Summer Term - Second Half      

    

 

What a fun packed six weeks we have coming up! Our new topic is called Buckets and Spades and our learning is focused around science, history and art and design. Scroll down for an overview of the curriculum content we will be covering for each of these subjects. 

Science

Our learning in science is all about materials. We will look at different types of materials and their properties, using scientific vocabulary to describe these and extend this knowledge to include the exploration of the suitability of materials for different purposes.  Thank you for sending in different beach items to help with our class display.  

 

History

On the 28th June we have a booked a seaside workshop with a history specialist who will take the children back in time to learn all about seaside holidays of the past. Elm Class will have the opportunity to handle artefacts and engage in role play and drama to make their learning more memorable.  

 

Art and Design

The children will review works by artists inspired and motivated by the seaside, before planning and creating their own paper based collage. Then they'll design and create a textiles based collage, using natural dyes to colour fabric and learn how to manipulate fabrics to achieve different effects, such as weaving and plaiting. Thank you for sending in magazines and other collage items. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Term - First Half

 

The theme for this half term is  Wind in the Willows and the lead subjects (in addition to maths and English) are: science; geography; design and technology and music.  

 

English

We started this term by writing our farm stories which we planned before Easter.  We then spent a couple of weeks preparing for and carrying out the Year 2 SATs tests and started looking at the classic poem The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear.  Week 5 was Enterprise Week. Oh what fun we had! The children learnt how to create an advert which we posted on Facebook and a jingle too, which we performed after school, by the school gates.  During the last week of term we are continuing our poetry unit with the overall aim of learning The Owl and the Pussycat off by heart, ready to perform to the rest of the school after the half term holiday.  

Our main reading focuses have been:   

 

• Reading accurately words of two or more syllables that contain alternative sounds for graphemes, e.g. shoulder, roundabout, grouping.
• Listening to a range of texts at a level beyond that at which they can read independently, including classic poetry.
• Reading longer and less familiar texts independently.
• Reading a range of non-fiction texts including recounts.
• Discussing how specific information is organised within a non-fiction text.
• Introducing and discussing key vocabulary within the context of a text.
• Learning and reciting a range of poems using appropriate intonation.
• Recognising use of repetitive language within a text or poem.
• Making inferences about characters and events using evidence from the text, e.g. what is a character thinking, saying and feeling?

 

The main writing skills that have been introduced and/or practised include:   

• Using apostrophes for contracted forms, e.g. don’t, can’t, wouldn’t, you’re, I’ll.
• Using past tense for recounts.
• Selecting, generating and effectively using nouns.
• Adding suffixes -ness and -er to create nouns, e.g. happiness, sadness, teacher, baker.
• Planning and discussing what to write about, e.g. story mapping, collecting new vocabulary, key words and ideas.
• Writing about real and fictional events.
• Writing simple poems based on models.
• Evaluating their writing with adults and peers.
• Reading aloud their writing with intonation to make the meaning clear.

 

Maths

In maths we have deepened our understanding about the following: position and direction; fractions; number, place value and statistics and capacity, volume and time. We have covered many different objectives within each area.  At this time of year the main aim is to ensure the children are fluent in the basics by consolidating their understanding and trying to focus on bridging any gaps in their learning, as well as helping them achieve depth of understanding through a variety of problem solving and reasoning challenges.

We will continue to practise basic number skills, such as: number bonds within 10 and 20 (numbers that add together to make totals within 10 or 20), doubles and halves (linking to multiplying by 2 and dividing by 2 respectively), counting in steps of 3 and the 2x, 5x and 10x tables.  These basic skills are critical so please try to practise them at home too.

 

Science

The children have continued to care for and observe the plants they planted last term. The focus this term is animals.  The children enjoyed their nature walk, which helped them to think about different animals and plants in their habitats. They have also compared animal habitats, looked at simple animal food chains and life cycles.

 

 

 

 

You can see more photographs linked to this term's learning in the KS1 gallery section -  https://www.stmichaelsonwyreprimary.co.uk/ks1/