Meadow’s topic this term is ‘Circus School’ where we will be looking at the different types of circus skills as well as the various acts that you can see when you’re at the circus! In the first week, we will be focusing on Bonfire Night and fireworks. The children will be making fruit rockets and breadstick sparklers and creating firework pictures in making as well as taking part in some firework-themed sensory activities. Then, in the second week, we will be thinking about our favourite circus acts and characters as well as reading a story “You See a Circus, I See…” by Mike Downs. We will be using this book to refer back to in topic sessions. In the third week, we will be continuing to extend our learning about the circus by considering famous circus performers and ringmasters such as P.T. Barnum (from The Greatest Showman!) We will look at where they lived and what their special acts were. Additionally, in the fourth week we will be focusing on carrying out some circus skills in class such as juggling and performing. We will also start reading our next story, “If I Ran the Circus” by one of my favourite authors, Dr. Seuss!  

As we move into the fifth week, the class will be looking at combining our favourite circus acts and characters, seeing if we can carry out some role play in class. As we move into the last few weeks of the half term, Meadow Class will be doing some writing and drawing about the circus at Christmas time, thinking about why the circus is so popular with families and children. The last story related to this topic, “Circus Girl” by Jana Novotny Hunter will be read to the class. The last few lessons will be based on what we have learnt about in this topic and will ultimately conclude “Circus School”. The class will also be carrying out many Christmas and winter-themed lessons throughout the term, concluding with a whole-school performance!  

This half term, we will be aiming to visit ASDA supermarket, Redhill Memorial Park, Preston Park in Tadworth, Priory Park, Banstead Library as well as LIDL supermarket on our community visits. We will also be visiting Epsom’s Harrier Centre again this term with Meadow children going cycling on Thursday mornings. 

In our maths lessons, Meadow Class will continue to follow White Rose Maths this term where some of them will be looking at time and comparing larger numbers whereas others will be focusing on beginning to order number names and hearing/saying number names. In their English sessions, some children are continuing to match pictures to some short words as well as learn how to hold pencils correctly, some using a grip, and trace over letter formation words. Additionally, other children will be focusing on improvising short drama pieces and making contributions to group writing tasks. We will also be carrying out our exciting phonics sessions each week using the Twinkl scheme of work which I know the class enjoy very much. Thank you to all parents who have been reading with their children at home, it has been lovely to see this recorded in their reading records and we will continue to send new books home every Thursday.  

The class will also be continuing to carry out the Jigsaw PSHE sessions in class which mix different songs, discussion points and games to make for a fun and interactive lesson. Our topic for PSHE this term is ‘Celebrating Difference’. For science sessions, Meadow Class will be starting some physics-based sessions and our topics for these sessions this half term will be ‘Changes in Winter’ and ‘Night and Day’. Additionally, the class will be cooking different foods in cooking sessions on a Monday based on our ‘Circus School’ topic with Teresa, which will include fruit salads and circus tent cakes.   

The class have all been extremely patient waiting for the new playground to open, and this week they have been enjoying exploring all aspects of the new equipment. I would encourage you to come and see this when you’re next visiting school – it is quite impressive!   

Alex and the Meadow Class Team