Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics
In order to prepare our children for an ever and fast-changing world, we offer STEAM learning opportunities. These experiences require our pupils to think deeply and challenge themselves and prepare them for becoming innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders of today and tomorrow.
Science
At Forestdale, we provide the children with high-quality science education. This gives children the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.
Science has changed our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity, and all pupils are taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. Pupils are encouraged to recognise the power of rational explanation and develop a sense of excitement and curiosity about natural phenomena. They are encouraged to understand how science can be used to explain what is occurring, predict how things will behave, and analyse causes.
Year 4 digestive system investigation
Speaking and listening is an integral part of our science. It not only encourages children to use scientific vocabulary accurately but also allows them to build upon basic ideas, developing and extending their thinking.
We aim to develop a love of science through awe and wonder. Our teachers plan engaging and inspirational activities in which children are encouraged to work scientifically through.
Links are in place with other local schools and agencies; in particular, with Riddlesdown High School and educational visits are often arranged to reinforce topic work.
Year 2 testing materials of wattle and daub houses
Year 5 Planetarium
Technology
Computing
Our up to date curriculum includes designing and writing programmes all the way through to explaining how a simple algorithm works. We provide many opportunities for learners to collaborate and communicate through online technologies. Our up to date curriculum includes designing and writing programmes all the way through to explaining how a simple algorithm works. We provide many opportunities for learners to collaborate and communicate through online technologies.
Providing one computer for each child in the class provides the opportunity for children to acquire independence and competence, which can be applied across the whole curriculum.
Children also learn how to best use the internet for learning, whilst also keeping themselves safe. Our aim is to create users of technology which are highly skilled as well as digitally literate.
We have a class set of tablets to further enhance learning.They provide learning opportunities that would not ordinarily be possible.Apps are carefully selected and downloaded to best help children move forward in different subject areas. Children can learn from educational applications or can even record their own explanations for other children to learn from.
Engineering
Design and Technology
Children enjoy creating and making new things and we foster this through the teaching of Design and Technology.
We encourage our children to use their imagination and creativity to design, make and problem solve using a variety of materials. Our aim is to provide children with the opportunities to build and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills to complete practical tasks successfully and to use appropriate tools safely.
Year 4 investigating the best structures for a Roman catapult
Children in both key stages have the opportunity to prepare and cook healthy food, use different textiles, build structures, and explore and use mechanisms. In key stage 2, children learn to use electrical systems and computing programs in their products.
Arts
Music
At Forestdale, children enjoy quality music lessons which have musical sound as the dominant language.
Within lessons children listen to music; sing; play tuned and un-tuned percussion instruments; and participate in group music making activities to their peers.
We have a music specialist who takes classes each week and plans music lessons linked closely to topic themes.
Children have performance opportunities throughout the year in assemblies, performances and concerts both in school and in the wider community.
Year 6 in a recording studio
There are also weekly Key Stage 1 and 2 singing assemblies.
Dance and Drama
We create immersive events such as our Day of History and engaging lessons using drama and dance.
Year 4 Roman Day
Bollywood Dancing
Art
Art embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. At Forestdale Primary school we provide a high-quality art education that engages, inspires and challenges pupils, quipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art.
Our pupils are encouraged to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art.
The creative element involves children using materials and equipment to represent objects realistically and imaginatively, and to express ideas and feelings. With this in mind, breadth and depth of the subjects is offered with a wide range of materials and skills. Art is an inclusive subject which has many possibilities across culture and time.
Natural sculptures based on the work of Andrew Goldsworthy
Our children learn how art reflects and shapes our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.
All year groups have opportunities to visit galleries, museums and other venues for maximum exposure to as varied a range of art and craft work as possible.
Mathematics
Through mathematics, children learn to understand their world in terms of numbers and shapes. They learn to reason, connect ideas and to think logically.
Aims and objectives
At Forestdale Primary school, we teach for mastery. Mastering maths means pupils acquire a deep, long-term, secure and adaptable understanding of the subject. Achieving mastery means acquiring a solid enough understanding of the maths that’s been taught to enable pupils to move on to more advanced material.
Our aim as a school is to ensure our children:
- develop a confident attitude towards mathematics leading to an interest in and enjoyment of the subject, and inspire children to appreciate mathematics of many cultures
- develop awareness of mathematics in the world and beyond the classroom and in everyday life
- develop an ability to think clearly, reason logically and to use existing knowledge to some problems
- develop the use of mathematical vocabulary and to express ideas clearly and with confidence
- develop an understanding of mathematics through investigation, enquiry, experimentation and personal discovery
- develop mathematical skills, build concepts and encourage the memorising of basic facts
- develop an ability to persist at a task, work accurately and record in their own way and a variety of formats
- rehearse and sharpen skills during oral and mental calculation sessions
- Develop an appreciation of mathematical patterns and relationships (numerical and spatial)
- develop feelings of wonder, curiosity and increasing awareness of the aesthetic qualities of mathematics (shape, form, symmetry)
Key Principles
Early Mathematics
Mathematics in Reception classes involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measure. This is achieved through a variety of concrete resources and pictorial representations.
Times Tables
A priority at our school is to improve the fluency and recall of times tables.
Your children will be set weekly times tables to practise online and they will also be tested in class using Times Tables Rock Stars. Tests will be timed as well as given a score.
Certificates
Each week we will analyse the homework test scores across the school. The child with the highest score, fastest time and most improved time will be rewarded with a certificate of achievement in Monday’s assembly.
Stampers
Teachers will also give two stampers to the children in their class with the most correct answers, fastest rock speed and to the most improved.
Please click here to link to the Times Tables Rock Stars app, which can also be found in apps on our website.Key Instant Recall Facts (KIRFs)
Part of our aim for the children at Forestdale is for them to memorise and recall basic facts. One way that this is encouraged in class is to have a specific focus within each year group for each half term. This focus is then taught and rehearsed through the mental starters and main lessons throughout the week.
Number Stars
Number star is aimed at all pupils from Reception through to the end of Key Stage 2. The aims of the number stars are:
- To increase pupil motivation to learning number bonds, times tables, measure facts and the relationships between fractions, decimals and percentages;
- To develop mental agility;
- To monitor the progression of learning in the identified areas of maths.
There are 18 progressive tests and the objectives tested in each number star are outlined below. Every child will sit their number star test at the end of each half term – this will be a timed test where the children will be expected to achieve full marks in order to move on the next number star.
JADE
- Read and order numbers to 10
- Count to 20
CORAL
- Read and order numbers to 20
- Count to 100
- Addition of number up to 10
GARNET
- Addition of numbers up to 20
- Recognition that addition can be done in any order
- Count in twos
AMBER
- Addition and subtraction bonds of 10
- 1 and 10 more / less than a two-digit number
- Count in tens
OPAL
- Addition and subtraction bonds of 20
- Partition numbers within 10
- Count in fives
PEARL
- Doubles and halves of numbers to double 10
- Be able to bridge through ten
- Times table and division facts for 2x table
RUBY
- Addition and subtraction facts within 10
- Pairs of multiples of 10 that total 100
- Times table and division facts for 10x table
TOPAZ
- Addition and subtraction facts within 20
- Pairs of multiples of 10 that total 100
- Doubles and halves of numbers to double 20
- Times table and division facts for 5x table
AQUAMARINE
- Consolidate knowledge of the equals sign using facts from 2, 5 and 10 times table
- Doubles and halves of numbers to double 50
EMERALD
- Addition and subtraction bonds of 100 using pairs of multiples of 5 and 10 totalling 100
- Addition and subtraction bonds of 1000 using pairs of multiples of 100
- Consolidate knowledge of the equals sign using addition and subtraction up to 50
TURQUOISE
- Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables
- Convert between familiar units of measure
AMETHYST
- Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 times tables
- Multiplication facts for 6 and 8 times tables
- Convert between familiar units of measure
MOONSTONE
- Multiplication and division facts for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 times tables
- Convert between familiar units of measure
- Understand remainders
ONYX
- Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
- Multiply any number by 10 or 100
- Convert between familiar units of measure
- Understand remainders
SAPPHIRE
- Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
- Multiply any number by 10, 100 or 1000
- Convert between familiar units of measure
- Understand remainders
- Recognise the equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages
- Find fractions and percentages of whole numbers
QUARTZ
- Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10
- Multiply any number by 10, 100 or 1000
- Know facts about length, mass, capacity and time and use them to calculate
- Recognise the equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages
- Write as a decimal: - 1/10 (one tenth); 1/5 (one fifth); half; a quarter
- Find fractions and percentages of whole numbers
- Understand the use of brackets
- Solve worded problems mentally
PERIDOT
- Multiplication and division facts up to 10 x 10 and use them to calculate larger numbers
- Add and subtract
- Multiply and divide decimal numbers
- Order decimal numbers and covert them to a fraction and vice versa
- Find the highest common factor of a given set of numbers
- Understand the use of brackets
- Know how to find a number to the power of…
DIAMOND
- Add, subtract and multiply fractions
- Order fractions and decimal numbers
- Relate fractions and find differences between fractions and decimals
- Know how to find the square root and cube root of a number
- Add, subtract, multiply and divide positive and negative numbers
- Find percentages of percentages
- Solve algebraic equations
Calculations
Please see below for an idea of what your children will be taught within each year group. We hope you find this overview and the examples useful in supporting your children’s learning at home.
Addition
Key Vocabulary: sum, total, parts and wholes, plus, add, together, more, ‘is equal to’, ‘is the same as’
Subtraction
Key Vocabulary: take away, less than, difference, subtract, minus, fewer, decrease
Multiplication
Key Vocabulary: double, times, multiplied by, the product of, groups of, lots of, equal groups
Division
Key Vocabulary: share, group, divide, divided by, half
Information and Further Support
On a termly basis, parents are strongly encouraged to attend our Working Together mornings. These morning sessions provide parents with information and guidance on what their child is learning in class and the strategies they can use in order to help them at home. Parents are invited into the classrooms to work with their child, with the support and guidance of the class teacher.
All children receive quality first maths teaching on a daily basis and activities are differentiated accordingly. In addition, where identified pupils are considered to require targeted support to enable them to work towards age appropriate objectives, intervention programmes will be implemented. Please click here for further details and advice on who and how to make contact with the school regarding any concerns or needs of your child.