Year R Summer 1 – Half Termly Overview
Why Do Spiders Eat Flies?
an interest based learning project for EYFS children
based on the Cornerstones Curriculum 2014
This topic provides ideas for stimulating children’s curiosity, understanding, knowledge and imagination about
the diversity of the natural world and the small creatures that inhabit it.
Subject
Focus
Communication
and Language
Share and listen to a range of nonfiction stories and poems about
mini beasts. Children describe mini
beasts, life cycle of a butterfly.
Reading: Oxford Reading Tree
Phonics Programme: Letters and
Sounds. The children are working
on Phase 3, digraphs: ch, sh, th, ng,
ai, ar, or, oo trigraphs: ear, igh, air,
ure – see word mat attached.
Class reading books: The Very
Hungry Caterpillar, Anansi stories,
Write zig zag books. Information
labels
Numbers to 100; count in 1s, 10 to
100; 2D shapes;
addition/subtraction patterns;
money.
Games using a range of small
equipment, for example, balls,
hoops, bats. Use space and
equipment safely/appropriately.
Take account of one another’s
ideas; how to respect and take care
of small creatures.
Beebots – programming.
Mini beasts life cycles and creating
mini beast habitat. Garden Centre
role play area.
Observe patterns on snail shells;
create butterflies using bright
materials.
Rhythm, pulse and dynamics.
Songs in conjunction with topic.
Literacy
Mathematics
Physical
Development
Personal, Social
and Emotional
Development
Understanding
the World
Expressive Arts
and Design
Music
New Life
“Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the central event of all human history and at the heart of faith” Religious Education Curriculum Directory
This half term, the children in the Nursery and the Reception classes will be learning about new life. They will
learn about the story of the empty tomb, and learn that Jesus appeared to his disciples. The children will begin to
understand the special gift of joy and peace that Jesus gave to his friends (John 20: 19-21) and can give to us as
well. They will hear the story of Jesus going back to his Father and learn that one day we shall hopefully go there
too.
At home you could help your children by:
• planting an Easter garden
• looking for signs of new life
• practise the Sign of the Cross, ‘Our Father’ & ‘Hail Mary’
• encouraging them to write their own prayers