We began the year looking at planet Earth. We learnt how fast Earth travels through space and applied that to calculating how far we had travelled since we were born. The Autumnal Equinox in September will focus our research into the length of day and night and why we have day and night.  We will realise that the sun sets due west only twice a year and that the tilt of the Earth on its axis is responsible for the seasons.  Our Earth fact files will fill with such gems as the highest mountains, the seas, the atmosphere, volcanoes and land mass. We will ask questions such as, “Why is the sky blue?”  “How did the Earth form?”

We will learn about the Earth’s circumference and go on to ‘prove’ Pi by measuring spheres and circular objects in an around the classroom, slotting our measurements into the equations for circumference. Multiplication by 3 (rounding down) will be sufficient.  With shadow sticks we'll measure the angle of the sun above the horizon using properties of right angled triangles.

Prime numbers will tumble through Eratosthenes’ sieve and we will  check Goldbach’s conjecture that even numbers, 4 or greater, are made up of two primes. We will do this by adding prime numbers together.  We will investigate the biggest prime number, using an internet search, and we'll calculate how many kilometres it'll sfretch written in 1cm squares.

Dartmoor is an interesting project for us as it’s on our doorstep and is important for the school’s residential trips.  We will learn about the geology of Dartmoor and examine pieces of granite and discover some of its properties.  The age and the composition of Tors may prove enlightening as well as their number and the highest.  We shall research the rivers and their sources found on Ordnance Survey maps.  We'll look at lost settlements nearly as vague as some of the legends we’ll read.  Our watercolours of Dartmoor will evoke the very spirit of the place.

Chinese New Year won't pass without us celebrating.  We make dragons and tangrams and stir friy an authentic Chinese meal with authentic ingredients.

We shall decide on a class song and record it and begin the process of recording poetry.

When Spring Equinox  upon us we’ll cement our learning about the seasons and the movement of the Earth in space. We shall study life cycles and plant many seeds.  When the seeds germinate we’ll tend the plants ready for the school’s plant week.