Over this half term, Monarch Class will be learning about the topic of "Tudors". Again, this year we have topic books for each of our half-termly focuses, so in the first week, we will be focusing on the first of our topic books in this area; "My Friend Walter" by Michael Morpurgo. The class will explore the messages mentioned in the story as well as research different characters and think about their points of view in the book! In the second week, we will be thinking about the different types of feelings that Walter has as well as the historical aspects in Walter's story that can be  referred to this in topic sessions. The class will also use their imaginations to reenact different parts of the story to understand it in more depth while carrying out some role play.

Moving on into the third week, Monarch class will continue reading our topic story and think more deeply around "friendship" and what makes a good friend and the class will complete some story writing based on this story. We will be focusing on what we have learned from the book to support the story writing as well as thinking about why it is important to tell stories. We will also be using our topic lessons to aid our learning on "Tudors" where the class will be researching into some prominent figures in that historical period including Henry VIII and his six wives.

Then, as we move into the fourth week Monarch class will be finishing our learning using the topic book and thinking about the morals and learning from the story. We also have two other topic books for this half term's topic however these are non-fiction books, and we will be using these to facilitate our learning in both English and Topic lessons in class over the last few weeks of the half term. I believe that the class will thoroughly enjoy learning about the Tudors in school and they will learn lots about that time period including what the Tudors did for leisure as well as what they ate!

This half term, we will be aiming to visit Knights Garden Centre in Betchworth, London, Banstead Library as well as Preston playpark on our community visits. This half term, Monarch class will also have the exciting opportunity to visit Dorking Leisure Centre for swimming lessons on Tuesday mornings which I know the class are very excited about so please send in swimming kits on Tuesdays. Additionally, the children will also be going on a whole day class trip in the half term based on our topic of "Tudors".

In our maths lessons, Monarch class will be taught in streamed maths groups, working within their ability groups to ensure that all students are suitably challenged and supported to reach their full potential.

The class will continue to carry out the Jigsaw PSHE sessions in class and our topic for PSHE this half term is 'Being Me in My World' where the children will be thinking about their year ahead and how they fit into their peer group.

Additionally, the class will be starting a new Food Tech curriculum this term through the "Food A Fact of Life" scheme of work and Monarch class will be focusing on planning to cook, ingredients, cooking for health and hygiene and safety before cooking foods like fruit salads and vegetable  kebabs.

Alex and the Monarch Class Team