This half term we found out about different traditional tales and completed lots of tasks linking to these for example how beans grow when we learned about Jack and the Giant Beanstalk. We found out about how to build strong bridges linking to the Three Billy Goats Gruff and we made and played with puppets in our own puppet theatre. In phonics we recapped our prior learning of phase 2 and 3 sounds, with some children moving on to the next stage of their phonics journey whilst we all became more comfortable writing and reading words and sentences containing these sounds. In maths we learnt about the composition of numbers to 10, finding out about odds and evens and we continued to develop our ability to subitise (recognising patterns of number without needing to count). We also explored shape, finding out how to manipulate them and learnt the names of 2D and 3D shapes. In our music lessons we listened and appraised Funk music, learnt to sing Big Bear Funk and revisited other nursery rhymes and action songs as well as playing instruments within the song. 

This half term Acorns explored two topics, Starry Night and Winter Wonderland. We continued to develop our phonics knowledge, consolidating the sounds we learnt in phase 2 whilst also learning new sounds in phase 3. We then used this new knowledge to help us in our literacy lessons as we began to write sentences and captions for a purpose. In our maths lessons, we looked at capacity, length and height and developing our understanding of numbers to 10, including 0. In our understanding of the world lessons we explored the night, from how we sleep best to what animals are active during the night-time, learning key words such as nocturnal. We also looked at space, finding out about planets, the solar system and understanding gravity. In our Expressive Art and Design lessons, we explored new media such as pastels to help us create our own space pictures and we found out about different ways to combine materials together as part of our Art showcase entry. In our Personal, Social and Emotional Development lessons we continued to develop our skills to help us be supportive friends, understanding the impact our words and actions have on others. We had lots of opportunities to work as a team whilst also finding out how to support each other. In music lessons we continued to develop our understanding of rhythm, learning to play instruments to music and giving our opinions of different music styles. We also spent lots of time exploring ice, both understanding how and when it occurs, what it looks like when painted on and how to melt it in the fastest way.

During this half term Acorns continued to develop their phonics knowledge recapping phase 2 sounds and recognising the key words linked to this phase before moving onto phase 3. They have begun to read in pairs or small groups too, tracking each other as they read. In literacy lessons the children have been sounding out cvc words and they shared lots of Christmas related stories towards the end of the half term. In maths lessons, they explored more and less in number, looking at time and developing spacial awareness. In the understanding of the world lessons the children explored different cultures noticing the similarities and differences. The children also thought about ways they can show respect and remember those who gave their lives for us during the war with a visit to our local war memorial. In music lessons the children learnt about rhythm and rhyme alongside learning the nativity songs. 

In December the children have been busy making festive crafts to decorate the classroom using different tools and techniques as well as making their own pieces of pottery. As part of on-going PSED work the children explored how other people’s feelings and actions affect their own emotions and looking at how they can help each other to maintain positive relationships.