Minibeasts for Y1/Y2 Literacy support goup - what do you think so far; would your Y1/2 child be interested?

[Hulababy]

Looking for ideas and inspiration for my morning study support group. I do 3 morning sessions a week - 30 minutes a day - with selected Y1/2 children who are struggling to meet their targets in Literacy.

Next term's theme is Minibeasts.

I have 5 week's worth of sessions to fill.
I will have 4 groups of children (approx 6 per group).

My plan so far include:

Week 1
Introduction to topic
Meet the ladybirds (going to do the "grow" your ladybirds kits over the 5 weeks) with some observation work and life cycle information
Related Stories/games in circle time

Focus on reading together (to get love of books as many don't have this yet) and games using initial letter sounds (such as Tell Me..an insect begingin with A, etc)

Weeks 2-5

1 group does 1 activity per week; rotate

Activity A: Bug Hunt

• they will plan their bug hunt & write a list of things they need and where to look for bugs

• they will go on a bug hunt in the school grounds
• they will record their observtions both as a graph and written/drawn

Focus on writing for a purpose (lists, observations, notes, etc)

Activity B: Making minibeasts

• classifying insects according to number of legs, etc.
• making a minibeast in habitat picture using cut out/stuck on foliage and insects
• labelling insects on their picture

Focus on reading and writing, including using initial/end/middle sounds in words depending on abaility/individual target

Activity C: Writing stories

• have made up a version on "going on a bug hunt" to read/show

• children to use computers to edit the text to change insects they encounter, to use adjectives (Wow words) to describe the insects and verbs to describe how they move
• to use ICT to add a relevant image, using search images to find correct image

Focus on writing, using verbs and adjectives tomake text more interesting

Activity D: Continuos Provision (i.e undirected independent play)

• have range of minibeast models to play with together
• big books to share

whiteboards and markers, and "tlking tins" for writing; will provide with laminated word cards

Focus on independent work, taking turns, sharing, talking, role play based on stories read

What do you think?
Anything I could add/change?
This is still in draft stages - so can add easily.

Also - any recommended books (fiction and non fiction)?

Hulababy

Ds(7) is one who really struggles with his school work, is in target groups (and will be assessed this term) and would love these lessons.

There are two books by Little Tiger Press which he enjoys and I think would fit the bill, Crunching Munching Caterpillar and Very Lazy Ladybird. Caterpillar is very similar to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, but The Very Lazy Ladybird could lead to an interesting discussion, because she is too lazy to fly, so tries to find a different way of moving around. Looking through other titles, they also have Incy Wincy Spider, although what this is like I don't know as ds hasn't got it. The links take you to amazon, and if you look through their "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" list there are a few other possible titles. Hope this helps for book ideas.

Thank you

I know Very Lazy Ladybird; DD used to have it. Got to get everything sorted next week

Bump.

I know you will only be part way through, but how is it going Hulababy?

It is going really well thanks and the children seem to be enjoying it.

Our ladybirds have now been through the whole process just about, arriving at larva and this week having merged after pupating. Just waiting for them to turn red now.

We had one week of general activities and stries, and now two weeks into the carousel, with another tw weeks to go.

The final activities selected were:

Activity A: Bug Hunt

• Day 1: look at code for treating minibeast well; where will we look for them; using boks to consider best environments tof ind them
• Day 2 - they will go on a bug hunt in the school grounds, tick sheet
• Day 3 - write up findings onto prepared sheets of what they found, where, etc.

Activity B: Making minibeasts

• Team work activitiy to create large A2 pictur showing minibeasts envirnment and selection of labelled minibeasts

Activity C: Describing Minibeasts

• Using computers, following a template "My minibeast is ..." (as suggested on this thread. Lots of use of describing words and wow words. Also presentation of work.

Activity D: The Bad Tempered Ladybird

• sharing the book, reading, talking about key events
• produce story map of the story, with pictures and captions
• some telling the time work (o'clock)

Is it minibeasts across the country?? Ds1's school is currently doing minibeasts for KS1, although he seems perplexed when I mention it - so I have wondered what HE is doing.

I think minibeasts is a typical infant school topic.

our Y1s are not doing it in class but I think Y2 to do during he summer term. My DD's school is doing it to an extent - they have butterflies in their classroom, or rather will have in a couple of weeks.

umm, just wondered - everything seems so prescribed now.
At our school all KS1 (and foundation I guess) are doing it - ie mixed R/Yr1 and mixed Yr1/yr2 classes.
DS1 has no idea though, and he is a bright boy who pays attention, so I'm not sure what he is doing!

Yes, many schools follow the recommended topics, etc. so many schools do tend to do the same. I guess it makes it easier for those children moving schools perhaps? And it does save time on planning and prep if some of it done for you. But being too prescriptive has its problems too.