In Spring 2, our topic will be Minibeasts and Growing, offering exciting opportunities for the children to explore nature, life cycles, and plant growth through hands-on activities and continuous provision.

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Life Cycles and Minibeasts

• We will have pet caterpillars in the classroom, allowing the children to observe their fascinating transformation into butterflies. Through this experience, the children will develop an understanding of life cycles and learn to care for living things.
• During continuous provision, the children will hunt for bugs in the outdoor area and forest school, learning to identify different minibeasts and exploring their habitats. 

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Key Stories:

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar – This beloved story will support the children’s understanding of life cycles as they follow the journey of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. 
• The Bad-Tempered Ladybird – Through this story, the children will explore emotions and think about what they can do to help themselves when they feel grumpy, angry, or frustrated. This links to our work on Zones of Regulation, where children learn to identify different emotions and develop strategies to manage them effectively. We will encourage discussions about how to move from the “red zone” (angry/frustrated) to the “green zone” (calm and ready to learn), using breathing techniques, talking to an adult, or taking a moment to calm down.
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Exploring Plants and Growth

• The children will have opportunities to explore and dissect plants, identifying and discussing the different parts of a plant.
• We will investigate what plants need to grow—such as sunlight, water, and soil—and put this knowledge into practice by planting beans and sunflowers. The children will take responsibility for watering and caring for their plants, observing changes over time.

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Creative and Expressive Learning

• The children will have opportunities to create their own minibeast models and artwork, using a range of materials and techniques.
• In music and movement sessions, they will explore minibeast-themed dances and engage in imaginative role-play.

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Literacy and Writing Focus

• We will read a range of non-fiction books about minibeasts and plants to enhance comprehension and vocabulary.
• The children will label minibeast body parts and begin writing information sentences about minibeasts, applying their phonics knowledge and developing sentence structure to create their own minibeast books.

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Personal, Social, and Emotional Development

• Caring for the caterpillars and plants will encourage a sense of responsibility and empathy for living things.
• Group activities such as bug hunts and planting will promote teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Exploring The Bad-Tempered Ladybird will provide opportunities for children to reflect on their own feelings and develop emotional literacy through the Zones of Regulation.