Summer 1
English
Writing
Fiction – stories about a quest or journey – The Papaya That Spoke
We will explore the text ‘The Papaya That Spoke’ and identify the features used by the author. We will look at the structure of the journey that the main character takes and how humour is used at the end of the tale. We will then learn about dialogue and speech in our writing and use this when we write our own stories.
Key vocabulary
quest, journey, dialogue, character, adverb, speech, humour
Reading
We will explore a range of texts linked to our units of learning, by using our Reading for Inference skills. We will also be developing our technique of answering written comprehension questions about a range of texts.
Books we will be reading:
To support Writing:
The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark – by Jill Tomlinson
For enjoyment:
Sports Heroes
The Fire Children
The Football Ghosts
The Finger Eater
Key vocabulary
Echo read, paired read, think like a detective, notice breakdown, visualise, background knowledge, VIP words, question, wonder, predict, highlight, evidence, summarise
Maths – Fractions, Time
We will learn how to recognise and find halves, quarters and thirds. We will do this by working with objects, pictures, shapes and numbers. We will also look at non-unit fractions and unit fractions.
We will learn to tell the time to the hour, half hour, 5 minutes, quarter past and quarter to, as well as learning how many minutes are in an hour and how many hours are in a day. We will also find and compare durations of time and solve different problems involving time.
Key vocabulary
fraction, part, whole, numerator, denominator, equivalent fraction, time, hour, half hour, quarter to, quarter past, minute, hour, day
Science
Plants – bulbs and seeds
We will explore the difference between bulbs and seeds, as well as what plants need to grow. We will then plan and carry out an experiment, planting bulbs and seeds.
Key vocabulary
plant, bulb, seed, shoots, root
Computing – Data handling: International Space Station
We will explore how astronauts’ survival needs are met aboard the ISS, in addition to interpreting data to decide whether humans could live on a planet or not.
Key vocabulary
Astronaut, data, digital, digital content, galaxy, insulation, interactive map, International Space Centre, International Space Station, interpret, laboratory, monitor, planet, satellite, sensor, space, temperature, thermometer
Geography – Why is our natural world wonderful?
We will be exploring some of the UK's amazing features and landmarks, the world's most amazing places and the five oceans of the world. We will also be drawing a map of our local area, in addition to investigating local habitats.
Key vocabulary
aerial photograph, capital city, continent, country, data collection, fieldwork, human feature, key, lake, land, landmark, locate, location, map, north, physical feature, ocean, OS map, river, sample, sea, scale, symbol, tally chart, vegetation
Art – Sculpture and 3D: clay houses
We will be exploring the way clay can be shaped and joined. The children will learn a range of essential skills for working with this medium. They will learn about the sculpture of Rachel Whiteread and create their own clay house tile in response.
Key Vocabulary
clay, tool, house, form, slip, score, shape
Religion and Worldviews - How do some people talk to God?
We will discuss and learn why some people talk to God and investigate the different ways that people pray. We will explore how different people use their bodies to pray, as well as what objects they use. We will then learn how some Hindu people pray before learning where some prayers come from.
Key vocabulary
Allah, Brahman, communicate, deity, Hindu, Jewish, mandir, mosque, Muslim, prayer, puja, Qur'an, scripture, shrine, synagogue, Torah, Veda
PE – Athletics and Track Events
We will focus on throwing with accuracy and power when throwing a vortex or shotput. We will also learn how to apply the running techniques we have learnt in Year 2 to compete in relay races and participate in team games.
Key Vocabulary
Athletics, relay, baton, sprint, jog, pace, distance, throwing, accuracy, power, shotput, vortex
Helpful websites:
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/accounts/sign_in
https://play.numbots.com/#/intro
Key dates
22/04/25 – Summer 1 term starts
05/05/25 – May day bank holiday
23/05/25 – non-uniform day – donations towards the Summer Fete
23/05/25 – School closes for half term
02/06/25 – School closed for staff training day
03/06/25 – Summer 2 term begins