5M curriculum newletter

St. Mary’s R. C. Primary and Nursery

Class RK/RL Curriculum Newsletter May 2014 Miss Lawlor, Mrs. Christophi, Miss Nolan, and Miss Cope

RELIGION The topic for this half term is ‘New Life’. We will begin to talk about when Jesus rose from the dead and we will hear the story of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene.

We will also begin to understand the special gift of joy and peace that Jesus gave to the disciples and can give to us. We will begin to talk about the ascension and know the story of Jesus going back to his Father in heaven.

MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE The children will be encouraged to listen attentively in a range of situations and respond to what they hear with relevant comments, questions or actions. During this half term we are looking forward to some visitors from the community and the children will be able to ask them questions about their different roles. Teachers will also be observing the children taking on roles and responsibilities through role play and watching children as they begin to introduce a storyline/narrative into their child initiated activities.

This half term will have a number focus and children will be encouraged to count forwards and backwards to 20, recognise numerals to 20 and practise putting them in the correct order. They will then be encouraged to recall simple number facts such as 1 more and 1 less than numbers up to 20 and begin to add by combining two groups together and subtract by taking objects away.

We will also be encouraging children to solve problems that involve doubling, halving and sharing.

Some children will begin to think about and count in twos, fives and tens by combining objects.

We would appreciate it if you could help your child at home too by practising these mathematical skills.

LITERACY This half term we will be reading lots of information texts and beginning to know and understand what ‘non-fiction’ books are. We will be looking at key features from nonfiction books such as a contents page, photographs, labels, titles and an index page. We will be observing children who show particular interest in illustrations and print in books and print in the environment and those who recognise familiar words. We will be encouraging children to realise that information can be relayed in the form of print.

The children will continue to be encouraged to write their full name independently and we will be supporting the children to develop confidence in writing CVC words, captions and simple sentences through literacy sessions as well as child initiated activities.

knowing how to control or express our feelings and behaviour appropriately.

UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD This half term our topic is ‘Emergency 999’ and we will begin to talk about, discuss, comment on and ask questions about the emergency services such as the fire brigade, the police service and the ambulance service.

The children will be encouraged to pay interest to different occupations and ways of life. We will be looking at how these emergency services keep us safe and healthy, what their roles are, how they can help and learning about what we need to do if there is an emergency. We will be hoping for some visits from people who work in our community.

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

EXPRESSIVE ART AND DESIGN The children have continuous access to the workshop area where they can make ‘whatever they want’. The children will be encouraged to develop their super constructions by constructing with a purpose in mind and carefully selecting resources and equipment for specific needs.

The children will be encouraged to sing songs, make music and dance, and experiment with ways of changing them. They will safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. The children will also be encourage to represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.

Through the ‘Statements to Live By’ we will be learning about a ‘reconciling community’. To do this we will be focusing on the following statements•

I try to forgive people when they hurt me

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I try to accept forgiveness from others

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I know how to show I am sorry

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I understand the importance of peace

Working alongside our RE curriculum we will begin to explore these statements.

We will also be developing our relationships with others including our friends, our teachers and people in our community.

Through Dinosaur school we will be continuing our good work of exploring different feelings and emotions and

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT The children will be continuing to develop their fine motor skills by securing the correct pencil grip and by developing scissor skills. The children will have access to a range of scissors which will develop the correct grip and action needed to snip and cut different materials.

The children will continue to practise writing their full name and we hope to develop good control when using a pencil and begin to improve letter formation.

Through P.E sessions the children will be learning to change direction quickly when running and will begin to practise running around and through obstacles where jumping, crouching and dodging is required.

The children will also be learning to throw small pieces of athletic equipment for distance with good control and coordination as well as practising different jumping techniques. The children will also enjoy racing against other children and will practise working in a team, following a set of instructions. The skills practised will be

performed at a mini sports day event later in the school year.

During all activities involving physical exercise, jewellery is not allowed for Health and Safety reasons. We discourage the wearing of jewellery in school as a general rule.

BREAKFAST CLUB Operates in the Infant Hall from 8.10. a.m. each morning. Children need to be in school by 8.30 a.m. Prices are on display at the Main Office.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB Operates in the Infant Hall from 3.00 p.m. to 5.45 p.m. Term Time Only. Details and Registration pack available from the Main Office.

PLEASE REMEMBER… PE KIT MUST BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY BACK. SOME OF THE RECEPTION CHILDREN WILL HAVE P.E ON THE FIRST DAY BACK SO PLEASE AVOID ANY DISAPPOINTMENT!!! ALSO, P.E KIT CONSISTS OF A WHITE T.SHIRT, BLACK//NAVY SHORTS AND BLACK PUMPS-PLEASE CHECK AND ADD NAMES! *Clothing: School uniform must be worn every day and this includes black school shoes.

Please can you ensure that your child’s uniform and PE kit is clearly marked with their name.

Please can you ensure your child still brings a warm, washable coat to school. The children will be learning in the Outdoor Area in all weathers!

Please can you encourage your children to put on and fasten up their own coats and encourage them to get dressed and undressed independently at home. If your child has shoe laces please practise tying them over the Easter holidays. *Bags: Please send your Childs blue book bag to school every day! This helps your child at the end of the day as they can put any pictures or letters inside.

FRIDAYS – Please send library books, reading books, reading records and red word books. *Toys/Jewellery: Toys and jewellery including small figures are not allowed in school. We are finding that an increasing number of children are bringing small toys, bracelets, rings, cars etc. to school. Please check that your child is not bringing these to school in their pockets or bags.

Thank you.

School re-opens on Tuesday 6 May 2014 HOLIDAY PATTERN 2013/2014 SUMMER TERM 2014 Bank Holiday Monday 5 May 2014

Half Term School closes on Friday 23 May 2014 School re-opens on Monday 2 June 2014

SUMMER BREAK 2014 School closes on Friday 18 July 2014