Autumn Term 1 2026

Curriculum

This half term, we will be learning about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution through natural selection as part of our exciting topic, ‘Epic Evolution’.

In English, our topic text is 'Darwin’s Dragons' by Lindsay Galvin. The children will use this fantastic text to develop their writing skills through a range of different genres, including a biography, a diary entry and a persuasive text.

Across the wider curriculum, we will learn more about Charles Darwin and other famous scientists, including Mary Anning, exploring their discoveries and the impact they have had on our understanding of the world. In Art, we will be inspired by the Galápagos Islands and the work of artist David Hockney exploring colour through various artistic techniques. In DT, we will investigate the structure of bridges, exploring how they are designed and what makes them strong and stable. In Geography, we will compare two very different physical landscapes: the Grand Canyon and Scafell Pike. We will develop our geographical knowledge by exploring their physical features and considering the similarities and differences between them. In French, the children will be learning all about the weather, developing their vocabulary and practising how to describe different weather conditions.

PE Days

Mr Pratt's class have PE on a Tuesday and Forest School on a Friday (Autumn 1: Week 1-4).

Miss Brailsford and Mrs Martin's class have PE on a Tuesday and Wednesday and Forest School on a Friday (Autumn 1: Week 1-4).

Homework

Homework will be set every Monday and will be due the following Monday. Each week, children will be asked to complete the following tasks:

Reading – Children should read regularly at home. We ask that they read for at least 15 minutes, three times a week. This should be recorded in Home-School Diaries so children can be rewarded appropriately.

Spellings – Weekly spellings will be sent home on Mondays and tested the following Monday. The spellings will be taught in school and should be practised at home throughout the week.

Times Tables – Children should continue to regularly practise their times tables using Times Tables Rock Stars.

English and Maths – Children will be set an online activity via Teams to complete for both Maths and English. These tasks should take no longer than 30 minutes per week.