Homework

22 September 2023

Our whole-school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: Use Numbots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

Vocabulary is the focus of this week’s Talk Time.

Thinking about the new topic vocabulary, I can begin to use these words at home.

This half term, we’re all being geographers, learning specifically about British geography. Here’s a list of key words that are being learnt and applied as part of our learning:

Years 1 and 2 Geography vocabulary:

Years 3 and 4 Geography vocabulary:

Years 5 and 6 Geography vocabulary:

Some of these words have already been discussed in lessons but there may be others that are going to be covered in the coming weeks.

Encourage your child to think back to their geography learning so far. The following questions might prompt your child to remember even more about the vocabulary:

• What does this word mean?
• Can you use the word in a sentence?
• Can you (where possible) give an example of this?
• Have you seen a picture or clip that links to that word?
• Can you link this word to one or more of the other words?
• Which of these words would you group together?

Each half term, we’re encouraging voice projection, fluency and pace. Referring to these ‘Remember 2s’ (R2s) will help your child to speak clearly and confidently:

• Think about what you are going to say before you speak.
• Talk in a clear, loud voice without shouting.
• Sit or stand with good posture (eg not slouching).
• Face the person, or people, that you are speaking to.

15 September 2023

Our whole school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number fact fluency: Use NumBots or Times Table Rock Stars in regular short bursts.

Talk Time

This week’s Talk Time homework links to our current Geography topic, ‘Where in the world am I?’.

I can talk about my local area.

We encourage you and your child to go out and explore as part of this task. Be sure to find safe spaces to pause and reflect on the surrounding area.

Refer to these ‘Remember 2s’ (R2s) when discussions are taking place:

• physical features (natural things that would be around without people)
• human features (things that have been built by people)
• respect people whose views are different

You might wish to use these ideas as a starting point for your discussions:

• what facilities there are
• what I like
• what I don’t like
• how the area might be improved
• what I can do to help improve the area

This Talk Time is all about critical thinking. Your child might find it quite easy to talk positively about their local area. They may find it trickier to talk about aspects of the local area that they don’t like. Remind your child that it is okay to say that there are things they don’t like so long as they remain respectful and polite.

Skills developed in this Talk Time can help your child with other areas of learning, too. As part of your child’s daily reading, you could prompt your child to talk critically about a character or a part of the book that could be improved.

Additionally or alternatively, you might like your child to consider our current Christian value…

At St James’ CE Primary School, we learn about Christian values that help us to become well-rounded citizens in society. The values are woven into our everyday school life. Each half term, we have a new Christian value that will be embedded into our collective worship and our reflection areas.

This half term, our Christian Value is perseverance.

I can describe situations when I’ve shown perseverance.

Perseverance closely links to resilience which is one of our 8Rs for learning. For a great definition of resilience and to find out more about the 8Rs, follow the link below:

https://www.stjameswetherby.leeds.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Parent-Eight-Rs-StJ.pdf

Perseverance is a useful skill for people of all ages. Everyone will encounter things that they find difficult. Your child will probably be able to relate to having to keep going with at least one of the following:

• remembering a piece of knowledge (eg facts about a historical figure)
• improving at a skill (eg counting forwards and backwards in 10s)
• learning something new (eg times table, poem or song)
• reading (a particular word, passage or perhaps entire book)
• spelling a tricky or unfamiliar word
• playing a sport or musical instrument
• creating a piece of art or something crafty

08 September 2023

Our whole school homework this week is:

Reading: please make sure your child is reading on a daily basis.

Number Fact Fluency: use Numbots or Times Tables Rock Stars in regular, short bursts.

Talk Time

Our first Talk Time homework of the year is related to Living and Learning:

I can greet someone politely.

We greet people every day. Our greetings have the power to really improve other people’s moods. Here’s an example of a friendly greeting that we encourage children to use…

‘Morning!’

‘Hi. How’re you?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. What about you?’

‘I’m ok, thanks.’

Encourage your child to greet people out of school in a similar way! Our ‘Remember 2s’ (R2s) for this are:

• greeting
• ask how someone is / answer and ask back
• thank them for asking

Talk about different ways to greet people in a polite and friendly way.

Talk about why greeting people politely helps. To help with your discussions, you might consider these questions at home…

• When and where might you greet someone? (During school time, before school, after school, at weekends…)
• How will you greet someone? (Facial expressions, body language, tone of voice…)
• What questions might you ask when greeting someone?
• Why is it important to ask questions? (What does it show? How will the other person feel?)

14 July 2023

I can share my views about health.

We’re proud to be a happy and healthy school.

Each year, we ask you to complete a short health questionnaire. Your views can help us to become even happier and healthier.

Parents/carers: please complete a survey with your child, to find out their views on some of our key health issues at school, and comment at the end.

You can find the link to the survey in the Homework page of our school website.

Please submit before Tuesday 18 July 2023.

07 July 2023

This Talk Time relates to your end-of-year report.

I can talk with adults at home about my report, recognising successes and strengths.

It’s important to remember that your achievements come in many forms. Your key strengths could relate to your learning behaviour, your attainment in a particular subject, or your speed of progress.

This is also a great opportunity to apply your understanding of the 8Rs for learning:

• responsive
• ready
• (safe) risks
• responsible
• resourceful
• resilient
• remember
• reflect

Being reflective will be the most prominent of the 8Rs in your conversations as you’ll identify successes recognised by your teacher in the report but also other strengths that you’re aware of. Consider which of the other 8Rs you currently excel at the most. Perhaps you’re a very responsible individual who always demonstrates good learning behaviour. Maybe you’re extremely resilient and have a never-give-up attitude. It could be that you’re very resourceful, using what’s around you to support your learning and not always seeking help right away.

30 June 2023

This week’s Talk Time relates to the knowledge we’ve gained about Science this half term.

I can show off my biological knowledge through my understanding of animals including humans.

Years 1 and 2 – Animals including humans:

• I know that animals, including humans, have offspring, which grow into adults.
• I can find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air).
• I can describe the importance for humans of exercise, eating the right amount of different types of food, and hygiene.

Years 3 and 4 – Animals including humans:

• I can describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans.
• I can identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions.
• I can construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.

Years 5 and 6 – Animals including humans:

• I can identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood.
• I am aware of the impact of diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle on the way my body functions.
• I can describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, including humans.

At school, we refer to 8Rs to promote good learning behaviour:

• responsive
• ready
• (safe) risks
• responsible
• resourceful
• resilient
• remember
• reflect

This week’s ‘Remember 2s’ (R2s) directly link to three of the 8Rs:

• Remember – Think back to Science lessons, learning, tasks, games etc.
• Reflect – Which facts are you most confident with? Which ones do you need to work on?
• Resourceful – For facts you’re unsure of, how can you improve your understanding? Who could you ask at home or at school?

Year 5/6 only – complete your My Health My School pupil diary from Saturday 01 July for the next seven days and return it to class once completed.

23 June 2023

This week’s Talk Time has a social theme:

I can talk about a healthy friendship I have.

A friendship is something we can choose to have and it should make us feel happy and secure. Healthy relationships are positive and welcoming towards others, and do not make others feel lonely or excluded. When thinking about a healthy friendship there are some important characteristics to consider such as mutual respect, truthfulness, loyalty, kindness, generosity, trust, sharing interests and experiences and support with problems and difficulties.

Think of someone in your life who you feel you have a healthy friendship with. Discuss why you feel it is a healthy relationship by linking it to some of the important characteristics listed above.

Encourage your child to think about what they would do if they were having difficulties with a friendship and who could help them.

Additionally, or alternatively, you might like your child to consider our current Christian value…

At St James’ CE Primary School, we learn about Christian values that help us to become well-rounded citizens in society. The values are woven into our everyday school life. Each half term, we have a new Christian value that will be embedded into our collective worship and our reflection areas.

This half term, our Christian Value is courage.

One of the Hebrew words translated as ‘courage’ means ‘to show oneself strong’.

The Bible abounds with stories of courage. Moses was courageous when he confronted the Pharaoh of Egypt and commanded him to let God’s people go (Exodus 5). Joshua was courageous when he conquered Canaan (Joshua 1). Young David was courageous when he faced and fell the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17). The Bible says we can be courageous by having faith and confidence in the fact that God is with us and for us. Nelson Mandela said: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

Help at home!

Try one, or both, of the following two activities:

Make a list of feats you want to do or have done, whether physically, mentally, or morally, that would require courage. Try to come up with a plan for how you can be courageous and tackle these feats.

or

Create a certificate of courage for someone you know. Tell them when you have seen them show courage and what challenge they faced. Talk to a grown up or friend about when you have shown courage and how you overcame your challenge.

16 June 2023

Key stage 1 homework

This week’s Talk Time has a Reading theme.

I can talk about my favourite class novel so far.

Over the year, we’ve had the opportunity to read and enjoy lots of different types of books. This week, we’d like you to think back and talk about the book/novel you enjoyed reading the most and why.

Below are some of the class novels we have enjoyed so far in Key Stage 1.

Key Stage 2 homework

This week’s Talk Time has a Reading theme.

I can talk about my favourite class novel so far.

Over the year, we’ve had the opportunity to read and enjoy lots of different types of books. This week, we’d like you to think back and talk about the book/novel you enjoyed reading the most and why.

Below are some of the class novels we have enjoyed so far.

Y3/4
Greek Myths by Marcia Williams
The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Phillip Pullman
Leodis Ledes Leeds by Tom Palmer
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q Raúf
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Fighting Fantasy by Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson

 Y5/6
Secrets of a Sun King Emma Carroll
The Nowhere Emporium Ross Mackenzie
Letters from a Lighthouse Emma Carroll

09 June 2023

Vocabulary is the focus of this week’s homework. This is because we’ve just begun a new Design and Technology topic and with it comes new Design and Technology vocabulary.

Here’s a list of key words that are being learnt and applied as part of our learning. Over the half-term, practise using these words with your child.

Years 1 and 2 Design & Technology vocabulary:

• design process: the steps that need to happen for something to go from an idea to a finished product
• to plan: to think about and decide how you’re going to do something
• to evaluate: to decide, after careful consideration, how good or bad something is
• base: the bottom part of an object; the part on which something rests
• structure: a combination of materials and/or parts to create a 3d shape
• stable: something that is unlikely to fall down or collapse
• freestanding: something that stands up by itself

Years 3 and 4 Design & Technology vocabulary:

• product: something that is designed and made fu
• function: the purpose of something
• design brief: a description of what a new product should do
• design criteria: the precise features a product must have to be successful
• annotated sketch: a detailed sketch labelled with notes (eg dimensions, materials) prototype: an early sample or model of a product used to evaluate a design
• component: a part that combines with other parts to make something (eg a machine or a piece of equipment)
• exploded diagram: a drawing that shows the individual components or parts of a product and how they fit together
• mechanism: a number of parts or comp

Years 5 and 6 Design & Technology vocabulary:

• design criteria: the precise features a product must have in order to be successful
• innovative: an adjective to describe new or original ideas
• sustainable material: a material is sustainable if it comes from renewable sources and it does not damage the environment
• dimension: a measurement of something in a particular direction (eg height, length, width)
• aesthetic: something about the appearance (eg something can be aesthetically pleasing) computer-aided design (CAD): a way of drawing on a computer to visualise designs and simulating them to see how they work
• computer-aided design (CAD): a way of drawing on a computer to visualise designs and simulating them to see how they work
• to reinforce: to strengthen or support

Some of these words have been introduced already but there may be others that are going to be covered in the coming weeks.

12 May 2023

This week’s Talk Time has a moral question.

Should all adults have the right to vote?

What is voting?

Voting is a process by which a group of people can decide things fairly when they don’t all agree. Voting is an important part of the type of government called democracy. In a democracy, people use voting to choose government leaders. These government leaders represent their local areas and work together to consider and propose new laws. You must be 18 or over to take part in an election.

Can you think of a time when you’ve voted for something? How did you feel when you cast your vote? Was the process fair? For example, each year in school we elect a new Junior Leadership Team. Each class has the opportunity to vote for a representative from their class to be nominated.

Have a conversation with your family and friends at home and think about whether you feel all adults should have the right to vote and why. After your conversation, take some time to reflect on yours and others responses. Is there anything that you would like to know more about?

Additionally, or alternatively, you might like your child to consider our current Christian value…

At St James’ CE Primary School, we learn about Christian values that help us to become well-rounded citizens in society. The values are woven into our everyday school life. Each half term, we have a new Christian value that will be embedded into our collective worship and our reflection areas.

This half term, our Christian Value is peace.

Peace can mean different things to people. It is often thought of as ‘a time where there is no conflict’ or ‘a state of calm and tranquillity’. It is about positive harmony and healthy relationships between people. It involves spiritual as well as material security. Peace is a state of true wholeness, a state of well-being.

This value helps promotes harmony, stability and security within the school and local community.

Help at home.

Try one, or both, of the following activities:

The dove carrying an olive branch is a symbol of peace in Christianity. Is Christianity the only religion to have a symbol of peace? Carry out some research about peace symbols. You might also design your own symbol of peace to reflect who you are.

or

In the Bible, Psalm 46 is a noisy Psalm. It talks about waters roaring and mountains quaking, about wars and desolation. But it ends with God saying, ‘Be still and know that I am God’.

Our world can feel noisy with the sounds of life at the moment. Wherever you are right now, close your eyes and try to sit quietly without moving… for a whole minute if you can. As you sit quietly like this, if you want to, you can say a silent prayer for stillness, for peace in in your life and those you care about.