Oak Class

TERM 1 AND 2 PROJECT 

SCHOOL DAYS 

 

 

In the School Days project, your child will have the opportunity to take part in a traditional Victorian class and will learn about the differences between schooling in the Victorian era and schooling today. They will learn about objects found in a Victorian classroom and how they were used. They will research Samuel Wilderspin, an important figure in the development of schooling for young children in the Victorian era, whose ideals are reflected in schooling today. They will learn to describe the passage of time through study of past, present and future tense vocabulary.

Project Focus	History
English	Narrative: Pinocchio, Poetry: Firework Night, Narrative: My Christmas Star
Maths	Place Value within 20, Addition and Subtraction to 20, Place Value within 100, Shape
History	Historical vocabulary; Historical artefacts; Timelines; Present day schools; Our school; Victorian era; Victorian schools; Significant people – Samuel Wilderspin
Geography	Fieldwork; Human and physical features; Maps; Local environment; Changes over time
PSHE	Special people; Positive contributions
Science	Wild and garden plants; Seasonal changes; Plant parts; Seeds and bulbs; Investigating leaves; Importance of plants; Working scientifically – Identifying and classifying, Observing changes over time, Pattern seeking, Research, Comparative test Animals' body parts; Animal groups – amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles; Carroll and Venn diagrams; Pets; Carnivores, herbivores and omnivores; Earthworms; Working scientifically – Identifying and classifying, Comparative test, Pattern seeking, Research
Art and Design	3-D murals; Buildings; Significant people – James Rizzi
Design Technology	Sources of food; Food preparation techniques; Hygiene rules; Designing and making salads and sandwiches
Religious Education	Christianity: Who made the world, Why does Christmas matter to Christians?
Computing	We are TV Chefs
Music	Unpitched Percussions

 

Our PE days this term are: Tuesday (Outdoor) and Thursday (Indoor)

Forest School will take place on Friday. 

 

Home learning

Homework will be set on a Friday. Home learning journals will be sent home to be returned by the following Thursday. Activities and reading logs can be accessed via our online learning platform, Learning with Parents. 

Log on to TTRS or Numbots to practice your times tables and number bonds. Try to do this 5 minutes a day - it really makes a difference! Log in details can be found in your home learning journal. 

Reading Books

We hope that you will be able to read with your child for at least 10 minutes per day. Children in Green phonics group onwards will have 2 phonic books we are currently reading in class in their bags to read each night. Please ensure these are in your child's bag each day so they can be changed when we begin the next text.

Every Friday we will have a library session during which your child will choose a new reading book to take home or continue with one they are already reading. Books cannot be changed for a new text unless the previous one is returned.

RE Autumn Term 2: Why Does Christmas Matter to Christians?

This term in RE, we continued our journey learning about Christianity by exploring the theme of Incarnation.

What is Incarnation? We learned that “Incarnation” means God coming to earth as a human being. Christians believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and that at Christmas we celebrate His birth. A child-friendly way to understand this is: God wanted to be close to people, so He came into the world as Jesus to show His love.

Starting with the big question: We began our unit by reflecting on the question “Why does Christmas matter to Christians?” to see what we already knew and to share our ideas.

Pupil Voice

Augustin: I don’t know

Jaxon: I love Christmas and presents

Rapha: Jesus was born

Signs and symbols of Christmas: We explored how people know Christmas is on its way. We noticed decorations appearing, TV adverts beginning, colder weather setting in, animals hibernating, and cards being sent — all signs that the season is approaching.

Preparing for a new arrival: Next, we thought about how families prepare for the arrival of a new baby. We had lots of ideas, from buying toys and learning how to change a nappy, to talking about the feelings new arrivals bring — excitement and happiness, but also a little nervousness too. This helped us connect with how Christians see the birth of Jesus as a very special arrival.

Term 1 focused on the big question: Who made the world?

 Exploring nature: We began by looking at the beauty of the natural world around us. Pupils created artwork using natural materials, helping us to appreciate the wonder of creation.

Pupil Voice

Rapha: God made lots of animals.

Thomas: God is kind. I like flowers

 Thinking about the Creator: Together, we reflected on what the Creator must be like to design such a beautiful world. We decided that God is clever, kind, and generous.

 Learning the Creation Story: We studied the story of creation from the book of Genesis. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). We learned that Christians believe God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh.

 Prayers of thanks: Children wrote their own prayers to thank God for all His wonderful creations.

Josie: God made everyone and everything.

Augustin: God created fish and birds.

Harvest connections: We linked our learning to the celebration of Harvest, thinking about how Christians thank God for the food we receive. Pupils created Harvest artwork which was proudly displayed in church during our Harvest Service, brightening the space beautifully.

 Reflecting on the big question: Throughout the unit, we returned to our guiding question: Who made the world? Pupils recorded their thoughts and showcased their learning in their Express Books, before completing end-of-unit reflections.

Pupil voice

Thomas: God made the world. He made animals.

Casi: God made the world. God made the sun and the moon. It took his 6 days.

Rapha: Christians believe God made the world.

This unit gave us the chance to combine creativity, reflection, and faith, while deepening our understanding of Christian beliefs about creation.

 

Collective Worship: Exploring the Value of Generosity

This half term, our Collective Worship has centred around the Christian value of Generosity—giving freely, joyfully, and with love.

Scripture Focus: “God loves a cheerful giver” We began by exploring the Bible verse from 2 Corinthians 9:7, which reminds us that generosity is not just about giving, but about how we give. Children reflected on what it means to be a cheerful giver and how generosity can bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.

Generosity means sharing what we have with others — not just things like toys or food, but also our time, kindness, and friendship. It’s about thinking of others before ourselves and giving without expecting anything in return.

We have explored generosity through a range of themes and activities, including:

Caring for creation – thinking about how we can look after the world God made

“The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and look after it.” — Genesis 2:15

We learned that we are Earthkeepers and we are responsible to protecting the Earth.

Casimir: Save the world

Jaxon: Keep the world safe

Finn: Take care of the environment

Rapha: Throw rubbish in bins- recycle

Fairness – discussing what it means to seek the good of others

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” — 1 Corinthians 10:24

We linked this to Luke 12: 13-21 and explored what we have extra and what we could give away.

Augustin: My mum gives eggs away from our chickens

Jaxon: I gave away some toys.

Arlo: I gave some toys to Ivy.

Giving our time – reflecting on how we can be generous with our attention and care

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” — Philippians 2:4

Each week, we’ve enjoyed songs, stories, scripture, and creative tasks that help us understand how generosity can make our school and community a kinder place.

 

Prayer Space – Autumn Term 1 and 2

This term, we have enjoyed spending time in our Prayer Space — a calm and welcoming area where children can pause, reflect, and explore big ideas through quiet activities.

A Prayer Space is a special place set up in school that helps children think about themselves, others, and the world around them. It gives everyone a chance to be still, say thank you, ask questions, or simply enjoy a peaceful moment.

Children took part in activities such as:

 Exploring the wonders of nature — looking closely at natural objects through magnifying glasses and hunting for them with binoculars

Creating leaf prayers — writing thoughtful messages of thanks and reflection on autumn leaves

Bubble breathing — using slow, mindful breathing to help us feel calm and focused

Still time — enjoying quiet moments both in the classroom and in our outdoor reflection area

Prayer Space helps children grow in confidence, develop empathy, and build emotional wellbeing — all while deepening their understanding of faith and values in a gentle, personal way.

Pupil Voice

Rapha: I liked creating unique hand monsters because we are all unique

Casimir: I liked making finger print oak tress- a one off like our fingerprints. There is no one like me

Thomas: I like to close my eyes

 

Memorable Experience

We’re delighted to share a truly memorable experience from our recent School Days project! Last week, we welcomed Sonia from The Oxford Museum, who brought Victorian school life vividly to life for our children.

From the moment Sonia arrived, the classroom was transformed into a scene from the past. The children were captivated as they explored what life was like for pupils in Victorian times. They loved dressing up in period clothing, trying their hand at writing on slates, and even using ink pens—quite a change from our usual pencils and whiteboards!

There were plenty of giggles (and a few gasps!) as they learned about the dunce hat and the cane—thankfully just for show! It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to reflect on how education has changed and to appreciate the comforts of modern schooling.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to FoFS for their kind and generous donation, which made this enriching experience possible. Your support continues to bring history to life in the most engaging ways