Half-termly topics
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This half term, we continued our learning with our new topic: exploring motion through colours. We considered movement in its many forms with colour as a guiding theme – from people dancing, to cars driving, to wind blowing.
In literacy, we explored the books The Little Yellow Digger by Betty Gilderdale and The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson. The children developed vocabulary related to motion, practised sequencing events, and re-enacted parts of the stories through drama lessons.
In maths, we counted steps to measure distance using non-formal units. We enjoyed racing games and learned about ordinal numbers as part of our motion theme. We also worked on number word problems, considering scenarios like how many people got on and off a bus! The children calculated distances between places around the world and considered how we might travel there. We also enjoyed outdoor learning, creating tallies and bar charts of things we observed that can move, adding up our results.
In science, we learned how plants move and grow through their root networks. We created animal food chains and investigated how materials affect movement, such as sliding and rolling, and the differences between smooth and rough surfaces. We also explored how heat changes states during motion!
In PSHE, we took part in role-play activities about key workers and the ways they travel, like ambulances or fire engines. We created “journeys of feelings” diaries and personal journey maps, including sequencing the human life cycle. We also learned about safe journeys through transport role play including stop-and-go sequences. The children discussed how exercise benefits health and mood, set physical activity goals, and tracked their progress. We also explored safety when moving and playing outdoors, and reflected on feelings linked to winning and losing games.
In art, the children drew sequences showing movement, created kinetic sculptures and mobiles, and used lines and shapes to express speed and direction. They painted and drew sports and dance scenes, explored stop-motion animation, and built junk model vehicles. They also made shadow puppets, salt dough fossils with vehicle wheel imprints, and comic strips.
In geography, we mapped routes of migration and travel locally and globally, and studied transport networks in cities and countries. The children engaged in traffic-themed small world play, explored journeys to school using maps and tally charts, and created sensory jars representing different biomes and weather patterns. We also investigated how physical features affect movement and travel, and explored natural forces such as wind and water currents, including animal migration patterns using maps and data.
In music, we created sound effects to represent different types of movement and composed rhythmic sequences to mimic walking, running, and flying. The children explored tempo changes to express speed and motion and used body percussion to simulate movement. They performed music while moving to express motion physically, matched transport and animal sounds, explored natural sounds such as wind, and played fast and slow musical games. We also investigated how sound travels by trying to identify its source.
This half term, the children engaged in a rich variety of cultural, social, and religious celebrations, alongside important awareness days. These experiences deepened their understanding of the wider world and helped to develop key social, emotional, and creative skills.
We celebrated World Dance Day through a range of activities including exploring dance fact cards from around the world, and playing famous dance styles charades. The children also enjoyed a spelling alphabet dance activity, learning and performing dances from different cultures, and taking part in a lively dance and freeze game.
For World Art Day, the children expressed their emotions through art, exploring a variety of artists and styles. They experimented with weaving techniques and used natural resources collected during community outings, to create artwork inspired by nature.
For St. George’s Day, the children explored the story and traditions through a variety of creative and engaging activities. They designed colourful shields and dragon artwork, made St George-themed crafts, and took part in storytelling and role-play based on the legend. They also created flags, used construction materials and enjoyed themed drawing and writing activities linked to the story.
May was also a very busy and exciting month.
During Sun Awareness Week, the children took part in a range of fun and educational activities to learn about staying safe in the sun. These included a sun experiment exploring the difference between wearing and not wearing sunglasses, a pretend beach role-play area where children practised packing essentials such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun-safe layers. They also used playdough mats to create sun safety items, played a beach suitcase packing game, and learned key vocabulary such as “UV light” and “sunscreen” through matching activities.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, the children explored wellbeing through breathing exercises, discussed the qualities of a good friend, and practised yoga in the classroom to support calmness and regulation.
For International Family Day, we celebrated the diversity of families by learning about different structures. The children created cards to show appreciation and love for their families, made family trees, and designed family gifts such as portrait pictures.
Finally, for World Bee Day, the children learned about the importance of bees in our environment. They planted flowers to attract pollinators, completed counting and numeracy activities with bees, matched bees to flowers and honey using shapes, numbers, and letters, and created bee crowns for the queen bee. They also explored patterns inspired by bee hives and bee activity through art and mathematics.
This half term, the children took part in a variety of both familiar and new experiences beyond the classroom, enriching their learning and supporting their personal, social, and physical development.
Our weekly visits to Earlsfield Library continued to be a much-enjoyed part of the week. These trips nurtured a love of reading as the children explored a wide range of books and stories. They developed important skills such as respecting shared spaces, handling books with care, and taking turns. The visits also provided a calm, social environment where children could enjoy reading with friends, supporting early literacy and helping them see books as part of everyday life.
This half term, Magenta and Periwinkle classes participated in swimming lessons as part of their physical education journey. The children built confidence in the water by practising floating, moving safely, and following pool rules. Through fun, structured activities and guided practice, they developed coordination, strength, and water awareness, while also building resilience, independence, and self-belief.
The whole school took part in a fantastic Festival of Accessible Sports at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground. The children experienced a wide range of inclusive activities including adapted cricket, inclusive movement sessions such as yoga and dance with Synergy Dance, and adapted rugby delivered by the Harlequins Foundation. A highlight of the day was meeting animals from Vauxhall City Farm, offering a calm and interactive experience that many children enjoyed. The festival also included inflatable games, face painting, and exciting mascot interactions, creating a fun and memorable day for all!
In addition, we visited the Museum of London Docklands, where the children enjoyed exploring the interactive Mudlarks gallery. This trip involved lots of hands-on learning, imaginative role-play, and sensory exploration linked to London’s history and the River Thames. The visit also included activities where children discovered buried artefacts, helping them connect their learning to real-world history in an exciting and memorable way.
This half term, the children took part in a creative competition organised by ISA, designing their own book covers. This activity supported their imagination, expressive skills, and artistic confidence, as well as encouraging them to think carefully about stories, characters, and visual design.
Our main science focus involved welcoming caterpillars into each class. The children observed them closely as they grew and changed inside their nets, carefully following each stage of the life cycle. This hands-on experience helped them develop curiosity, observation skills, and a deeper understanding of how living things change over time.
We ended the half term in the best possible way with our fantastic Sports Day. The children enjoyed a picnic with friends and family, took part in a range of fun sporting games and activities, and enthusiastically joined in with a family running race. It was a joyful celebration of teamwork, effort, and community spirit.
This half term, the children have explored movement in a variety of exciting and creative ways, investigating how people, animals, transport, and natural forces can move in different ways. They have used colour to represent ideas such as speed, direction, and energy, taking part in a range of practical, physical, and creative activities. Outdoor learning, sports, and water play have been key highlights, supporting the development of coordination, teamwork, and confidence through active exploration.
Next half term, the focus will be on exploring imagination through colours, where children will use art, storytelling, music, and role-play to bring their ideas, feelings, and learning to life. They will be encouraged to experiment creatively, develop their own interpretations, and grow in confidence when expressing themselves and sharing their ideas with others.
A key part of the half term will be preparing for the CHS Festival of Arts, where children will explore a range of artistic forms and create work inspired by imagination and creativity. We look forward to welcoming you to celebrate the children’s achievements!
As the weather continues to improve, students will also benefit from increased outdoor learning, including water play and sensory activities, further supporting their wellbeing, engagement, and enjoyment of the natural environment.