Year 1 and Year 2

Year 1 & 2

Autumn 2019

The children have returned to school eager and ready to start their new school year after a well-deserved Summer break.

We have chosen ‘The Squirrels Who Squabble’ as the class text although the children will also be looking at other Autumnal themed stories, poems and information texts linked to this. Much of the work this term will be based around this exciting topic, Harvest and other seasonal themed stories as well as learning new songs and practicing their Christmas Nativity towards the end of this term.

Darren will continue to teach the children music this term. The children will be learning different composition techniques, working together to create an Autumnal piece playing the different instruments and developing critical thinking skills throughout. They will also be listening and working with a variety of classical music.

Every week the children will continue to participate in a whole school Forest School session when they take their learning outside the classroom. This is an inspirational process that offers regular opportunities for the children to achieve and develop their confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in their natural environment.

In IT the children will be focusing on computer control using the new Blue Bots, using Scratch on the iPads and laptops and learning about the importance of e-safety (keeping personal information safe).
The children will enjoy up to three hours of P.E. each week which will include ball skills, gymnastics and dance.

Our Art teacher Miss Wilkinson, will continue to teach Art and this term the children have some great activities planned linked to the class text using an array of resources including clay, tapestry and sewing. She will also be teaching the children the importance of Mindfulness, helping them to love themselves, relax and to encourage them to have an awareness of the world around them.

We ensure that our children are aware of the British Values and each term we focus on a different ‘value’. At Combs we strongly believe that each child should leave our school with skills in order to continue to develop and demonstrate abilities and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in, contributing positively in the outside environment.
This term we are looking closely at ‘Mutual Respect’ and “Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs” and what these values mean to us. Our children will be given lots of opportunities to understand what these mean through role play, group discussions, assemblies and general everyday practice they see in and around their school environment.

Children will continue to receive weekly spellings and their homework will consist of a literacy, mathematics and a reading activity linking to their learning in the classroom. We also expect parents to support their child by hearing them read every night or as often as possible and to read to their child each evening. We hear the children read frequently in school and feel that ‘little and often’ is a very successful technique to enable our children to become fluent, enthusiastic readers.

The children have a very busy term ahead of them indeed including lots of enjoyable, hands on, child initiated activities to help along the way.
We continue to promote our open door policy and encourage parents to be involved with their children’s learning both inside and outside the classroom.