WELCOME TO LOWER SCHOOL
OUR CURRICULUM MAPS WHICH SHOW OUR COVERAGE EACH TERMDAYS TO REMEMBER: Monday - Both Home School books to be handed in. Outdoor P.E (Year 2) Indoor P.E (Year 1) Tuesday/Wednesday - Home School books to be handed back. Forest Schools in the afternoon every 4th week (texts will be sent out when it is your child's day) Tuesday- Indoor P.E (Year 2) Outdoor P.E (Year 1) OTHER IMPORTANT DATES: Autumn: Class Teas - 8th October Parents Evenings - 12th November and 14th November KS1 Carol Concert - 9th December (Provisional) |
Lower School teach Phonics, Guided Reading, Maths, English through our creative and collaboative learning style. Our topic work often interweaves with our morning lessons and we like to use outdoor learning wherever possible. Mrs Cardy is Phase Leader for KS1 and teaches in Year 2 with Mrs Abra and Mrs Gilbert. Mrs Bird and Mrs Young teach the parallel Year 2 class with Mrs Hall and Miss Mann. Mr Fletcher and Mrs Bailey teach our Year 1 classes with Mrs Bates, Mrs Alder, Mrs Woods and Miss Harrison. We are also assisted by Mrs Clemenson, Mrs Woods, Mrs Hudson and Mrs Hall on Thursday afternoons. |
Top Dog! (Or Turtle)
This is awarded to the children who make the most effort on their homework.
Our expectation is for Year 1 to do at least 20 minutes of input on their homework and
Year 2 to complete at least 30 minutes of input on their homework.
Are you reaching for the stars to become this week's 'Top Dog' for homework?
See each class page for this week's top dog!
Please feel free to contact Mrs Cardy, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Bird, Mrs Young or Mr Fletcher if your child is unsure about how to complete the homework; we are always happy to help. Please remind your child that their homework must be handed in each Monday morning.
Finally, your child will receive three ‘crystals’ for their team and a star to add to their Star Reader board if they read more than four times a week, and complete their weekly homework, so don’t forget to sign their Reading Record!
KS1 SATs and Phonics Screening Information
KS1 SAT (Standard Assessment Tests): - The week of 4th May (Provisional)
Phonics Screening: - The week of 8th June
- They will be for Year 2 children only.
- The children will sit a range of tests: Maths Reasoning paper, Maths Arithmetic paper, Reading papers 1 and 2 and SPAG paper 1 and 2 (we will review this if needed following government notifications)
- Here are some links to help with practise - www.turtlediary.com/ www.roythezebra.com/ www.starfall.com/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-2016-sample-materials
Phonics Screening: - The week of 8th June
- This test is for all Year 1 children and the Year 2 children who didn't pass the screening last year.
- It will be carried out over a week
- The children will be screened one at a time and will have a mixture of real words and alien words.
- Mrs Bailey and Mr Fletcher have put together some useful packs of past papers and sound mats - please ask at the office if you would like a pack.
- Here are some links to help with practise - http://www.theschoolrun.com/year-1-phonics-screening-check http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/
Our Autumn Term Topic! - Under The Sea
Our Tokens this term are called 'Sea Pearls', the children earn tokens for their groups for hard work, using the core values and the Golden Rules.
What we are learning
This term we will be diving into the fascinating world of the ocean!
We are very lucky this year to be keeping our classes throughout the day rather than splitting off for the mornings. This means that our work can be more topic based. Our Literacy and Maths lessons and topic lessons can be spread thematically across the day. We will have three mini topic based projects within this term:Sea Creatures and Stories of the Sea, Transport and Sea Myths.
Project 1: Sea Creatures and Stories of the Sea
Throughout this term we will use Julia Donaldson's style of writing in her ocean based books. Using geography skills, the children will be going to the beach and looking at coastal features, beginning with where we would find local sea creatures.They will develop their geographical observation skills through real life fieldwork of the local environment and researching other sea environments around the world to make comparisons. Through research in Science and Geography the children will write information texts on the local coastal environment and the groupings/observations of sea creatures.Whilst at the beach the children will develop the skill of reviewing other artists’ sea sculptures (Gormley, Hambling, http://www.artandeducationbythesea.co.uk/ ). From their reviews they will design and make their own sand sculptures. In Computing, the children will be reminded of Hector's World as an ongoing theme for Internet Safety which is also set in the ocean. The children will develop their reporting/information writing skills to produce a PowerPoint of the creatures they have been looking at closely in the project. The ocean theme will link into dance and gymnastic lessons for P.E. In outdoor P.E lessons the children will be learning how to contribute to team games. Religious Education will follow the theme as closely as possible however the main focus on Special People and will look at this through all the religions.
Project 2: Transport
In PSHE we will be learning about the importance of looking after our local coast, the ocean and recycling. We will use our geographical skills to help map the ocean and continents of the world and create a ‘sat nav’ style program to support this in our computing lessons. In DT we will create a vessel to sail our plotted course using our maps and navigations. We will research famous vessels and explorers of the past in our history lessons to help create our own ships. And in PSHE we will be thinking what it must have felt like for those explorers.
Project 3: Sea Myths
In music and dance we will explore the mythical creatures of the deep. Using mermaid stories in literacy this will inspire some creative writing and design. We will use these in out DT lessons when we create a mythical sea creature out of cane work. In science we will think about the habitats these mythical sea creatures would need.
We are very lucky this year to be keeping our classes throughout the day rather than splitting off for the mornings. This means that our work can be more topic based. Our Literacy and Maths lessons and topic lessons can be spread thematically across the day. We will have three mini topic based projects within this term:Sea Creatures and Stories of the Sea, Transport and Sea Myths.
Project 1: Sea Creatures and Stories of the Sea
Throughout this term we will use Julia Donaldson's style of writing in her ocean based books. Using geography skills, the children will be going to the beach and looking at coastal features, beginning with where we would find local sea creatures.They will develop their geographical observation skills through real life fieldwork of the local environment and researching other sea environments around the world to make comparisons. Through research in Science and Geography the children will write information texts on the local coastal environment and the groupings/observations of sea creatures.Whilst at the beach the children will develop the skill of reviewing other artists’ sea sculptures (Gormley, Hambling, http://www.artandeducationbythesea.co.uk/ ). From their reviews they will design and make their own sand sculptures. In Computing, the children will be reminded of Hector's World as an ongoing theme for Internet Safety which is also set in the ocean. The children will develop their reporting/information writing skills to produce a PowerPoint of the creatures they have been looking at closely in the project. The ocean theme will link into dance and gymnastic lessons for P.E. In outdoor P.E lessons the children will be learning how to contribute to team games. Religious Education will follow the theme as closely as possible however the main focus on Special People and will look at this through all the religions.
Project 2: Transport
In PSHE we will be learning about the importance of looking after our local coast, the ocean and recycling. We will use our geographical skills to help map the ocean and continents of the world and create a ‘sat nav’ style program to support this in our computing lessons. In DT we will create a vessel to sail our plotted course using our maps and navigations. We will research famous vessels and explorers of the past in our history lessons to help create our own ships. And in PSHE we will be thinking what it must have felt like for those explorers.
Project 3: Sea Myths
In music and dance we will explore the mythical creatures of the deep. Using mermaid stories in literacy this will inspire some creative writing and design. We will use these in out DT lessons when we create a mythical sea creature out of cane work. In science we will think about the habitats these mythical sea creatures would need.
We had a visit from a parent who bought in live crabs and worms that he digs up and collects to sell. We got to learn fascinating facts and to hold them!
Our Spring Topic! - Dinosaurs
Our Tokens this term will be called 'Dinosaur Eggs', the children earn tokens for their groups for hard work, using the core values and the Golden Rules.
What we are learning!
Due to the success of the topic based learning in the Autumn term, we will be carrying on with this creative style for our dinosaur topic. The subjects will interlink, allowing the children to use a range of subject skills. We will have three mini topic based projects within this term - Dinosaurs: Project 1 Who am I? Project 2 Dinosaur stories Project 3 Fossils. The children will continue their morning lessons and separate to the topic they will continue lessons in French and R.E.
Project 1 Who am I?
This is mainly using research and classifying skills. The children will look at when dinosaurs lived; which era. In science we will be classifying dinosaurs, finding out where they lived, their diet and ways of living. This topic lends itself to the history and timeline of dinosaurs so the children will use the Who am I theme to explore the different eras of the dinosaurs. To develop our skills as a sportsman we will be moving in balances like dinosaurs across different terrain. In art lessons the children will use mixed media to create models and collages of dinosaurs. Their creative skills will continue in music lessons where they will learn a song through ‘Boogie Beebies’. Throughout the whole dinosaurs project the children will develop their programming skills in computing lessons. In PSHE the children will develop their sense of well being by looking after a dinosaur ‘egg’ and ‘baby’. In this project the children will use their non fiction writing skills to write information leaflets about dinosaurs.
Project 2 Dinosaur stories
The literacy focus for this project will be narrative writing with Julia Donaldson’s Cave Baby and another story of Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs. To carry on with this theme the children will be using their art skills to do prehistoric style paintings. In forest schools the children will explore building dens and shelters using natural materials.
Project 3 Fossils
In history for this project the children will look at Mary Anning and her fossil story. They will see this as a basis to create their own fossils in DT using plaster of paris and in music the children will create musical compositions with bone songs as a theme. The children will use geography skills to place where the fossils were, and can be found (looking at erosion as a part of this) and in Literacy the children will write a non fiction (recount linked to the chronological events of Anning finding the fossils.
Project 1 Who am I?
This is mainly using research and classifying skills. The children will look at when dinosaurs lived; which era. In science we will be classifying dinosaurs, finding out where they lived, their diet and ways of living. This topic lends itself to the history and timeline of dinosaurs so the children will use the Who am I theme to explore the different eras of the dinosaurs. To develop our skills as a sportsman we will be moving in balances like dinosaurs across different terrain. In art lessons the children will use mixed media to create models and collages of dinosaurs. Their creative skills will continue in music lessons where they will learn a song through ‘Boogie Beebies’. Throughout the whole dinosaurs project the children will develop their programming skills in computing lessons. In PSHE the children will develop their sense of well being by looking after a dinosaur ‘egg’ and ‘baby’. In this project the children will use their non fiction writing skills to write information leaflets about dinosaurs.
Project 2 Dinosaur stories
The literacy focus for this project will be narrative writing with Julia Donaldson’s Cave Baby and another story of Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs. To carry on with this theme the children will be using their art skills to do prehistoric style paintings. In forest schools the children will explore building dens and shelters using natural materials.
Project 3 Fossils
In history for this project the children will look at Mary Anning and her fossil story. They will see this as a basis to create their own fossils in DT using plaster of paris and in music the children will create musical compositions with bone songs as a theme. The children will use geography skills to place where the fossils were, and can be found (looking at erosion as a part of this) and in Literacy the children will write a non fiction (recount linked to the chronological events of Anning finding the fossils.
Our Summer Term Topic - Castles
Our Tokens this term are called 'Castle Pebbles', the children earn tokens for their groups for hard work, using the core values and the Golden Rules.
|
|
|
|
We will be continuing our creative topic based learning in this last Summer term with the theme of Castles. The subjects will interlink, allowing the children to use a range of subject skills, the children will be told that they are developing their sportsman skills, artist skills etc. We will have four main topic based projects within this term - Castles: Project 1 Buildings; Project 2 Banquets; Project 3 Knights; Project 4 Fairy Tales. The children will continue their morning lessons which will include theme work, then separately to the theme work they will continue lessons in French and R.E.
Project 1 Buildings
Using our History and Geography skills, we will explore why castles were built, what reasons were they needed and why were they built in certain locations. The children will look at members of the Castles and use a range of rich vocabulary linked to this theme across the term. In Science we will be looking at the best materials and their properties for a castle and defences. To develop our skills as a Sportsman, we will be learning how to dance in court and in outdoor games we will explore using tactics for a safe jousting tournament (no spikes involved). In Design lessons the children will use technical drawings to create a castle defence. For Computing skills, the children will be looking at how modern technology is used to do manual jobs from the past. In this project the children will use their nonfiction writing skills to write scientific reports
Project 2 Banquets
The Literacy focus for this project will be nonfiction recipe writing for a healthy eating of banquet food, this will link nicely with the PSHE and Science topics. In History the children will also use this healthy eating theme to look at food produced in the past. In dance and outdoor games the children will create dances from Jesters to entertain at a banquet and learn how to play the original game of tennis. Throughout the next few projects the children will continue with their Computing skills of creating algorithms for ‘Sprites as Knights’.
Project 3 Knights
This project will follow the life of a Little Knight. In Literacy we will write descriptive writing about his tales. We will learn to keep him healthy in PSHE and Science through healthy diet and exercise. We will design him a training regime in our P.E lessons and in History lessons we will learn about the life he would have lived.
Project 4 Fairy Tales
This project will have a strong Literacy focus. We will explore the characters, settings and themes within these tales. Using our Geography skills from Project 1, we will explore the locations of these stories which will help with our Art lessons in designing and making tapestries to tell some Fairy Tales through. In Computing we will continue to make Sprites for algorithms, however with Fairy Tale characters. Looking at body parts of animals and humans in Science will help with character development for all of these subjects in this project.
In Maths we will cover Number, Measurement, Ratio and Proportion, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics. The children will have personalised activities that focus on their individual needs and targets. They will also develop their ability to use the skills they have learnt and apply them to problem solving and reasoning activities. The Maths ladders in this Home-School Book show the progression of Maths knowledge and skills.
Project 1 Buildings
Using our History and Geography skills, we will explore why castles were built, what reasons were they needed and why were they built in certain locations. The children will look at members of the Castles and use a range of rich vocabulary linked to this theme across the term. In Science we will be looking at the best materials and their properties for a castle and defences. To develop our skills as a Sportsman, we will be learning how to dance in court and in outdoor games we will explore using tactics for a safe jousting tournament (no spikes involved). In Design lessons the children will use technical drawings to create a castle defence. For Computing skills, the children will be looking at how modern technology is used to do manual jobs from the past. In this project the children will use their nonfiction writing skills to write scientific reports
Project 2 Banquets
The Literacy focus for this project will be nonfiction recipe writing for a healthy eating of banquet food, this will link nicely with the PSHE and Science topics. In History the children will also use this healthy eating theme to look at food produced in the past. In dance and outdoor games the children will create dances from Jesters to entertain at a banquet and learn how to play the original game of tennis. Throughout the next few projects the children will continue with their Computing skills of creating algorithms for ‘Sprites as Knights’.
Project 3 Knights
This project will follow the life of a Little Knight. In Literacy we will write descriptive writing about his tales. We will learn to keep him healthy in PSHE and Science through healthy diet and exercise. We will design him a training regime in our P.E lessons and in History lessons we will learn about the life he would have lived.
Project 4 Fairy Tales
This project will have a strong Literacy focus. We will explore the characters, settings and themes within these tales. Using our Geography skills from Project 1, we will explore the locations of these stories which will help with our Art lessons in designing and making tapestries to tell some Fairy Tales through. In Computing we will continue to make Sprites for algorithms, however with Fairy Tale characters. Looking at body parts of animals and humans in Science will help with character development for all of these subjects in this project.
In Maths we will cover Number, Measurement, Ratio and Proportion, Algebra, Geometry and Statistics. The children will have personalised activities that focus on their individual needs and targets. They will also develop their ability to use the skills they have learnt and apply them to problem solving and reasoning activities. The Maths ladders in this Home-School Book show the progression of Maths knowledge and skills.
