Swallowtail’s topic this Summer half term is ‘The Sea’ where we will be focusing on the different seas and oceans around the world, as well as lots of other exciting sea-based topics! In the first week, we will be focusing on what we know about the sea and seeing if we know some simple sea creatures, forms of transport, as well as looking at water.  In the second week, we will be looking more into different types of sea creatures such as crustaceans and fish, and the similarities and differences between them. We will also be reading and listening to the story “Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea” by Jan Peck and we will be discussing the characters, ideas and story throughout the term. The story can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZJ3OzwPiNA . Then, in the third week, we will be continuing to extend our learning about sea creatures by discussing the ways in which these creatures live, eat, and socialise with other marine life. In our fourth week, we will be looking into beaches, the way we can identify a beach, how to keep a beach clean and safe, as well as preparation for a beach trip the following week! Then, in our fifth week, we will be researching lots about how to keep our oceans clean, pollution and recycling. Lastly, in week six we will be thinking about all the things we have learnt about the sea and discussing our favourite aspects of our topic, as well as preparation for the upcoming new school year!

This half term, we will be aiming to visit ASDA supermarket and recycling centre, Box Hill Nature Trail, a garden centre with an aquarium, Headley Heath as well as a beach on our community visits. We will also have the chance to continue visiting the team at RDA this term and most Swallowtail children will be horse riding on select Thursdays. Some of the children have already done so well at the stables this year and I look forward to seeing them progress more and more as the weeks go on. Some children will have the chance to go cycling at the Harrier Centre in Epsom every other Thursday and all children will have the opportunity to play football with the class on select Wednesday mornings at Walton-on-the-Hill playpark. The children will be very busy before the summer holidays!

In our Maths lessons, Swallowtail Class will be focussing on working with money in the first week back after half term, as it is “My Money Week”. The class will be carrying out some amazing money-based activities throughout the week ending in a lovely cake/biscuit sale where they can spend some money on a treat! Additionally, some of the children will be focusing on different uses for writing, letter formation, and pencil grip (with support from OT) as well as improvising short drama pieces based on our topic of “The Sea”. We will also be carrying out exciting phonics sessions each week using the Twinkl scheme of work which I know the class enjoy very much.

For PE this term, Swallowtail Class will continue focusing on athletics and will be incorporating different types of athletics into their PE sessions such as running, jumping over hurdles, and throwing. This will all be in preparation for this year’s Sports Day which we hope you can all attend.  We will also be carrying 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 “Changing Me”, and the class will be thinking about their body image, how bodies change over time, puberty and moving classes.

In English, they will explore poems and stories about the sea and compose their own descriptions of, for instance, a day at the seaside or the sights and sounds of huge waves, or sailing boats. 

In Islam, the sea is a Quranic source of sustenance, in Hinduism, it is the source of creation and the resting place of Gods while the Sea of Gallilee is a geographical centre of Christ's ministry. There will be opportunities for students to explore these and other themes in their World Views class. 

Moreover, our making sessions will get Swallowtail Class’s creative juices going with plenty of sea-based tasks such as making a jellyfish, paintings of the sea and shark puppets. They will be preparing sea-themed recipes like the classic fishfinger sandwich or ship's biscuits for cooking. 

Lastly, many children will have the opportunity to carry out some outdoor learning in the school grounds as well as utilising our ICT facilities using the iPads to record their typing work and research on our topic of ‘The Sea’.

Alex and John