Island Adventures and Wintery Wishes!

Dear Friends and Families,

This term has been an engaging journey for our young learners as they delved into the world of Treasure Islands through our IPC topic. We began our exploration by immersing ourselves in geography, exploring concepts such as the equator, northern and southern hemispheres, and cardinal points of a compass. Each child crafted their own map, marking significant geographical elements using a special transparent sheet. This hands-on activity extended to tracing the origins of different fruits, fostering discussions about trade routes and global influences. The children identified and marked oceans and continents, enhancing both their geographical knowledge and understanding of the interconnectedness of our world.

The journey continued with the development of map-making skills, through focusing on the role of a bird's eye view when mapping. Working collaboratively, the children formed teams to create maps of our school playground, considering key elements and their aerial perspectives. The introduction of scale sparked insightful discussions, fostering teamwork and a deeper appreciation for map-making. We also delved into history to learn about pirates and the significance of the pirate code, drawing parallels between pirate rules and the importance of agreed-upon rules for our health and emotional well-being. The unit concluded with an exciting Exit Point to the city centre, where the children followed clues and compass points on a treasure hunt, resulting in a delightful reward of waffles and hot chocolate for everyone.

In addition to this exciting topic work, the children engaged in beautiful non-fiction writing about islands. Each student chose an island of interest, conducting research on its flora, fauna, climate, and area, all linked to our IPC unit. Using the Talk for Writing method, the students memorised a model text with actions, guiding them in internalising language and grammatical structures. With this foundation, the children crafted informative and well-crafted Fact Files, complemented by incredible watercolor paintings of animals and their respective islands. Their work showcased not only a deep dive into fascinating facts but also mastery in structuring and writing non-fiction texts. For a closer look, check out the captivating display around the school.

To celebrate the winter season, we were very fortunate to be visited by a special visitor- Sinterklass, who came armed with presents and imparted a special, heartfelt message to each child. Also a huge thanks to everyone who came along to watch the Christmas show- I think you will agree that the children did a wonderful job of dancing with such joy and dedication and plenty of shimmys! 

With that, I would like to wish you all a wonderful and fun-filled winter holiday and a very happy New Year!

Warmest wishes,

Ms Erica