School Closure Newsletter. Day 1: Monday 23rd March 2020

Daily message from the Leadership team.

Message for children from Mr Green.

Good Morning girls and boys. Well, doesn’t it seem funny to be hearing from me like this rather than at the gate, on

the playground or in assembly. Each day, your teachers will be setting you some things to do at home so that you can

keep on learning while school is closed...please try to keep up with this so that your learning is still on track for when

school starts again. You also might want to research an area of special interest to you; perhaps you could become an

expert on volcanoes, or maybe dinosaurs, or comic-book artists, or perhaps breeds of dog or of ponies (or other

equids.) Whatever you do keep notes in the book that you’ve taken home so that you can bring it back to school and

tell us all about it in a few weeks’ time.

You know that we have a school where the children have excellent behaviour. We’re not perfect, but I know that you

try your best and are very good. I ask you to keep that up when you’re at home too, for your parents. When there

are things to help then do please be helpful. Toys still need to be tidied away and bedtime is still bedtime. It’s still a

school day even if you’re learning from home.

Staying healthy is important too. Handwashing is still super important to make sure that you don’t get this virus.

Stay away from the park, and they’ll be no playing with friends for now, but you can phone them or video chat with

them. It’s also important to stay fit and healthy so do play in the garden and get exercise. Your teachers will give you

ideas about this too. (By the way... Do you remember the assembly where I was challenged to learn to skip with a

skipping rope to 100 without a break? I learned to do it! Now that we can’t really go out much, I’m doing that

again... 100 a day every day!)

Have a good day and I’ll write some more tomorrow.

Best wishes and bye for now, Mr Green

Message for parents, carers and grandparents from Simon Green, Head teacher.

We’re in the midst of the beginning of a massive national effort to defeat COVID19. This “storm” will pass and

your children will be back at school, and for now I’d be grateful if you would support your children to engage with

the learning that the teachers set. For now, the best thing that we can do is combine handwashing and hygiene

with effective social distancing. The safest place for your child to be is at home!

Key Workers. Do not send your children to school unless there is absolutely no other choice! This week, we are

providing (in school) for the children of Key Workers; but ONLY IF there is no other possible way that the children

can be looked after at home. This really should be a last resort. Anyone coming to school will find it much harder

to maintain the social distancing needed to stop the spread of the disease and if your child does not need to be in

school then they really should be at home- I just can’t stress this enough. Avoid large and small gatherings. Avoid

gatherings with friends and family. This is the best way to keep your child healthy, to keep everyone in your house

healthy, and to protect the Key Workers upon whom we depend. The fewer children in school, then the better

the country can defeat this. Please understand that sending children to school puts us all at risk and puts the fight

against COVID19 at risk.

Everyone- finally, I’d also like to thank you all for you calm and encouraging support over many years, and

especially over the past week. This has been a difficult time for all of us and your support has been invaluable.

Best wishes,

Simon Green

Daily message from the Office team.

Kate/ Yvonne write here please

Archive: Guidance written on 14 03 2020

Notes to teaching staff. In the event of a COVID 19 school closure you will need to continue to work. I hope this will

be at school, but it may be from home if UK Government guidance specifies it. We will work within normal teaching

hours. It is important that your children continue to learn. Please do not work evenings and weekends- you also need

to look after your physical and mental health

You will need to support parents by providing daily ideas that enable the children’s learning journey to continue. This

might be worksheets or weblinks or tasks etc. Think carefully- not everyone will have a printer- avoid teaching jargon

that might make it hard for parents to know what you mean- tread a careful line between open ended and specific

activities. It is important that this is meaningful support, so do put thought and effort into enabling parents to

continue the delivery of our school curriculum (rather than another curriculum.)

This should be updated by 17:00 every day (and stored on Sharepoint) and Kate or Yvonne will publish it by email and

website at 09:30 the following day. Any messages from parents will be forwarded to you by 11:00 each day. Please

reply direct to the parent with a cc to Kate, but keep email to a necessary minimum.

Finally- if you are sick and unable to do this then please call in sick as usual.

Notes to parents. This is uncharted territory for us, and we will put every effort into providing guidance that helps

you to help your children to continue their learning. If you have any questions, then please email them to

Kate.Southcott@stcmat.org or to TID.Admin@stcmat.org and the message will be forwarded to the appropriate

member of staff. Please keep emails to a minimum. If a member of staff emails you direct then please reply, but

once that line of conversation has ended please initiate any new email again to Kate. This is to ensure that the

Office Team and the Leadership Team maintains an overview of the school and any parental concerns and that a

different member of staff can reply in cases of sickness.

If you are a Key Worker your child should still be at home unless there is absolutely no way to keep them at home.

In school child-care must be viewed as a last resort (and a calculated risk to the health of all of us.) If you have a

non-Key Worker adult in the household then please keep your children at home.

Daily message from Nursery… to continue learning at home we suggest

Morning Everyone.

In Nursery we tend to have weekly intentions and activities provided promote these intentions and further learning

throughout the week. As a result, learning intentions will stay the same for the week but I will add ideas for activities

each day. A lot of the learning intentions in nursery can be covered during mealtimes, on walks with the family or

just during general play. There does not always need to be a specific task set up for that learning intention to be

enhanced. Also remember that some activities will last a week and promote many different learning intentions and

opportunities.

Weekly leaning intentions which are based on the needs of the children:

• Sharing/ turn taking

• Concentration/ attention and listening skills (staying on task and listening to a story for example for a short

period of time)

• Speech – increasing vocabulary and enhancing pronunciation

• Scissor skills

• Fine motor control

• Mark making – providing opportunities to mark make

Added Understanding the World focus

• Comments and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live or the

natural world

• Can talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects.

Since Science Week we have been exploring habitats and the animals that might live in those environments. So far,

we have looked at the rainforest, African Plains and the arctic. This week's theme is the ocean.

Ideas for activities:

Immersion in weekly theme

• A shallow water tray with sea animals (animals that they have in the bath maybe if none are available) -

water play promotes vocabulary and discussion

• Looking at photos of sea creatures on the internet which will again promote initial discussion

• Colouring pictures/ stencils/ tracing of sea creatures – promotes fine motor control – get your child to cut

their picture out for added scissor control practice

• CBBC Our Planet - has a great selection of 4 minutes clips about different animals and Andy’s Wild

Adventures on BBC i Player is useful for furthering learning about habitats and animals

• Any sea themed stories or poems

Take activities out in the garden if the weather stays nice. We usually have an obstacle course today. Maybe create

an exciting course in the garden using boxes, cut out footprints to follow, etc.

A few songs each day that promote movement would be great too

Eg. Dingle Dangle Scarecrow

Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes

These are just some ideas, things you do every day with your child promote their learning and turn them into

marvellous beings!

Daily message from Reception… to continue learning at home we suggest:

Good morning Reception.

Phonics: (google phonics play to access free games and activities – we recommend you access phase 2 and 3

activities. To access put in (user name) march20 (password) home

Play flashcards or time challenge, on phonics play, to practise saying the phase 2 and 3 sounds.

We are learning a new sound: ur and how to read and write it.

Write words on pieces of paper: fur burn burp curl hurt surf turn turnip. First ask your child to read each one. Then

have a go at writing the words.

Write some sentences for your child to read: My leg will hurt if I burn it. I can surf or sail a boat. My dog has fur on

his tail. Your child can carry this work out in their phonics books that were sent home.

English: Fruit!

• Start your session off by asking “Would you rather eat a banana or an orange?”. Encourage your child to

answer in full sentences and encourage them to give reasons other than “It’s nice!”. Sentences such as “I

would rather eat a banana then an orange because bananas are soft………or” I like the colour yellow”…..or

“oranges are bitter”.

• Put a range of fruit on the table or look at the attached picture and ask your child to write a label for some of

the fruit.

• Using the phase 2 and phase 3 soundcards they can tell you the first sound they hear (for example ”k” in

kiwi), then find the corresponding letter on the sound mat which can then be written onto a paper label or in

their writing book.

• This is the first step and many children may then hear other sounds within the word (e.g. the “w” in kiwi)

and others will have a go to use their current phonics knowledge to write the “ee” sound at the end. This

exercise is NOT ABOUT CORRECT SPELLINGS – it is about creating confident writers who are happy to have a

go at writing any words whether it is a simple word they may be able to write correctly or a “way out there

word!”.

• Please praise all efforts as it is really important that the children’s writing is valued.

Maths: Ask your child to start counting to 10 and when you clap they need to stop. Then from that number can

they count back? Clap again and ask them to count on again from this number. Keep the numbers within 10 but

for a challenge play the game to 20.

Give your child a 1p, 2p, 5p or 10p coin. Look at the difference in the coins – colours, size of coin, numbers on coins.

Look at the one pence and two pence coins. Show how these are written – 1p and 2p. Repeat for silver coins. Do you

think you will be able to buy more with a copper coin or a silver coin? Why? We use them to buy cheaper things like a

piece of fruit, yoghurt, chocolate bar, crisps and tins of food. Hold up a £1 and a £2 coin. These are £1 and £2 coins;

we use pounds to buy more expensive things. Also show a £5, £10 and £20 note, discuss these and suggest items that

these could be used to buy to give your child a sense of the value of each note.

Suggestions for activities to support learning: Roll a 1-6 dice and collect that number of pennies. When you have 10

or more, change 10 pennies for a 10p coin. The 1st to have three 10p coins is winner. Repeat, this time changing five

pennies for a 5p coin. You can adjust the game using other coins for an extra challenge. (This game can be played

with 2 or more people)

Play shops where everything costs 2p, 3p, 5p, 6p or 10p, 11p, (label items with price tags)e.g. a jumble sale for toys,

a bead shop, sweet shop. Give your child two coins (from 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p). Discuss which things they can afford.

Help children to pay, e.g. using three pennies or a 2p coin and 2p coin to buy something for 3p, or 6 pennies or 5p

and 1p to buy something for 6p.

Let’s keep active!

Use a ball or a couple of rolled up socks to play catch with a parent/sibling or to throw in the air for themselves in

order to develop their hand eye co-ordination.

If they become confident then why don’t they try clapping their hands between catches and if they’re really

confident touching the ground.

Understanding the world: Encourage children to closely observe any new buds and flowers which are likely to

appear over this sunny week. Ask them “What do they notice?”.

Reading and listening to stories: Read with your child daily and talk about what you have read/ what they have

listened to. Ask them questions about the story, characters and events.

Daily message from Year 1… to continue learning at home we suggest:

Good Morning Year 1 , welcome to our new week of learning! The weather is supposed to be lovely today and

tomorrow, so if you are able to then try to get outside! As well of the things listed below please remember to share a

book each day.

English

This week we will be finishing our learning on “list poetry.” Please read “Ten things in a shipwrecked-sailor’s pocket”

by Ian McMillan http://poetryhood.weebly.com/uploads/4/9/9/7/49978537/extension_list_poem.pdf . Today we

would like you to think about and draw some pictures of some things that you might find in an astronaut’s backpack.

Be as creative as you like! (Tomorrow you will be turning these ideas into your own astronaut list poem). Challenge:

write a “ten things” list poem about someone special in your life eg “10 things found in Grandad’s toolbox” and send

it to them.

Maths

Using this website https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/year-1/

Look at lesson 4 – introduce volume and capacity. Watch the video, pause for each question and discuss the

answers.

Look through the worksheet and either complete the questions or use the questions as ideas for investigating

capacity using cups and water (food colouring makes it easier to see where the water is!)

Exercise and wellbeing

You could try some yoga today - Arnold the Ant goes to space in Cosmic Kid’s Yoga:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWowDC3x0hE I tried it and I bet you will do a better job than me!

Topic

This is the last week of our Journeys topic, so we would love you to get creative! You could build a Lego rocket, make

a junk model of Christopher Columbus’ ship, or bake a space picnic to invite all your teddies (or aliens?!) too.

Challenge: write a set of instructions or a label to go with your creation. Don’t forget to take a photo to show us!

Love Mrs Kedward, Mrs Williams and Miss Parker

Daily message from Year 2… to continue learning at home we suggest

Start everyday with some reading and discuss what you have read together. Phonics: Today you will learn to spell ‘wr’(makes a 'r' sound) words. Have a go completing these words. I've done the first one for you: wr + ap = wrap wr + iggle = wr + estler = wr + ist = wr + ite = wr + itten Wr + ote = wr + ong = wr + eck = Read all the words with your child. Ensure they are clear about meaning and have written the words down correctly. English. Today you will learn: all about the discovery that Christopher Columbus made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThZj9TEMwgE Watch the video about Christopher Columbus. Discuss the interesting points of the video and try to answer these questions in your English book:

1. Why is Columbus famous? 2. How many days did the crew sail for? 3. Where were they trying to go? 4. Which continents did they actually reach? 5. List some food that they brought back. 6. List some things (nouns) that they took over to them?

Challenge: Use a page in your English book to do the following: Columbus fact file. Create an information sheet/fact file which includes some of the facts that you have learnt about Columbus. You can add pictures and colours once you're finished. Maths: We will use this week to revise our multiplication unit of work. This was completed before Christmas and it would benefit the class to go over the important aspects of this unit again. Please revise counting in jumps of 2. Use http://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/funkyMummy/index.html to practise the 2 times table. In your maths book you could draw groups of objects which come in 2s e.g. socks, gloves, shoes, glasses and write the matching calculations next to it. There’s an example below…

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8 is also 2x 4 = 8

Challenge: Use the 2 times table to do some doubling. Doubles song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jOzhiACB68 help your child to see that double 3 is the same as 3 x 2, double 4 is the same as 4 x 2 etc. Computing Today you are going to play a programming game in your house! Key words: Algorithm = instructions Debug = to fix a problem Help your child to stand by the door and decide where you want to go. They can only travel in straight lines and can turn left or right. Draw or write an algorithm (a list of instructions) to tell someone how to cross the room. Here's an example: start by the door, walk forward 5 steps, turn left, walk forward 3 steps, turn left, walk forward 2 steps. Are you by the sofa? If they end up in the wrong place then you need to debug (fix the problem) by changing your algorithm. Once you've done this you could program someone to walk

in a square shape.... or try even more complicated shapes or letters. If your child wishes to continue this then they could use a teddy and move it around as they write their new algorithms. Physical movement: We've done this Zumba video in one of our dance lessons. The children loved it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0wgVhUC9w You could dance from start to end, then play it again and play musical statues or musical bumps to get your child moving!

Daily message from Year 3… to continue learning at home we suggest

Good morning Year 3, I hope you are all ready to start our new way of learning.

Discussion Question - Would you rather live in a hot country or a cold country? Share your ideas with your family.

English - We started to look at features of a persuasive text last week so I would like to recap the first few before

looking at others:

• We played a game for alliteration, trying to find an adjective, noun, verb and adverb with the same letter at

the start, e.g. Crazy cats crawl carefully. I would like you to choose 5 different letters to use to create

different alliterations. If you get stuck for an adverb, you can use your adjective to help, but try to be

original. Challenge – add a fronted adverbial or a preposition with the same starting letter.

• Can you think of a fact and opinion for two of the nouns you use? Remember that a fact is always true e.g.

Cats need food and water. An opinion can be disagreed with e.g. Cats are better than dogs.

Maths - Practice your addition skills today. Work the following out using both the number line and place value HTO

grid:

1) 52 + 248 = 2) 268 + 37 = 3) 79 + 318 = 4) 369 + 218 = 5) 157 + 267 = 6) 208 + 173 = Challenge 7) 339 + 23 + 284 = 8) 186 + 45 + 302 =

Fluency - Practice your 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables for 20 minutes on https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button or https://www.mathschase.com/

If you cannot get online, use your multiplication table from your maths books and ask an adult to test you.

Guided Reading - Spend 20 minutes reading a book of your choice to an adult either in one go or 4 lots of 5 minutes

during the day.

Indoor PE – Play an active game in your house or garden or use the links below.

Complete the Joe Wicks Workout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LPrhI0v-

w&list=PLyCLoPd4VxBvPHOpzoEk5onAEbq40g2-k&index=2&t=0s

Feel it Still Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Y0Tu2_wkw

+ 50 + 2

163 213 215

163 + 52 =

Daily message from Year 4… to continue learning at home we suggest

Hello Year 4, it is Monday, so it is time to do some learning!

Discussion Question: Would you rather be a bird or a fish? Discuss with your family members and give your reasons.

English

In English, we have been looking at discussion texts.

I would like you to write the for and against arguments for the question, ‘Should children in primary schools have

longer break times?’

Extension: Think about the connective phrases (In addition) you could use in your paragraphs.

Maths

We have covered all the four operations (addition, subtraction, division and multiplication)

Today, I would like you to look at the different methods for addition.

We can use a number line, mental methods or column addition.

For the following questions work out which method would be the best (do not use column addition for them all. you

can choose the best method!)

1. 1234 + 2343 =

2. 8263 + 1242 =

3. 5243 + 1265 =

4. 6523 + 2343 =

5. 2143 + 7263 =

6. 1349 + 4327 =

7. 5423 + 8723 =

Challenge:

Molly has 2343 toy dinosaurs; Johnny has 5243 dinosaurs and Lia has 2134. How many do they have altogether?

Which methods would be good to use?

Fluency

Practise your timetables, try to practise the ones you are less confident with.

Go on the following links for at least 20 minutes.

https://www.mathschase.com/

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button

If you cannot get online, use your multiplication table from your maths books and ask an adult to test you.

Physical Activity

Last week, for Comic Relief we did Zumba. Watch this video on YouTube and join in -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0wgVhUC9w.

If the weather is nice, go outside and do 10-star jumps, 10 spotty dogs, 10 high knees and 10 kick your bottoms.

Topic

Our topic this term has been all about Tiverton.

Look at how and why is my local area changing?

Talk to your parents about what Tiverton was like when they grew up or when they first arrived. Ask them how it has

changed and why they think it has changed.

Speak to your grandparents on the phone and ask about how their local area (even if it isn’t Tiverton) has changed

and why they think it has.

What are the key things that have changed? Are they the same? Are they different?

What do you think will change in the next 10 years in Tiverton?

Daily message from Year 5… to continue learning at home we suggest

Good morning Year 5! I hope you enjoyed the sunshine this weekend. I’ve had my coffee – it’s show time!

English / Geography

• Recap the seven continents https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zvsfr82/articles/znm7vk7 . In school, we

completed the alphabet race for countries in North America. Try the alphabet race for countries in South

America. Use an atlas or the internet to help you.

• Look at the knowledge organisers for North America and South America that you were given.

(http://www.tidcombe.devon.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/South-America-Knowledge-Organiser-

1.pdf .) Read the information carefully. Spot examples of the following features: factual language and

description; present tense; technical language; third person; formal tone; fact boxes; extra details.

• Choose a country that is in North America and a country that is in South America. This week you will be

making a fact file in the style of the knowledge organiser for each of your chosen countries. Do some

research on each country and make some bullet points in your books about the information you will include.

Look at the features mentioned above whilst you are doing this – e.g. factual and technical language. We

will think about the layout and organisation of our fact files tomorrow…

Spelling

In your books, jot down: five words that include the ‘ough’ pattern e.g. doughnut; three words with silent letters;

two words that end in ‘ible’; two words that end in ‘able’; three nouns that in their plural form the -y changes to -ies

(e.g. family – families).

Maths

• Fluency: revise rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10000 and 100000. You can do this online

at: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10 . Choose level 5, rounding. You can select the

amount of time allocated for each question. Have a go at this fun and interactive game

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/rocket-rounding . Practise your times tables. You can use

Hit the button or get active with the Super Movers times tables mash-up.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers/ks2-maths-collection/z7frpg8 Rest assured, I will be dancing

along with you! • Addition: complete the calculations below in your maths book. Think about the most efficient method

(formal column addition or a mental method).

1) 150000 + 400000 = 2) 6748 + 1200 = 3) 34522 + 45861 =

4) 92195 + 17742 = 5) 16000 + 35000 = 6) 28446 + 55824 =

Physical Activity

It’s time to get moving! Join in with this Kids’ Workout at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhCM0C6GnrY . The forecast looks great for today so, if you can, try

and get outside and make up your own moves in the sunshine!

Science

Research and compare the life cycles of mammals and birds. How are they similar? How are they different?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/how-plants-and-animals-reproduce/zm8fbdm (start at

03:15) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m2q9n Can you consolidate your recent learning by

explaining to an adult how plants reproduce and the process of metamorphosis? Research sites that may

help: https://kidzone.ws/animals/lifecycle.htm https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zgssgk7

Have fun and be good! Mrs Sanders

Daily message from Year 6… to continue learning at home we suggest

Good Morning ladies and gentlemen of Year Six!

Are ready to learn … I hope nobody is still in their pyjamas??

Reading and Writing

Read, research and make notes about Charles Darwin at this site -https://www.discoveringgalapagos.org.uk/discover/human-history/charles-darwin/voyage-beagle/

It is the link that we used in school to make the maps of Darwin’s journey on the green paper. Go to the evolution

tab to continue to research his journey and his exploration of the Galapagos Islands. Use your notes to write two

diary entries. One before Darwin sets sail and another when he is on the Galapagos Islands. The diary

entries should show how Darwin is feeling, what he sees, hears and most importantly what he discovers.

Include Darwin’s drawings and observations. Make sure you label the drawings.

Maths

Complete the first revision test in the CPG booklet. The tests are a really good way of revising everything

that we have learned this year. If you are stuck or unsure, you could use your revision books or go to https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z826n39

Problem of the day. Day 15 - click on this link and download a problem related to fractions. https://whiterosemaths.com/resources/classroom-resources/problems/

All of these sites are good to help you revise: www.topmarks.co.uk has games on addition and

subtraction, multiplication and division, place value, fractions and decimals. You will also find hit the

button here – it is excellent to help you remain fluent in lots of areas of maths. Those of you that like

dancing and need to practise times tables try this site…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/supermovers

Spelling - Practise your half termly spellings. Remember to use a range of strategies; you can also practise

online by using https://spellingframe.co.uk . Spring term 2 spellings:

symbol system temperature thorough committee environment government communicate

accommodate embarrass rhyme rhythm sacrifice secretary shoulder

Firstly … spot the mistakes in the next list, then think about why these common mistakes are made.

symbal system temprature thorough commitee environment government communicate

accommodate embarrass rhyme rhythm sacrafice secretary shoulder

Geography (2 week project): Research and compare three countries within South America. Think about

how they are similar and how they are different? Look at the knowledge organisers that you have for South

and North America to help you choose the countries.

Task: In the style of the North and South America knowledge organisers, design a knowledge organiser

page to give information about a country from North and South America. All of the pages will be collected

together to produce a class book. You should complete a page for each country separately. Think carefully

about what details you will include. We will think about the layout and organisation tomorrow…

P.E: It is time to exercise. follow this link to this kid’s work out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhCM0C6GnrY I have tried it out... really I have. Oh

don’t forget to smile!

Have fun and I will write to you again tomorrow. Mrs Mallender