Summer

ANIMALS OF ANTARCTICA Websites

EXPLORERS websites for research

Autumn Term 2

This half term, our topic is 'Epic Explorers'. This history and geography based topic will focus specifically on the expeditions of Captain Scott and Shackleton. We will look closely at the physical features (landscape, weather, animals) of Antarctica through videos and images, and compare with our Winter in the UK.  Take a look at the topic map and Discovery Time activities below to see what exciting learning we have in store.

We have already started preparations for our Christmas play 'Babushka'. The children will be developing their speaking, listening, music and drama skills, along with being given their chance to perform to a public audience. It is going to be a very busy half term indeed!  

We have had some amazing Victorian Toys projects and presentations coming in to school. The children should be so proud of their research and presentation skills.

VICTORIAN TOYS AND GAMES websites for research

Autumn Term 1

This half term, our topic is 'Let's Play'. The focus will be on how toys have changed through living memory. First, we will explore our own modern toys and share our 'special' favourite toys with each other. Then, we will find out about toys from our parents' and grandparents' childhood through interviews, 'show and tell' toys that children bring into school, a living history exhibition and hands on play with these toys in Discovery Time. We invite parents and grandparents into our Discovery Time sessions to play alongside the children. Finally, we will find out about Victorian toys. We will compare the materials that the toys are/were made from. Take a look at our topic map to find out what other learning we have in store this half term.  

English: Reading

Our whole class 'Book Talk' sessions will be based on the books Dogger and The Velveteen Rabbit. Together, we will retrieve information from the text to ensure we have a basic understanding of what is going on in the story. Next, we will use our inference skills to explore the feelings of the characters. We will also relate this to our own experience of losing our special toy or how we might feel if we lost it. We will discuss the meanings of some of the vocabulary the author uses. The Year 2 children will be challenged further by being 'Grammar Detectives' where they will be encouraged to find grammatical features in the text e.g. expanded nouns phrases, list with a comma, compound sentences using a conjunction, contractions, possessive apostrophes, which will in turn support their writing. Word reading skills will be taught in groups through phonics, guided reading and individual reading sessions that are closely matched to your child's age and stage of learning.  

English: Writing

Our focused writing will be based around the stories Dogger and the Velveteen Rabbit. The children will recreate a story similar to the structure of Dogger featuring their own toy which sadly is lost then found. The children will be encouraged to apply the writing skills that are taught along the way. These skills are dependent on your child's age and stage of learning. We will be sharing our stories with the new Year R children.

The Velveteen Rabbit features a toy that becomes REAL so the  children will imagine their own special toy to coming to life through the 'Nursery Magic'. We will explore ideas for adventures through drama for writing. We will be videoing these stories to upload onto this website to entertain you, so watch this space!

Writing Across the Curriculum

The children will be encouraged to present their research about parents' and grandparents' toys through a range of writing opportunities in topic time i.e. making information signs for our class museum, planning what to say in a speech bubble to create a video documentary on an ipad, posters and information booklets about toys in the past. As homework, children are encouraged to choose how to present the information they find out from interviewing members of their family such as photos with captions, poster, video interview, PowerPoint presentation, information booklet etc.    

HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR !

Below are some websites that you may find useful when supplementing your child's learning at home.