Anning Class Term 3 - February to March 2026

Curriculum focus 

This term our topic is ‘Amazing Animals’. As part of our topic, we will be exploring different habitats from around the world and learning about the animals that live there. We will begin by thinking about our own special pets and go onto investigate animals in the Ocean, Desert and Rainforest/Jungle. We will learn to name animals and their features and will explore life cycles. At the end of the term, we will celebrate Spring and Easter in our School community through the church service and Easter egg hunt. 

Early Literacy 

Our class texts this term will be based around different habitats and animals.  

These will include; 

• Mog by Judith Kerr (fictional story based on pets) 

• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae (poetry based on water loving animals) 

• Handa’s surprise by Eileen Browne (fictional book set in Kenya) 

• Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae (poetry based on animals found in the Jungle and Rainforest) 

We will also be exploring non-fictional texts when researching and learning about different habitats and animals from around the world. 

Our writing will focus on using sounds we have learnt in our Phonics sessions to spell words and this will led onto beginning to write a simple sentence. We will also be exploring rhyming words and trying to write our own class animal poems. Everyone will be building on their fine motor skills through fun play based activities and Reception children will be perfecting their letter formation through daily practise sessions.  

One of the most important things children in Anning Class can do at home is share a book with someone (this could be being read to at bedtime or sitting and chatting about a book and telling the story verbally using the pictures as an aid). Research states that ‘daily reading can have a profound impact on a child's literacy skills and overall attitude towards reading’. Sharing a book with your child for 10 to 15 minutes a day (if your schedule allows) will have a positive impact on your child’s language and literacy skills and will expose them to the rich language and ideas we find in books that they cannot access independently.  

Early Maths

In Maths Nursery children will have fun exploring position, size, length, weight and capacity through play based activities and exciting challenges. They will continue to count aloud to 5 and will have fun joining in with number action songs. 

In Reception this term children will be exploring how numbers can be made different ways. We will introduce the whole part model and will learn how to compare and compose numbers up to 10. Reception children will also be investigating 3D shapes and repeating patterns through practical exploration. 

During each topic we will solve linked problems and wherever possible ‘real life’ problems will be explored and discussed.                                                                                                              

Homework

Home learning ideas will be set each Friday on the ‘Weekly roundup’ sheet that will be uploaded onto Google Classroom. Additional homework will also be set on Google Classroom on Fridays when applicable. Children are welcome to bring things they do at home into school to put on our homework board or alternatively photos can be uploaded onto Google Classroom and sent to us directly. We would love to celebrate all of your wonderful work and see anything that you do manage to do at home. 

Home learning will normally consist of sharing books with others at home, a phonics task and a fun task linked to our topic or Maths focus of the week. 

Wow Moments  

Wow moments will be sent home at the start of each term. Please fill these in if your child has done something amazing that we can add to their learning journal and celebrate. This could be anything from riding their bike for the first time to getting dressed completely by themselves. 

Forest School

Forest School will continue to take place on a Tuesday afternoon.  Children need to bring in wellington boots to change into for Forest School on this day (if they are not already kept in school) and appropriate clothing linked to the weather that day, for example, hats and gloves if it is cold.  We have school waterproof coats and trousers the children can wear for Forest School but if they would prefer their own they may also bring these in.  

PE

PE will continue to take place every Monday and Wednesday this term.  We ask that children come to school in their PE kit on these days. PE kit should include a t-shirt to match the colour of the house they are in, jogging bottoms or shorts and trainers.  

Magical me                                                                          

In Anning Class we are going to continue with our ‘Magical me’ sessions where it is your child’s time to shine and share information with us. Magical me (show and tell) will take place each Tuesday afternoon and a few children will be selected each week to bring something in related to their ‘favourite place’ to talk about with the whole class (no living things or very expensive valuables please).  

Magical Me has proven to be a wonderful experience in many schools and really helps children develop in confidence to speak to their peers and share information. It also develops children’s speaking and listening skills as they also ask and answer questions linked to the items brought into class. 

 

We are really looking forward to this term and have lots of exciting things planned for all our little super stars in Anning Class, including some surprises! 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or queries.  

 

Many thanks      

 

The Anning Team