This autumn term, children in Lower Key Stage Two will be exploring a rich and varied curriculum. In Religious Education, we are learning about Hinduism, focusing on the story of Rama and Sita and the significance of Diwali as a festival of light and good triumphing over evil. In Art, pupils will study sculpture, creating their own pieces inspired by the work of Giacometti and Picasso. Our History topic looks at how children’s lives have changed over time, with a focus on the Tudor and Victorian eras. In Geography, we are investigating volcanoes, particularly how they affect the communities that live near them. PE lessons will develop orienteering and teamwork skills, alongside learning net and wall games. In Science, we are exploring forces and magnets, encouraging curiosity through hands-on investigations and experiments.

Week 7

This half term in French, the children have been learning the names of musical instruments. They have enjoyed exploring how to say and recognise a variety of instruments in French, and have been practising their pronunciation and vocabulary through games, songs, and interactive activities.

This term in PE, Beech Class has been developing their navigation and teamwork skills through orienteering activities around the school grounds. Using specially designed maps of our school, the children have taken part in a variety of fun and challenging exercises that encouraged them to think critically, move with purpose, and work together.

This week, the children have really enjoyed visiting our new library! They were excited to explore the space, browse through the books, and spend time reading in a calm and welcoming environment.

Week 6

In Design & Technology, the children have been exploring how to strengthen structures using techniques such as laminating, ribbing, and corrugating. They have enjoyed testing out these methods and discovering how everyday materials can be made stronger and more stable!

In English this week, we have been exploring the features of biographies. The children have been practising their reading comprehension by locating key information in the text and answering true or false questions. It has been a great way to develop their understanding of how biographies are structured and what makes them informative and engaging.

In PE, the children have been practising their throwing and catching skills, working in pairs and small groups. They have been developing their coordination, teamwork, and focus through a variety of games.

Week 5

This week, children across the school have taken part in voting for their new school councillors. It has been a fantastic opportunity for the children to engage in the democratic process, share their ideas, and support their peers. We are proud of everyone who put themselves forward and of all the pupils who took part in the voting.

In our recent Geography lesson, we have been investigating tectonic plates and how their movements shape the Earth's surface. Using atlases, we explored different regions around the world to locate major mountains. This helped us understand how many mountains are formed.

In Design and Technology, we have been learning how to use simple computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create nets for shell structures. This involved designing flat shapes on the computer that can be folded and assembled into 3D models, such as boxes or containers.

Week 4

In RE, we have been learning about the different avatars of Lord Vishnu and exploring the important messages they brought—such as standing up for what is right, showing kindness, and protecting others. We have also been thinking about how we can reflect these values in our own lives, both at school and at home.

In Maths, the children have been practising measuring lengths using tape measures and rulers. They measured a range of objects around the classroom and recorded their results in centimetres and metres. It was a great opportunity to apply their learning in practical ways and build confidence using standard units of measurement.

To help reinforce our weekly spelling words in a fun and engaging way, we have been using word search activities in class. These puzzles give the children a chance to spot patterns, improve their word recognition, and enjoy a bit of a challenge while practising their spelling. It has been a great way to make learning interactive and enjoyable.

Week 3

In RE, the children have been learning about good and bad role models by looking at the story of Rama and Sita. We talked about what makes someone a good role model, like being kind, brave, and honest, just like Rama and Sita in the story. The children also thought about characters who made poor choices and discussed why it’s important to try our best to do the right thing.

 

This week in Geography, we have been learning all about the different layers of the Earth — the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. The children have created their own  Earths to help them understand how our planet is structured. These have now gone home, so please take a moment to ask your child what they can tell you about each layer. You might be surprised by how much they know!

In Maths, children have been deepening their understanding of number and place value by exploring what happens when we add or subtract 10, 100, or 1000. Using practical resources such as place value counters and base ten apparatus, children have been able to visualise how digits shift within a number depending on the value being added or subtracted. 

Week 2

In English, we have been exploring The Tin Forest and focusing on how the main character feels throughout the story. To help us describe these emotions more precisely, we have been learning to use a thesaurus. This helps children find richer words—for example, using hopeful instead of just happy, or lonely instead of sad. Expanding vocabulary in this way supports both emotional understanding and creative writing. You can try this at home too, by encouraging your child to find new words for feelings in the stories you read together.

In PE, the children have been developing their orienteering skills by working in pairs to follow cone courses using simple maps. They have learned how to set and orientate a map, improving their teamwork, problem-solving, and spatial awareness—all while having great fun!

Week 1 

This week, we have been diving into the concept of exchanging in Maths, and the children have really enjoyed the hands-on learning! We have been using counters and base ten apparatus to explore how we can exchange up (like turning ten, ten rods into one hundred) and exchange down (like breaking a hundred into ten tens).

To make it fun and engaging, we played our special "Exchange Up and Exchange Down" games, which helped the children understand place value in a practical way.

This week in English, we have begun exploring our new unit based on the modern folk tale The Tin Forest by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson. This beautifully illustrated story encourages children to think about themes such as hope, imagination, and transformation.

To spark curiosity and discussion, we started by looking closely at pictures from the book. The children have been generating thoughtful questions based on what they see, helping them to make predictions and deepen their understanding of the story’s setting and characters.