Aspiring Acers
Teacher: Mrs Twist
Teaching Assistant: Mrs Raghu
· SENDCO · ADMISSIONS · CONTACTS · 01332 346230
Aspiring Acers and Excellent Elms
Excellent Elms
Teacher: Miss Wiggins
Teaching Assistant: Miss Rogers
Aspiring Acers
Our classrooms are well organised to promote the children’s independence and to ensure the best from all of our children. Both classrooms have working walls for English and Maths to aid the children with their work. We also celebrate children’s fantastic work by displaying it around our classrooms.
Excellent Elms
Aspiring Acers’ School Councillor
Zane K
Aspiring Acers’ Eco Councillor
Aliyah
Every class has at one school councilor to help share their classes’ views and make changes across the school.
We also have an eco council with a representative from each class. These children meet to discuss ideas about how to make our school more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Excellent Elms’ School Councillor
Heidi
Excellent Elms Eco Councillor
Lekhana
Aspiring Acers’ Dojo Masters:
Caet and Shreyan
Every class has at least 2 Dojo masters. They are role models of excellent behaviour, always showing the FIRSY values of Fascinated, Independent, Respectful, Sociable and You can do it!
Excellent Elms’ Dojo Masters:
Mae and Samuel
Click on the tabs below to find out more information about each topic. Throughout the year we will also add pictures of memorable experiences and hooks!
In this topic, for History we will be learning all about changes in the British monarch over time. We will be learning about key monarchs and changes to our government over time from absolute monarchy to democracy In Science we will be learning about electricity. This will link to our Design and Technology project, making a reading light. In Art we will be investigating the work of Alexander Calder and making wire sculptures. RE lessons will focus on What does it mean to be a Hindu in Britain today? During PSHE we are thinking about ‘me and my relationships’, exploring friendships and community. Computing lessons will focus on uses of technology. In MFL we will be learning about why and how people communicate and starting our very first lessons in German.
Our Maths lessons in Year 3 and 4 this half term will focus on Place Value and Addition and Subtraction. We will also be regularly practising times tables.
In Geography, we will be learning about mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes. Our Art unit will explore the work of a range of artists and creating our own volcano landscapes. In Science, we will be investigating rocks and learning about states of matter. Our RE lessons will focus on ‘Why is The Bible so important to Christians today?’ PSHE will look at ‘Valuing difference’. Finally, we will be continuing our German lessons, learning to ask a person’s name; how old they are and numbers to 12.
In our Maths lessons, Year 3 will be focusing on Addition and Subtraction and Multiplication and Division. Year 4 will be focusing on Area and Multiplication and Division. We will continue to practise our timestables daily.
In this full term unit, we will be learning about Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in a double History unit. In Geography, we will build our locational knowledge and learn about changes to settlements over time. In Design and Technology, we will be applying our computing skills using Microbits. Our Science unit is all about Forces. In RE we will be learning about Jewish festivals and considering life as a journey. In PSHE, we will be looking at keeping safe and rights and responsibilities. Finally, our German lessons will be about where we live, days of the week, weather, the alphabet and family.
In Maths, Year 3 will be completing multiplication and division, length and perimeter, fractions and mass and capacity.
In Year 4 pupils will be looking at multiplication and division, fractions, length and perimeter and decimals.
Focus text:
Hook
Experiences
We will be doing a tour of Derby city centre, looking at significant places, buildings and monuments.
During this half term, we will be exploring the work of other artists and drawing the human form in Art. In Science, we will be learning about animals, including humans. In computing, we will be developing our programming skills. Our RE lessons will focus on significant experiences, while in PSHE will be taking part in activities about ‘Being my Best’. Our learning in German will continue with number to 31 and colours.
Focus Text
Coming soon!
In Geography, we will be learning about water and rivers. Our Science lessons will focus on living things and their habitats. In computing, we will be developing our knowledge and understanding about the internet. For Design and Technology we will be learning about textiles and making a bag for a story character. Our RE lessons will focus on right and wrong and in PSHE we will be thinking about Growing and Changing. Finally, MFL lessons will be about pets and celebrating Gypsy, Roma, Traveller history month.
?
Reading
Mrs Twist and Miss Wiggins will be reading to us everyday. Our book for this half term are:
The Selfish Giant – Oscar Wilde
The Lying Carpet- David Lucas
The King who Banned the Dark –
Emily Haworth-Booth
English
For English this half term we will begin with a unit of ‘The Place Value of Grammar and Punctuation’. This will focus on the uses of different word classes, the structure of sentences and how to punctuate accurately.
We will then move on to a fiction unit. We will be using the model text ‘Ben and the stole diamond’ to investigate finding tales. Through this will be exploring characterisation in stories and learning to create and describe characters in our own writing.
Our Experiences and Opportunities
We do lots of exciting things throughout the year, this may be part of our topic or additional experiences.
Memorable Experience
October 22nd/23rd – Past Productions workshop – Kings and Queens
November 19th/20th – Derby Museum and Art Gallery
March 26th – The Past Presents – Viking and Anglo-Saxon workshop
May 27th – Hands on Science – Digestive system and teeth
Music
We are really lucky to have specialist music teachers who will be teaching violin to all Year 4 children every Monday for the whole year.
Year 3s will be learning to play the glockenspiel.
Memorable experience photos coming soon!
Year 3 will be swimming every Wednesday until February half term. Please ensure your child brings a swimming costume and towel.
PE for Year 4 is on Wednesday.
The children will change for PE in school so please ensure they have their kit ready. They can leave this in school if you like.
Home learning will be sent out every Friday and will need to be returned by Thursday the following week. Your child is able to complete it at lunchtimes in school if that is needed, just speak to their class teacher.
Useful Links for Learning
English
Albanian
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Kurdish (Kurmanji)
Latvian
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Slovak
Spanish
Urdu
© Copyright 2025 Firs Primary School
Part of the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) family of schools
Registered Address: Unit 3 Top Floor Endcliffe Mount, Deepdale Business Park, Ashford Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire. DE45 1GT
Tel: 0333 3554353, Email: info@ddat.org.uk