April 2010

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to a new term in Class 1. I hope you have all enjoyed your Easter holiday. This newsletter will give you some information about the content of the curriculum and additional information or general reminders.

Class timetable

PE is on Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings. Pupils need to bring the appropriate kit, ensuring that all items of clothing are clearly named. Please remember to remove earrings on these days. We play Maths games on Thursday mornings 8.50-9.20. Parents are welcome to stay and play.

My PPA time (planning, preparation and assessment) is on Friday mornings.

Our main focus this term is to find out about our local environment and communities. We are going out and about developing our outdoor learning, gardening, mini-beast hunts, life cycles, growing and hatching butterflies, sun safety, healthy picnics, visits and holidays.

Curriculum

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy

We will continue to count objects and actions.

Sequencing the days of the week and seasons.

Counting in 2s, 5s, 10s

Add two groups of objects.

Count how many are left when some objects are taken away.

Handling money in role –play in our shop.

Make simple patterns and talk about them.

Investigate symmetry when we find out about butterflies.

3D shapes.

Communication, language and Literacy

Reading – It is of tremendous value if you continue to read regularly with your child. Sharing books will be of huge benefit both in learning reading skills and in boosting confidence and enjoyment. As last term we will listen to a range of traditional stories and rhymes, have a daily session of Letters and Sounds, share conversations about their experiences and share news, work in their green home/school book and bring Dilly and her diary home.

Creative Development

Daily activities will allow children to explore a variety of materials and techniques and

express themselves through music and dance and enjoy imaginative play.

Knowledge and understanding of the World

Exploring and investigation. We will be growing and hatching butterflies, exploring our local environment and gardening.

Using construction kits

Beginning to try out a range of tools and techniques safely

Discussing significant events such as birthdays, visits and holidays.

Physical Development

Lots of opportunities to develop both gross and fine motor skills.

We enjoy our outdoor learning.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

You can help your child become independent by encouraging them to dress and undress themselves (ready for PE) and putting on and fastening their own coat.

We will work on our Golden Rules and share circle times and assemblies which help us to share, take turns, play and work happily together.

Anything you do in support of your child’s learning is of great help. From time to time I will ask the children to bring in certain things linking with our topic work. Thank you for allowing your child to participate in this way.

I hope your children will continue to enjoy being in Class 1. My door is always open if you have any questions, worries or concerns.

Mrs Higginbottom