Note that this map is a guide only and planning will evolve according to the motivations, interests and curiosity of the children as unique individuals.
We are aspirational for all our children and approach every ‘in the moment’ opportunity with a growth mindset by scaffolding learning opportunities.
| Main Topics | Extra Topics | |||
| Areas of Learning and our continuous learning for this term. | Dark Nights & celebrations Christmas Jumper Day- December 12th Christmas 25th December | Snow, Ice and Arctic animals | Fireworks, Rockets and Space Bonfire/fireworks night 5th November | Kindness Day- November 13th Children in need- November 15th (Donate a £1 and wear spots for the day) |
| Texts and rhymes to support learning | BatsOwl babies by Martin Wadell and Patrick BensonStick man by Julia Donaldson Variety of Christmas booksWinter stars by Shirley Hughes | Snow bear by Martin WaddellSnow bear by piers HarperFoxes in the snow by Jonathan Emmett | Sparks in sky by TwinkleNumber Rhymes counting on and back- Ten little fireworks | |
| Communication and Language Explore new vocabulary by exploring unfamiliar words and concepts through stories and activities. Talk about what is happening and give their ideas. | Carpet time- Discuss the dark at night (how can it make you feel) Scared, tired, Cosy, Warm, cold. Santas workshop and Santas post box- Using core mathematical language- heavy, light, small, tall, big, huge, bigger, smaller. | Key words: Water, Ice, Snow Warm, Faster, Slower, Temperature, Melt, Freeze, Zero, Cold, Hot, Frozen Change. I can tell you what’s happening to Ice when it melts and give my own ideas. | Colours- I can tell you the bright colours a firework makes I can tell you how a firework makes me feel- Scared, excited, happy The firework is loud, quiet, noisy, it goes bang, it’s pretty. | Carpet time- Talk about kindness and importance of being kind to others, having kind hands and feet, Sharing and turn taking. |
| Personal, Social, Emotional Development Managing our feelings and learning to regulate | Working together as a team in Santa’s workshop Talk about how we feel when its dark (use visual cues on feelings and signalong) | Talk about how we feel during fireworks (Use visual cues on feelings and signalong) | Being kind- having kind hands and feet Understanding Nursery rules and routines Learning to turn take | |
| Physical Development Independent toileting and washing hands Self- dressing- fastening coats and shoes Daily outdoor activities to progress gross motor skills- running, bike riding, climbing on the climbing frame, ball games Daily fine motor skills with Playdough play, drawing, painting, water play and mud kitchen mixing. | Autumn walk Fine motor skills Christmas card writing/mark making – Support holding a pencil correctly with a tripod grip Fine and gross motor skills in handling boxes and wrapping parcels Fine motor skills- Holding a paintbrush and using a swirling technique to create Van Gogh ‘Starry Night’ | Fine motor skills in creative arts and design. Manipulate Ice – Fine motor skills (Arctic animals, loose parts frozen in Ice) | Fine and gross motor skills in cooking and creative arts and design. | |
| Mathematics Showing awareness of the numbers in the environment Counting objects and begin to recognise the final number as the total quantity Using new vocabulary in mathematical language- Heavy, light, full, empty | Making Mince pies- measuring and weighing ingredients. Making Gingerbread biscuits- Measuring and weighing Ingredients Weighing parcels for Christmas- weight and measurement- heavy, light, small, tall. Sorting by size and capacity. | I can tell you the different shapes of ice blocks we use- Square, rectangle, Circular | Rice crispy cakes- measuring and weighing ingredients Making apple Tart- Measuring and weighing ingredients Number Rhymes counting on and back- Five little fireworks | |
| Literacy Give meaning to marks Mark making with purpose Begin to become familiar with the formation of name/recognising name- Daily self-sign in Begin to form name in writing. Reading a wide range of texts. | Mark making- tree rubbings Christmas Workshop- Writing in a variety of ways; Christmas Cards and envelopes, parcels Tags, stamps. Story sequence the Owl Babies using visual story cards | Mark making with arctic Tuff trays- Shaving foam | Write pretend recipe and ingredients lists for rice crispy cakes. | |
| Understanding the World Talk about people who are significant to us and family traditions e.g. birthdays, Learning how to share care and concern for living things. | Celebrations- Christmas What is Christmas? read the Christmas story Role play- Santas workshop, Post office Autumn walk- what can we see, scavenger hunt on materials and wildlife. | I can tell you some Arctic Animals I can tell you about Where Arctic animals live and their environment. Explore the properties of liquid vs solid- Change of state (water and ice) | Becoming aware of world traditions- Bonfire/Fireworks night. Explore space- planets, sun, moon. How do we get to space? (rockets) Role play- Space (make a large rocket and explore the planets) | |
| Creative Arts and Design Using a range of methods and a variety of materials to produce art. Junk modelling Messy play | Create tree rubbing pictures- autumn leaves. Owl babies- creating felt owls, cutting sticking and retelling story Van Gogh- Starry Night painting- fine motor skills- handling a paintbrush using a swirling technique. Stick man- make our own stick man using materials collected on Autumn Walk. Christmas- Santas workshop- Making cards and parcels for the role play Santa’s post box. | Messy play- Arctic tuff trays Manipulating ice to free the arctic animals. Shaving foam and arctic animals Find the arctic animals in the cotton wool. | Paper Mashe- Moon Firework Printing (Toilet roll tubes and paint) Firework splattering Making a large rocket for role play. | |
