Here are a few ideas for home learning this week:

English: In English, we have continued to study the Iron Man. We have read various chapters, looking at the style and features of the author. We have looked at the impact of metaphors, similes and other figurative language (personification) and how these are used to create image in the mind of the reader. In the second chapter, we looked at repetition and the use of rhetorical questions as a tool to emphasise and engage the reader. Children could try writing a story opener that focuses on using these features.

Maths: In maths, we began the week using arrays and multiplication facts to find factors pairs for different numbers. We learnt about using commutative law to re-arrange multiplication sums so that they were easier to perform mentally. For example 3 x 2 x 7 can be re-arranged to (3×7)x2. We also practiced drawing repeated arrays to calculate with these sums for other calculations (see the attached photo for an example).

Then, we looked at ‘associative law’ and how this can be used to express a calculation differently to make it easier to perform mentally. Associative law allows a larger number to be broken into it’s factors and then the numbers can be re-arranged (as before) to calculate. For example, 12 x 7 can be expressed as 3 x 4 x 7 because 3 and 4 are factor pairs of 12. Children could use these methods and practice solving their own ?x?x? or ??x? calculations.

RE: in RE, we learnt about the Shema Prayer of the Jews and what this teaches us about our relationship with God and His powers. We then re-wrote the prayer into a more simple and easy to understand language. Children could research the praying habits or regularly used prayers of the Jewish faith.