In Summer 1 we are learning...
In Summer 1 we are learning…
In Phonics this half term we are learning the new GPCs: ur, or, ow, oi and ear.
In Reading children will read aloud simple sentences and books that are consistent with their phonic knowledge, including some common exception words. Children will be developing their skills of predicting and discussing key events and characters, answering ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions to explain their ideas in greater detail.
In Writing, children will be drawing story maps to help them retell and recycle traditional tales Jack and the Beanstalk and The Little Red Hen, using key story telling language and incorporating newly learnt vocabulary. Children will also begin to compose and wite their own short sentences.
In our daily Rhyme Time, we will be singing The Hokey Cokey and Ring a Ring O’Roses.
In Maths we will be exploring and building numbers beyond 10, continuing patterns beyond 10, adding, taking away and further developing our knowledge and understanding of 2d and 3d shapes.
During Topic lessons, children will be learning about British Farms, which will include learning about what both livestock and crop farms are and the key roles and responsibilities that British Farmers have. They will also learn about both animal and plant produce that come from British farms, as well as learning the names of British farm animals and their offspring and what young farm animals need to grow. Children will also learn that plants and crops need water, soil and sunlight to grow and they will also find out about lifecycles (frogs, butterflies and chickens).
In Religion and Worldviews we will be learning about special stories.
In our PE lessons children will be developing ball skills by using their feet, which will include dribbling, kicking using different parts their feet, passing and keeping the ball under control.
In Art children will be exploring crafting.
In PSHE children will be learning about Stranger Danger.
In Music children will be exploring our world through music and nursery rhymes and action songs.
Our Oracy focus is ‘My favourite things about spring’. Please see an e-mail sent to parents for further information regarding this, including the week your child can bring in a showing.
Knowledge Organisers
Hesketh Farm
Reception had the most wonderful time at Hesketh Farm today and were absolute superstars!
The children got fully involved in the busy jobs of a farmer, including feeding calves, collecting eggs, checking on the animals and their offspring in the fields, and, of course, the most important job of all… cuddling the guinea pigs and chicks!
Farmer Chris was especially impressed with the children’s fantastic knowledge of animal offspring. They made us incredibly proud with all the facts and understanding they shared throughout the day.
The weather was kind to us, and there was even plenty of time to enjoy the playground!
We also celebrated Alina’s birthday by singing Happy Birthday, giving her five birthday claps — and one extra for luck!
Well done, Reception! You were all fantastic, and we are so proud of you!
Our Trip to Hollin Lane Allotments
The children had a fantastic and enriching visit to Hollin Lane Allotments as part of our current topic on How Plants Grow. The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring the allotments and learning about where food comes from in a real-life setting.
During the visit, the children learned that plants need three key things to grow successfully: water, soil, and sunlight, as well as suitable weather and temperature conditions. They were able to see first-hand how these needs are met in an allotment environment.
The children also developed their understanding of different types of plant growth:
Root vegetables growing under the ground (e.g. carrots, beetroot)
Above-ground crops (e.g. cabbage, broccoli, cucumber)
Fruits growing on bushes or trees (e.g. raspberries and apples)
A highlight of the visit was meeting John, who looks after the allotments, along with several of our parent volunteers who kindly shared their own plots. They spoke to the children about what they are growing and explained how they care for their crops throughout the seasons. The children listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and showed great curiosity and enthusiasm.
Exploring the Traditional Tale of Jack and The Beanstalk in Our Writing
In their Writing lessons this term, the children have been exploring the traditional tale Jack and the Beanstalk. They have extended their learning through play, planting their own broad beans, building imaginative beanstalks in the construction area and taking part in collaborative drawing to illustrate different parts of the story. It has been wonderful to see how inspired the children have been by the story, using their creativity, imagination and teamwork to bring their learning to life.
Making Bug Hotels Inspired by The Story of The Prophet and The Ants
In our Religion and Worldviews lesson, we explored a special story from the Qur’an: The Prophet and the Ants. We began by looking at pictures of minibeasts and thinking about whether small creatures are important. The children listened carefully to the story and discussed how the ants might have felt and how the Prophet showed kindness and care.
We talked about the moral of the story – that Allah cares for all living things, even the tiniest creatures – and thought about ways we can show kindness to animals too.
The children loved bringing the story to life through role play, marching like ants and acting out the journey! They then got busy creating their own minibeast homes using natural materials such as sticks, leaves and bark, thinking carefully about who might live there and how they could help them. What thoughtful and creative learning! 🐜🌿
Making Number Tracks
In our maths this term, the children have been exploring number sequencing by creating their own number tracks using number tiles. They carefully ordered the numbers, developing their understanding of numerical order and patterns. To deepen their thinking, Miss Cain introduced a challenge by muddling the number track while the children closed their eyes. The children were then encouraged to spot what was wrong, promoting reasoning and discussion about number positions.
The activity was extended further by turning the number tiles face down and introducing a game of “X-ray vision.” Children were asked to identify numbers without looking, relying on their mental number line and understanding of number relationships.
A group of children created their own number lines in chalk on the bottom playground and then used dice to race each other to the end of the track in a lively and competitive game.
EYFS Parent Maths Workshop
Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended our Maths Workshop on Wednesday 22nd April. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and to share such a positive and engaging session together.
We had great fun exploring number and discussing how maths is taught within the Early Years setting, and we hope you found the workshop useful and informative.
For those who were unable to attend, the PowerPoint from the session can be accessed using the link below.
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