Maths

In Maths this half term, we started our ‘Maths – No Problem!’ scheme.  Our first topic was ‘Numbers to 10.’ We were very excited to use our new textbooks and workbooks. 

Firstly, we were counting numbers to 10 accurately both forwards and backwards and counting similar objects up to 10 with accuracy and fluency.

We were then learning to read and write all numbers to 10 in numerals and in words and categorise and count only objects with the same name in a group. After this, we were able to understand what zero represents and use it when counting. We compared objects using matching and counting and then used the terms ‘equal to’, ‘as many as’, ‘more than’, ‘greater than’ and ‘less than’ as key terms. We ordered numbers and compared numbers by working out what was one more and what was one less. We did lots of practical activities to help us in our lessons and learned how to use resources such as ten frames and an abacus.

 

English

In English this half term, we looked at the ‘Blue Penguin’ by Petr Horacek and we used this book as a stimulus for our writing. We discussed what we could see in the pictures and how it might feel for Blue Penguin to live there.  We then thought about our senses and thought about how these could also describe the image. We then looked at images of Antarctica and thought about what we might wear if we visited a place like Antarctica. We orally rehearsed sentences in different ways. We have used discussion, drama and non-fiction books to help us with our writing and explore how Blue Penguin was feeling during the story. We were very excited to receive a letter from Blue Penguin telling us about how she was feeling and we all wrote letters of advice back to her. To finish our topic, we wrote and performed a story map of the story.  We agreed actions together for each part of the story. 

Science

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Animals including Humans.’ 

In our first lesson, we went for a walk to see how many animals we could see or hear around the school. Then we named and identified a variety of common animals and found out that animals are split into groups such as fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. We then looked at the common features of these groups and we sorted animals into groups according to these features. We did this practically as a game and as written work in our books. We then learnt the scientific words carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. We discussed there meaning and we looked at which animals belonged to which group. We looked at key features that the animals had that could help us to sort them into the correct groups.

PE

For the first few weeks of the half term, we practised developing our fundamental skills such as underarm throwing, hopping, balancing and jumping off equipment. We used the book Supertato as a base to help us to think about how we could move.

Computing

In computing this half term, we have spent the first few weeks learning how to log on to the computers. We are also continuing to practise finding the letters and numbers on the keyboard to log in independently and how to use a mouse. We have learnt how to double click and find the Google Chrome icon. We have been practising using our username and password to log in to BugClub. We then began to navigate around the website to read books, play games and collect points.  

Art

This half term we have been focusing on portraits. We used a mirror to study our own faces and then we learnt how to draw our self-portrait with guidelines to help us to get the proportions correct. This greatly improved our drawing skills. We looked at how Picasso had used colour to show emotion and we draw happy and sad portraits using appropriate colours. Then looked at Picasso’s cubism period and we used collage to create our own cubism portraits.

RE

Our topic this half term was Christianity with a focus on the theme ‘The Creation Story.’  We were aiming to answer the question ‘Does God want Christians to look after the world?’ In our first lesson, we were reflecting on something we had created.  We asked ourselves the following questions – How did it feel to create it? How do I want my creation to be treated? Who would I trust to look after it? How would you feel if it was damaged?

After that, we learned about the creation story.  We looked at images of the world and then sequenced the creation story. 

PSHE

Our topic this half term was ‘Being Me in My World’. As part of this topic, we thought about what it means to feel special and safe in our class.

We then spent time thinking about the rights and responsibilities for being a member of our class and school. Next, we recognised how it feels to be proud of an achievement. During this topic, we have also listened to other people as well as contributing our own ideas about rewards and consequences.  

Music

The Little Marvels have been hard at work rehearsing for our Harvest celebration at St. Stephen’s Church. We have learnt three harvest songs: – Cauliflowers Fluffy, Harvest Samba and a song that Mr. Garrett wrote especially for us called Harvest Thank You.

Miss Whiteside, Music Lead, has led our weekly singing assembly in readiness for our celebration.

In our music sessions with Mrs Lingard, we have been moving our bodies to the beat and then frozen when the music stops. We have followed the animal characters on Charanga and chosen whether we move our arms, shoulders, legs, feet or whole body. Then we have marched and clapped along in time to the beat.

We have learnt how to hold and tap a tambourine. How we can create a different timbre when playing a drum, by using our hands, fingers and a drumstick. We have practiced holding a triangle by the string, to then tap it with a beater – which is tricky when it turns around!

Singing

In singing lessons with Mr Garrett, the pupils have been taught the importance of warming up their voice and the importance of good posture. Areas covered in the warm ups included breathing, diction, vowel shape, intonation, dynamics, phrasing, and expression. The pupils enjoyed the warm ups and were keen to engage in practical work.

As well as singing, pupils were taught to listen actively and use appropriate subject specific language when they discussed music that they had listened to in lessons. They were gradually introduced to the elements of music and through the activities of listening and performing were able to develop a deeper knowledge of how music is put together.

 Singing:

This term pupils have learned the following songs for the harvest festival:

Harvest Samba and Cauliflowers fluffy. They also Sang Harvest Thank you

In addition, pupils worked through the Charanga original scheme with their singing and this term the song they worked on and performed was: Hey You