Spring 1 Newsletter

Spring Term – 1st half 2013

Welcome back after Christmas! We hope that you all had a very special time over the break, we both did and thank you all very much for the wonderful and generous cards and gifts.

Our topic this half term is called – Our Wonderful World

Curriculum:

Our targets:	Ways to help your child:
Numeracy: ·       Count to at least 100, and read and write numbers to 100. ·       Given any six numbers up to 100, put them in order. ·       Count forwards and backwards in ones or tens from any two-digit number, e.g. twenty-six, thirty-six, forty-six… ·       Recognise odd and even numbers. ·       Add and subtract numbers under 20 in their heads. ·       Know pairs of ‘tens’ numbers that make 100, e.g. 30 + 70. ·       Double and halve small numbers, e.g. double 9 is 18, and half of 18 is 9. ·       Know by heart the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. ·       Find the total value of a handful of coins to £1. ·       Measure or weigh using metres, centimetres, kilograms or litres. ·       Use a ruler to draw and measure lines to the nearest centimetre. ·       Tell the time to the half and quarter hour. ·       Name and describe common 2-D and 3-D shapes. ·       Solve simple number problems, and explain how to work  them out.	Fun activities to do in a spare moment(!) Car numbers Each person chooses a target number, e.g. 15.  How many car numbers can you spot with 3 digits adding up to your target number, e.g. K456 XWL. So 4 + 5 + 6 = 15, bingo! Bean subtraction For this game you need a dice  and some dried beans or buttons. ♦  Start with a pile of beans in the middle. Count them.  ♦  Throw a dice. Say how many beans will be left if you  subtract that number.  ♦  Then take the beans away and check if you were right!  ♦  Keep playing.  ♦  The person to take the last bean wins!
Literacy: Writing riddles – this form of poetry is explored this term. Can we write a set of clues? Writing stories – ensuring that we have a beginning, middle and an end. Using connectives, time words and wow words to ensure that our writing is lively and interesting. Looking at information texts – in conjunction with our topic. Handwriting: Joining our letters continues to be a major focus. Reading – stories by the same author. Authors such as Ronda and David Armitage and their stories based on ’The Light house Keeper’. We will also be enjoying a class reader – Jack Stalwart.	Please encourage your child to join their letters when writing at home. Record any fantastic words that you come across in your reading at home – so that your child might use them in their story writing. Go to the library and try to find examples of riddles – please bring any examples into school. Try out any of the stories heard in school – ALL reading is good! Learning spellings every week.
Science:   Green Plants ·       We will be thinking about plants this half term. This will involve researching how plants grow, why they grow, where they grow and what they give us.
Geography:  Our Wonderful World ·       Looking at volcanoes, the ring of fire and other exciting topics. Please encourage your child to research these at home, whether in books or on the internet.
P.E:   Gym ·       The children will be thinking about their bodies and how we can move in different ways. ·       We will be putting together simple routines using apparatus. ·       P.E. will be on Wednesdays – Please ensure your child’s kit is in school! An you please check that kits still fit and are clearly labelled. R.E: Creation ·       We are looking at early Old testament stories and looking at how Christians believe our World was created. MFL: Countries ·       We will be learning the names of our some of the countries in our world in French. REMINDERS ·       Homework is handed out on TUESDAYS and should be handed in by the following MONDAY. Please ensure that your child reads the instructions carefully. ·       Spellings are given out on FRIDAY and are tested the following week. It is important to try and learn these as we run up to our testing. ·       Books should be in every day, but by all means please record any independent reading done at home or from the library. Also use their reading record for communication – we like to know what your little treasures are up to!

Thank you for your continued support – a good half term ahead!

Miss M & Mrs A