In literacy this term, Turtles will be reading The Night Gardener. Through this imaginative and beautifully illustrated story, the children will explore themes of kindness, community and creativity. They will develop their reading comprehension and vocabulary, and use the text as inspiration for a range of engaging writing activities, helping them to build confidence and creativity in their own work.

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.

Our History learning centres around the story of the Titanic, comparing life and travel in the past with today. Much of our learning will link with this theme through cross curricular learning. 

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.

In RE, we’ll be learning about the Easter story and what it means to Christians, and in Music we’ll be working towards an Easter performance at Burnham Market Church with local musicians,  something very special to look forward to.

This term in PSHE, Turtles will be learning about relationships, with a focus on what makes a good friend and how to show kindness, respect and care towards others. Through age-appropriate discussions and activities, the children will explore the qualities of healthy friendships, including sharing, listening, cooperation and understanding feelings. They will also learn how to express their own feelings clearly and how to seek help from a trusted adult if something is worrying them.

Art:

Our History learning centres around the story of the Titanic, comparing life and travel in the past with today

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 term in computing, Turtles will be developing their word processing skills. The children will learn how to type simple sentences using the keyboard accurately, use the space bar and enter key correctly, and edit their work. They will also explore how to change font size, style and colour, as well as how to save and retrieve their work. These skills will help them build confidence in presenting their ideas clearly and effectively using a computer.

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.

This half term in PE, Turtles will be taking part in a unit focused on retrieval skills. The children will develop their throwing, catching and tracking abilities through a range of fun, active games and challenges. They will practise accuracy, control and teamwork, while building confidence and improving their coordination in a supportive and encouraging environment.

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.