Year 1/2

We are Fox Class, Owl Class and Robin Class!

This term we are learning about:

SPRING TERM 1

This term our topic focus will be geography; answering the question, 'What is the geography like where we live?' The children will investigate the area surrounding our school through aerial photos, their own prior knowledge and local walks. The children will compare images of our local area over time, looking at and discussing the similarities and differences. We will be creating our own maps, thinking carefully about the symbols we use to represent certain buildings and using keys to explain these. The children will look at the land use around our local area (residential, economic, public service, open space and transport). The children will end the unit by creating their own ring maps of our local area, using symbols keys and colour-coding the land use.

In science the children will be learning about animals including humans, with a focus on animals. The children will investigate different groups of animals and discuss the features of these animals (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates). The children will also group animals based on their diet (carnivore, herbivore and omnivore). We will be learning about animal's different habitats and investigating why animals are suited to certain habitats.

In English, we will be using the book, 'A Mouse Called Julian'. The children will learn parts of the story using story maps and actions. We will look at the use of verbs (ed endings) and conjunctions within the text and practice using these in our own writing. We will innovate the text together as a class using a mixture of story mapping and text structure charts. We will link this to our science learning an think carefully about animal trios that could meet in the story and become unlikely friends. The children will then go onto independently invent their own stories, based on the structure of the original story. The children will do a short poetry unit at the end of term where they will write their own Kenning poem based on an animal of their choice.

For math's learning, please see the attachments below.

In RE the children will be learning about Islam, thinking about who is Muslim and how they live. The children will learn about the importance of God (Allah) to Muslims as well as the importance of the Shahadah. The children will learn of the 99 names of Allah and why he has this many names. The children will learn of the importance of the Qur'an and how Muslims show respect to it in different ways. The children will learn the story of the giving if the Holy Qur'an to Muhammad.

Art and Design, Music and Computing are taught as part of PPA by our HLTA's. In art the children will be looking at the artists Vincent Van Gogh an LS Lowry. The children practice techniques used by each artist as well as comparing the similarities and differences in their work, specifically focusing on the rural and industrial.

SPRING TERM 2

This term our topic focus will be history; answering the question, 'What does it take to be a great explorer?' The children will learn about the lives and achievements of explorers such as Ranulph Fiennes, Amy Johnson, Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong. We will be comparing the achievements of each explorer and thinking about how the time in which they were alive would effect their explorations. We will link all of our learning together at the end of the unit by thinking about if we are the type of people that could become a Mars explorer.

In science the children will be learning about animals including humans, with a focus on humans. The children will investigate the basic needs of humans in order to survive, We will also explore what is needed for a human to thrive, linking this to Maslow's Heirarchy of needs. The children will learn about the effect of exercise food and hygiene on their bodies.

In English, the first two weeks of term will be spent focusing on letter writing. We will be using the text, 'The Day the Crayons Quit' to write letters in the style of the book from different classroom equipment. The next three weeks of term will be spent using the text, 'How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth.' We will be using the text to write instructions on how to care for an imaginary / exotic pet.

For math's learning, please see the attachments below.

In RE the children will be learning about Salvation.