Summer Term

The children will start off their growing topic by planting their own sunflower seed.  They will learn about what their seed needs to grow, and what happens if the seed does not have these things.  They will look at the painting of sunflowers by Vincent Van Gough and try to recreate their own. They will make sunflower seed bird feeders and hang them out for the birds. 

The children will have the opportunity to visit Go Garden at the Uttoxeter Leisure Centre.  They will experience various growing activities which will support their learning in school.

The children will investigate the lifecycle of a seed and be reminded of what a seed needs to be able to grow.  The children will draw and label the different parts of a flower.  They will also look at other lifecycles e.g. a butterfly, frog and chicken.

The children will look at the different types of seeds that come from different plants and trees.  They will sort and compare the seeds, looking at what is the same and what is different.  They will put bean seeds in transparent jars and watch them germinate and grow.  They will then plant them into pots. 

The children will learn about where our fruit and vegetable come from.  They will look at the work of farmers and growers in our country, and look at the fruit and vegetables that come from all over the world.  They will learn the reasons why we get different fruit and veg from around the world and also look at how it is transported to our country.  

The children will have the opportunity to cook and taste different fruit and vegetables.  They will look and touch different produce and see if they can find the seeds. 

The children will look at the role of wildlife, birds and mini-beasts in the germination of seeds.  They will also look at what goes on underground and how soil provides the nutrition for plants to grow. 

R.E.

Easter

In this unit the children learn about the story of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They will be introduced to the “Alleluia” as a special Easter song and the symbol of the Easter Candle.

Pentecost

In this unit the children will explore the story of Pentecost and the transformation in their lives after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

People Who Help Us

In this unit the children will be introduced to the role of the priest as a special person in God’s Family who helps people. This unit also has a focus on the church building as an important place within the parish community. The children will also learn about a saint being an important person in God’s Family. In this unit they will also consider the help that Jesus gave to people when they needed it.

Maths

This term the children will look at adding and subtraction by counting on and counting back.  They will then investigate numbers to 20 and the numerical patterns associated with these numbers.  They will learn about composing and decomposing shapes and also measuring volume and capacity.  Additional maths learning will be about pattern, sorting and time.

English

The children will be using the phonics they have learnt to support their reading and writing.  They will also be sharing lots of different texts about lifecycles and toys.  They will look at fiction and non-fiction texts and look at the characteristics of both types of books.  They will also be learning to recite some poems and songs and will be performing these in the class

Communication and Language

Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive. Through conversation, storytelling and role play, where children share their ideas with support and modelling from their teacher, and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.

Personal and Social Development

Children should be supported to manage emotions, develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals, have confidence in their own abilities, to persist and wait for what they want and direct attention as necessary. Through adult modelling and guidance, they will learn how to look after their bodies, including healthy eating, and manage personal needs independently. Through supported interaction with other children they learn how to make good friendships, co-operate and resolve conflicts peaceably. These attributes will provide a secure platform from which children can achieve at school and in later life.

Physical Development

By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye co-ordination which is later linked to early literacy. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts and the practice of using small tools, with feedback and support from adults, allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.

Expressive Art and Design

The development of children’s artistic and cultural awareness supports their imagination and creativity. It is important that children have regular opportunities to engage with the arts, enabling them to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts. The frequency, repetition and depth of their experiences are fundamental to their progress in interpreting and appreciating what they hear, respond to and observe.