Reading Groups –Text at the students level. Students reading books beyond stage level with contracts which may include comprehension, grammatical, vocabulary and research activities. Some of these activities are open ended tasks encouraging the development of higher order thinking.

Spelling – Enrichment spelling list which include the phonics covered each week. Words are more challenging. Spelling activities include alphabetical order referring to the third letter e.g. thesaurus, thousand etc..

Writing – Poetry

Students are given writing tasks in poetry that develop the following poetic techniques: Alliteration, Personification, Simile, Metaphor, Rhyming words and Onomatopoeia.  

Recount – Scaffolding not provided or sentence beginnings. Word banks provided.

Literary recounts based on author study e.g. Bob Graham and Julia Donaldson.

Maths games geared to needs and ability. Lessons have more challenging games.

Ordering numbers 3 digits counting forwards and backwards.

Time – Students going beyond telling the time on the half hour and hour.

Adding 3 digit numbers.(open ended tasks)

Computer work based on length to measure lines drawn using Kidspix.

Students created giants by outlining a student in the class and measured the giant using handspans. This activity was also linked to author study Julia Donaldson.                    

Experiment – What does a plant need to survive? Children write predictions.

Guest speakers invited to discuss groups and clubs in the community linking to unit “Indentifying Us”. Presenters so far have been: Drama Group and Joey Scouts.

Computer work based on H.S.I.E. unit where students use PowerPoint to insert a photo of themselves and write about a group they belong to.

Spelling lists are tailored towards individual lists based on each student’s ability.

School magazine assignments have open-ended activities based on the magazine articles: students can select from a range of activities.

 Reading assignments/contracts are also open-ended and can include art or writing activities based on themes and characters in books. Background research is also used to add depth of understanding.

Activities for fast workers include creating word problems for the topic and higher order thinking activities and games.

will be based on a variety of units of work including a Science and Human Society focus where students will work in a group of 10 students and use construction materials (straws, toilet rolls etc) to build a structure with a defined purpose (bridge, tower etc). Each group will plan and execute the construction within given guidelines and then present their finished product to their peers.

problem solving tasks that require both concrete and mental strategies that lead to a successful solution. These problems will often have 2- 3 steps and require cooperative skills with peers

various text types are written that require complex language and sentence structure. Other writing tasks require students to reflect upon current world or environment issues and form meaningful opinions that have a historical and/or ethical basis

students have the opportunity to assess events of the past and/or present and make judgements about the place in history that such events should have. Reasoning must be based on significant research and a clear understanding of the many sides to any event of importance.