Welcome to Chestnut Class 2025-2026

Welcome to our class page. Over the year, we will use this page to capture snapshots of our fantastic learning, progress and experiences - so keep checking in for updates! If you ever have any questions or would like to learn more, please get in touch with our class team (Mrs Ash and Mrs Tremlett - Teachers) who would be very happy to help.

Our PE days for Term 5 (Summer 1 - starting on Monday 13th April) will be Tuesday and Wednesday- please come to school wearing your PE kit (plain white t-shirt, navy or black shorts/leggings/joggers and a navy jumper or zip-up fleece/hoodie) on these days. Please check the weather forecast - sunhats and suncream will be needed on sunny days!

Homework is handed out on Tuesday and due back in the following Monday. Please see your child's homework book for home learning expectations and ideas.

In Chestnut class, we’ve loved practically exploring the different parts of flowers and, this week, we learned about the process of pollination. We created our own stamen (consisting of the anther, pollen and filament) using Wotsits and spaghetti and had to explain to our partner how pollination worked. When we had confidently applied all of the scientific vocabulary on the board (including pollen, fertilisation, ovary, ovules, stigma and style) we enjoyed eating our nectar marshmallows and Wotsit anthers! Yum! 

On Monday afternoon, Chestnut class were lucky to be visited by local wildlife expert, Pim Young. We learned that each species of bird create their own unique nests (depending on their materials and location). Outside in the forest and at the bottom of the field, we used the Merlin App to detect and identify lots of different birdsong in our local environment; we heard lots of birds including Robins, and Great Tits. We also used binoculars and a magnifier to investigate nature in the distance and up close. 

In Chestnut Class, we learned about life in Victorian Britain and how people lived, worked and were educated. We visited two museums, where we explored real Victorian artefacts and found out what daily life was like for rich and poor children. During an interactive Victorian school morning, we experienced lessons as Victorian children would have, which helped us understand the strict rules and routines. We also read Street Child by Berlie Doherty, which helped us understand the hardships faced by poor children and made our learning feel more meaningful.

In Chestnut Class, we took part in a six-week block of hockey lessons where we developed key knowledge and skills. We learned how to hold the stick correctly and safely, and practised different types of passes, including push passes and controlled hitting. We worked on blocking, tackling and defending the ball, helping us to play more confidently in games. Throughout the unit, we focused on teamwork and communication, as well as improving our spatial awareness on the pitch so we could move into space and support our teammates effectively.

In Chestnut Class, we studied Hamlet by William Shakespeare as part of a literacy-based project. We used drama and hot-seating to explore the characters’ thoughts and feelings, which helped us understand the story in more depth. We wrote a discussion in role as Hamlet, developing our skills in structuring a discussion and using a range of connectives to add to our ideas and show changes in our thinking. We also wrote a newspaper report about the shocking murder of Polonius, focusing on formal language and reporting key facts. In art, we created Tudor roses from clay, using a range of techniques to shape, texture and join pieces of clay together carefully and in DT we followed a recipe and worked hygienically to create delicious 'Tudor Knots'.