Autumn Term 2 Class 1 and Class 2

DEsign Technology focus

Our Key Focus at the start of Autumn Term 2 was Design Technology. We looked at different types of bridges and attachments and used a variety of tools and resources to create our own bridges both inside and outside.

We learned how to use a variety of tools safely such as knives and hammers. When hammering we were taught the importance of wearing goggles and to use gentle tapping movements whilst holding the nail or golf tee away from the tip. We also learned how to remove objects using the claw on the hammer and how to chop safely, keeping the knife blade facing downwards and our fingers out of the way.

literacy

firework safety instructions

The hook into our first Literacy Unit was a visit from the Fire Brigade. This was amazing because it was the week of Bonfire Night and linked to our History focus of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The children were shown lots of equipment that Fire Fighters wear and the main features of a Fire Engine. We also got to see the flashing blue lights!

We then looked at the features of non-fiction instruction writing and how to organise key points into a numbered list. Next we created our own non-fiction text maps on Firework Safety, based on the advice from Fireman Sam.

We learned the importance of keeping well away from the Bonfire and having a bucket of water ready in case of an emergency. We were taught that adults should always light fireworks and they should be kept in a metal tin. When holding sparklers, gloves should be worn and they should be placed in a bucket of water when they are finished.

stickman

Our next key text was Stick Man. We learned the story from a text map and then worked with our partners to sequence the main events from the story. We talked about the different characters and settings.

We labelled pictures from the story using our phonic knowledge and used the Tales Toolkit template to illustrate the characters, settings, problem and solution from the story.

SAnta and christmas

As a hook into this unit we all received a personalised message from Santa on Seesaw. Then we enjoyed applying our phonic knowledge writing letters to Santa, labeling Christmas pictures and writing cards to our friends.

We discussed with our friends what we would like to ask Santa for and worked collaboratively to create a list as part of a letter to Santa.

All of us can now find the initial sounds in words and most children can segment words to spell them and use phoneme frames to support our spellings.

Some children are beginning to write simple sentences, sometimes with a sentence stem. We are learning to use a capital letter, finger spaces and a full stop and to go back to the beginning of a sentence to read it and check it makes sense.

phonics

Children have continued to make excellent progress in phonics and now lots of children are blending sounds to read words and have received their first Read Write Inc reading book.

During this half term we welcomed parents into school and held our first Phonics Workshop. This was really well attended and we would like to thank all parents and carers for their continued support with reading home and supporting us with promoting a love of reading. It really does make a difference.

maths

In maths we have continued to use a range of practical resources to support and embed our understanding of number. Children have used Numicon to create number bonds of all numbers up to ten and represent different addition calculations. We also used Numicon to learn about odd and even numbers to ten.

We have also continued to practise our number formation, forming all numbers from the top and we have introduced the 'add' + 'subtract' - and ''equals' = sign. Some of us have produced our own calculations independently during provision time.

We have also looked at shapes and repeating patterns linked to our Divali topic and learning about Rangoli patterns. We learned how to create repeating patterns of 2,3 and 4 colours and objects and how to create symmetrical patterns using a range of resources.

history

We learned about the Gunpowder plot and that Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London to kill King James and that this is why we celebrate Bonfire Night in the UK. We learned the poem 'Remember Remember.'

We learned that Remembrance Day or Poppy Day is to commemorate and give thanks to the Service Men and Women who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. We created lots of poppies and our own dolly peg soldiers which formed part of a display in the hall.

PE

In PE our focus was ball skills and we learned how to throw and catch a call more accurately by tracking the ball with our eyes, having our hands in the 'M' position and being ready to move position.

RE

Our first RE topic was the Hindu Festival of lights known as Divali. We created rangoli patterns which ward off evil spirits and made our own Diva Lamps which symbolise that good triumphs over evil. We learned that Hindus worship in a temple.

We created our Diva lamps with clay using a range of skills. We then painted, glazed and decorated our lamps before taking them home.

Our next RE topic was Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of lights. We learned about the importance of some religious symbols such as the Menorah candles and the Dreidel.

We learned that Jews worship in a synagogue and their special book is called the Torah. We compared temples, synagogues and churches and talked about the similarities and differences.

Christmas

nativity

Our Nativity was held in church and was a great success. Thank you to all parents and carers who came along to watch. Please find below the links to our amazing performance.

We have enjoyed a wide range of Christmas activities, making decorations, cards, calendars and place mats for our Christmas party.

We have enjoyed wrapping gifts, writing cards and drawing pictures. Developing our fine motor skills is a key priority and we have supported this by making reindeer food, decorating pine cones and cutting out snowflakes for our calendars.

Thank you to all the children who took part in the Reindeer run and to all the adults who sponsored this event for Barnsley Hospice. It is very much appreciated.

Coming next

Next half term our key driver is Geography and we will be looking at Polar regions and comparing hot and cold countries and identifying our country on a globe and map of the world. Our key text will be 'Lost and Found' by Oliver Jeffers. We will also be Celebrating, Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit.

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by gilles lougassi - "christmas decoration on transparent backgtound" • Tryfonov - "Adventure stories background. Old globe on map background. Selective focus." • gamelover - "Little asian girl wearing chinese treditional costume standing with red lantern and smiling in chinese new year festival."