Our Topic this term is: Ancient Civilisations

 

We will be continuing our project, Ancient Civilisations. In the Ancient Civilisations project, your child has learnt about the ancient Sumer and will continue to learn about the ancient Egyptians civilisation. The children will reflect on their learning by identifying the similarities and differences between the two civilisations. The children will then compare the two civilisations, before learning about the causes and consequences of each civilisation’s decline. They will also consider whether or not these civilisations left a lasting legacy.

These activities are for you to do at home with an adult. You can do all of them or choose the ones that you find most interesting.

1. Use your research skills to find out what an ancient civilisation is. Write a simple definition, then list the characteristics of a civilisation. List the names of some ancient civilisations found from your research.

2. Use information books and the internet to find out about archaeology, archaeologists, archaeological sites and artefacts. Create an information poster or non-chronological report to record your findings. Include images if you can. Once complete, share it with a family member. Afterwards, you might enjoy searching the online collections of The British Museum or The Met Museum to view other artefacts from ancient Sumer, ancient Egypt or the Indus Valley.

3. Three of the world’s first civilisations include ancient Sumer or ancient Egypt civilisation. Imagine that you are an archaeologist examining these artefacts. Complete a table to record your observations and ideas about each artefact. Include the name of the civilisation, artefact type, materials, possible uses and description.

4. Use your existing knowledge and research skills to write a few sentences about each of the following civilisations. • ancient Sumer (c4500–c1900 BC) • ancient Egypt (c3100–30 BC)

5. What did the ancient Sumerians invent, and how did these inventions make work easier and improve everyday life? Use information books and the internet to answer this question. Record information on a mind map. Expand on the information in your mind map by writing a summary to answer the enquiry question.

6. Use information books or the internet to find out about pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Choose two pharaohs that you find interesting, draw a picture of them, record the dates of their reign and write a fascinating fact about each one.

7. Read a book containing ancient Egyptian myths. Choose your favourite myth and retell the story to a family member. Afterwards, illustrate your favourite scene from the story. Write a description beneath your picture to explain what is happening.

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Maths

In Maths we will be learning about shape before moving on to length and perimeter. We will then study statistics, position and direction. We will also continue to prepare intensely for the Multiplication Check happening in the second week. We are also seeing that children are really putting in the work learning their times tables and are completing a daily challenge to help them prepare further. One last push

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The overviews and lessons follow the White Rose Maths plans closely.

The link to their site with home learning and advice on can be found here:

https://whiterosemaths.com/advice-and-guidance

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Here is an overview of the year. 

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Reading & Writing

In English we will be continuing to use Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll. This is a fantastic story with great links to our topic and has been an enjoyable read. We will be creating an advert and writing a five part story of our own. In reading, we will be reading National Geographic’s Fantastic Facts book on Ancient Egypt.                                                                                          

RHSE

In RSHE, we will be learning about first aid. This is a very important project which hopefully will engage the children as an important life skill.  

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Science

In Science, we will be continuing to study Electrical Circuits and Conductors. In the project, your child has already learnt about the importance of electricity to our daily lives. They know about a range of electrical components, such as cells, batteries, wires, lamps, buzzers and motors, and can use them to construct series circuits, exploring the effect of adding and removing different components. Your child will use their knowledge of electrical conductors and insulators to design, make and evaluate a game.

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Music

We will continue to use our music platform, Charanga, which the children seem to be thoroughly enjoying. This half term we will begin to learn the song Blackbird and folk: Yellow Submarine, Hey Jude, Can’t Buy Me, Yesterday and Let It Be.

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PE

In PE the first unit ‘symmetry balance travel’ unit has an important focus upon pupil's movement skills within gymnastics. Pupils consider how they can use different shapes and movements to create routines and present them to their peers. Each word focuses on a different gymnastics area. Symmetry explores the use of symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes; Balance looks at counter-balance and counter-tension whilst travel considers different jumps and rolls we can use within gymnastics. The second unit, ‘accuracy power distance’ unit looks to develop a wide range of throwing skills. Pupils will explore a range of throwing techniques and consider the differences needed to achieve throwing for accuracy; throwing with power and throwing for distance. What type of throw will be best? Furthermore, the pupils will experiment with different throwing implements and again decide which they prefer to use and why.

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Design and Technology

In Design and Technology, we will complete a project called Tomb Builders. This project teaches children about simple machines, including wheels, axles, inclined planes, pulleys and levers, exploring how they helped ancient builders to lift and move heavy loads.

 

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Art and Design

In Art and Design we will be studying Islamic Art. This project teaches children about the features of Islamic art. They make geometric patterns and motifs on paper, with fabric and in clay. They will use their learning to create a high relief clay tile, decorated with geometric patterns.

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Homework

Homework will be set and completed on Seesaw or on paper, this will be a mixture of maths, science and topic work. Spellings will be also be on seesaw. Home readers should be returned on a Thursday so that new books can be handed out on a Friday.

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On a Friday afternoon, in class, we will be doing a Kahoot quiz based on the previous week's learning. The quiz will then be placed on Seesaw for the children to attempt at home. 

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                Start of Summer 2

                 Parents letter 

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