ENGLISH
In the Spring term year 7 will cover non-fiction in the form of letter writing and fiction in the form of myths and legends. They will have the opportunity to be assessed formally on both their reading and writing skills with some speaking and listening used to develop their ideas. They will also continue with spelling intervention in addition to phonics and handwriting support where necessary. They will continue to have dedicated reading time with one to one feedback.
MATHS
In maths we continually develop the core skills of number- place value, counting, ordering, arithmetic and times tables. Problem solving skills are developed. Money and time skills are regularly developed to improve functional skills.
The pupils have regular sessions using RM Easimaths. Some will start to use MyMaths and other ICT resources.
Additionally, this term there will be topics on representing and interpreting data, finding fractions of amounts, position, direction, symmetry and decimals and percentages.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – SCIENCE
Forces at Work – In this theme we do lots of activities in which the girls experience forces and their effects. They find out how forces can make things move, slow things down and keep things still. They also learn about friction and pressure.
Patterns in Life – In this theme we find out how living things are organised. We spend quite a lot of time looking at cells and finding out about the jobs that they do in plants and animals. We also look at the way in which living things can be put into groups which share similar characteristics.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – HUMANITIES
Pupils will be looking at different aspects of medieval village life including farming and crime and punishment. They will be investigating what life was like for ordinary people and the types of jobs and duties that they had to do over the year.
Also they will be looking at our weather more closely; learning to describe the different types and using our observation skills to describe them in more detail. Pupils will begin to think about how more extreme weather such as flooding can affect the UK and other places around the world.
UNDERSTANDING OUR WORLD – RELIGION AND ETHICS (R AND E)
What does it mean to be religious? – Pupils will consider different ways in which people worship, looking at feasts and fasting as well as finding out about some of the Spring festivals from different religions. They will be able to look at buildings, signs and objects that are special to some people and think especially about Easter.
ART
Food and drink will be our theme this term as pupils produce a range of images, models and sculptures. We will be exploring shape, colour and fonts in packaging to produce unique art work and to replicate real life items we find in the shops. Food and drink is all around us and girls will start to look at it with a detailed eye and a critical mind.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Pupils in years 7 spend half of the year working with Resistant Materials and half with Textiles. Half of the year group start in September with Resistant Materials and half with Textiles. The groups then swap areas after the February half term.
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – RESISTANT MATERIALS
Pupils working in Resistant Materials will continue their projects based around the theme of ‘designing for myself’. They will make a key-ring from acrylic, a hook using the Hegner saw and pillar drill and a final project of a photo frame. After half term these pupils will start working with Textiles (see Autumn term).
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY – TEXTILES
Pupils working in Textiles will learn how to use a commercial pattern and make a winter hat based on the theme of ‘animals’. They have to choose an animal and design their hat around this.
They also about the fabric decoration technique of ‘applique’ to decorate their hats. Alongside this pupils will investigate from where fibres and fabrics come and how important it is to choose materials carefully for different uses.
After half term these pupils will start working with Resistant Materials (see Autumn term).
PERFORMING ARTS – MUSIC
Water Music – Pupils will be investigating sounds made with water and listening to lots of music connected with water. They will be able to compose their own pieces and consider pattern in composition. Songs will be linked to the topic and key words will be pulse, dynamics and tempo. There will be opportunities to play a range of instruments and pupils will work towards a class performance at the end of term.
PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE
Dance from around the world – This term, pupils will explore different dance styles from around the world such as Gumboot dancing and Bollywood. They will build on the key concepts from the autumn term (Action, Space, Dynamics and Relationships) to create and choreography their own routines to perform.
PE
Pupils will be learning basic Hockey skills, learning the rules of the game. Outdoor Education will include preparation for Cross Country and endurance work. For Gymnastics pupils will start by learning the importance of safety in the gymnasium and will develop floor and large apparatus activities in Modern Educational Gymnastics, developing the theme ‘Travelling’.
SOCIAL SKILLS
Pupils will be split into smaller groups and receive a rotation of Social Skills, Occupational Therapy, and Speech and Language Therapy. For the Social Skills Classes pupils will talk through what they have covered in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy and it will be reinforced in a circle time format. Following this, pupils will play games or do team building exercises in order to build friendships with the other pupils, learn/practise social and emotional skills, and become accustomed to the style of Social Skills lessons ready for year 8 and 9 when the classes are much larger.
For the Occupational Therapy Classes pupils will learn about reading a school timetable and bag packing, which includes when is a good time to pack a bag, what is needed for each lesson, and using a timetable to pick objects they would need for the next day.
For the Speech and Language Therapy Classes pupils will cover group skills of working together, which includes turn taking, listening, respecting others’ opinions and working collaboratively. Following this, pupils will move onto talking about ourselves and others, which will cover emotional literacy, recognising others’ emotions, and personality of themselves and others.
PSHE
It’s good to be me: This unit focuses on personal safety and looking after our bodies. There will be an opportunity to meet the local Police Officer to discuss ways of keeping safe. Pupils will also consider how to look after themselves in practical ways; dental care, health and hygiene, how to look good and coping with changes that occur during puberty.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE
Pupils in years 7 spend half of the year working in Home Economics and half in Outdoor Learning (Forest School). Half of the year group start in September with Home Economics and half with Outdoor Learning (Forest School). The groups then swap areas after the February half term.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE – HOME ECONOMICS
The pupils working in Home Economics will focus on basic cooking and food preparation skills. Pupils will learn how to work safely in the kitchen as well as developing, an understanding of what Home Economics is and learn the important hygiene and healthy eating rules. They will learn about basic nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet. Pupils will cook a wide range of dishes from a variety of simple recipes. Pupils will gain independence in the kitchen and begin to discuss the skills they are learning.
Pupils will continue to cooking from recipes provided. We will focus on how important it is to ensure that food safety and hygiene is being followed to avoid any accidents and minimise any risk of food poisoning. They will also be focussing on purchasing foods from a variety of sources; food labels provide information to the consumer. During these lessons the pupils will follow a project on ‘Breakfast’ and why it is important.
PASSPORT FOR LIFE – OUTDOOR LEARNING (FOREST SCHOOL)
The pupils working in Outdoor learning (Forest School) will be outside in the woodland area having a hands-on opportunity to learn about the natural environment through directed tasks and play. They will be guided to use their own initiative to solve problems and cooperate with others. The students will be given a large amount of freedom in their learning.
In year 7 there will be a large focus on organising ourselves and being prepared for each lesson as well as becoming familiar with the rules and ready for learning. The main theme throughout the lessons will building relationships and team work. Some of the activities throughout the year will include den building, fire lighting and exploration.