Welcome to the Summer term!

It has been lovely to welcome the children back this week. They have returned with lots of energy and enthusiasm, and we've had a fantastic start to the new term! Squirrels have loved the sunny weather and they enjoyed their well deserved treat to end the week.

Writing - Tidy by Emily Gravett

This week, Squirrels started reading a brilliant new book – Tidy by Emily Gravett. The children have been getting to know Pete the badger and thinking about his love for tidying the forest… perhaps a little too much! To connect with the story, the children went on a litter pick around school, collecting rubbish and talking about how they can help keep their environment clean. They described the things they had found using a range of interesting adjectives. In class, the children have also been exploring Pete's and the other animal's thoughts and feelings at the start of the story, using role play and freeze frames to help them imagine what they might be thinking at different moments. Squirrels ended the week by learning how to use the - er and -est suffixes in their writing and the children are already doing a brilliant job using them in their sentences!

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Phonics - Phase 5

Squirrels are continuing with their phonics journey, learning new graphemes and alternative pronunciations. This week they have been reviewing their phase 5 sounds and they are becoming more confident in spotting these sounds in their reading and using them in their writing. 

 

Maths - Multiplication and Division

This week Squirrels have started an exciting new maths topic: Multiplication and Division! The children began by practising counting in 2s, 5s and 10s using songs, number lines, and objects to help them spot patterns. Next week, the children will be using this counting to help them understand what it means to make equal groups and share items fairly. 

Science - Everyday Materials: Exploring How Materials Can Change Shape

This week in Science, the children explored how different materials can change shape. They squashed, stretched, twisted, and bent different materials including playdough, rubbers, sponges, and elastic bands. The children were fascinated to see which materials could be changed and which ones returned to their original shape!

  

History - Stories of Rules: Alfred the Great

This week, Squirrels began an exciting new History topic called Stories of Rulers, starting with a famous king – Alfred the Great! The children have been learning who he was, where he lived, and what made him such an important ruler. The children were fascinated to find out that Alfred the Great lived over 1,000 years ago and ruled in a place called Wessex, a part of England. Then, they looked at maps to see where he ruled and discovered how he helped protect his kingdom from Viking invaders. The children are looking forward to learning more about his life and why people still remember him today.

Geography - Living by the Beach: Coastlines

This week, Squirrels started a brand new Geography topic: Living by the Sea! The children began by learning what a coastline is – the place where the land meets the sea. Then, they looked at photos and maps to spot different features of a coastline, including cliffs, beaches, harbours and ports. To finish their learning, the children talked about what it might be like to live near the sea and how it's different from where they live. The children loved sharing their own seaside experiences and they are looking forward to exploring more about coastal life in the weeks ahead!