Welcome to Redwood Class!

Hello and welcome to Redwood.

Redwood are a lovely bunch of children who especially enjoy practical lessons whatever the subject. The children are taught by Mrs Hearn and Miss Heath who are assisted by our lovely teaching assistant called Mrs Hassell.  

As the oldest children in the school we aim to: set a good example for the younger children; show our school values; aim high across the curriculum; work hard to be ready for Secondary and have fun whilst we learn. Please scroll down to see what we have been up to and our gallery.

General Info

PE days

A typical day will always include maths and literacy, plus a mix of reading and other subjects. Our PE days are currently Monday and Friday when children are asked to come to school in their PE kit. 

Presentation

In Redwood, the children are expected to bring their own pencil cases ready to learn. They are expected to always take pride in their work, with excellent presentation. 

Reading

The children love stories and books and read in several ways: guided reading, individual reading and read for pleasure. The children are still expected to have a reading book (either from school or home) which they read from regularly. Books are tracked via our Accelerated reader system, which checks understanding with a short quiz after each book. Reading should be something the children do at home to support learning in school.

Homework

As well as reading, homework consists of weekly spellings, plus a short maths and English task. Homework is an expectation in Redwood. Completed homework gains two dojos with it being set on a Friday and due in the following Thursday. The children will be given a homework folder and paper or worksheets to complete this on. Spellings and fluency maths practise are also accessible via the ED Shed website.

Dojos

Messages and news will be communicated via the Class dojo website. This app is also a way of rewarding good learning behaviour and values. Dojos will be regularly given for homework, spellings etc but also in school for excellent attitude. work and achievements. Dojos are now also linked to our new Learning Powers.

SATS

Whilst year 5 children don’t do SATS, we will be working towards these with the Year 6 children and starting some useful skills with year 5. Year 5’s do termly assessments as normal. 

Phones

Phones are only allowed in school where children need them for safety travelling to or from school. If your child needs to bring their phone to school they need to hand it into the school office. Phones are not permitted in school bags or lockers. School are not responsible for any devices brought to school. Phones should not be used on the buses and photos are not to be taken on the buses; this is for the safeguarding of all children. 

Walking Home

In Upper Key Stage 2 children are allowed to walk home on their own, with the permission of parents. If you plan for your child to walk home unaccompanied please let us know.

Summer Term 2024 - Topic

  Groundbreaking Greeks

In the Groundbreaking Greeks project, your child will learn about different periods of Greek history, exploring the earliest civilisations. They will understand how the geography of Greece affected the development of city states and explore Athens, learning about the structure of the government and society. They will get to know some of the most significant Athenians and understand why Greek art, culture, architecture, philosophy, medicine and mathematics were so significant. Your child will learn about the leadership of Alexander the Great and discover how ancient Greece became part of the Roman Empire after the Hellenistic period.  To end the project, your child will decide which was the ancient Greeks' greatest idea, and explore how the legacy of ancient Greece affects their lives today. 

All of this will run alongside the Year 6 SATS. We will have to work hard, but there will also be lots of fun with end of year activities and a camping trip.

Autumn Term 2023 - Dynamic Dynasties

In Dynamic Dynasties, your child will learn about periods of ancient Chinese history. They will explore a timeline of the first five Chinese dynasties and learn about the legends surrounding the beginning of Chinese civilisation.  They will study oracle bones, learn about religious beliefs and explore bronze artefacts that set the Shang Dynasty apart from other civilisations. They will also study the hierarchy of the Shang Dynasty and discover who was powerful and who was powerless. They will look at warfare and find out how bronze technology gave the Shang Dynasty an advantage over their enemies. They will learn about the life of the great military leader, Fu Hao. To end the project, your child will find out how ancient China’s lasting legacy can be seen in the world today.

Alongside this they will be learning about Forces and Earth and Space in science. They will also be challenged to invent their own pneumatic machine in DT then write a sales pitch for the Dragon's Den to 'sell' their creation.

Summer Term 2023 - Britain at War

In the Britain at War project, your child will learn about the main causes of the First World War and which countries were the major players. They will investigate why so many men volunteered to fight and then sequence the events at the start of the war. Using various sources of evidence, the children will learn about life in the trenches and the consequences of new weaponry. The children will also learn about the causes and main events of the Second World War. They will find out how Britain prepared itself for war and the war’s impact on civilian life. They will learn about the Battle of Britain and how it proved to be a key turning point for the Allied Powers. They will also hear about Anne Frank and discover what her story tells us about the treatment of Jewish people by the Nazi Party. The children will research the causes and consequences of the end of the Second World War and investigate the legacy of the wars in Britain. Closer to home, the children will research the life of a local World War hero who sacrificed their life fighting for Britain. They will also investigate the legacy of these global conflicts in the post-war period.

Alongside this our Science and PSHE topic is Human reproduction and Ageing. Your child will learn what life cycles are, order the stages of life cycles for different animal species and compare them. They will learn what mammals are and the five key mammalian characteristics. They will learn about the stages and processes of the human life cycle. They will learn about human gestation from embryo to birth. They will investigate how humans change and develop from infant to adolescence in the juvenile stage. They will learn about the changes that happen during puberty. They will interpret data about human growth and learn about the human reproductive system and sexual reproduction. They will learn about how humans change as they get older. (More info to follow on this topic)

Spring Term 2023 - Frozen Kingdoms

In the Frozen Kingdoms project, your child will learn about the regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. They will learn about the similarities and differences between these two regions, including the climate, landscape and natural resources. They will learn how to use grid references, lines of latitude and longitude, contour lines and symbols to identify the geographical locations of the Arctic and Antarctic, and how these, along with the tilt of the Earth, affect day length and warmth. They will investigate polar oceans to learn how they differ from other oceans on Earth and how climate change increases Earth's temperature and leads to rising sea levels. They will learn about the indigenous people of the Arctic, including how their lives have changed over time, and about the positives and negatives of tourism in Antarctica. They will also learn about classifying animals, animal adaptations and evolution, and polar exploration and discovery.

Autumn Term 2022 - Topic