Welcome to our class page! 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. 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, but we are flexible in our approach and shape our planning to match the evolving interests of the children within our class.  

Spring 2

 
The following curriculum areas will be covered; 

English: our core text this half term is 'Beegu' by Alexis Deacon. We will explore this in depth as we look at descriptions, feelings, captions and lists, free verse poetry and compose a guide to Earth.

Maths: in year one we will be developing key skills in number and place value, addition and subtraction, length and height and mass and volume. In reception children will be looking at number, capacity and mass, 3D shapes and patterns. The whole school uses White Rose Maths to teach mathematics to ensure progression and coverage for all year groups. 

Science: our topic is all around growing. We will be identifying deciduous and evergreen trees, wild flowers and plants and learning about how things grow. We will also be doing some planting of our own and observing them overtime - hopefully eating them too!

Design and Technology and Art: we will explore the life and work of LS Lowry and learn about the industrial landscape that provided the subject of many of his paintings. We will compare works of art, colour mix, look at perspective, drawing figures and buildings as we finish with creating a multimedia collage in his style.
      
Geography and History: we will be understanding of the lives and significance of Christopher Columbus, Neil Armstrong, Ernset Shakleton and Tenzing Norgay as we go on an expedition in the school grounds, discover some navigation techniques and have a go at navigating some simple journeys. We will also explore the vessels and clothing used for different expeditions and make comparisons across different eras. We will also look at other famous explorers surrounding the children's interests.

PSHE: Boris the robot with Mrs Beston. We will be learning how to be ‘HeartSmart' as we learn through this half terms topic of ‘Don't hold on to whats wrong'.

ICT: looking at programming using Purple Mash. We will also be accessing Time Table Rockstars and Numbots and complete our ‘to do’s’ using the new chromebooks. 

Music: Sing Up with Mrs Beston, composing our own music and increasing our confidence to perform.

PE: we will be working with Mr Blair on a Wednesday afternoon doing multi-skills and Miss Taylor-Crozier on a Friday afternoon. Please ensure your child has their PE kit in school on these days. 

RE: we will be learning about Easter and why it is important to Christians.

Phonics and Spellings Children in Reception and Year 1 have a daily ability grouped phonics session each morning. They practise sounds already taught and learn new phonemes and graphemes through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds. Year 1 children have spellings that they practise each morning when entering school and are tested on a Friday morning. 

Reading 

Our reading books are organised to match the 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 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 every day at home as this helps to improve blending, comprehension, grammar and spelling and most importantly helps to develop a life-long love of reading for pleasure! 

Homework 

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

Miss Taylor-Crozier and Mrs Bowden