Dear Families,

I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to starting a new year at Holbrook. Our RoK topic unit for the autumn term is called the 'Super Structures and Tangled leaves'. We will be learning about: when and where the ancient Mayans settled; comparing European and central American geography; cooking with Mayan inspired chocolate; and learning about their astrological knowledge. 

Our class text this term is ‘Boy in the Tower’ by Polly Ho-Yen. The story focuses on a boy called Ade as he and his mother try to escape their tower block as strange plants are attacking the city around them. The story explores themes of anxiety and depression and how people come together to help each other through difficult times. 

Our class text this spring term is Tom's midnight garden by Philippa Pearce:

When Tom is sent to stay at his aunt and uncle's house for the summer, he resigns himself to endless weeks of boredom. As he lies awake in his bed he hears the grandfather clock downstairs strike . . .eleven . . . twelve . . . thirteen . . .

Thirteen! Tom races down the stairs and out the back door, into a garden everyone told him wasn't there. In this enchanted thirteenth hour, the garden comes alive - but Tom is never sure whether the children he meets there are real or ghosts . . . This entrancing and magical story is one of the best-loved children's books ever written.