In Oceans this week we’ve been thinking about measurement. We started with small measurements - understanding that 1 mm is smaller than 1 cm and that millimetres can be used to measure lengths that are not an exact number of centimetres - before introducing metres and kilometres and thinking about using them to measure greater distances.

These sequence of lessons allowed plenty of time to explore a ruler and allowed the children to become more confident with measuring and recording the length of objects in centimetres and millimetres. As well as measuring lengths, children also practised drawing lengths accurately.

In English, we’ve been thinking about Oxford. We planned and wrote our own tourist brochures, using expressive and persuasive language to show off some of the places people would like to visit in the city.

With some of Oceans leaving for the residential at Woodlands (and no doubt having a fantastic time!) Friday was slightly different. We spent the day looking at the art of Camille Pissaro and Yvonne Jacquette. Taking inspiration from Pissaro, and thinking about how colours convey the feelings of warmth and cold, we created our own variations of the same urban scene at different times of the year / day. Jacquette, who is famous for her aerial city landscapes, led the children into painting using a limited palette of one colour: creating shades and tints of that single colour to build an image with depth and perspective.

If that wasn’t enough the children also spent time in the kitchen measuring ingredients, then whizzing, whipping and mashing them to create and then eat their own hummus.

Next week is an RE week. We’ll be thinking about the question ‘Does completing a pilgrimage make a person a better Muslim?’

Oceans