Prep 1 Curriculum Brief

Our English will be focused around the Get Writing Scheme, with greater emphasis on increasing our vocabulary, enjoying both fiction and non-fiction texts. We will also examine different types of writing, especially; comic, letter writing, poetry, stories and information texts. Phonics will be focused on reviewing the set 5 sounds, learning to choose the correct sound when writing. Handwriting lessons, concentration on sizing and, starts and ending of letter will also be focused on, readying for joined up writing in Prep 2. Reading and weekly spellings will continue throughout the term.

Maths will cover the following topics this term: an introduction to multiplication, counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, introduction to division, fractions – halves and quarters, position and direction, numbers to 100, time and money.

We will learn about plants as living things which grow and change. We will observe some of the differences between plants. The children will identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including trees. We will name and draw the main parts of plants and look at seed dispersal. We  shall look at how different climates/weather patterns affect the growth of plants. We intend to grow our own plants from seeds and hopefully harvest the food to eat.

Our topic this term is Africa, we will explore climate, landscape, people, animals and tourist attractions. The challenges of living there will be contrasted to the challenges of last term’s polar lands environment. We shall also compare life in Africa with life in England, specifically looking at people’s lives in Kenya and explore the savannah and its animals, including the big 5.

We will spend the first half term concluding our dinosaur topic, concentrating on the death of the dinosaur before progressing onto the Stone Age/Ice Age era, where we will investigate early man, the tools they used, along with shelter they built/used and the discovery of fire, along with cave paintings. We will also look into the animals of this time, including the woolly mammoth and sabre tooth tiger.

This term we will continue to look at the vocabulary for clothes, animals, fruit and vegetables and pursue our knowledge of French numbers (aiming to count to 50).  We will extend our knowledge of greetings and basic French introductions. We will continue to use the Skoldo Elementary Book and sing lots of songs to help our learning.

This term we shall be thinking about the lessons that Jesus taught and how we can use them in our behaviour towards others. We will continue to learn about the many stories Jesus told.

This term will be split into 2 parts, the first being keeping safe, where we will consider people who help us, along with how to stay safe in the home and out and about. The second part will be focused on how can we look after each other and the world, thinking about how our actions can affect not only us, but other people along with the world around us.

This term the class will be looking at the work of the Impressionist painter Monet, extending their painting skills.
During the second half of the term the class will be looking at Indian Art, developing pattern idea and using a range of media and working both to create two and three dimensional pieces.

The children will continue to work on their confidence when singing and performing. They will be playing some singing games and using their voices and body percussion to create their own pieces. They will also be broadening their musical knowledge by listening to the music included in the BBCs Ten Pieces.

Due to the exploratory and ‘spontaneous’ approach in this subject, we will often go off in different directions depending on the ideas and interest of the children. And so the formal lesson plans are often deviated from to preserve a flexibility and originality of approach.  New projects often ‘evolve’ from the children’s ideas in the sessions and it is an important part of the approach and style in this subject  to maintain this flexibility and spontaneity.  This generates a feeling with the children that they are going on a ‘journey’ in this subject each term. The formal lesson plans are only intended to be used as a basis and guide to the type of work and projects that are covered and are not intended to be rigidly adhered to.

Week 1 – Moving creature designs using blockwood, hooks and wire to create movement. Materials involved: blockwood, plywood, styrofoam and modelling card.

Weeks 2 and 3 – 3 D picture designs using plywood, blockwood and modelling foam.

Weeks 4, 5 and 6 – Boat designs using sails to create movement. Tested in water tank.

weeks 7, 8 and 9 – Wire and crank designs to create movement for models.

This term pupils will be able to understand about algorithms in computing and how to de-bug any mistakes using a variety of coding activities. They will be able to search the internet appropriately to research for a project.

This term we will continue to build on body movement, facial expression and voice projection as we enjoy our class play – Jack and the Beanstalk.

Games: Developing athletic skills, through a collection of track events – which will include sprints, hurdles and relays.

P.E: Development of large and small ball skills through a variety of hitting and catching games. In addition they will work on team relays.

Swimming: Based on guidelines laid down in the ASA ‘National Plan for Teaching Swimming’. Activities designed to develop watermanship, confidence and stroke technique will be used.