Using Rapunzel by Bethan Woollvin, we will guide the children through a fun and meaningful exploration of storytelling, character development, and creativity. Together, we will discuss themes such as independence, problem-solving, and courage, looking at how Rapunzel takes charge of her own story.

The children will also have the opportunity to compare this modern version with the traditional tale, encouraging them to think critically about different perspectives in literature. Through engaging activities such as reading comprehension, creative writing, and art projects, they will strengthen their literacy skills, expand their vocabulary, and express their own ideas about bravery and individuality.

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.

In our science topic on Keeping Healthy, the children will learn about the importance of taking care of both their bodies and minds. We will explore how eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, maintaining good hygiene, and getting enough sleep all help us to stay strong and well.

The children will also learn about the different food groups and why our bodies need a variety of foods to give us energy and support growth. Through fun experiments, discussions, and hands-on activities, they will begin to understand how making healthy choices can have a real impact on their everyday lives.

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.

This half term, we will be exploring digital art, creating pieces inspired by Mondrian, Picasso, and Monet. The children will use a variety of tools on the ‘Paintz’ app to experiment with colour, shape, and style, bringing their own creative ideas to life.

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.