Religious Education (R.E.)

We will start the year by learning about our school patron saint – St. Joseph and our class saints:  St Teresa and St.Patrick.

 

Branch 1 – Creation and Covenant

We will learn about the stories from the Old Testament about Abraham and Joseph. We will consider their relationship with God and how their faith, hope and love in God and the Covenants God promised, influenced the decisions they made.

 

Reading Into Writing 

         

This half term, children will develop their reading and writing skills through two engaging texts. We will begin by reading The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch, using the story to inspire children to write their own set of instructions. Children will then move on to Traction Man, where they will explore character and develop their skills by writing a character description. Throughout both units, children will develop their understanding and use of key grammar and punctuation, including adjectives, conjunctions, capital letters, full stops and suffixes. They will have opportunities to apply these skills in their own writing, building confidence in writing clear, interesting and well-structured sentences.

 

Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar

We will begin the year by revisiting and strengthening the key spelling, punctuation and grammar skills that children developed in Year 1. Children will recap how to use capital letters and full stops accurately, identify and use nouns and verbs, and explore how conjunctions can be used to join ideas and create longer, more interesting sentences. We will also revisit correct letter formation, spelling patterns and the importance of checking our work carefully. These key skills will provide children with a strong foundation for developing their writing, helping them to become more confident, accurate and independent writers throughout the year.

Maths

We will begin the year by developing children’s understanding of numbers from 10 to 100, building their confidence with counting, reading, writing and representing two-digit numbers. Alongside this, children will revisit and strengthen their addition and subtraction skills within 20, with a particular focus on developing fluency and accuracy. They will practise their mental maths strategies and learn to solve calculations using a range of methods.

Children will also continue to develop their knowledge of multiplication, consolidating their 10 times table and beginning to learn and apply their 2 times table. Through regular practice and practical activities, children will develop their mathematical vocabulary, reasoning skills and confidence when solving problems.

 

History - Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day 

During this half term, children will explore the history and significance of Bonfire Night and Remembrance. We will begin by learning about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, discovering why Guy Fawkes and his fellow plotters wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 and exploring the events that led to the plot. Children will consider how and why Bonfire Night is remembered today and how traditions such as bonfires and fireworks have developed over time. We will then learn about Remembrance Day, exploring why we remember those who lost their lives in wars and conflicts. Children will look at how people in the UK commemorate Remembrance Day, including the significance of the poppy, Remembrance Sunday and the two-minute silence. We will also explore how other countries remember and honour those who served and died in conflicts. Through stories, photographs and historical sources, children will develop their understanding of the past and begin to recognise that historical events can be remembered and commemorated in different ways.

Science – Materials 

During this half term, children will explore the fascinating world of materials and develop an understanding of the different materials used to make everyday objects. They will learn that objects can be made from a range of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, paper and fabric, and will investigate why particular materials are chosen for specific purposes.

Children will explore the properties of materials, including which materials are absorbent, stretchy, waterproof, strong or flexible, and consider how these properties make a material suitable for different uses. They will also investigate how the shape of materials can be changed by actions such as bending, twisting, stretching and squashing.

Throughout the unit, children will take part in a range of practical investigations and experiments, making predictions, carrying out simple tests, recording their observations and discussing their findings.

 

Physical Education (P.E.) 

Children will need their PE kit in school on Tuesday and Thursday : red round-necked PE top, navy shorts, plain black pumps.   In PE this half term children will be studying multi skills. They will develop their ability to balance on equipment as well as move at different speed, in different directions and successfully negotiate space while playing games. They will also be studying ball skills which will develop their ability to manipulate a ball through rolling, throwing and kicking. 

 

Personal, Social & Health Education (PSHE)  

During PSHE this half-term we will be focusing on: Class rules, Our school mission statement, British values, Understanding Catholic social teaching about family and community, Keeping safe online, The celebration of Harvest where we give thanks for food we eat, How to care for the world we live in and our environment, The positive contributions made by significant black people through History. 

 

Computing

During this half term, children will explore how information technology (IT) is used in our everyday lives and the many ways it can benefit people and society. We will begin by looking at the different types of technology we use at home and discussing how they help us with everyday tasks. Children will then explore how IT is used in places such as shops, libraries and hospitals, considering how technology can make services more efficient, accessible and helpful. Alongside this, children will begin to develop their understanding of responsible technology use. We will discuss how to make sensible and safe choices when using digital devices, including thinking about how technology should be used appropriately and respectfully. 

 

Art 

During Art this half term, children will explore the idea that artists can be collectors. They will discover how artists look closely at the world around them, collect interesting objects, images, shapes, colours and patterns, and use these observations as inspiration for their own artwork. They will develop their observational drawing skills, focusing on looking carefully at shape, size, detail and proportion. Children will also experiment with a range of mark-making techniques, exploring how different lines, patterns and textures can be used to represent what they see and express ideas. Through these activities, children will be encouraged to experiment, make creative choices and develop confidence in expressing their own ideas through art.

Music

In Music this half term, children will be focusing on songs, many original compositions to be sung. These reflect the values, aims and mission statement of the school.