in touch if you need another copy of your child's password. 

https://doodlelearning.com/

Guardians - Defenders of Mathematica is a brilliant gamified maths program created by BBC bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/games/embed/guardians-mathematica?exitGameUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fbbc.com%2Fbitesize%2Farticles%2Fzn2y7nb

Get in touch

If you wish to contact me, please use this email address: [email protected]