Autumn Term

Welcome back to a new term at St James.

I hope the children are feeling rested after the summer holiday and ready for a new year at St James.

Writing

As writers we will be –

Developing our use of appropriate adjectives to write noun phrases while writing a character description.

We will also be able to retell a story in the

correct order and use a range of descriptive

devices to describe characters and settings.

Handwriting and spelling will be a key area of focus throughout the Autumn term.

Reading

As readers we will be reading –

- Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies

- The Goose that laid the golden eggs

- Mrs Noah’s pocket

We will be focusing on our comprehension skills and vocabulary development through book talk sessions as well as developing our retrieval and inference skills.

Computing

As computer software developers-

We are astronauts

We will explore and create storyboards and animations using the ‘Scratch’ program.

Geography

As Geographers we will be learning about-

Local area study-

We will be looking at the human and physical features of St James.

The UK to another Non-European Country-

We will be looking closely at London and Nairobi and comparing the human and physical features.

Maths

As Mathematicians we will be-

Developing our understanding of place value building on our learning from Year 1. We will compare numbers up to 100 and learn to count in 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s.

We will also be introducing daily mental arithmetic lessons.

PE

Our PE lessons will be on Wednesday afternoons this term. Children will need to come to school in their PE kit. 

As athletes we will be learning to –

Gymnastics- We will use our bodies in different ways, learning new balancing skills and using equipment.

Attack, Defend, Shoot- We will be working on our ball skills, and partner/ team work.

Music

As musicians we will be working on –

We will be exploring pulse, rhythm and pitch through our voices and instruments.

DT

As designers we will be learning about

Textiles

We will learn how to use a template to create a simple patchwork, using basic stitches.

Science

As scientists we will be investigating –

Living Things and their Habitats

We will explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive.

We will investigate how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other.

Art

As artists we will be learning about

Drawing

We will experiment by using a range of materials to create different marks.  We will create tones and learn how to use a variety of painting techniques, including stippling.  We will also explore how to combine techniques to create texture and shape.

History 

As historians we will be learning about The Great Fire of London

 We will investigate the cause and effect of the Great Fire of London.

This event happened a long time ago – over 350 years. The chronology focuses on the events over a few terrible days rather than a depth study into the period of time.  We will look at the cause and effects of the fire.

RE

As theologians we will be investigating-

Who is a Muslim and How do they live?

 We will be learning about Islam and understanding who Muslims are and that they believe in God (Allah). Also, we will Investigate, who is the Prophet Muhammad and what can Muslims learn from stories about him?

PSHE

We will be discussing new beginnings, how to be responsible and care for others and our environment.