Summer 1 Topic: I Wonder…..What is Outside?

 Topic Summary

During Summer 1 we will be focusing on our topic called 'I Wonder........What is Outside?'.  This topic is a great way for our Ducklings to explore the new season and what it brings with it including minibeasts, plants and flowers!

We will have short discussions during our mat times and set out fun and inviting activities during Rainbow Time (free play) linked to our topic. We will also have many activities linked to the children’s interests e.g. dancing, Paw Petrol, role-play etc. We will link their learning and next steps using their interests.

How can you help at home……

• Please look at photos on Tapestry with your child to discuss their learning.
• Please upload photos to Tapestry from home to share what your child has been doing e.g days out, craft, spotting any numbers, singing etc. We would love to see and share these!

Our Key Texts

Superworm - This book is a lively rhyming story that encourages the children to join in with the repeated parts. Superworm is a fun superhero who will be sure to make the children laugh! We will read the story, encourage the children to join in and complete activities based on the story e.g. making our own worms using pipe cleaners and cheerios!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - This well-known story will encourage the children to think about the life cycle of a butterfly as well as healthy eating! We will also have our own caterpillars in class so that we can see the life cycle first hand! We will read and re-tell the story using story props and create our own caterpillars and butterflies with lots of fun craft!

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What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday – As we explore new life, including that of minibeasts, we will look at the life cycle of a ladybird! We will have fun reading these two texts and complete activities based around them, including making clay ladybirds!

Our Areas of Learning 

Please find below examples of some of the activities:

Communication and Language

• We will be continuing with phase 1 phonics, focusing on rhyme and alliteration for those children starting school in September. Our younger children will play fun and interactive listening games.
• We will be listening to and joining in with daily stories including those mentioned above as well as the children's favourites. Children will be encouraged to ask and answer questions about the stories, focusing on the illustrations and what they already know about the story.
• We will be singing rhymes and songs on a daily basis. We will learn the song ‘There’s a Tiny Caterpillar on a Leaf.’

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• We will welcome new children who will be starting over the summer term which offers children the chance to make new friendships and for our older children to become role models!
• We will join in with shared Rainbow Time inside and outside with Year R to encourage new friendships and to understand the rules and boundaries across a larger space.
• We will take part in shared reading with Year R by splitting into small groups across both classrooms to encourage friendships and for the children to continue to form relationships with the Year R staff.

Physical Development

• A focus will be to develop our core muscles by spending time outside using the tyre park as well as different equipment on the playground and the field.
• We will continue to use a range of tools to strengthen fingers which will help to build strength to hold a pencil correctly. This will then help the children to mark make and we will encourage them to give meanings to their marks e.g. ‘I have drawn a tree.’

Literacy

• We will be listening to a range of stories, rhymes and songs.
• Children will be encouraged to join in, answer simple questions and to guess what might come next.
• We will be drawing and mark making on paper, whiteboards, on screen and outside with chalk, clipboards, large paper and paintbrushes.
• A focus will be to recognise familiar logos and their own name.

Maths

• We will be exploring many maths resources during Rainbow Time.
• We will enjoy singing counting songs and look at recognising numbers.
• A focus will be to compare two small groups of up to five objects, saying when there are the same number of objects in each group, e.g. You’ve got two, I’ve got two.
• The children will explore shapes. We will play with simple 2d shapes to create pictures

Understanding the World

• We will be exploring the natural environment by thinking about spring time and the changes that this season brings.
• We will learn about life cycles and even have our own caterpillars to watch!
• The children will help to plant our own flowers and seeds and learn how to look after them.

Expressive Arts and Design

• We will take part in many art and craft based activities linked to our books e.g. making our own clay ladybirds, caterpillar craft and flower pictures.
• We will use simple ICT programmes to create patterns, pictures and shapes.
• The children will engage in imaginative play in our ‘Mini-Beast’ role-play.
• We will continue to have fun with favourites such as playdough, water beads, painting, junk modelling plus more!

                                     Thank you for your amazing support which is greatly appreciated.