Mayfield Primary SchoolEARLY YEARS: SUMMER TERM
OUR EARLY YEARS DURING SUMMER TERM
OUR CORE INTENTION IN ACTION
SUMMER TERM THEMES: I WONDER...IF ALL BABIES LOOK LIKE THEIR PARENTS. I WONDER...WHAT CHANGES IN SUMMER. I WONDER...IF EVERYONE LIVES NEAR THE SEA.
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An 'I Wonder' Summer Summary
I Wonder... gives us the chance to explore more themes this term. Much of our work is planned on a much shorter term basis with ideas and prompts from the children and being guided by their starting points and interests and, importantly, enhancing provision that builds upon the baseline for our young learners and their gaps in learning, however we still have some I wonder statements to explore within this. Equally, although we have our separate areas of learning in the Early Years Framework, we have a curriculum that ensures that this first year creates opportunities for all subjects to begin their journey of progress (all of which appear within the Early Years curriculum just under different headings in many ways). It is important for us to be the first in a seven year journey rather than a one-off year.
In addition to our ongoing opportunities within our stripped back provision, our children have been focusing upon natural Artwork this term. We have created rubbings near the sea on our learning theme walk and have been inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy to create our own pieces outdoors using 'Mother Nature's resources'. The children also created simple sliders inspired by our sea focus work this term. We called the sliders 'Under the Sea' they were quite challenging for the children as it included several new skills or skills that they had been working on in the weeks before. This produced some really interesting outcomes for our Design & Technology work.
During Music we have introduced a new composer to the children: the Frenchman Camille Saint-Saens, who created the 'Carnival of the Animals' which, amongst others, focused upon the creatures of the sea. We were inspired to create our own percussion piece as a result of this. Our Fundamental Skills programme has continued in Physical Education. Whilst the children have completed their first dance units. We have been looking at moving freely into space and moving in different heights, ways and shapes - all to different music. During the second half of summer we introduced athletic events to the children so that they were ready for our summer sports event and the activities that they would undertake in these.
As we begin to prepare for our year one curriculum, we have been thinking more about seasonal change in Science. We have been studying simple changes of state and how these can happen as part of our enquiries and explorations this term. During History we started to look individuals in the past - their stories and their work. This begins our focus upon people which continues into Year 1 and Year 2. It was interesting to hear just how many people the children had heard of and how then they enjoyed learning about their special actions and achievements. The Summer provided the focus for our Geography based work this term. Again, considering the weather but also looking at how our own locality is special at this time of year as we live near the sea and beach. We studied why this is not always the case and how places can be different. We looked at and discussed new life in our Religious Education focus this term. We also discussed and considered how we can play a role in caring for the world that we live in.
Building upon what we did during Autumn and Spring Term, we created images linked to our sea statement. The children were then able to alter and manipulate these for different effects during our Computing work. Our PSHE & Relationships work allowed us to study feelings and how we can understand these more. We also looked at keeping healthy and focused upon how we can take care of our teeth each and every day.
In Mathematics this term, we have been working hard on extending our numbers to twenty. Matching, sorting, comparing and exploring patterns and sequences have been important ways we have been doing this. We have also continued with our shape work and activities this term. Obviously, we have been working very hard with our phonics once again. This happens each and every morning and in every opportunity throughout the day. We have been listening to a range of different books this term and holding discussions about them. We have then been responding to, and being inspired by them, in our own writing. This has been a very busy term for our English work. We have been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and The Sea Saw by Tom Percival amongst others as we have shifted our focus towards the sea and the natural world during our I Wonder... statements.
