What have we learnt so far this term?

In the Galaxy Pathway (Class 10, 11 and 12) we have been learning about:

KS1 – (Class 12) – Is it hot in the jungle?

In Communication, Language and  Literacy, we have been on a journey with Monkey to find his Mummy in the story ‘Monkey puzzle’. Using a range of communication strategies, we have been working on developing our fundamental communication skills by showing anticipation for our favourite parts of the stories and developing our writing skills by mark making in different jungle textures including paint, dry and wet soil!

In Mathematics our Key Stage 1 pupils have been learning about the different textures associated with Jungle animals which has allowed us to experience soft and rough media as well as exploring lots of feathers to represent the Parrots in the jungle!

In Understanding the World we have been experiencing a contrast in temperatures to support understanding that the jungle is hot. This has included feeling the warm jungle rainfalls and a range of stimuli associated with the jungle environment such as bamboo and feeling the hot steam you would experience in the jungle.

In Expressive Arts and Design we have been learning how to show preferences for different jungle-themed musical pieces as well as experimenting using our voices alongside different jungle animal sounds…Raww!

KS2 – (Class 10 & 11) – Does it rain on the plain?

In Communication, Language and  Literacy, we have been experiencing adventurous stories where we get to explore the hot weather in Africa with Lila in ‘Lila and the Secret of the Rain’ and have joined Akimbo on his many adventures where he meets a range of different animals who live in the Savannah desert in ‘The Akimbo Adventures’. Using a range of communication strategies, we have been working on developing our fundamental communication skills by showing anticipation for our favourite parts of the stories and indicating if we like the hot, dry, cold and wet attributes used to describe African Plains. We especially enjoyed looking through the bright yellow sun!

In Mathematics, our KS2 pupils have been learning about the different textures associated with traditional African Safari animals and the effects and changes that can happen within African Plains. We have been learning to make choices of different experiences within the cultures of African tribes. This has included creating traditional African tribe outfits, experiencing and choosing traditional African foods and exploring the changes the animals have when they visit the watering hole such as the splashes the elephants make with their trunks.

In Understanding the World our KS2 pupils have been learning to experience different aspects of African tribe cultures, where we got to enjoy traditional African dances such as ‘Gumboot’ dancing where we all got to dance wearing wellington boots!

In Expressive Arts and Design we have been learning to purposefully experience a range of media linked to creating a safari scene and showing our preferences to the different materials we have encountered, including sand, mud and savanna grasslands. This has resulted in us making our own African Plain scene, where we demonstrated our choices and got to make very colourful deserts to explore!

In Physical Development, both Key Stages have been experiencing athletics. In KS1 we have being focusing on moving objects with a purpose where we have been learning to move different objects as part of a game. In KS2, we have being learning to hold pieces of athletics equipment such as balls and javelins where we have got to take part in competitive games and seeing who can throw them the furthest while cheering each other on. With communication at the heart of everything we do, all our pupils have had the choice of what they move or throw whilst also working on their daily physiotherapist recommendations in all learning opportunities.

In both Key Stages in PSHE we have been learning about adults who work within the community who may help us and exploring stimuli associated with improving the school environment. This has allowed KS1 pupils to learn all about different jobs that people have and allowed us to practice our cleaning skills! In KS2 we have been learning about tidying our outdoor environment and exploring different props to help us do this.