Thorverton C of E Primary School

Curriculum Plan for Parents, Summer (1) Term 2017

Class 1

English

Our English work will include stories in familiar and unfamiliar settings and poems. We will base a lot of our writing on our ‘Space' topic. We will share common stories as well as newly released books and discuss their themes. Some books we will be reading this term are Sophie and the Shadow Woods, Super Happy Magic Forest and The Way Back Home.

We shall continue our weekly spellings sessions, looking at the use of different punctuation marks, spelling patterns, topic words and class issues in spelling whenever they arise.

How to help:Please help your child learn their spellings (Yrs 1 and 2) or sounds and tricky words (Reception). Check the homework they have done and guide them where necessary. Encourage them to read daily, but at least five times a week and please sign their reading diary when they have read to you.

Numeracy

Our numeracy lessons will be covering aspects such as: money, estimation, time, shape, statistics, mental calculations and written methods. We will be working on addition and subtracting in the contexts of weight, length and money.

How to help: Try to include your child by using maths in a practical way at home or when out shopping. Please also assist with any practical maths tasks that your child has for homework.

Topic

Our topic this term is 'Space'. As well as being heavily science-based this topic will have links to all areas of our curriculum including History, Geography, ICT, Art and English. We will be thinking about our solar system and the planets and moons that it contains. We will use our imaginations to consider alternative worlds and environments, thinking about how people could travel to them in the future. We will look at the maps of Mars drawn by Perceval Lowell and footage of the Luna landings.

As with all our topics, children will be encouraged to develop their art skills and appreciation of different art forms, including print techniques.

How to help. Discuss aspects of the topic with your child. Watch any relevant programmes on television or look at information in books or the internet.

Science

We shall be studying science with a focus on space. We will learn the names and characteristics of the planets in our solar system.We will consider how night and day are different, how shadows are made and how they can be used to tell the time of day. We will also be looking at malleable materials and finding out how some materials can change shape by squashing, bending, twisting or stretching.

How to help:Discuss aspects of the topic with your child. Watch any relevant programmes on television or look at information in books or the internet.

Physical Education

We will be working on the skills needed to play rounders with a view to playing matches. We will also have plenty of other opportunities for dance and sport during the week.

How to help: Please ensure your child has their full P.E kit in school every day, clearly labelled

ICT

This term we shall be using laptops and iPads to research our 'Space' topic. The children will be learning how to create simple graphs and charts to record data as well as making digital artworks of imagined worlds.

How to help:Where possible, allow your child to use a computer or tablet to complete homework or play educational games so that they are familiar with many of the skills required.

R.EWe will be looking at two questions based on the Christian faith and creation. These two questions are: Why is the word God so important to Christians? And, What did Christians believe God is like? We will explore these questions by making links back to the work on creation that we did in the autumn term and exploring a number of parables.

PSHE We shall be looking at what it is to be British and exploring peoples similarities and differences through stories.

General

We value our partnership with parents and are pleased to welcome you into the school. If you would like to help in school in any way, please come in and talk to Mrs Parkes. We would love your participation in our school.

Thinkers Keys

Picture

What is this a picture of?
Label and write an explanation. / Space
/ Ridiculous
Mrs Parkes says that our school is going to be moved to Mars! What will school be like and how will we all get there? / Combination
Rocket ship &
football
or
office chair
What if?
A martian came to school. What would you show them and what rules would you give them? / The BAR
Saturn 5 was an excellent spaceship. What would you do to improve it? / Different uses
Our school telescope is not very good. What else could we use it for? / Reverse
Name 10 things you would not take to space and give two reasons why?