Oak Newsletter Term 4 – ‘It’s a Bug’s Life!’

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Dear Parents,

Welcome back, we hope you had a great Half Term. Our topic for Term 4 is ‘It’s a Bug’s Life!’ Before commencing this topic in Week 2, we will be spending Week 1 learning about Chinese New Year as part of our International Week. Our learning journey will then begin with a special delivery of some tiny creatures for us to care for! We will be able to watch them grow and change.

Our key texts this term are:

Areas of Learning

Literacy

Our focus in literacy this term is using our phonic knowledge to write stories using narrative language, adjectives, nouns and verbs.  In reading, our phonics knowledge, high frequency and tricky words will develop further and we will be talking about the events in the books we read and predicating what will happen next.

Maths

In maths we are going to secure our knowledge of addition and subtraction with the support of objects. We will be using insects to help us learn more about doubles and halves. Through making fruit kebabs we will be creating detailed patterns. We will also begin to look at money and recognising and using coins.

Understanding the World

In Week 1 we will be focussing on Chinese New Year and will be looking at Chinese food, traditions and art and craft. The children will also be making lots of observations and predictions about minibeasts. As Easter approaches, we will be learning about the Easter Story and talking about our Easter experiences.

Home Learning

We would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children.

Reading	Please read with your child regularly, even if it is a home or library book. At this stage it is really helpful to discuss the stories that you read and use story language such as, character, setting, beginning, middle and end. The more experiences that children have of sharing books at home, the quicker they progress in all areas of the curriculum as it develops their creativity, vocabulary and imagination, as well as furthering their reading and writing skills.
Letters and Sounds	Your child will be bringing home another High Frequency Word list which will be fixed inside the cover of their yellow Reading Record Book. Please could you work on learning the five words which are marked.
Maths	Individual Mathletics logins and passwords are fixed into the reading record book. There is no set Maths homework, however the children can access this website and enjoy the maths games whenever they choose at home. uk.mathletics.com

Home Challenges!

Please choose one or more of the following activities to enjoy at home and bring in before the end of term:

• Make a mini beast out of junk modelling and share with your class.
• Take a camera around your garden or the park and take photos of any minibeasts you can find.
• Write a list of minibeasts that you find in your garden.
• Paint or draw a picture of an imaginary mini beast!

Websites and Links

• ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for Literacy and Maths games.
• phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 3, 4 and 5 games, blending sounds and words.
• uk.mathletics.com for maths games
• bbc.co.uk/cbeebies for literacy and maths activities and games
• If you wish to make learning games to have fun at home, you can print from twinkl.co.uk and browse the EYFS Reception section.

Quick Reminders

• Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bag each day. We do not let children share cups as this spreads germs and illnesses.
• Our PE days are Monday & Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
• SHOW AND TELL is on a Friday and must link to the learning of the topic. It is really important that children DO NOT bring any other toys into school at any other times.

We hope you all have a lovely term supporting the children in their learning. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.

Thank you for your support,

Mrs Winchester and Ms Eldridge