Our topic this Autumn half term is ‘Welcome to the Toy Shop’. Our book focuses will be ‘Kipper’s Toy Box and ‘Toy Story’. The children will learn new topical vocabulary, which will include the appropriate Makaton signs.

The children will have regular opportunities to participate in attention circles and will play turn taking games with their peers. The attention circles will be sensory based and linked to our topic and other areas of learning.

In English, the children will be exploring and using different mark making tools. They will listen to a range of stories throughout the week and will visit the library. In the library, Caterpillar Class will have the opportunity to share a story with an adult or with their peers. Our phonics sessions will include listening to a range of different sounds and exploring different graphemes during  attention circles.

In Maths, we will be listening to different number songs and learning about different numbers. We will sing songs, such as ‘Five Little Ducks’, ‘Three Little Speckled Frogs’ and ‘Ten Green Bottles’.  The children will be encouraged to join in with the songs and given time to explore the different the number rhyme props.

Our science topic is ‘Me and My Small World’. We will look carefully at ourselves in the mirror and talk about how we are all different. The children will participate in attention circles about body parts and will be given opportunities to explore different sensory activities.

Caterpillar Class will be cooking every Friday. They will be encouraged to use different utensils and will explore different foods to touch and eat. They will be making fruit kebabs, sandwiches, fruit trifle and teddy bear toast. During making, we will be creating different toys for our class display, which is linked to our topic. The children will be encouraged to use a range of colours and materials to complete the activities.

Every Thursday we will be going cycling. The children will be encouraged to wear a helmet and use the bikes around the track. We will get lots of pictures! On our community visits will be heading to local parks, woodlands and supermarkets to buy ingredients for cooking.

It’s going to be a lovely half term!

Lauren and the Caterpillar Class Team