We have lots of exciting learning planned for this half term and I wanted to share a little bit about what we will be getting up to in class.

In PSHE, we will be looking at becoming a class team and what it means to be part of our school community. We will be learning about being a school citizen, rights, responsibilities and democracy, as well as rewards and consequences. We will also be looking at being 'me' in a group, expectations and perceptions of relationships, peer pressure and grooming.

Within Music this term we will be exploring the music of Asia. We will use maps to look at different countries and regions, including India, Japan, China, Indonesia and Korea. We will be listening to different types of music and beginning to identify the instruments and musical features that we can hear. We will be thinking about rhythm, melody, tempo, dynamics and timbre. This will give the children the opportunity to explore the many different cultures and musical traditions across Asia.

In Phonics, we will be continuing with individual phonics sessions and building on the reading skills that the children have already developed. The sessions will continue to be based around individual needs, helping each child to develop their reading skills and confidence.

In Reading, we will be exploring South Asian myths and legends. Our topic related books will be South Asian Myths and Legends by Sarah Shaffi and Amazing Asia: An Encyclopaedia of an Epic Continent by Rashmi Sirdeshpandi. These books will help us to learn more about the different cultures, stories and traditions found across Asia.

As part of our cooking activities, we will be exploring a variety of fresh ingredients, including lemongrass, root ginger, fresh basil, lime and fresh coriander. The children will have the opportunity to smell, touch and taste the different ingredients and talk about their flavours, textures and smells. We will also be learning how ingredients can be combined to create different dishes and how to follow  simple recipes and instructions. This will help the learners to develop their confidence and practical skills when preparing and cooking food, while also learning about the importance of food hygiene and safety.

In Science this term, Admiral Class will be learning all about rocks. The children will explore different types of rock and investigate their properties by looking closely at their appearance and texture. We will be finding out how rocks are formed and how fossils occur within sedimentary rock, as well as learning about soil and how it is made from rocks and organic matter. The children will have the opportunity to take part in some hands-on investigations, comparing and grouping different rocks based on what they observe.

In Maths this term, Admiral Class will be split into streamed groups based on ability, allowing us to tailor teaching more closely to each child's current level of understanding. This approach ensures that every child is appropriately challenged and well supported, with lessons pitched to help them build confidence, consolidate key skills and continue making strong progress towards their next steps in learning.

This term our off-site physical activity will be tennis. Admiral Class will be taking part in tennis at Ebbisham Tennis Club on Mondays. Please remember to send your child into school with their P.E kit on these days.

If there is any other information you would like me to provide you with or if you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Gavin and the Admiral Class Team