Themes: Autumn Term (half 2)

Topics

‘If you go down to the woods…’

W/C October 29th, November 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.

Rather than using the more specific titles for our topics we decided to use start using broader headings. This will enable us to cover a much wider range of themes. As we are also focusing on ‘In the moment’ planning, much more of what we do will be child initiated and extended throughout each week. By choosing a topic we will still be introducing new ideas and this will give the children more opportunities to explore and discover as they use resources, equipment and other media, such as books, music and technology.

This topic will continue to look at our beautiful British Autumn. We will look at the seasonal changes, make collections of natural objects such as leaves, conkers and acorns and study nature in our outdoor areas. This year there has been an abundance of berries, conkers, acorns and fruit, so we will have plenty of natural resources to look at and to talk about! We will also investigate why some animals hibernate and find out about how other creatures keep warm and safe during the
colder months.

As we move towards the colder winter weather we will also talk about snowy weather and take part in ‘cold’ activities such as building with ice cubes and ice with paint. We have an excellent selection of reference books as well as stories depicting wintry woodland scenes which we love to share with the children. These include ‘One Snowy
Night’ from the ‘Percy The Park Keeper’ series and ‘The Gruffalo’s Child’.
The main area of learning for the topic will be:

Understanding the World: The World
Notices detailed features of objects in their environment.
Comments and asks questions about aspects of their familiar world such as the place where they live or the natural world.
Can talk about some of the things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects.
Talks about why things happen and how things work.
Developing an understanding of growth, decay and changes over time.
Shows care and concern for living things and the environment.
Looks closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change.

During this topic we will also set aside time to concentrate on keeping safe during firework season.

The main area of learning for the firework safety will be:
Physical Development: Health and self-care
Beginning to recognise danger and seeks support of significant adults for help
Shows understanding of the need for safety when tackling new challenges, and considers and manages some risks.          Shows understanding of how to transport and store equipment safely.
Practices some appropriate safety measures without direct supervision.

We have a fabulous selection of fiction and reference books connected to the topic to read during the term. If you have any
stories, reference books, pictures or CD’s that your child would like to bring in, that would be brilliant.

‘Christmas’

W/C December 3rd and 10th.

The final two weeks will be so exciting and busy! We will be making Christmas cards, presents and calendars, as well as rehearsing our Christmas play. This year the play takes place on Friday 14th December. Parents, Grandparents and friends are very welcome, so put the date in your diary now! We will give you detailed timings and information about events taking place in the last week of term nearer the time.

During the weeks leading up to the play, the children will be singing lots of new songs, listening to stories and studying seasonal traditions from around the world.

Try not to ask your child too many questions as there will be very little coming home. However, there will be several surprises at the end of term!

The main areas of learning for our Christmas topic will be:
Understanding the World: People and communities –
Shows interest in the lives of people who are familiar to them.
Remembers and talks about significant events in their own experience.
Recognises and describes special times or events for family or friends.
Enjoys joining in with family customs and routines.
Expressive Art and design: Exploring and using media and materials and Being Imaginative –
Imitates and improvises actions they have observed, e.g. clapping or waving.
Begins to move to music, listen to or join in rhymes or songs.
Joins in singing favourite songs and sings a few familiar songs.