What we're learning about in Autumn 2

As we move into the second half of the autumn term, our learning takes us on an exciting journey around the world as we explore biomes and climate zones. From the icy tundra to scorching deserts, children will discover how living things adapt to survive in their environments and what humans can do to protect them. Here’s an overview of what we’ll be studying across the curriculum this half term.

English

Our class novel this term is Holes by Louis Sachar. Linked to our Geography topic, children will write fact files, persuasive letters, and diary recounts. They’ll research food miles, explore persuasive language techniques, and develop their grammatical understanding of relative clauses, adverbials, and cohesion between paragraphs.

Maths
We’ll continue following the White Rose scheme, covering multiplication and division, fractions, and revision of key number skills. Children will apply their knowledge through problem-solving and reasoning activities.

Science – Properties of Materials
Children will compare and group everyday materials by their properties, explore dissolving and reversible changes, and investigate how mixtures can be separated. They’ll also discover which materials are best suited to specific purposes through practical comparative tests.

Geography- What on Earth are Biomes?
Our topic question is: What should I know about living in temperate deciduous, desert and ice biomes? Pupils will locate major biomes on world maps and learn how animals, plants, and humans adapt to survive in different climates. They’ll also explore human impact on the environment, from deforestation to climate change, and consider how we can live more sustainably.

Computing – Video Production
Children will learn to plan, storyboard, and film their own videos. They’ll explore camera angles, editing techniques, and evaluate the effectiveness of their final work.

Art 

Linked to other topics through creative tasks, pupils will continue developing their design ideas in sketchbooks and apply their understanding of visual presentation in their Geography and DT work.

Design and Technology- Alarms

In this project, pupils will investigate alarm systems and switches before designing and making their own working alarm for a specific purpose. They’ll then test and evaluate their finished product.

Music – Composition and Notation

Children will sing in tune, perform confidently, and compose short melodies using standard and non-standard notation. They’ll improvise and create structured group pieces, using musical symbols to represent rhythm and pitch.

Spanish (MfL)- Fruits
Building on prior knowledge, pupils will learn the names of fruits in Spanish, practise spelling, and express likes and dislikes through short conversations.

PSHE – Valuing Differences
This unit explores friendship, respect, and diversity. Children will discuss discrimination, stereotypes, and kindness, and learn how to have respectful conversations both in person and online.

Religious Education (RE)- Why is Muhammad Important to Muslims?
Children will learn about the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, his historical influence, and the significance of the Qur’an. They’ll reflect on role models in their own lives and how these compare with Muslim beliefs.

Physical Education (PE)

• Indoor PE – Gymnastics: Pupils will practise sequences combining rolls, balances, and jumps, improving performance through self and peer evaluation.
• Outdoor PE – Invasion Games: Focus on teamwork, attacking and defending strategies, and applying these skills in small-sided games.