Kestrel Class 2023 - 2024

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

How are living things in a habitat connected?

This term, much of our learning will be inspired by our Science topic: Living things and their habitats. We will be exploring the relationship between plants and animals and the environment they live in. We will explore the causes and consequences of changes in a habitat and will develop our skills of classification. Our writing in English will help us to understand these ideas more deeply as we explore the wonderful book 'Varmints'. In our art, we will be exploring natural patterns through the print designs of William Morris to create our own habitat inspired wallpaper. 

We will also be deepening our History learning about the Bronze Age by investigating Stonehenge and the Amesbury Archer burial site. 

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

Varmints by Helen Ward

This term, we will be exploring the world of the 'Varmints' in our writing lessons. This beautiful picture book contains some complex and fascinating themes connected to nature, the urban landscape and how individuals can transform the world around them for good. The stunning illustrations will support  wonderful descriptive writing and will inspire the children's dilemma stories and discussion writing. 

"Once, the only sounds to be heard were the buzzing of bees in the grass, the murmuring of moles in the earth, and the song of birds in the sky. These warmed the hearts of those who cared to listen - until the others came to fill the sky with a cacophony of noise. With dramatically lit artwork and a spare, intriguing text, Varmints tells of a pastoral world in need of protection and of the souls who love it enough to ensure its regeneration."

Joan Procter Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez

Our inspirations Scientist this term is Joan Procter, and we will be following in her footsteps to become biologists and zoologists in our science lessons. 

"Back in the days of long skirts and afternoon teas, young Joan Procter entertained the most unusual party guests: slithery and scaly ones, who turned over teacups and crawled past the crumpets... While other girls played with dolls, Joan preferred the company of reptiles. She carried her favorite lizard with her everywhere - she even brought a crocodile to school!

When Joan grew older, she became the Curator of Reptiles at the Natural History Museum. She went on to design the Reptile House at the London Zoo, including a home for the rumored-to-be-vicious komodo dragons. There, just like when she was a little girl, Joan hosted children's tea parties - with her komodo dragon as the guest of honour.

With a lively text and vibrant illustrations, scientist and writer Patricia Valdez and illustrator Felicita Sala bring to life Joan Procter's inspiring story of passion and determination."

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]