A Look at our Learning

Summer Term 2021

What will we be learning about?

Our main theme for the Term will be called “Dens & Dandelions.” We hope to cover as many of the things identified below as possible but this may change as pupils lead the learning into other areas.

What will we be learning about in Language, Literacy & Communication Skills?

• Our class texts will include “Jasper and the beanstalk” as well as books like ‘Mabel’s Magical Garden’ and ‘Superworm’ - We hope to look at:

• Recounting events

• Retelling stories using Pie Corbett story telling technique

• Poetry linked to the theme

• Information texts

• Hot seating – inviting members of local wildlife trust, forest schools or park to talk about animals, creatures and plants and how they should be looked after. Children to prepare questions to find out more information. Children to also take on the role of person in the hot seat.

• Dictionary skills

• Traditional tales – Jack and the Beanstalk, The Enormous Turnip.

• Play scripts

• Descriptions

• Explanations/labels – labelling plants/ plots/ national parks etc.

• Instructional writing

• Persuasive writing

• Posters

• A variety of visual literacy strategies.

What will we be learning about in Mathematical Development?

We hope to look at (linked to the theme):

• Grouping/sorting animals that live in woodland/ wild/those that are found in our locality and those that do not etc. Make sets.

• Taking temperatures linked to weather and Science

• Sorting and classifying e.g. different birds

• Time linked to daily events

• Following directions

• Graphs and pictograms about leaves / woodland creatures / living things etc.

• Collect items on a woodland walk and sort - Sorting into categories (sorts objects and classifies them using more than one criterion)

• Sequencing events

• Ordinal numbers – 1st I saw….

• Compare and order natural objects such as leaves and trees against each other and order them using non standard units of measurement.

• Create shelters/ dens of certain sizes – measure – large and small scales.

• Create outdoor flower trails to find hidden treasure – follow directions using language of position and place. Half/ whole turns too. Blindfold a friend etc.

• Make rainbow crowns by collecting segments of leaves and petals in different colours. Could link to mathematical patterns etc.

• Weighing objects using ‘kg’ to record

What will we be learning about in Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity?

We hope to look at:

• Trust

• Personal goals

• Healthy eating - compare the differences between food today and food in the past.

• Morals within stories

• Courage

• Living in Wales

• How to look after our environment – plants and animals.

• Choices and tolerance.

• Exercise and how it affects our bodies.

• Collaboration – team games.

• Taking safe risks and identifying hazards

• Explore the morals based on the story ‘Dinosaurs and all the Rubbish’, discussing how to keep our planet clean. How has plastic waste been effected by the pandemic?

• Establish safety rules for working outdoors – discuss hazards/ risks.

• Circle time – on topics such as sharing what they have learned about the local woodlands areas, articulate something they have done to improve the environment and/ or how they will look after or use the woodland more respectfully in the future.

What will we be learning about in Knowledge & Understanding of the World?

We hope to look at:

• Animals of the woodland

• Investigations linked to traditional tales – growing a beanstalk

• Finding out about the past through fossils

• Religious past events

• Comparing landscapes and climates

• Natural and human features

• Plans and compass directions.

• How has Merthyr changed? Green areas decreased? Why? Research this.

• Dissect flowers and observe using a microscope or lens.

• Sort items by living/ non living things – make sets.

• Sort pictures of animals that live in woodland/ wild. Look at habitats of such animals.

• Invite someone in from local wildlife trust, forest school or park to talk about animals, creatures and plants that live in our parks and countryside and discuss how they should be looked after – why?

• Compare natural objects such as leaves and trees, against each other.

• Find out what would be the best place/ time for Princess Dandelions picnic? Find out about a local woodland area? Why would this be good/ suitable?

• Identify the names of common wild flowers found in local or woodland environment – develop understanding of what is needed for them to grow. Plant in outdoor area by classroom.

• Animal eating animal eating grass. Simple food chains, predator & prey

• Wormery, bug hotels etc.

• Finding out about birds that we can expect to see locally. Bird survey (see resources) RSPB Bird Watch

What will we be learning about in Creative Development?

We hope to look at:

• Instrument families. Making instruments outdoors using natural materials.

• Sound stories

• Paintings/collage

• Drawing from memory and imagination

• Welsh artists

• Observational drawings from environmental walk.

• Food technology – fruit kebabs

• Creating animal movements and dances linked to the theme.

• Design and create a wild/ woodland area in or outside the classroom. Display model animals/ plants for small world play.

• Make rainbow crowns by collecting segments of leaves and petals in different colours.

• Plan and make some decorations and headdresses or masks for the party using natural materials.

• Design and create invitations for all of the fairy and goblin guests – use ICT.

• Make mud pies, bark rubbings, tree hangings, clay monsters and sculptures using natural materials. Take photographs and annotate.

• Use voice to create sounds of the woodland. Create simple compositions using voice and percussion instruments. Record.

• Make an indoor gallery using natural materials. Make patterns and small scale sculptures which can be changed daily.

• Create tree/ creature dances with partners, exploring the movements that can express different emotions.

• Design and create bunting for outdoors – could this be made into a repeating pattern? Symmetrical?

What will we be learning about in Physical Development?

We hope to look at:

• Weaving around a tepee frame – creating patterns of colour – fine motor control, hand – eye co ordination.

• Practising physical skills following play to learn skills handbook.

• Moving over obstacles

• Develop the use of directional language to explain to another child how to move over an obstacle course/ treasure hunt/ outdoor flower trails safely.

• Create an obstacle course using a range of PE equipment, discussing and supporting a partner to negotiate the course safely.

• Continue to practise throwing and catching techniques using different equipment (balls or various sizes along with javelins etc).

• Move like various living things they have been learning about.

• Play to learn sessions cross curricular links to WLD.

• Throughout all PE sessions continue to develop constructive peer feedback using 2 stars and a wish.

• Create simple outdoor games using balls and other equipment

• Play games in an outdoor setting and discuss the effects of exercise on their bodies – heart rate etc.

• We will also follow our Real PE Scheme of Work.

What will we be learning about in Welsh Language Development?

We hope to look at:

• The weather

• Colours – what colour is……? What colour do you like?

• Clothes

• Likes and dislikes

• Food – implicitly.

• Wants

• Numbers to 20 and counting objects.

• Graphs linked to the topic

• Stories linked to topic

• Where children in the class live – ble rwyt ti’n byw?

• Speaking about someone else (a friend)

What will we be learning about in Religious Education?

We hope to look at:

• School values

• Develop an understanding of ‘Things that are Special’, allowing the children time to discuss their special things.

• Explore religious books from all cultures, discussing why they are special.

• Read traditional Welsh stories about ‘William Morgan’ who translated the bible into welsh and discuss the significance of this.

• Explore how the world began, including the views from different cultures.

• Read the Christian creation story about Adam and Eve, Daniel and the Lion’s Den.