Foundation Stage 2
Welcome to Foundation Stage 2!
The team is Mrs Readford, Miss Gyte, Mrs Hussain & Mrs Haq.
Learning Journey
This Half terms theme is…Beans and Beasts – do we really need them?
Global Theme: Sustainable development
This half term we will be learning about Sustainable Development. We will be answering the question; Beans and Beasts – do we really need them?
We will be planting various seeds to make our own garden and learn about the key features of growth. We will taste different vegetables and learn about a healthy diet.
In RE we will learn about Easter. In science we will investigate the signs of Spring, mini-beast lifecycles and habitats. In geography we will look at maps explore drawing information from maps.
In PE we will develop basic gymnastic skills through the topic of 'traditional tales', using 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. Children will explore basic movements, creating shapes and balances, jumps and rolls. They will begin to develop an awareness of space and how to use it safely. They will perform basic skills on both floor and apparatus. They will copy, create, remember and repeat short sequences and begin to understand using levels and directions when travelling and balancing.
Maths
We will continue deepening our understanding of numbers to 10 and then 20. We will build numbers beyond 10 and explore number patterns beyond 10. We will match, rotate and manipulate numbers and shapes. We will be learning addition and subtraction using numbers to 10 then 20. We will compose and decompose numbers and shapes. We will explore 3D shapes.
Books to support Maths at home:
Phonics and English
We will continue our Phonics Journey using Little Wandle and will be starting longer words. We will continue to revisit sounds that we have previously learnt. Practicing these sounds at home is important, especially if your child is finding it hard to recognise, remember or form their letters. The children will continue to increase their knowledge of tricky words and begin to write using capital letters and full stops to show the beginning and end of their sentences. At this stage, we will be looking for children to leave gaps (finger spaces) between each word so that both they and others can read their writing back easily. We will have words of the day that reflect our learning and increase or vocabulary. We will continue to study how books work, what makes them enjoyable and use drama and discussion to express our opinions and feelings.
Our core books, ‘‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘Mad about Mini-beasts’, will be used as the stimulus. The children will sequence the story and repeat key phrases. They will also begin weekly formal handwriting lessons.
Books to support Literacy at home:
Other activities in the classroom in Summer 1
Helicopter Stories - Helicopter Stories involves scribing stories from children and supporting them to act out their narratives. While simple, this approach seeks to nurture and enthuse children of all backgrounds and abilities, using the power of story. This approach also enhances speaking and language skills, and an increased eagerness to write.
Show and Tell –Show and Tell is on a Thursday. Your class teacher will send a little list of when it is your child’s turn. Show and tell sets the stage for children to become comfortable when speaking in public.
Butterflies – In Week one we will be receiving caterpillars into the classroom. The children will have the opportunity to watch the caterpillars grow and change into butterflies. They will document each stage of the lifecycle in a class diary.
African land Snails – In our FS2 base we have an African Land Snail. We named our snail Shell, and after 13 months of having it, it continues to thrive. It is now 5.5 inches long at full stretch. Its favourite food is still cucumber!
Drawing Club – Greg Bottrill’s Drawing Club is a true adventure. Based around the Golden Blend of picture books, tales and animations, it involves a brief period Together as a whole class followed by time with children exploring their ideas and creativity. Our books for this half term are ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. We are excited to see where the journey takes us!
PE
For your information
- PE is on a Wednesday
- Correct PE uniform must be worn to school that day: plain white top/plain black bottoms
- Please make sure that your child has a water bottle in school.
- Please make sure your child has a coat.
Home Learning
- Reading five times a week and record it in the planner.
- Practise counting forwards and backwards to twenty starting at different numbers.
- Number bonds to 5 and 10
- Phonics play online (free resources)
- Spelling Shed/ Spelling Frame
- Name writing
- Check dojo for more home learning activities.
Please speak to Miss Gyte if you need log in details.
Tooth Brushing Club
Every year there are 60,000 school days lost to tooth extractions and poor oral health. Tooth decay affects a staggering 25% of 5 year olds. It remains the leading cause hospitalisation in children aged 5-9.
We are taking part in an NHS funded tooth brushing club.
Every child will be given their own new toothbrush each term, which is stored under controlled conditions All children are supervised while brushing their teeth.
Children need parental permission to join the club. Speak to your child’s teacher for more information.
Diary Dates
- Monday 14th – school starts
- Wednesday 16th April - Class 2 trip to the library
- Friday 18th – school closed for Good Friday
- Monday 21st- school closed for Easter Monday
- Wednesday 23rd Class 1 trip to the library
- Monday 5th May - school closed for May Bank Holiday
- Thursday 8th May - FS2 Minibeast Hunt
- Tuesday 13th May- FS2 trip to Longshaw
- Friday 23rd May – last day of school
EVERY WEDNESDAY – Readmore@Phillimore 8:35am – 9:05am in dining hall
Welcome to Foundation Stage 2. We are really happy that all of the children have settled in to Foundation Stage 2 really well and are eager to learn.
Learning Journey
Our learning journey this half term will be to look at who we are, who we want to be and our heritage. During our topic, we will be discussing the question ‘Who are we?’ Through this question we will be developing many of the children’s personal social skills, including building confidence when talking in groups, talking to friends about own wants and needs and developing the children’s vocabulary to talk about their own homes and communities, likes and dislikes. We will explore our feelings and senses.
Maths
In maths, we will be matching and sorting objects and numbers and comparing amounts, sizes, mass, capacity and patterns. We will also begin looking at representing and understanding numbers up to 10. We will be focusing on circles, triangles, squares and positional language too.
Phonics and English
We will be revisiting our Phase 1 oral blending and segmenting of the letters and sounds scheme. These skills are the foundation for all future reading and writing.
We will continue our Little Wandle journey focusing on the phase 2 sounds and start to write simple words. Over this half term, both you and your children will be learning a lot of new skills and vocabulary through reading and through imaginative play. We will encourage children to act out their story ideas and together we will begin to write our own class stories using all of their wonderful imaginative language. We will also be looking at books that are written by Julia Donaldson, David McKee, Janet & Allen Ahlberg and will study vocabulary, rhyming words, characters as well as enjoy the story lines.
PE
PE is on Wednesdays.
Correct PE uniform must be worn to school that day: plain white top/plain black bottoms. No jewellery allowed.
Home Learning
- Reading 5 times a week and record it in the planner.
- Practise counting forwards and backwards to 20 starting at different numbers.
- Number bonds to 5 and 10
- Phonics play online (free resources)
- Name writing
- Literacy Planet
Check dojo for more home learning activities.
Other activities in the classroom:
Dough Disco - To promote fine motor skills we watch the 'Dough Disco' on YouTube. If you would like to do this at home with your child you will need a small ball of Playdough!
Helicopter Stories - Helicopter Stories involves scribing stories from children and supporting them to act out their narratives. While simple, this approach seeks to nurture and enthuse children of all backgrounds and abilities, using the power of story. This approach also enhances speaking and language skills, and an increased eagerness to write.
Show and Tell –Show and Tell is on a Thursday. Your class teacher will send a little list of when it is your child’s turn. Show and tell sets the stage for children to become comfortable when speaking in public. In addition, show and tell can be a great tool to help English Language Learners, giving them a chance to practice academic vocabulary, pronunciation, and other basic skills they need to succeed.
African land Snails – In our FS2 base we have an African Land Snail. We named our snail Shell, and after 5 months it is continuing to thrive.
Drawing Club – Greg Bottrill’s Drawing Club is a true adventure. Based around the Golden Blend of picture books, tales and animations, it involves a short period of Time Together as a whole class followed by time with children exploring their ideas and creativity.
Our Foundation Stage Vision
