Beech Tree Class Blog 2023-2024
Beech Tree Blog
Weekly Update-14/11/25
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
This week, for our writing, we have continued our work on persuasive information texts. This week, we have focused on creating a range of headings, understanding what rhetorical questions are and creating a range of them related to our persuasive information text. We have also focused on using a range of connectives to link ideas together and we have also been continuing to look at apostrophes, with the focus being on using apostrophes to show plural possession.
In maths, we have started our unit of work on multiplication and division. This week, the focus has been on 6x tables and 9x tables multiplication and division facts, alongside word problems for both as well. Towards the end of the week, we have focused on 3, 6 and 9x tables together using everything they have learnt over the last two weeks to solve a range of problems related to all three x tables. It’s been lovely to see how much more confident children are beginning to get and this has also been noticeable with our times table challenge sheets, as quite a few children have managed to complete the level that they were on and can now move onto the next stage.
In art, the focus has been on abstract art, with the children looking at a range of different styles of abstract art, which included work by artists like Howard Hodgkin. The children learnt what abstract art is, we discussed how we felt about the different styles of abstract art, which ones the children liked and which ones they didn’t and how it made them feel. We then created our geometrically inspired abstract paintings which the children really enjoyed. Once they had completed them, the next step was to follow in the footsteps of several abstract artists and cut our paintings up. Once the children had cut them up, they rearranged them in their books to create brand new abstract paintings and then they glued them in. The children really enjoyed the whole creative process, and it was so lovely to see the exciting pieces of work that they created at the different stages of the process.
The children also learnt all about Remembrance Day and they created a poppy wreath.
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou
Weekly Update-6/11/25
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
This week, for our writing, we have started a new unit of work which will focus on creating a persuasive information text with for and against arguments about whether the Vikings deserve the savage reputation that they have. We have looked at WAGOLL piece and identified lots of the different features within it, the children then spent multiple lessons researching facts about the Vikings as ruthless raiders and then facts about them as peaceful settlers., which will support them with discussing both sides of the argument. The children have really enjoyed learning so much about the Vikings and it has already prompted great discussions between the class about what their own opinions are based on the facts that they have researched so far.
In reading, we have continued reading Thorfinn the Nicest Viking, which is our class novel. We have also focused on retrieval, inference and summarising skills this week with the work all based on the two chapters that have been read this week. We have also started a new story time book called You’re a Bad Man, Mr Gum by Andy Stanton. The children are already really enjoying it and are finding it very funny, which is lovely to see!
In maths, we have started our unit of work on multiplication and division. This week, the focus has been on 3x tables and 6x tables multiplication and division facts, alongside word problems for both as well. The children have also been learning and using new vocabulary related to this unit of work really well within their explanations. They have also enjoyed singing along to different multiplication songs to help them learn the times tables.
In computing, we have started our new unit of work on photo editing. This week, the focus revolved around understanding what it means to crop, rotate, saturate and mirror and copy an image. The children then used their knowledge and applied these editing techniques to their picture of a mountain and produced some amazing, edited photos. It was lovely to see how much they enjoyed it and how proud they were of their final pieces!
In PSHE, as part of our Valuing Differences unit of work, we focused on stereotypes during our lesson this week. The children learnt what it means to stereotype, and as a class, we looked at multiple different situations and identified what the stereotype was. We discussed the importance of why we should not stereotype and had a really stimulating discussion about it.
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou
Weekly Update-24/10/25
Mr Kyriacou (n.kyriacou) on: Beech Tree Blog
Hello everyone,
In reading, we have focused on a Viking themed poem called The Godless, which the children have really enjoyed. We have also focused on retrieval and inference questions related to the poem and practised performing the poems. We have also managed to complete our story time book, which was Billionaire Boy by David Walliams, and the children really enjoyed it!
In maths, we have come to the end of our unit of work on column addition and subtraction. This week, we focused on efficient subtraction and knowing when to use it. We also focused on word problems involving addition and subtraction and making sure the children could identify the key information and vocabulary to help them identify which operation they needed to use.
This week, in writing, the children completed the final three paragraphs of their drafts, which they have been reading and editing as they have gone along. We had one lesson dedicated to editing their pieces to make sure that their pieces were as good as they could possibly be and then the children finally published their recounts. The children have been fantastic with reflecting and acting on advice given to help improve the quality of their work and this is very evident with the amount of fantastic pieces of work that have been produced. The children should be really proud of their pieces!
In science, we have continued with our unit of work on Nutrition and Diet. This week, we have focused on understanding what a balanced diet is, why it is important to have a balanced diet and what the benefits are for your body. The children were also tasked with creating a meal that would incorporate the five food groups into it in the correct portions. The children were super throughout the lesson, and we had lots of interesting discussions together.
In art, we have focused on the artist Lucian Freud, who is known for his portraiture work. This week we focused on creating portraits (based on a piece of work by Lucian Freud) using two mediums (sketching pencils and watercolours) to create it. The children listened to the instructions, used the different techniques that they were shown, used the space on their pages well and took their time to create some beautiful pieces of work. Well done!
Take care,
Mr Kyriacou