Beech Newsletter Term 1 – ‘The Great Fire of London’

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Dear Parents,

We hope you had a fantastic summer break! This term we will be starting our new topic of ‘The Great Fire of London’. Our PE days are Tuesdays and Fridays, please ensure your child’s kit is always in school; as the timetable can sometimes change – trainers and coats everyday are essential.

Homework

Our homework focus for this term is Reading.

Please read with your child regularly. Their books and book bags will need to be in school every day.

There is a page in the reading record for each week, we ask that you initial whenever you read with your child at home or make notes as appropriate.

In school, we have our own record keeping systems and teachers/TAs will not write in these home records. It is expected in our school reading policy that the children should read at home at least three times a week. If the children achieve their ‘three reads’ they will receive a raffle ticket. The reading records will be checked and raffle tickets given on a Friday and entered into a draw which will be held in the following week’s celebration assembly.

Many thanks to those parents who have already been using the new Reading Record Books. It is vital that the children are reading at home to practise the skills they are learning in school. If you have any questions about the new reading system, please come and ask. Also see the school reading strategies below.

Homework Letter Beech

Home learning Task

To enhance the learning of ‘The Great Fire of London’, we are asking all of the children to make a simple model house at home. This can be using an old cereal box or similar recycling materials. The children need to use paint, paper and pens to make it like a real house from the Tudor times.

To begin to understand how the people in London felt, we will then safely recreate the ‘Great Fire’ on the playground and discuss how we feel as our hard work goes up in flames! (Parents please don’t worry – Mr Herdman will be lighting the fire and we will be standing way back with lots of adults!)

Please could ALL children bring their model house in by the beginning of October.

Helping to enrich our topics

It is always great to have items or visitors that support our topic, so if anyone has any experience or items that may help us with any of the work we are doing this term, we would love to see and hear about them.

Children’s Pegs

This year, the Year 1 children have their individual coat pegs outside the classroom and the Year 2 children are just inside the cloakroom next to the school office. Children are encouraged to put their jumpers on their pegs when they take them off. Please ensure all jumpers are named so that they can be quickly returned to the owner.

Useful Websites

Questions You Could Ask Your Child About Their Learning This Term

When was the Great Fire of London?
How is London different today than it was in that time?
Why did the fire spread so quickly?
What equipment is inside a fire engine?
How would you call the fire brigade if you needed them?

If you visit London with your child, try to bring back any leaflets, postcards, train or bus tickets or artefacts if you can.

Reminders

Please make sure your child brings in a water bottle each day with fresh water; ensure all jumpers are labelled and bring a coat for any wet weather.

Many thanks, and we hope you have a great term!

Mrs Winchester and Mrs Pattenden