Welcome to our class page! Our class consists of reception, year 1 and year 2 children. The children in the Busy Bee class are taught in different ways throughout the day. We have a variety of approaches including focus group activities, whole class activities and self-initiated activities. Our 'play to learn' time allows children to explore and interact as they desire. At the beginning of each term we set off with a topic or theme in mind which we think will interest and motivate our eager learners. However, we are flexible in our approach and shape our planning to match the evolving interests of the children within our class.  

On a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon all the children in school are split into 2 groups, the 'Acorns' (R/1/2/3) and 'Oaks' (4/5/6). The children will access the lessons of PE, art and design technology, computing, music and PSHE whilst in these groups. Being taught by teachers within their specialism.

Autumn 1

The following curriculum areas will be covered;

English: our core text this half term is 'Wild' by Emily Hughes. We will be exploring this fantastic book through using a variety of drama, role play and writing activities to explore the book, its characters and its setting in detail. 

Maths: in reception children will be matching, sorting and comparing and looking at patterns. In year one and two, children will be looking at place value and addition and subtraction. The whole school uses White Rose Maths to teach mathematics to ensure progression and coverage for all year groups.

Science: we will be learning all about our bodies. We will be learning all about how we grow up from a baby to an adult, compare photos of people we know and look at how they have changed, consider height along with hand and shoe size, use our senses in some experiments and dip into how we can keep our bodies and minds healthy.

Design and Technology and Art: we will be designing, making and evaluating our own puppets!

Geography and History: our topic this half term is 'Dinosaurs!' We will be acting as palaeontologists as we learn all about and create our own fossils, the importance of Mary Anning, create different dino skeletons as we learn all about the different types, dig for bones and look at the differences between carnivore, herbivore and omnivore.

PSHE: we will be learning using the 'SCARF' scheme from Coram Life Education. This half term we are chatting about ourselves and our relationships.

ICT: looking at computing systems and networks. We will also be accessing Time Table Rockstars and Numbots using the Chromebooks and new iPads.

Music: Sing Up with Mrs Battersby, we will be looking at 'The Menu Song', practising our beat and rhythm.

PE: we will be working on a Wednesday afternoon with Mr Blair and Friday afternoon with Miss Taylor-Crozier. Mr Blair is once again offering free after school club on Wednesdays, funded through our PE premium. Please ensure your child comes to school in their plain smart navy/black/white PE kit on these days. Outdoor and indoor kit is needed. 

RE: we will be learning all about God and creation.

Phonics and Spellings Children in Reception and Year 1 have a daily phonics session each morning. Year 2 children have a mixture of phonics or spelling support. They practise sounds already taught and learn new phonemes and graphemes through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds. Year 1 and 2 children have spellings that they practise each morning when entering school and Y2 are tested on a Friday. If you would like to support your child at home please click the link https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ 

Reading 

Our reading books are organised to match the Little Wandle phonics scheme of learning. Children are also heard reading three times a week as part of a guided reading session in a small group. Each Busy Bee will have one phonetically matched reading book, a guided reading book and a book for pleasure (that they have chosen from the library themselves), that goes home each week. They also share their books with a book buddy in class two and three. Please can children try and read daily at home as this helps to improve blending, comprehension, grammar, spelling and most importantly helps to develop a life-long love of reading for pleasure! Little and often is ideal!

Homework 

As homework we would like your child to read daily and to practise their spellings (year one and two). We may set suggested activities intermittently throughout the school year and/or activities via SeeSaw if you wish to have a go at these. Children in class one will have no physical weekly homework to complete.

If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to contact us. You can do this via email on admin@cartmel.cumbria.sch.uk 

The Busy Bee Team  (:

Miss Taylor-Crozier, Mrs Bowden and Mrs Flaherty