Al Sedra Bin Omran - Week 13

Round up of this week

Head/Deputy Head Message

As we approach the end of Term 1, the past few weeks have been incredibly busy and productive across the school. Our students are now fully engaged in preparing for and completing their end-of-term examinations. We kindly request parents to continue supporting their children during this important period by helping them revise at home, maintaining clear routines, and ensuring they get adequate rest so they are able to perform at their very best. We also have our National Day celebrations to look forward to, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming all our parents and families as we come together to honour this special occasion.

PreSchool

This week the children had fun learning the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle” 🎶. They enjoyed pretending to be the cow jumping over the moon 🌙 and the dish running away with the spoon 🥄. This helped them use their imagination and learn new words.

In Maths, the children practised numbers, patterns, and shapes. They counted objects, looked for simple patterns, and named shapes like circles and squares ⭕⬛. They enjoyed spotting shapes in the classroom and during play.

We also talked about germs 🦠 and why washing our hands is important. The children tried using soap 🧼 and talked about what happens when we don’t. This helped them understand how germs can spread.

To end the week, we practised being a team 🤝. The children took turns, helped each other, and worked together during games. They showed great kindness and cooperation ⭐.

Reception

This week, we introduced our exciting new topic Going Places and the children have absolutely loved exploring the world around them! They learned about different countries, talked about where they have visited and shared wonderful stories from their own travels. The classroom has been full of curiosity, questions and enthusiastic discussions.

The children also took part in creative activities such as creating famous landmarks from around the world, including the Burj Al Arab and the Tower of Pisa.

In Maths, the children have been developing their understanding of number bonds to 5 through a range of practical activities.

It has been a fantastic start to our new topic and we are excited for even more adventures next week!

Year 1

This week in Year 1 has been packed with excitement, creativity, and lots of fantastic learning! 🌟 In Literacy, the children have been busy planning for their Hot Write next week, and their imaginations have truly been shining. ✍️✨ They’ve been exploring characters, settings, and story ideas, and it’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they prepare to bring their stories to life.

In Maths, we wrapped up our Geometry topic, where the children enjoyed exploring shapes, patterns, and real-life objects. 🔺🟦 Now, we’ve moved on to our new Place Value unit, diving into understanding numbers in fun and practical ways. Using games, manipulatives, and hands-on activities, the children have been developing a stronger sense of number and beginning to understand how numbers fit together. 🔢🎉

In IPC, the highlight of the week was creating beautiful artwork comparing Kenya and Ireland. 🎨🌍 The children loved exploring the colours, landscapes, and cultural elements of both countries. Their creativity really came alive as they produced art that celebrated the similarities and differences between the two places.

Overall, it has been a fantastic and enjoyable week in Year 1, full of curiosity, creativity, and smiling faces!

Year 2

This week, Year 2 have continued to shine in all their learning! 🌟

In Literacy, we have been innovating Florence Nightingale’s diary entry 🕯️. The children explored features of a diary and used this to help plan their own innovated diary entries, focusing on key features such as feelings, events and time order.

In Maths, we have been exploring the properties of 2D and 3D shapes 🔺🟦. The children investigated the number of sides and vertices and practised using a ruler to accurately draw shapes with care and precision.

In Science, we moved on to learning about desert habitats 🌵—perfect for us here in Qatar! The children discovered which animals live in the desert and discussed how they survive in such hot, dry environments.

Year 3

Year 3 have been working incredibly hard as they continue revising for their upcoming exams. The children completed two assessments on the iPads, one for Maths and one for Reading and, showed great focus and determination throughout.

In Writing, the class have been learning How to Wash a Sabre-Toothed Tiger! Using our familiar model text, the children practised identifying key features of instruction writing and applied them in their own versions. This has given them a strong foundation so that next week they can confidently and independently showcase what they’ve learned.

For Reading, the children have been thoroughly enjoying The Grunts in Trouble. Its humour and style are very similar to Roald Dahl’s The Twits, which has helped the children easily connect with the characters and the storytelling. Their enthusiasm has been fantastic to see!

Year 4

Year 5

In today’s Science lesson, we investigated thermal insulation. Our aim was to determine which material would be most effective at retaining heat and keeping a warm drink at a higher temperature for a longer period of time. We compared a range of insulating materials, recorded temperature changes over time, and analysed the results to identify the most efficient thermal insulator.

Year 6

This week, our main focus has been preparing for our upcoming exams, and the children have shown an impressive level of determination and maturity in their revision. Each day, we revisited key concepts from across the curriculum, practised a wide range of question types, and strengthened the skills they will need to perform confidently in their assessments. I have been incredibly proud of how hard everyone has worked and how committed they have been to doing their very best.

In English, we have continued developing our discussion texts. The children have been exploring how to present balanced arguments, how to use evidence effectively, and how to structure each paragraph clearly. This preparation is helping them feel confident and ready for their big write next week. In science, we brought our learning on biomes to a close by reviewing the features of different ecosystems and reflecting on how climate, flora, and fauna all connect. We also continued our work in IPC, making links to our wider learning and building a deeper understanding of our topic. Overall, it has been a productive and focused week, and the children should feel very proud of themselves.

EYFS and KS1 - PE and Creative Arts
In EYFS this week, the children have been taking part in a range of Mini Olympics activities, including running races, hurdles, and the classic egg-and-spoon challenge. They also had great fun trying out three-legged races and a variety of other small team games. Both Preschool and Reception have been using the fundamental PE skills they have been developing in previous lessons—especially balance—to help them take on each activity with confidence. The children have shown fantastic enthusiasm and have been working hard on turn-taking and supporting their friends throughout. Well done, everyone!
In Art and Music this week, Preschool and Reception have continued learning new nursery rhymes. This week’s focus was the song Walking in the Jungle. The children discussed the different animals they might meet in the jungle and enjoyed creating their own actions to match the song. They then completed a fun jungle-themed art activity, using their creativity to bring the animals and environment to life.

In KS1 PE this week, the children have been refining their football skills and developing a clearer understanding of the rules of the game. Our Year 1 pupils have been focusing on the fundamentals—dribbling, passing, and moving into space—while learning how to work together and support one another as a team. Year 2 have been exploring these same skills but at a slightly more advanced level, applying them in small-sided games and beginning to make more independent decisions during play. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence, teamwork, and enthusiasm grow each session!
In KS1 Art this week, the students have been continuing their sketching topic with a particular focus on shading. Year 1 pupils have carried on with their fruit drawings, taking more time to add detailed features such as seeds and using shading to show where the light hits the fruit. Year 2 have continued working on their self-portraits but with an exciting twist—experimenting with abstract colours to bring a creative and imaginative element to their work. The children have shown great focus and increasing confidence in their artistic skills.

KS2 – PE and Creative Arts

Year 3:

Art: Pupils had a fun week exploring Printing from Natural Forms! They collected leaves, flowers, and other natural objects to create their own unique prints, experimenting with shapes, patterns, and colors.

PE: In tag rugby, pupils practiced Attacking Tactics, learning how to dodge opponents, move into space, and support their teammates to score tries.

Year 4:

Art: Pupils dived into Still Life Drawing with Multiple Objects, carefully observing and sketching arrangements of objects. They focused on proportion, perspective, and adding details to make their drawings come alive.

PE: On the hockey pitch, pupils worked on Teamwork & Positioning, learning how to communicate, coordinate, and stay in the right place to help their team succeed.

Year 5

Art: Pupils explored Creating Movement with 3D Forms, using materials to make sculptures that seem to move, experimenting with shapes, balance, and energy in their designs.

PE: In benchball, they developed Tactics & Defence, learning clever ways to stop opponents, protect their goal, and anticipate the other team’s moves.

Year 6:

Art: Pupils experimented with Texture in Art, trying out different techniques and materials to make their work look and feel interesting, adding depth and detail to their creations.

PE: On the basketball court, pupils focused on Passing & Moving into Space, improving their teamwork, timing, and spatial awareness to support attacking plays and score points effectively.