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Dear Parents,
Welcome back, we hope you had a great half term. Our topic for Term 4 is ‘Off we go Exploring’ and our learning journey will begin with exploring a text called ‘Dear Greenpeace’, which looks at letter writing and links into the children’s own interest of protecting our environment. We will be taking walks in the school woods, during this term, and looking at natural and man-made materials. We are then going to be looking at places further afield with “Handa’s Surprise” and finally, we will be looking at the story of Easter.
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, we will be further developing our phonetical understanding, whilst continuing to develop and expand our knowledge of tricky and high frequency words. The focus this term will be on predicting the end of stories.
Maths
In maths we are going to secure our knowledge of addition and subtraction with the support of objects. Through making fruit kebabs, we will be creating detailed patterns. We will also begin to look at weight, measuring and comparison of amounts.
Understanding the World
The children will be making lots of observations of the world around them, and virtually exploring other countries. 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 term’s home learning tasks including reading with your children.
| Reading | Please read with your child regularly.
It is really important that the children bring their book bags, reading records and their reading book into school every day. Now that the children are using their sounds to blend new words, it is important that they begin to discuss each book and understand words such as ‘character’, ‘title’, ‘setting’, ‘beginning’, ‘middle’, ‘end’. When reading with your child please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing, dating and writing a comment in the reading record book. We will continue to change their books on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 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. The Oak class reading competition is starting again this term. All children will be at the same starting point and a prize will be given, to the most consistent home reader, at the end of the term. Good luck! |
| Letters and Sounds | Your child will be bringing home their focus phonic sounds and high frequency word lists. Please refer to this when completing independent writing at home. Children may also like to write small reviews on the books they have read. As was the case last term, children are to place home learning tasks, once completed, under Miss Dudeney’s chair. |
Home Challenges!
Please choose one or more of the following activities to enjoy at home and record these in your home learning book. These can be brought in at any time during the term.
- Make a mini fact file of a place you have visited.
- Try different foods from around the world and write about your favourite one.
- Paint or draw a picture of the forest or a place you have visited.
- Create your own collage of a ‘new place’.
- Find out about the animals that live in hot or cold places.
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
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bag each day.
- Our PE day is Thursday but PE kits should be in all week.
We hope you all have a lovely term supporting the children in their learning. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to me regarding any matters that concern you.
Thank you for your support,
Miss Dudeney