English and Reading

This half term, our core texts are two; ‘My shadow is pink!’ by Scott Stuart, and ‘The Lonely Beast’ by Chris Judge.  My shadow is pink tells the story of a young boy who loves all the things that some people still stereotype as “for girls” like princesses, ponies, and dresses. This love is expressed as the boy having a 'pink shadow' that he wonders if he must always hide and how his father learns to understand and support his son. The text also draws upon identity and diversity, interests, uniqueness and acceptance.

The second core text is ‘The lonely Beast’. It tells the story of a beast whose determination and resilience to overcome his loneliness leads him to undertake a daring and dangerous quest to find others like him. A lonely Beast who lived in the mountains made a perilous journey through the scary forest, across a dangerous river and stormy sea and finally arrived at the city. He saw lots of people, but there were no other Beasts. “Hello,” he said, but everyone ran away. Curiously, the people slowly came to meet him and soon the whole city came to say “Hello”.                

In English lessons, there will be a great deal of focus on developing the children’s oracy skills linked to our core text and our global theme of identity and diversity, incorporating daily opportunities to participate in speaking and listening activities. The children will explore and use key vocabulary to talk about their own identities as well as celebrating similarities and differences that make each of us unique. 

Children will also be reading daily, either with an adult or within a small group to consolidate their phonics learning and develop their reading fluency and comprehension. Our project outcome this half term, children will write and perform a poem about what their shadows liked to do or can do and write a narrative based on ‘The Lonely Beast’.

Children will learn about what it means to be thankful and use their understanding to explain how they can be thankful and give reasons why people are thankful for their talents. We will identify and discus different ways  we can show gratitude in relation to people we are close to such as our family, friends, teachers and people in the wider community such as the police. We will also learn about different ways in which people thank God and investigate the idea that some religious people believe that God created the world. We will identify and discuss why many people thank God for the earth and its fruit at Harvest time.

Review Phase 3 and 4 

Phase 5 

/ai/ ay play 

/ow/ ou cloud 

/oi/ oy toy 

/ea/ ea each

In Art, we will imitate the work by Rafael Lopez and explore different medias to create drawings. We will experiment printing on different surfaces to create repeated pattern using different media. We will transfer a design onto a print tile and create a fabric design using print.

This term we will be focusing on counting, writing, and comparing objects and numbers. Counting forward and back to 10 then working towards counting to 20 and beyond; exploring partitioning and applying their numerical skills to solve number problems. There will be a greater focus on using the correct mathematical vocabulary and consolidation of basic skills to enable depth of learning and mastery of key mathematical concepts.

PE this term is split into two – personal unit and gymnastics. In the personal unit, the children will learn about how to balance the body using footwork and build up maximum speed. In the gymnastics unit, the children will be learning about balancing successfully on different body parts using different combinations of techniques and apparatus. 

In science we will be exploring the topic on materials. We will be learning about identifying and sorting a range of materials. We will also undertake an investigation of their properties and how they determine what the materials are used for in everyday life. We will test the properties of the materials we identified and use the best material to build a boat.

This term, children will be learning about technology and what it means to them as well as its relevance. The children will learn about a computer and identify its main parts and their basic functions. They will also learn to explain what a mouse is and what it is used for and how to use it to open a programme. They will also learn how to use the mouse in different ways and how to use the keyboard to type on a computer. The children will be learning about how to use the keyboard to edit a piece of text and create rules for using technology.

Our history lessons will be focused on the past and the present and discuss the difference between the past and the present. We will focus on questions about pictures, objects and artefact about toys and school in the and the present.  We will then compare pictures and objects based on similarities and differences in the context of toys and schools from the past and the present. We will use of the past and present to describe things that happened to themselves and other people in the past.

Children will be learning about what a family is and its importance and recall what friendships are and characteristics of positive ones. They will learn to identify and recognise other people’s emotions and explore feelings we may have when working with others. They will to appreciate and understand that friendships have problems that can be overcome. They will learn to understand the difference between a friend and friendly behaviour.

PE Kit

Children have PE twice a week, with a session every Tuesday with a sports coach and another session on a Friday. Children should wear their PE kit to school on these days. Please ensure all items are clearly labelled with their full name. 

• Monday 16th September - Year 1 Meet the Teacher Meeting at 3:30

• Tuesday 15th October - Parents evening (3:30 - 7)

• Thursday 17th October - Parents evening (3:30 - 6)

• Friday 18th October - Break up for half term

• Monday 28th October  - Autumn 2 term beings