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 2

The following curriculum areas will be covered;  

English: our core text this half term is 'The Last Wolf' by Mini Grey. We will explore this in depth as we look at character descriptions, speech and thought bubble writing, captions and lists, letters, poetry and writing in role. We will also be sharing lots of other familiar fairy tales and ones with exciting twists!  

Maths: in year one and two we will be developing key skills in number and place value, addition and subtraction and 2D and 3D shape. In reception children will be matching and sorting numbers, comparing amounts, positional language and learning about shape. 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 the weather. Observing and measuring it with our own weather stations, looking at shadows, different weather types, wind direction and how and why temperatures change. We will also be creating our own weather stations.  

Design and Technology and Art: we are carrying on with las half terms topic, puppets! We will continue to practise our sewing skills and create and design a hand puppet, to go with our finger puppets. We will also be working on the woodwork bench to gain our independent licenses to use a hammer and junior hacksaw.  
       
Geography: we will be looking at the different weathers experienced around the world and the countries they occur in. We will plot them on a world map and discuss continents and countries as we read and learn about famous weather events.  

History: we will be looking into the past as we explore changes in living memory. This will include looking at changes in transport, toys, everyday life routines and how a school day in the past compares to today.  

PSHE: Harold the giraffe (SCARF) with Mrs Bennett as we discuss and value our differences.  

ICT: looking at multimedia and creating our own. Along with developing simple skills such as using a mouse and how to use a laptop or ipad.  

Music: Sing Up with Mrs Battersby, using ‘Christmas Colonel’. We will also be learning and practising the songs for our Christmas performance.  

PE: we will be working with Mr Blair on a Wednesday afternoon doing multi-skills and Jenny from Kendal Gym Club on a Thursday afternoon. Mr Blair is offering a free after school club on a Wednesday from 3:15-4:15pm, funded through our PE premium. Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school on these days.  

RE: we will be learning all about giving and receiving at Christmas.  

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