Our main theme in Acorn class is 'Space'. We will be learning about our own planet Earth;  discovering the different areas such as mountains, hot and cold deserts and forests. We will learn about gravity and our atmosphere. We will take a closer look at astronauts, particularly Mae Jemison, Tim Peake and Neil Armstrong and the first landing on the moon. We will learn about the planets in our solar system. We will also look at stars, constellations, the Milky Way and other galaxies. 

In Literacy, we will be reading our core text 'Whatever Next!' We will be exploring the characters, creating pictures of them and looking at their features. We will be using illustrations to help us retell the story. We will be discussing what the characters did during the story and thinking about they might have felt. 

Our two core rhymes this half term are '5 Little Men in a Flying Saucer' and 'Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!' Copies of these rhymes will be sent home for children to share with you. We will be singing these songs during circle times.

In Phonics we will be identifying rhyming words in stories, picture cards and objects. We will be working on our oral blending and segmenting, sounding out short words with the help of Metal Mike. We will also play a variety of activities and games to help us identify sounds in words. We will be making sounds with our voices, bodies and with musical instruments.

In Maths we will be focusing on counting; ordering number names and labelling amounts as well as developing our subitising skills, identifying and showing amounts. We will be exploring and looking at repeats in patterns. We will also be exploring position, shape and routes through a variety of activities.

In Art we will be exploring using different lines, particularly curved and spiral. We will be exploring the work of Jackson Pollock and how he used the process of drip painting, before creating our own interpretations of this technique.

In Design Technology we will be designing and creating our own puppets for Chinese New Year.

To help the children develop their Personal and Social Development we will be reminding the children of the school rules and ensure they understand why the rules are important. We will encourage the children to express preferences when making decisions. We will also encourage children in independent play and co-operative play with other children, promoting turn taking and talking to each other to solve conflicts. The children will be encouraged to become increasingly independent as they learn how to meet their own care needs.

To help the children with their Physical Development we will provide push-along wheeled toys, scooters and tricycles, along with balance beams and stepping stones. The children will be supported to develop their kicking, throwing and catching skills with different resources such as, balls, hoops and bean bags, along with fitting into spaces such as tunnels and dens. The children will be encouraged to develop their large motor skills by waving streamers, using paint and chalk to make large creations. The children will also be encouraged to develop their small motor skills, by using scissors, putting coats on independently and managing buttons and zips.