Welcome to our Summer 1 curriculum! This half term, our topic is Vanity Fair. In English, children will read Shocking Styles, explore fashion changes, and create persuasive adverts and information texts. In Maths, we'll focus on fractions, including wholes, parts, and equivalent fractions. Our Science unit is about Plants, where children will investigate what plants need to grow and their life cycles. In Topic lessons, we’ll explore Fairtrade and Fast Fashion, examining the impact of fashion on people and the environment. In RE, we’ll learn about Sikhism and explore key sayings and teachings. In DT, children will design, make, and evaluate their own purses using textile skills. In Computing, they will learn desktop publishing, creating documents with text and images. Finally, in PSHE, we’ll focus on Relationships, helping children understand healthy friendships, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

English 

This half term in English, our topic is Vanity Fair. Children will be reading an e-book called Shocking Styles, learning about how fashion has changed over time and discovering some of the most surprising trends from history. They will then use what they have learned to write a persuasive advert in the style of a choppy chopines advert, focusing on the features of persuasive writing such as powerful adjectives and rhetorical questions. Following this, they will research a range of shocking styles and accessories that interest or surprise them, before writing an informative text to share their findings. Throughout the unit, children will develop their research, writing and critical thinking skills while exploring how fashion can reflect identity and culture.

Maths

In Maths, children will learn to recognise and show equivalent fractions using diagrams and fraction walls, as well as compare and order fractions on a number line using bar models and comparison signs (<, >, =). They will add and subtract fractions with the same denominator, solving problems in different ways and discussing the efficiency of methods used. Children will also develop their understanding of time by learning to read, estimate, and measure it accurately, including times of day they may not often experience, and apply this knowledge to a range of real-life problem-solving situations.

Science

For Science this half term, children will first reflect on their prior knowledge and set up an enquiry to explore what plants need to grow. They will plant a runner bean seed and observe its growth, considering the conditions necessary for it to thrive. The class will work together to generate questions for the learning wall and use both books and the internet to research plant facts. Activities include making labelled plant drawings, classifying food plants by the part we eat, and conducting experiments to observe how water moves through plants using dyed celery or flowers. Children will then summarise their findings in a class discussion. The unit will conclude with a review of their original questions, drawing conclusions from their investigations.

RE

This half term in RE, pupils explore how symbols and sayings help people, focusing on Sikhism. They will begin by identifying everyday symbols and discussing their meanings before learning about key Sikh symbols like the Khanda and the 5Ks. Through videos, discussions, art activities, and role-play, pupils will discover how these symbols guide Sikh beliefs and daily life. They will compare Sikh symbols with those from other religions and reflect on personal symbols that are meaningful to them. Pupils will also study Sikh teachings from the Guru Granth Sahib, including the Mool Mantar and other sayings, considering how these can be applied to life today. The unit will conclude with pupils reflecting on their learning and sharing which Sikh saying or symbol they found most meaningful.

Topic

This half term, children will explore two geography topics: Fair Trade and Fast Fashion. In the Fair-Trade unit, they will learn what fair trade is, why it matters, and how it supports farmers and workers around the world. They will also consider how they can make fairer choices as consumers. In the Fast Fashion unit, children will investigate where their clothes come from, how often they buy new ones, and the impact of fast fashion on people and the planet. They will reflect on how their clothing choices can promote sustainability through actions like reusing, repairing, and buying from ethical brands.

PSHE

This term in Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, pupils will be introduced to the fundamental relationships in their lives. The curriculum will cover various family structures and the diverse roles individuals may fulfil within a family unit. Pupils will also explore the nature of friendships and identify the qualities that contribute to being a good friend. Additionally, they will be introduced to straightforward strategies for resolving conflicts and repairing friendships. Furthermore, the children will learn about effective calming techniques for managing feelings of upset or anger.

DT

This term in DT, the children will explore the world of materials and how they are used in clothing. They will begin by learning to identify and compare different fabrics, discussing why certain materials are chosen for specific purposes, such as why waterproof materials are used for raincoats. The students will experiment with various techniques for joining fabrics, including glue, pins, and tape, to determine which methods are most effective. Later in the term, they will develop their sewing skills by learning how to thread a needle and create different types of stitches like the backstitch and running stitch. By the end of the term, they will have a deeper understanding of material suitability, joining techniques, and the skills needed to create and sew fabric items.

Computing

In this unit, pupils will explore how text and images can be combined effectively to communicate messages. They will be using desktop publishing software (e.g., Adobe Spark) to create and edit digital content, learning to adjust fonts, colours, layouts, and templates. Key concepts include understanding templates, page orientation, and placeholders. Pupils will design a magazine front cover, learning to add and arrange content purposefully. They will also explore the real-world use of desktop publishing and evaluate its benefits. The unit supports cross-curricular links with English and online safety.