Netherfield CE Primary School

Emperors and Empires

In this history project, we will learn about the growth and decline of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. We will discover the absolute power of the Roman emperors and study the hierarchies of Roman society and the Roman army. We will study the first invasions of Britain in 55 and 54 BC and the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43. We will learn about Boudicca’s rebellion, Hadrian’s Wall and the Romanisation of Britain, including how Christianity came to Britain and investigate the legacy of Roman Britain in our local area.

Our enquiry question is: How did life and innovations change during the Romanisation of Britain?

Please find the knowledge organiser, project glossary, word mat, and display words for this project saved at the bottom of this class page, which you can download if you would like to, to help with your child's home learning.

Books we will be reading this term are:

'The Roman Invasion' by Josh Lacey

'The Goose Guards' by Terry Deary

'Roman Diary, The Journey of Iliona a Young Slave' by Richard Platt and David Parkins

'Julius Zebra: Rumble with Romans!' by Gary Northfield

Who were the Romans anyway? (Usborne non-fiction book)

Misty Mountains

In this topic, pupils will explore Mountain ranges, including the majestic Himalayas, through a focus on map work and the study of human and physical geography. They will learn about the features of mountain environments, how people live in these regions and how mountain landscapes compare with other places around the world. Children will also study the work of Hokusai, using his art as inspiration for printmaking and sketching techniques. Through close observation and creative exploration, they will develop their artistic skills while responding to the beauty and power of mountain scenery.

Alongside their geography and art learning, pupils will investigate healthy snacks and where food is produced, helping them to understand the location of food production and its journey from source to table. They will also design packaging, exploring how to strengthen and reinforce their products to make them practical and appealing.

Our enquiry question is: What are the physical features of mountain environments, climate zones and the water cycle?

Our focus books are: The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson, Mountains (Go Facts: Natural Environments), The Water Cycle (Collins Big Cat), Mountain Animals (Saving Wildlife), Climbing the Himalayan Mountains (Travelling Wild)

Invasion: Saxons and Vikings

In this fascinating history topic, pupils will explore the age of invasion in Britain, learning about the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings and how these groups changed life in Britain. They will study Anglo-Saxon beliefs and customs, discover what everyday life was like in Anglo-Saxon Britain, and compare this with Viking daily life.

Children will also learn about the Norman and Viking invasions, building a deeper understanding of how these events shaped the history of Britain. They will study the significance of King Athelstan and consider his place in the story of Anglo-Saxon England.

In art, pupils will be inspired by Andy Warhol, experimenting with charcoal, pastels and watercolours to create bold and expressive pieces. In design and technology, they will investigate Viking longships, exploring the suitability of materials and different ways of attaching structures to build and test their own designs.

Our enquiry question is: How did invasions, after the Roman withdrawal, change Britain?

Our focus books are: The Viking Attack by Josh Lacey, Saxon Tales; The King who Threw Away his Throne by Terry Deary, Beowulf the Hero by Tony Bradman & Tony Ross and DK findout! Vikings (non-fiction)

Spellings:  Weekly – Children are given their spellings on a Monday and tested on these spellings on a Friday. Please practice these at home and ensure the children bring their spellings books in on these days in their reading folders.
•    Children to read at home daily and please can you write a comment in their reading records when they have done so. These will be checked daily and children will be given a Class Dojo point for each read.
•    Pupils to practice their times tables on Times Tables Rockstars website as much as possible.
•    Children’s Google CLassroom, Purple Mash and Times Table Rockstars logins will be stuck in the front of their reading records.

We use PurpleMash to enrich our Computing curriculum, allowing children to explore key software in a safe, controlled environment. PurpleMash has programmes that allow the children to learn to touch type, word process, code, input data in spreadsheets, create basic video games, email, work on collaborative documents, and much more! Please email if you would like any more information, or click on the link below to explore the PurpleMash site. Your children have their own logins for this website as well.