Welcome to Ash Class!

We are a mixed Year 4/Year 5 class. Our class teacher is Mrs Cleasby.

Our PE day is Wednesday.

Ash Class Updates

W/C 10/3/25

In English, we are thoroughly enjoying our new text, Way Home by Libby Hathorn. Through our exploration of the main character, Shane, we have been able to consider how language creates atmosphere and brings his journey to life. Using drama techniques such as freeze frames and thought tracking, we have gained deeper insight into Shane’s emotions and experiences. Hot-seating has also allowed us to step into his shoes, exploring his viewpoint and motivations in a more interactive way. This text has sparked engaging discussions and we cannot wait to read on!

W/C 3/3/25

It’s been a fun and action-packed week at school with Pancake Day, World Book Day, and the start of Science Week! The annual pancake races were a great success, with children working hard to flip ‘pancakes’ and earn points for their houses. Huge thanks to Kit and his mum for making pancakes for us all to enjoy – they were delicious! World Book Day was filled with exciting activities, including a fantastic ‘Bringing Books to Life’ dance workshop led by a West End performer. We also took part in a live Zoom webinar titled, ‘Footy and Booky’ - it was a wonderful morning of quizzing with exciting hosts and football guests. To mark British Science Week, Fiona Guest visited our class and taught a stand-alone practical science lesson, sparking curiosity and excitement. It’s been wonderful to see everyone getting involved and enjoying this week’s celebrations!

W/C 24/2/25

Welcome back! We’ve had an exciting start to the term with lots of new learning. In DT, we have begun exploring our unit on levers and linkages. We investigated and analysed a variety of existing products that feature different mechanical systems. In geography, we delved into the world of extreme environments, defining what makes an environment extreme and discussing the ones we’re already familiar with. In science, we have been learning about the factors that affect our health. Through patient case studies, we considered the kind of advice a doctor might give to improve these health factors. It’s been a fantastic start, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

W/C 10/2/25

Our visit to Shepton Mallet Prison on Wednesday was a brilliant way to conclude our history topic this term titled 'Crime and Punishment'. We enjoyed an immersive guided tour and learned all about past convicts and ways in which criminals were punished by the Victorians.

We were told the story of Cornelius Minty, who was imprisoned in Shepton Mallet Gaol in 1865. His life and crimes were intertwined with themes of poverty, imprisonment, workhouses, hunger, and the harsh realities of hard labour that he endured as a prisoner. 

W/C 3/2/25

It's been a busy week with exciting events like the school disco and NSPCC Number Day! In PE, we discovered the music and dance scene of the 1990s! We discussed the groups associated with pop music and some characteristic dance elements of pop groups such as Take That, NSYNC, The Backstreet Boys and The Spice Girls. We had a blast improvising to their music and showcasing our routines to our friends.

In Maths, Year 4 have been developing their understanding of perimeter by exploring more rectilinear shapes, both with and without grids, whilst Year 5 have been finding fractions of amounts using more pictorial and abstract methods, rather than relying on concrete resources.

NSPCC Number Day was a highlight of the week! We participated in hands-on maths activities that showed how much we use maths in everyday life. We revisited units of time and took part in timed challenges, working collaboratively to solve practical problems. The day was made even more exciting with a KS2 Countdown Quiz in the hall, where teachers and houses battled it out to win points. The quiz featured number rounds, with teams racing against the clock to solve problems!

W/C 27/01/25

This week in PE, we explored the energetic world of 1980s dance styles! We performed dances using a variety of movement patterns, with a special focus on 1980s hip-hop! We discovered the roots of this iconic style and practiced the signature moves that defined the era. In English, we started our new book, Treason by Berlie Doherty. This gripping story explores themes of loyalty, betrayal and courage, and we are excited to see how it unfolds over the next few weeks! 

W/C 20/1/25

In science this week, we discovered the phases of the Moon. We learned how the Moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun causes the various phases, from new moon to full moon. As part of our exploration, we also researched other moons in our solar system, diving into the unique characteristics of moons like Jupiter's Europa and Saturn's Titan. This inquiry not only deepened our understanding of our own Moon but also sparked curiosity about the diverse and fascinating moons that orbit other planets, highlighting the vastness and wonder of our solar system.

Challenge: Can you create a Moon Diary at home, and observe and record the changing phases of the Moon each night? 

W/C 13/1/25

This week, we have been busy exploring creativity, reflection, and imagination across a range of subjects! In Art, we used charcoal to experiment with darkness and light as part of designing captivating set pieces for our chosen settings.

In RE, we delved into the concept of forgiveness - what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and why this is a core value for Christians. The discussions were thoughtful and meaningful, encouraging us to reflect on our own experiences and understanding of forgiveness.

Meanwhile, in English, we had a delightful time crafting instructions for an ugly sister on how to catch a prince. The results were hilarious and creative, with children coming up with fun and entertaining ideas that sparked lots of laughter. What a wonderful way to end the week!

W/C 7/1/25

We hope you all had a restful Christmas break and a very happy start to the new year!

This week we started a variety of exciting topics across different subjects! In PE, we kicked off a new unit on dance, tracing key styles from the 1960s to the 2010s. Our focus this week was the 1960s, where we planned and performed dances inspired by popular movements from that era.

In science, we examined the contributions of historical figures such as Ptolemy, Alhazen, and Copernicus to models of the solar system and worked on posing testable questions about space.

In maths, we continued developing our multiplication skills. Year 5 worked hard to master the techniques for multiplying 2-digit numbers (using the area model) and advanced to multiplying 3-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers. Meanwhile, Year 4 explored factor pairs and practiced multiplying by 10 and 100.

A great start to the Spring term! 

W/C 16/12/24

What a fun term of learning we have had! We have been super busy but smiling through it as always! The children’s English and Maths books are bursting with work, alongside super hand-writing and guided reading work. 

In English, we studied a great book called Viking Boy - the writing that came out of it was amazing. Tricky fractions have been testing our maths brains, but not defeating us. There has also been plenty of PE and physical activity including gymnastics and tag rugby, whilst Science has had us testing our knowledge of materials and their properties.  DT has been fab as we've designed and made our own pinball machines!  

And to top it off, what a lovely week we have had in Ash Class this week. The pure delights of all the festive fun; Christmas crafts, pyjama day, Christmas lunch and our Christmas Performance, were all just wonderful. The children worked hard to produce their fun and festive performance with poems, jokes and songs. We hope you all enjoyed the performance as much as we did.  

As we come to the end of the Autumn Term, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year! 

W/C 09/12/24

This week, Ash Class has been buzzing with activity! We put our mountain knowledge to the test by creating our very own Kahoot quizzes, challenging not just ourselves but our friends too—an exciting and interactive way to showcase what we’ve learned. In science, we wrapped up our topic on materials: properties and changes with an unforgettable experiment! Mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to inflate balloons, we explored irreversible changes in action. It was a fascinating and fun way to see science come to life!

The Christmas preparations and festivities have begun, and we are excitedly rehearsing our Christmas performance which we cannot wait to share with our families on Wednesday 18^th December. 

W/C 2/12/24

We had a lovely afternoon in Ash Class on Tuesday building our pinball machines with our parents and grandparents! Huge thank you to all of the parents who were able to join us - you were excellent assistants to your children! Next week the children will get to play their pinball machines before inviting in some of the younger children to play with them too! 

W/C 25/11/24

Ash Class have had a fantastic week of learning! In Geography, we explored the fascinating process of how mountains are formed and showcased our understanding by creating informative and colourful posters. In Science, we investigated reversible changes and thought carefully about our predictions based on our understanding of the states of matter. In PE, we continued to develop our flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance by learning and performing different vaulting movements. Firstly, we revisited the skills of running and taking off from a springboard and different ways of landing on the vault box, to then having a go at performing a squat through vault. Amazing effort and resilience from ALL!

The wonderful children pictured below have 'Gone Green' in their TTRockstars as they can recall all of the times table facts up to 12x12 in less than 4 seconds! Wow!

W/C 18/11/24

Such an amazing afternoon of gymnastics on Wednesday – Simone Biles, watch this space! 😁 This week, we focused on learning and performing a variety of rolls, including the pike forward roll and the backward roll to standing pike. We also worked on understanding the flexibility, strength, and control required to execute these movements successfully. In English, we started innovating, planning and writing our own versions of Viking Boy - the quality of writing produced so far has been excellent! We also had great fun designing our own pinball machines in DT. The children were really imaginative with their designs and cannot wait to start making them!

W/C 11/11/24

We have worked incredibly hard this week on so many different projects. In maths, the year 4 children have been multiplying and dividing and year 5 have continued their new unit on fractions. We have also written some wonderful diary entries linked to our new book ‘Viking Boy’. During computing, we discovered vector drawings and how they are made up of simple shapes and lines. We used the main drawing tools within the Google Drawings application to create our own vector images. In science, we explored the transparency and uses of various materials and as part of our exploration, we honed in on our working scientifically skills by learning how to design and draw clear, effective results tables to record our findings.

W/C 4/11/24

🏉 Rugby Tournament Wraps Up Tag Rugby Unit! 🏉

This week, Ash Class capped off their tag rugby unit with an exciting, action-packed tournament! Competing in teams, the children showcased their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. The field was buzzing with energy as The Tagmanian Devils, The Untaggables, and Tagnam Style took to the pitch, each team giving it their all. The tournament not only celebrated the progress each child has made but also highlighted the camaraderie and fun that comes with sports. Congratulations to all teams for a fantastic finish – everyone came out a winner!

W/C 21/10/24

Year 5 had a fantastic time on their residential trip to Leeson House! We explored Wareham's rich history during a town trail, discovering fascinating local stories and landmarks. We took part in night orienteering, navigating ourselves around the house grounds and studied the coastal features at Studland Beach, where we learned about erosion and the creation of arches and stacks – we even walked out to Old Harry’s Rocks for a closer look at the arches and stacks there! The excitement continued with pond dipping, where we observed aquatic wildlife up close, and star gazing, sparking curiosity about the universe. Our final evening was spent around the campfire, sharing stories about how the constellations ended up in the sky according to Greek mythology. We loved our final day in Corfe Castle reinacting historical stories and learning lots of facts about the castle. It was an unforgettable experience that combined education with fun, leaving everyone with memories to cherish!

W/C 14/10/24

During Black History Month, Ash Class have been exploring the experiences of the Windrush Generation. We began by learning about the Windrush Generation, who were Caribbean migrants that travelled to Britain between 1948 and 1971 to help rebuild the country after World War II. We discussed why many people from the Caribbean travelled to Britain and the jobs they took up, such as working in hospitals, factories, and public transport. We also explored how the Windrush Generation helped shape modern British society, making contributions to culture, sports, and the economy while overcoming significant barriers. The discussions helped us gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and the lasting impact they had on Britain’s multicultural landscape. We concluded our learning by writing our own diary entries, imagining ourselves as children of the Windrush Generation travelling from the Caribbean to Britain.

W/C 7/10/24

We have continued our art topic on Typography this week by designing our own treasure islands with carefully considered typography to describe the place names.

In history, we discovered who Fu Hao was, why she was significant to the societal structure of the Shang Dynasty, and what we can learn from the archaeological dig of her tomb.

In our latest science experiment, we explored the factors that affect the time it takes for a substance to dissolve. Through careful planning, we ensured that our test was fair and accurate by considering different variables such as temperature and stirring speed. We also paid close attention to how we measured our results, using consistent timing and precise quantities. This experiment not only helped us better understand the dissolving process but also emphasised the importance of controlling variables to obtain reliable and meaningful data.

W/C 30/09/24

As-tu un animal? We have continued our French topic on pets this week by developing our knowledge and skills to present both orally and in written form information about the pets we have and/or do not have in French. We moved from 1^st person singular to 3^rd person singular verb usage so we are able to say what the pet is called and use conjunctions more confidently.

In English, we have been busy planning our own information leaflets about the Shang Dynasty, linking our literacy skills to our current history topic. The children have carefully considered how to organise their paragraphs, focusing on key areas such as the time period and location of the Shang Dynasty, the fascinating archaeological artefacts discovered, and the societal structure of the time. We are excited to see their final leaflets come together!

W/C 23/09/24

Another super busy week in Ash Class! 😊 In Maths, Year 5s have been recapping and building on their learning from previous years to mentally calculate sums and differences using partitioning. They have used their knowledge of number bonds and place value to add and subtract multiples of powers of 10. We also revisited the use of the column method for addition and subtraction and applied this method to numbers with more than four digits. Year 4’s have been busy continuing their learning on place value with a particular focus on rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000. We all used a range of representations to support our learning, including place value counters and place value charts.

In Science, we had lots of fun exploring the process of filtering and learning about testable questions and how to answer them. We made our own water filters thinking carefully about the materials we selected to ensure the effectiveness of our filters!

W/C 16/09/24

We have continued our art topic on Typography this week by designing our own letters and words inspired by nature. In computing, we have considered how larger computer systems work. We explored various devices and how processes are connected, and reflected on how computer systems can help us in our everyday lives. We examined puffin crossings and how they use sensors to detect pedestrians and vehicles, making it more intelligent. We started our history lesson with an exciting Kahoot quiz to test our knowledge on last week’s learning! We had fun competing and recalling facts from our previous lesson before drawing the key features of Shang Dynasty onto a map of China. 

W/C 09/09/24

In Science this term, we are excited to begin our new topic on materials, with a special focus on mixtures and separation. This week we learnt how different substances combine to form mixtures. We described the mixtures we made and enhanced our research skills by exploring a variety of secondary resources to support our learning. In PE, we kicked off our tag rugby unit, with a focus on developing key skills such as holding the ball securely, passing, and catching with accuracy. Meanwhile, in Computing, we delved into the world of systems and networks, gaining a deeper understanding of how technology connects us and powers the world around us.

W/C 04/09/24

What an AWESOME start to the Autumn Term! The children have certainly embraced the first week of the school year with lots of enthusiasm, positivity and energy, and whilst we have thoroughly enjoyed catching up with each other and hearing all the stories about the summer break, we have been busy learning too! A great first week – Well done Ash Class! 😊

W/C 15/07/24

With the Paris Olympics starting on the 26th of July, we had our very own Olympic day on Wednesday, 17th July. As part of this, we participated in a dance workshop that explored the different sports and values of the Games and created our own mini version of the celebratory opening ceremony. We also created the Olympic rings and torches out of willow, designed our own medals, and took part in different sports. The day was enriched with useful information, including the history of the Games, where they have been held in the past, and what happens during the Games. Additionally, we discovered the different sports that will be played throughout the summer games, including the more recent additions like sport climbing and surfing.

W/C 08/07/24

Ash Class have been super stars while exploring poetry written by Hip Hop Artist and poet Karl Nova in his collection, Rhythm and Poetry. We have looked at the different devices he uses to talk about some of the challenges young people face. Our new unit started by performing some of the poetry, considering the rhythm, emotions and views that are being expressed. We have ended the week by writing our own short poems, using language positively to encourage others to use words with kindness and respect towards others. Well done Ash Class, you continue to blow us away with your positive and conscientious attitudes!

W/C 01/07/24

Ash Class had the best day on Wednesday! We were joined by Susan, Harry and Brian, volunteers from the local Kingsbury Wildlife Group, who took us on a walk from the community centre across the Levels to Burrow Hill. Along the way, they talked knowledgeably about the birds that we spotted, and the children were able to ask some fantastic questions. We had a picnic lunch at Burrow Hill, followed by a delicious ice-cream at the cider farm kindly paid for by the Wildlife Group. By the time we arrived back at school, we had walked over 5 miles! In the afternoon, Harry and Susan then treated us to some active workshops; Harry talking to us about the creatures living in our school pond, and Susan sharing her vast experience of bee keeping. All in all, it was just a fantastic day!

W/C 24/06/24

Another wonderful week in Ash Class! In Maths, the Year 5's have been converting different units of metric measure, switching between measurements like metres to kilometres and grams to kilograms, to solve some tricky problems. In English, we created detailed character profiles of Lucian Silver from 'The Nowhere Emporium' and used this information to write our own biographies. We couldn't wait to get into the pool on Wednesday! Our swimming lessons focused on perfecting our backstroke technique, enhancing both our confidence and skill in the water. In Science, we delved into the fascinating topic of human development, exploring the significant changes that occur as people age, from childhood through to old age.

WC 17/06/24

We are thrilled to share with you that our dance-a-thon was a tremendous success! Not only was the event filled with energy, joy, and lots of dancing, but together we raised a whopping £236!!!! Thank you to everyone for your incredible generosity and support. Your contributions will make a significant impact to our class, and we couldn't have done it without you!

In PE this week, we continued building on the skills and strategies we have been developing for the game of rounders. The children amazed us with their excellent hand-eye coordination and timing when hitting the ball, sending it flying across the field. Quick reflexes and agility were on full display as the fielders swiftly moved to catch the ball and make accurate throws to their teammates. We loved the way the children were constantly strategising and supporting each other to outplay the opposing team.