The Term's Theme: Under the Sea

We have had a fantastic start to the term at Grimsdell as pupils dive into our exciting new theme, ‘Under the Sea’. From imaginative adventures to hands-on learning, it has been wonderful to see children across the school engaging so enthusiastically with the topic in their lessons.

Nursery:

In Nursery, pupils received a special letter from Captain Swashbuckle himself! The mysterious message was packed with clues that led them on a treasure hunt to discover a very special treasure box. They were give the important responsibility of keeping it safe until Captain Swashbuckle returns to collect it. 

This sense of adventure has inspired a whole host of pirate-themed activities throughout the week. The children have designed their own treasure maps, transformed themselves into fearsome pirates and even took part in a pirate snack shop. Armed with five golden coins, they carefully decided how to spend their treasure. We have also been learning a lively pirate sea shanty, helping the children fully immerse themselves in their pirate roles. What an exciting start to our new adventure! 

Reception:

Last week Reception were busy exploring the school grounds searching for clues, which led them on a swashbuckling pirate journey. Along the way they took part in pirate games, cooked on the fire and even made their own pirate medallions to officially join the pirate crew. The children also used AI to create imaginative pirates such as Sonic the Pirate and a rainbow mermaid. Using this as inspiration, the pupils then created their own ‘Wanted’ posters.

In Literacy, pupils have been focusing on the story of Billy and the Pirates, which tells the tale of Billy, a young girl whose trip to the seaside sparks her imagination as rock pools and beach scenes turn into a thrilling pirate adventure. This story supported discussions about imagination, storytelling and pirate-themed vocabulary.

Year 1:

Year 1 pupils have had an engaging and enthusiastic start to this theme. A visit from Diver Dean captured the children’s interest and introduced them to the historical figure Jacques Cousteau. Through this visit, pupils learnt about his life, his achievements and his important inventions. They were fascinated by his work and showed a keen interest in discussing how exploration and curiosity have helped us to understand the underwater world. The children were excited to write about themselves as being underwater divers and imagining what they would find and explore. They used exciting adjectives and phrases to describe their experience.

In Geography, pupils have been developing their knowledge of the wider world by learning to recognise the seven continents and the five oceans on a world map. This has supported their understanding of global geography and helped them to locate different places with increasing confidence.

In Science, the children have been exploring the wonderful variety of sea and land creatures. They have learnt about the characteristics of different animals, their diet and how they are adapted to live in different environments. The combination of different subjects has provided an engaging starting point for further exploration this term.

Year 2:

The Summer Term 2026 began with great excitement as Year Two launched their new topic, Treasures of the Deep. Classrooms were transformed into an underwater world, instantly sparking curiosity and setting the scene for a term of exploration beneath the waves. 

The term began with an inspiring visit from Diver Dean, who arrived in full diving gear to share his passion for the ocean. He told fascinating stories about where he has dived around the world, the incredible creatures he has encountered, and what it is like to explore the ocean depths. The children were captivated, learning about his experiences and eagerly asking thoughtful questions about diving and life under the sea. Building on this enthusiasm, the children explored the work of famous ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, learning how his invention of the aqualung transformed our ability to explore underwater environments. Through reading, discussion, and writing, the children created vivid descriptions of the ocean and produced labelled diagrams of diving equipment, linking scientific knowledge with creativity.