Autumn Term 2
A Starry Night
Our second exciting topic for this school year is A Starry Night. Within this topic we will explore safe relationships and respecting ourselves and others through our PSHE/RSHE curriculum. Natterhub will also form part of our computing curriculum with ‘It’s nice to be nice’ online. The children will learn what algorithms are and how they are implemented as programs on digital devices. The children will learn how to program a Beebot. In Geography we will be developing our locational knowledge by naming, locating, and identifying characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom and its surrounding seas. The children will enhance their Geographical skills by using world maps, atlases, and globes.
In science we are learning to identify and name a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees. We will learn how to identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of trees. We will also look at seasonal change and the signs of Autumn. Alongside this, our DT work will focus on making our calendars for 2024.
This term our RE focuses on an Introduction to Islam. During this unit of learning we will explore two enquiry questions: What makes a person good? How do people gain respect?
We also have many carefully selected high quality texts for story time that link to A Starry Night, we cannot wait to start reading them. These include Peace at last, Grandad’s Island, Owl Babies, Can’t you sleep little bear, What the Ladybird heard, Funny Bones and Laura’s Star.
We will also be doing PE, sessions with the sports coach and continuing our Forest School journey.
Reading and Phonics Information
As always, we place huge emphasis on the importance of regular reading practice both in and out of school. Every child will be allocated a Reading Practice group and will read three times with their group each week. Books will be changed each Monday.
Please ensure that your child brings their reading practice book and reading record to school each day so that we can assess and record their progress appropriately. Hearing your child read at least 3x a week is very valuable in developing their reading skills and their love of reading! We cannot emphasise this enough!!
As we start the school year we will begin the next step in our phonics journey. Our daily lessons will take the same format and build on the phonics teaching from Reception. This progresses quickly and so practicing new sounds and spellings is vital. More information about our expectations for reading and spelling and how you can support your child at home will be sent home in a separate letter.
Extra helpful information
Children will be doing PE on different days throughout the term, so it is important that your child has their PE kit in school every week so that they can fully engage in activities. We will be doing some PE lessons outdoors, so please ensure your child has a pair of plimsols or trainers with their PE kit in school.
Homework Challenges
These can be handed in at any point up until half term and be done in any format – photos, videos, writing, drawings, or any other type of artwork. Please choose from the following: