Year 1 Summer 1

Writing

This half term, our writing journey will be inspired by the incredible adventures of the explorer Ernest Shackleton. As we dive into his world, the children will develop their grammar skills by learning how to use suffixes (such as -s, -es, -ed, and -ing) to add detail and description to their sentences. All of this practice will lead to an exciting final project: the children will step into Shackleton’s boots to write their very own adventurous diary entries, imagining what it was like to explore the frozen Antarctic!

Maths

In Maths, we are starting the term by exploring fractions. The children will learn how to identify "equal parts" and find halves and quarters of shapes and quantities. We will then move on to geometry, where we will practice our "position and direction" skills by mastering half turns and quarter turns. Finally, we will begin the very important journey of learning to tell the time, focusing on recognising the clock face and understanding key times of the day.

Science

Our young scientists will be turning their eyes to the sky this half term as we learn all about The Seasons. We will investigate how the world around us changes throughout the year, looking at weather patterns, daylight hours, and how plants and animals adapt to the different seasons.

Geography

Linking with our history topic, we will be heading to the bottom of the world to explore the South Pole! The children will investigate this unique environment to discover what plants can survive in the freezing temperatures and which amazing animals call the Antarctic their home.

History

This half term is all about the legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton. The children will travel back in time to learn about his famous ship, the Endurance, and his courageous expeditions. We will look at primary sources and stories to understand why he is such a significant figure in history and how he showed such great resilience.

Art

It’s time to get messy and creative! In Art, we will be exploring 3D sculptures. Taking inspiration from the incredible work of Barbara Hepworth, Brendan Jamison, and Marela Zacarías, the children will learn how to manipulate clay to create their very own sculptural masterpieces. They will focus on shape, texture, and form to bring their ideas to life.

DT (Design & Technology)

Start your engines! In DT, the children will become junior engineers as they design and build their own toy cars. We will be focusing on how to use axles and wheels to make sure our vehicles can move smoothly. The children will then test their cars and evaluate how well their designs worked.

Music

We will be finding our voices in Music this half term! The children will explore vocal sounds and develop their rhythm through chanting and singing rhymes. We will focus on performance skills, learning how to use our voices expressively and keep in time with a group beat.

Computing

This term, we are building our digital literacy. The children will learn how to create and save documents on the computers. To put their skills to the test, they will be designing and formatting their own digital posters all about the seasons, learning how to combine text and images effectively.

RE

Our RE topic for this half term is "Belonging." The children will reflect on their own lives, thinking about the different "clubs" or groups they are part of and what it feels like to belong to a community. We will discuss how different people show they belong to their faiths and why feeling included is so important.

RSHE

In RSHE, we will be focusing on how the children can be "their best selves." We will help them recognise their own unique goals, aspirations, and talents, as well as celebrating those of their friends. We will also learn about keeping our bodies healthy through balanced diets, exercise, and good sleep routines, teaching the children that looking after themselves is a wonderful way to show self-respect.

PE

We have an active term ahead! The children will be developing their coordination by mastering throwing, catching, and rolling a ball with accuracy. We will also be heading out to the field to begin our athletics practice, getting everyone ready and excited for the upcoming fun of Sports Day!