Foundation Unit Learning Update: Marvellous Machines!

Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the next two weeks, our Foundation children will begin an exciting new topic called Marvellous Machines. As part of this learning journey, we will be finding out about lots of different vehicles and exploring how they help people travel, work and explore the world around us.

Our Focus Texts

We will be enjoying two wonderful stories:

 

📖 You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus by Patricia Cleveland-Peck

📖 Emma Jane’s Aeroplane by Katie Haworth

These stories will spark our imaginations and help us think about the many different ways we can travel.

Our Big Idea Questions

Throughout the fortnight, we will be investigating:

• 🚗 What vehicles travel on land?
• ✈️ What vehicles travel in the air?
• 🚢 What vehicles travel in the water?
• 👩‍✈️ Who was Amelia Earhart?

The children will sort and classify a variety of vehicles, discuss their features and compare how they travel. We will also learn about Amelia Earhart, a pioneering female pilot who inspired many people through her courage and determination.

What Will We Be Learning?

Literacy

We will:

• Listen to and retell our focus stories.
• Learn and use new vocabulary linked to transport and travel.
• Practise early writing through labels, captions and simple sentences.
• Develop speaking and listening skills through discussions and role play.

Mathematics

We will:

• Count and recognise numbers.
• Compare quantities and groups.
• Sort and classify objects.
• Explore patterns and sequencing.
• Use mathematical language during practical activities.

Understanding the World

Through our Marvellous Machines topic, we will:

• Investigate different types of vehicles.
• Explore whether vehicles travel on land, in the air or on water.
• Discuss how transport has changed over time.
• Learn about significant people, including Amelia Earhart.

Expressive Arts and Design

Children will have opportunities to:

• Design and create their own vehicles.
• Build marvellous machines using construction materials.
• Paint, draw and create transport-themed artwork.
• Engage in imaginative role-play adventures involving travel.

How You Can Help at Home

You can support your child’s learning by:

• Looking out for different vehicles when travelling together.
• Talking about how you travel to school, work or other places.
• Reading transport-related books.
• Encouraging your child to sort toy vehicles into land, air and water categories.
• Discussing any aeroplanes, boats, buses or trains they may see in everyday life.

We are very excited to begin our Marvellous Machines topic and look forward to seeing the children’s curiosity and creativity grow as they learn about the amazing vehicles that help us move around our world.

A Special Thank You