Using The Bog Baby by Jeanne Willis, we will guide the children through a fun and meaningful exploration of storytelling, character, and imagination. Together, we will discuss key themes such as friendship, curiosity, responsibility, and respect for nature, focusing on how the characters’ choices affect the bog baby and its environment.

The children will also have the opportunity to explore the message behind the story and reflect on how humans should care for living things and natural habitats. Through engaging activities such as reading comprehension, descriptive writing, role play, and art projects, they will develop their literacy skills, enrich their vocabulary, and express their own ideas about empathy, care, and protecting the world around them.

We follow the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, which gives children a flying start in learning to read and write.  Children are assessed regularly and grouped to meet their needs. We teach children the initial sounds, moving into reading 'special friends' such as ng and oo.  Then children are taught to decode and blend to develop their reading skills.  Reading is the key to opening the door to learning.

This half term we will be focusing on time and fractions.  The children will be learning the months of the year and days of the week, and how to tell the time (o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to), which is a very important life skill.  In fractions children will be learning about euqal and unequal parts and how to find equal parts of a whole.

In history the focus will be on knowing our Famous People, including Edith Cavell -   The children will look exploring local memories by learning about famous people and places close to where they live and further afield.  They will look at the way the local area has changed over time and use maps to identify significant parts of the local area.

Turtles will learn science through hands-on exploration using everyday materials they recognise from home and school. By investigating objects such as toys, fabrics, kitchen items, and classroom tools, children begin to ask questions, make predictions, and observe what happens. This practical approach helps them understand basic scientific ideas in a fun and meaningful way.

Through sorting, testing, and discussing materials, children develop key skills such as observing, describing, and explaining their thinking. These experiences build curiosity, confidence, and a strong foundation for future science learning, while showing children that science is part of their everyday world.

Our focus for this half term will be, 'how the universe came to be'. As part of this, we will be looking at Hindu and Christian stories looking at the origins of the universe. 

In our PHSE lessons, the children will learn about what bullying is, how it can affect others, and why it’s important to be kind and respectful to everyone. They will also explore ways to build positive friendships by listening, sharing, helping others, and resolving conflicts peacefully.

Art:

We will be exploring 3d Design this term and exploring the different materials and techniques we can use.

DT:

Through a variety of creative and practical activities, pupils should be taught the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage in an iterative process of designing and making.

We will be learning to perform actions to music and respond to musical signals and themes using movement. We will be exploring and creating rhythm patterns and learning how to use these to create a composition, writing down our compositions.

We will learn that computers, tablets, and other digital devices help us follow instructions and solve problems. Using simple programs, games, and unplugged activities, children begin to understand how giving clear instructions (algorithms) helps things work correctly.

Through hands-on activities such as sequencing steps, using basic coding tools, and spotting mistakes, children develop important skills like logical thinking, problem-solving, and perseverance. These early experiences help children build confidence with technology and understand that programming is about thinking carefully and being creative.

We link a range of learning to our woodland sessions.  The children really enjoy their time in the woods (both learning and wild play time for exploring and following their own interests).  This is a fundamental opportunity for children to develop teamwork skills and build resilience through problem-solving.  It also teaches children about having respect for our environment.

Our woodland session is on a Tuesday afternoon. Please could children wear clothing suitable for the weather, as we are likely to be outside even if it is raining.  They will also need different shoes or wellies to wear in the woods.

In our PE lessons, the children will be developing their ball skills through fun and active games. They will practise throwing, catching, rolling, kicking, and aiming with control and accuracy. These activities will help improve their coordination, teamwork, and confidence, while also learning the importance of playing fairly and enjoying being active.

Class Dojo is our main form of communication with parents. If you have not yet signed up for Class Dojo and would like to, please do not hesitate to come and see us.  We are more than happy to help if you are having difficulty in accessing this.  It's a great space where you can view photos, videos and information about all the amazing things that are happening in our classroom and around the school. It gives you the chance to see what your children have been learning in school each week, giving you the opportunity to talk to them at home about what they have been doing.

A home learning menu will be posted on Class Dojo at the beginning of each half term.  These activities are suggestions linked to the Discovery Learning focus for the half term, but you are free to explore other home learning opportunities with your child.

Please ensure your child’s clothing and belongings are clearly labelled.