February 15th - 19th 

February Half term 2021

Well, here we are again having a 'half term' break under Lockdown.

From talking to our families, we know that some of you are keen to keep going with the learning routines you've established already (especially when they've been very hard-won!) whilst others are ready to take a break.

Whichever you choose, you are doing the right thing for your family and your circumstances.

We won't be setting daily learning activities although we do expect children to continue with their usual holiday homework. For most this is reading, AR quizzing, TT Rockstars, Numbots, Lexia, Spelling Frame and whichever Weekly Workouts have been set for their year group.

The links are below as are other optional activities your child might enjoy.

 

Holiday Homework

                    

 

For the Weekly Workouts, please encourage your child to complete all workouts up to and including Spring Workout 6 (Year 4 need to complete up to and including Autumn 12, please).

Other Learning Opportunities

All previous weeks' learning (right back to March 2020!) is also available so please feel free to dip into something from earlier that was tricky, interesting or that you didn't have time to do.

Whole School Story - 'The Boy at the Back of the Class'

If your child hasn't managed to listen to the 'Boy at the Back of the Class' yet then half-term would  be a good opportunity to catch up with this thought provoking story - click here for a link to the recorded episodes

In school we often listen to books for the sheer pleasure but we also use texts to develop our thinking about what we have read and listened to.  You can find a series of questions about each chapter by following this link if you would like to explore the book, its messages and its vocabulary.

Derbyshire Libraries are running daily remote sessions via their Facebook page at 11 each day.

 

Fancy something a little different?

 Pobble 365 post a daily picture - fun, weird and wonderful - which can be a great prompt for a writing activity and which we often use for our Whole School Writing Challenges 

Over the last year, Pobble 365 have also produced 100 Non-Screen Activities that you might want to try:

25 Non-Screen Activities                                     

25 More Non-Screen Activities

25 Even More Non-Screen Activities                

25 Non-Screen Writing Activities

 

If you're ready to see some new places, why not take a virtual tour of a museum, gallery or zoo. Search 'virtual tours' and there are lots available but a few good ones to start you off are:

Buckingham Palace

Chester Zoo

Houses of Parliament

National History Museum

The Tate Modern

 

For practical and fun activities:

Make pancakes using one of these recipes from BBC Good Food - don't forget to share your pictures.

Draw with Rob Buddulph

30-Day Art/DT Challenge

Starters for STEM (linked to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

Primary Science Activities to do at home

150 Sensory Learning Ideas - aimed at children with a sensory-based SEN but many will appeal to the whole family.

Focus Trust MAT has also put together a number of fun activities to do at home, including scavenger hunts, more STEM activities and ways for children to help their family.

Things to do at home 1                    Things to do at home 2