This Term

Below you will find information about what the classes in KS1 are learning about this term.  

English

Where possible our English work this term will link with our Theme work but English lessons will follow the Talk 4 Writing approach. Our first text will be Rumplestiltskin and the children will learn the story before going on to write in a similar style and use the text as a model to support their own ideas for writing.  The children will also follow a similar approach to study other texts this term including a poem about Trains, a 'just so' story titled “How the World Was Made” and also instructions.
The children will continue with their daily phonics and spelling work.  Year 1 children will begin to learn new vowel digraphs and begin to look at how some sounds can be written in more than one way.  The Year 2 children will move on to using the Read, Write Inc Spelling scheme for their daily spelling lessons.  More information about this approach can be read in the curriculum part of our website in the menus above. As part of this work the Year 2 children will focus on spelling rules such as rules for suffixes -y, -ing and -ed as well as the or sound spelt with an a before l or ll.
In addition to this the children will continue their work on consolidating grammar by learning more about conjunctions, using the correct tense, questions marks, commas and exclamation marks and beginning to use noun phrases.

Maths

The children will learn more about number concepts including counting in different steps, ordering numbers, writing calculations using the correct symbols and recalling simple number facts.  Year 1 children will learn their number bonds to 20 and find different ways to present these.  Year 2 children will learn more about recognising, ordering and comparing numbers .  Year 2 will use their known number facts to help them derive other facts and begin to add and take away two, two digit numbers. Year 1 will use pictorial representations to help them calculate simple problems about groups of amounts. They will build on their understanding of multiplication by learning more times tables and the associated division facts.  All children will work on simple fractions, Year 1 will recognise half of shapes and small amounts of objects whereas Year 2 will recognise the written form of some simple fractions as well as begin to find the fraction of a given number or amount.  All children will also work on comparing and measuring length as well as using money and calculating using values of money. The children will also work using the vocabulary of telling the time and learn more about 2D shapes.  Year 2 children will learn about rotation and use the terms full turn, half turn and quarter turn.

Theme (cross curricular work - including Science)

Our theme for the first half term is “Could I be a Vet?”  This is a science based unit where the children will learn about animals including animal groups, animals body parts and the needs of living things.  They will conduct simple scientific experiments as well as develop their subject knowledge about animals.

In addition to this theme work the children will also have Art lessons in the first half term which will help the children learn more about drawings skill and how to use different lines to colour or shade drawings.  They will also learn about the artist Joan Miro and look at pieces of his work that are in different styles.  They will use the drawing skills that they have learned to create their own pictures in the style of Miro.

After half term our theme will be “Who Invented Trains?”  In this cross-curricular unit the children will learn about George Stephenson and the key facts about his invention of the steam engine.  The children will also learn about Middleton Railway, which is the oldest running steam train lines in the world! They will also learn about Charles Brandling who helped build and develop Middleton Railway.

In addition to this theme work the children will also have Geography lessons in the second half term which will help the children learn more about map work and how to use maps to locate places.  This will also consolidate learning about the continents.

 Please see our Theme Work page for more detail about this term's Theme work. 

Computing

Computing is often cross curricular and includes working on English and Maths skills using the computers but the start of the term computing lessons will focus on teaching the children about using art programs to create pictures.  The children will be taught to use different tools as well as how to save and retrieve their work.  Later in the term the children will begin lessons on coding.  The children will learn how simple programs can be constructed and how they can fix their own 'APPs' by de-bugging when things don't work. 

PE

During the first half term the children will be working on key physical skills, agility in chasing balls and static balance floor work. PE is taught using the ‘Real PE’ approach where the children use story and song to help them acquire and master the key physical skills through a range of games, challenges and activities. After half term the children will work on the key physical keys of dynamic balance to agility and static balance seated.

Music

The children will continue to learn and sing a range of songs linked to curriculum areas.  The children will also take part in Music lessons focused on music in the calypso, reggae and hip hop styles.  The children will learn songs in that style as well as move to music. As part of this work the children will listen and respond to different pieces of music and accompany their singing with un-tuned percussion.  

RE

The children will learn about prayer and the importance of it to both the Christian and Muslim faiths.  They will think about why people pray and how different objects or prayer positions help people to focus on their prayers. After half term the children will think more about Jesus and the messages that he taught, this will include consolidating their understanding of why Christian's celebrate Easter.

Life Curriculum

Each week the children will discuss a ‘thought for the week’ with their teacher and class. These thoughts link closely to personal, social and health education as well as our RE curriculum. During the first half term the children will learn more why we have rules in society, the role of the police force and also who they can go to if they need help.  This work will include discussing with the children when and how they should call 999. Later in the term the children will learn about keeping themselves safe and how they can make sensible choices to look after themselves.  This term will include our annual visit from the pedestrian training team who discuss road safety with the children.