Here is an overview of what we will be learning this half-term. 

Our topic this term is….

‘Our Planet’

We will be learning about the four UK countries and to describe locations using basic compass directions. We will investigate how the weather changes in the springtime. The seeds that we planted last half-term will have grown, and we will have opportunities to talk about how they have changed.

English – Recount - “My Trip to the Friendly Forest”

In this unit, we will learn how to structure a recount by setting the scene, describing what happened and adding our personal feelings. We will continue to apply the skills that we learnt in our previous unit – using verbs in the past tense and using time adverbials to order our ideas. We will also focus on writing in the first person and choosing adjectives and verbs carefully.

Key vocabulary: recount, past tense, first person, order, events, beginning, middle, ending, personal feelings, first, next, after that, then, finally, verb, adjective, time adverbial, comment, pronoun, I, me, we, us, title, who, where, when, what.

Maths – Place value (within 50), Length and height, Mass and Volume

In our place value work, we will practice counting forwards and backwards from 20 to 50. We will develop our understanding of multiples of 10 to 50, recapping the equivalence of 10 ones and 1 ten. We will learn how to count more efficiently by grouping into tens and ones. We will develop our understanding of place value for 2-digit numbers as we begin to partition numbers to 50. We will label number lines to 50 first in 1s and then in 10s. We will estimate the position of numbers on number lines to 50. We will find 1 more or 1 less than any number from zero to 50.

In our work on length and height, we will compare lengths and heights of objects using language such as “longer than”, “shorter than” and “taller than”. We will begin to measure the lengths and heights of objects, using non-standard units of measure such as cubes or paper clips. We will then measure the lengths and heights of objects using a ruler and a standard unit of measure: centimetres. 

In our work on mass and volume, we will begin by holding objects to compare them, using the language of “heavier” or “lighter”. We will then use balance scales to check our comparisons. We will use a variety of non-standard units, such as cubes or bricks, to measure the mass of an object. We will compare the masses of two objects, still using non-standard units of measure. We will practically explore the idea that capacity is the maximum amount that something can hold and then explore the concept that volume is the amount of something inside a container. We will then further develop our understanding of volume and start to compare volumes using the language of “more than” and “less than”. Finally, we will measure the capacity of different containers using non-standard units of measure.  

Key vocabulary: base ten, digit, 1-digit number, 2-digit number, group, equal, more, less, total, 1–50, array, whole, parts, partition, number line, value, more, less, start, end, length, height, longer than, shorter than, taller than, same, compare, measure, ruler, centimetres, cm, heavy, light, heavier, lighter, mass, balance scale, heaviest, lightest, unit, capacity, empty, nearly empty, nearly full, full, hold, amount, volume, fills.

Science – Planting (Spring)

We will observe how the seeds that we planted last half-term have grown and changed. We will recap what the parts of a plant are called. We will plant more seeds and compare their growth, making links to seasonal changes.

Key vocabulary: seeds, roots, stem, leaves, flower, soil, water, light, sun, grow, change, height, plant, time, season, spring, winter, longer.

Religion and Worldviews - Why should we care for others?

We will investigate the importance of caring for others from different viewpoints. We will explore Christian teachings on caring through stories about Jesus. We will identify how and why some people care for others by exploring the Sikh belief in Sewa.

Key vocabulary: care, Christian, God, miracle, scripture, Jesus, religion, act of kindness, creation, gurdwara, service, Sikh, Waheguru, charity, dhan, man, Sewa, tan.

Art – Drawing – Exploring line and shape

The children will identify that some shapes are organic. They will learn to connect lines to create shapes. They will use and recognise different types of lines when drawing shapes. The children will identify basic shapes in everyday objects and artwork. They will talk about what they like or dislike in a piece of artwork. They will use shapes to draw a face. They will use different pressures to make a colour lighter or darker. They will choose lines and shapes inspired by Brianna McCarthy’s artwork.

Key vocabulary: artist, control, line, pressure, shape.

Geography -  How does the weather affect us?

We will look at the countries and cities that make up the UK. We will keep a daily weather record and find out more about hot and cold places in the UK. 

Key vocabulary: atlas, capital city, climate, compass, continent, country, direction, land, locate, location, map, rain gauge, season, temperature, thermometer, weather, weather vane.

Indoor PE – Gymnastics - Apparatus

The children will learn to support their body weight safely on apparatus by performing bunny hops onto low equipment and holding a front support position with hands on benches or tables. They will travel across and along apparatus using different ways of moving such as walking, crawling, stepping and sliding while maintaining control and awareness of others. They will hold simple balances on apparatus in kneeling and standing positions for at least 3 seconds, showing control and safe use of space. They will jump safely from low apparatus, landing with bent knees and balance. They will learn to perform a straight jump from a low height, showing control on landing. They will climb on and off apparatus such as wall bars, benches or climbing frames safely, using hands and feet confidently at low heights. They will learn to link climbing and travelling movements on apparatus, showing control, safe choices and awareness of others.  

Key vocabulary: bunny hop, front support, travel, apparatus, walk, crawl, step, slide, control, space, balance, kneel, jump, bend, straight, land, climb, wall bar, bench, climbing frame, safety.

PE - Health & Fitness: Understanding the importance of being healthy. 

We will learn why we warm up and cool down. We will talk about the importance of being healthy and why we drink water. We will show stamina, perseverance and determination within our lessons and ask for help when needed.

Key vocabulary: health, fitness, warm up, cool down, water, hydrate, stamina, time, increase, persevere, determination, help.

My Happy Mind - Celebrate

The Celebrate module is focused on introducing the evidence-based theory that we all have different Character Strengths and that, by understanding what they are and then using them as much as possible, we can be at our best! In this context, Character Strengths refer to those character traits that make us unique. We all have different characters and this is something to celebrate! This is not about what we are 'good' at, like football or maths. It is about who we are, such as being kind or brave. The key concepts include the idea that character is something that comes 50% from genetics and 50% from the experiences we have. It is developable and so we can draw on Neuroplasticity to help children see that they can develop their characters with focus and practice.

We will learn what Character Strengths are and how they make us unique and special. We will learn about the 5 Character Strengths and what they mean:

1.Love and Kindness

2.Bravery and Honesty

3.Exploring and Learning

4.Teamwork and Friendship

5.Love of Life and Our World

We will learn that the best way to learn more about your strengths is to notice them. We will learn that our strengths are like superpowers, and when we use them, it helps us to be our best and feel happy. We will learn that it is nice to tell other people when they use their strengths, as it makes them feel good.

Key vocabulary: Character Strengths, love, kindness, bravery, honesty, exploring, learning, teamwork, friendship, love of life and our world, unique, special, strengths, spotting.

PSHE – Safe Relationships

We will learn about the difference between safe and unsafe secrets and why it’s important not to keep certain secrets. We will learn why it is essential to ask permission for things that we are unsure about. We will learn about privacy, safe and unsafe relationships. We will learn what to do if someone makes us feel uncomfortable or unsafe. We will learn to practise saying "no" to things we don’t want to do.

Key vocabulary: safe, unsafe, secret, surprise, permission, privacy, physical contact, uncomfortable, respect.

Important dates:

23/02/2026 – School re-opens after the half-term holiday

27/02/26 – Dress down day in aid of Alzheimer’s Research – wear blue

05/03/26 – World Book Day

16/03/26 – Science day

20/03/26 – Comic Relief and Comic Relief lunch

23/03/26 – Parent Consultation evening

25/03/26 – Parent Consultation evening

27/03/26 – Easter Raffle

27/03/26 – School closes for Easter

13/04/26 – School reopens for Summer term 1