Oak Class 2022 - 2023

As role models for the rest of the school, Oak class embody the values and vision that we have for our school community.  In the courtesy and gratitude we demonstrate around school, we model how our faith that making wise choices and always striving to do the right thing by ourselves and others allows us to grow in confidence and maturity.  The wisdom that comes from always striving to make these wise choices allows us to thrive as we take advantage of the many opportunities we have to shine in Oak class, from whole school dramatic performances to residentials and projects to support our local area.  

This term, Oak will be learning all about the history and geography of our local area. We will be using OS maps and grid referencing, as well as the 8 compass points, to conduct fieldwork in the area around Vale Royal Abbey, observing, measuring and recording what we find to support the final outcome of this theme (more on that below!).  We will be finding out about the history of Vale Royal Abbey and the monarchs, including Edward Longshanks and Henry the Eighth, who are linked to it. We'll also find out about the changes that occurred in Britain over time such as the war between England and Wales and the dissolution of the monasteries and the spread of Protestantism.

Our Music topic will see us exploring the music of the Middle Ages and learning about the composer John Dunstaple. In DT, inspired by the story of Lord Edward which led to the building of Vale Royal Abbey, we'll be building boats. In Art, we'll be exploring digital media, focusing on the architecture of Vale Royal Abbey. 

Our Computing learning will allow us to tie together all of our learning about as we produce a media project tying in photography and video advertising a visit to Vale Royal Abbey.

We’ll also be learning about brave explorers who braved the dangers of the oceans and the ice as we learn about Ernest Shackleton’s adventure in Antarctica and Charles Darwin’s discoveries aboard the Beagle.  Darwin and his discoveries will also for the basis for some of our Science work on evolution and adaption.  We will also be learning about properties of materials included reversible and irreversible changes.  Our RE learning will see us investigating God and the Eucharist. 

Reading is at the heart of successful learning and we will immerse ourselves in a range of quality texts over the course of the year. As Reading is a priority across all subjects, we regularly use a range of fiction and non-fiction texts in our whole-class Reading lessons to help inform richer learning across the curriculum in the afternoon. In addition to this cross-curricular learning, a single day might also see us exploring the motivations of characters in our gripping class novels or simply allowing children time to develop a love of reading through our provision of high-quality fiction books. Wherever and whenever possible, we will prioritise developing the skills and positive attitudes towards Reading that will enable Oak class to become confident, informed and engaged learners. 

Our new spotlight author is the wonderful Sophie Anderson; we’ll be diving into some of her best novels in full reading lessons to give us a taste of her style and stories. 

Our next class novel will be The Boy at the Back of the Class: a remarkable novel about refugees and their search for safety and a new home.  We will follow it up with Darwin’s Dragons: the exciting true-tale of a cabin boy aboard The Beagle who found himself at the centre of one of the most remarkable adventures of the age.

Home Reading expectations are detailed below, but should your child express and interest in a particular author, series or genre, please let us know and we would be delighted to order books from our library partners free of charge.  Visits to your local library are also encouraged!