1. Rainbow Fish 2015 Summer Term 1
Communication and Language
This half-term the theme in Rainbow Fish class is ‘animals.’ This will be our focus as your child learns through play. Play helps young children to learn and develop their physical, social, emotional and intellectual skills through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think. It is also how they learn to socialise, as children engage in learning experiences with other children and adults. You can find out more about this by reading about schemas.
We will be reading lots of stories as well as focusing on non-fiction texts.

2. Physical Development
We will be developing our gross motor skills by moving about confidently and appropriately both indoors and outdoors. We will move in different ways such as running, skipping and jumping and we will be visiting the main play ground.
We will also develop our fine motor skills by using play-dough to strengthen our fingers and hands. This will help us later when we begin to write letters. Some of us will have a go at writing our names.
You can support your child by making play dough together. Follow the recipe below.

3. Personal, social and emotional development
All staff at St Peters school understand that the most important part of attending school is that your child is happy and has fun! For this to happen all of Rainbow Fishes class must feel safe, secure and valued by everyone around them. To achieve this will be discussing our class rules.
We will also be talking about caring for animals. Part of this will involve making bird feeders.
Click on the link to find out how we can care for animals. Discuss the video with your child.

4. Health and Personal Care
We have confidence
Children will be encouraged to help themselves to milk and a snack throughout the day. Water will also be accessible throughout the day.
We are successful
We encourage independence and a ‘can do’ attitude. Children are praised for trying their best in all they do.
We have fun
For all children in Rainbow Fish class we have high expectations and understand that for children to have fun they must be happy. We will be reinforcing positive class rules that are displayed on the wall so we can all have fun, stay safe and enjoy learning together.
We look after ourselves
We support children to develop into healthy individuals by providing healthy choices at snack time such as fruit, vegetables, water and milk. We will be looking at what health means and grouping foods according to their health benefits.

5. Literacy To develop children’s literacy skills it is important that they are exposed to a range of literature such as stories, non-fiction and nursery rhymes. We will be learning new rhymes and some of us will be beginning to identify simple rhyming words.
Mathematics
We have a maths area both indoors and outdoors with objects and activities that encourage the use of mathematical language. To find out how you can help your child develop their maths skills click on the CBeebies video below.

6. Technology We will be using ICT in the main school building on Wednesday’s to practice our mouse control skills.
Understanding the world
We will be observing and talking about animals in our environment such as birds and mini-beasts.
Expressive arts and design
We will be dancing to music, making our own music with instruments and drawing mini-beasts from life.

7. RE
Prayers
We pray in the morning, before meals and before we go home at the end of the day. As the children settle in this will become a more regular routine. We also have a prayer corner where children are encouraged to draw their prayers thanking God.
Morning prayer
Now, before I run to play
Let me not forget to pray
To God who kept me through the night
And waked me with the morning light
Help me, Lord, to love thee more
Than I ever loved before
In my work and in my play
Be thou with me through the day
Amen
Lunch prayer
Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything,
Amen
End of day prayer
God in heaven hear my prayer
Keep me in loving care
Be my guide in all I do
Bless all those who love me too
Amen