Autumn
Week beginning 11th December 2023
This week in Year 1 we have been taking part in lots of lovely festive activities including our Nativity production, Christmas
card making and completing our DT project of creating our own 3D shape bauble.
After weeks of rehearsals we had our two Nativity performances this week and did a fantastic job as the choir.
Maths
In Maths we have been continuing our learning about 2D and 3D shapes and have started to become more
familiar with using the language 2D, 3D, flat, curved, side, edge and vertices.
Religious Education
In Religious Education this week we learnt about the Jewish festival Hanukkah. We learnt that it lasts for 8 days
and also learnt more about the importance of the Menorah and what it symbolises.
Design and Technology
We have finished off our D.T. Christmas bauble project this week and it has been lots of fun!
The first job was to look at an object that has already been made e.g. baubles that have been bought from a shop.
The second job was to design our own baubles thinking about the 3D shape we wanted to create, the decoration we
wanted to do and the colour ribbon we would like to have. The third job was to actually make the bauble itself including decorating it. The final job that we had to do was to evaluate our bauble thinking about what went well
and what we could perhaps do better next time.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning 4th December 2023
English
In English this week we have continued our learning linked with the book 'The Squirrels Who Squabbled'.
We completed a book review of the story where we discussed what we liked about the story and what we liked
about the characters Bruce and Cyril. We also completed a plan in which we created our own two new characters
to replace the two squirrels in the story. On Friday we completed a retell of the story but we changed the two squirrel
characters to our own two new characters!
Maths
In Maths this week we have been looking at 2D shapes. We did some recapping on naming the 2D shapes and then
we worked on sorting the 2D shapes in different ways e.g. by colour, shape, number of sides and straight or curved sides.
History
We had a fantastic time learning about Victorian Schools in History this week. Our teachers surprised us and set both of
our classrooms up like a real Victorian classroom! We had to sit in rows and all face the front with no talking allowed.
We watched a short video about Victorian schools with some actors showing us what would have been
normal for Victorian children. Some of the rules that shocked us the most were the use of the cane,
the fact that children couldn't ask ANY questions and that all children had to stand when an adult, any adult,
entered the classroom. We also had a go at wearing a 'dunces hat' and writing like a Victorian child in a calligraphy style.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning 27th November 2023
English
This week in our Year One English class, we had a fun time exploring the book "The Squirrels Who Squabbled." We started off by guessing what the story might be about, just by looking at the pictures on the front and back cover. This was a great way to get the thinking and using our imagination before we even opened the book.
After our guessing game, we read the story together. To make sure everyone understood the story well, we used pictures to put the events in order, like a puzzle. We also had a lively discussion where we all thought of questions we would like to ask the squirrels in the story. Another part of our week was focused on listening and writing.
Additionally, we had a great time discovering the rhyming words within the story and even
created some words to rhyme with our given words.
Maths
In this week's mathematics sessions, we continued to develop our understanding of subtraction, with a particular emphasis on using a number line as a tool for subtraction.
Following our subtraction exercises, we transitioned to exploring a new topic: shapes. We began with an introduction to three-dimensional shapes. This part of the lesson involved learning the names of various 3D shapes and identifying their distinct characteristics, enhancing the students' ability to recognise and describe these shapes.
To reinforce this new knowledge, we next engaged in a group sorting activity. The first sorting task was based on the colour of the shapes. We then proceeded to sort the shapes according to the presence of flat edges and curved edges, encouraging a deeper analysis of their properties.
Our final sorting exercise focused on determining which shapes could stack and which could not. This added a practical element to the lesson, introducing concepts of stability.
Big cheers for Sycamore Class for finishing their 100 Book Reading Challenge!
They've done an amazing job diving into so many books.
Let's not forget Oak Class - they're almost done with their second round of the challenge.
It's super impressive to see how much they love reading. Keep it up, everyone! Your enthusiasm for books is just awesome!
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning 20th November 2023
English
In English this week we have been working on recording sentences correctly. On Monday our main focus was
to sound out unfamiliar words using our phonic knowledge. On Wednesday we continued our work on
recording dictated sentences recapped on how to leave clear spaces between our words. On Friday our focus was to
form letters correctly by recording a short section of writing about road safety.
Maths
In Maths this week we have started to work on subtraction calculations. We worked on subtracting
by crossing out and also concentrated on what we had left when taking away a given number.
Some of us used multilink cubes to help us find the answer which worked well.
Religious Education
This week in R.E. we learnt about a 'Puja Tray' and why it is important to Hindus. We watched a short
video about what it means to be a Hindu and also what happens when visiting a temple e.g. wearing
special clothes and removing their shoes.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning 13th November 2023
English
In our English class, we've been having fun with the story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. First, we used lots of adjectives to describe Goldilocks and the bears, making them really come to life. Then, we all thought up some interesting questions we'd like to ask Goldilocks if we met her, making sure to include question marks at the end. To finish, we started writing the beginning of the story, using some of the tricky words we've been learning in our phonic.
Maths
In our recent maths lessons, we've embarked on an exciting journey into the world of addition, focusing on sums within ten. To make this concept more tangible and engaging for the students, we've been using "First, Then, and Now" stories. These are simple, relatable narratives that help visualise addition problems. For example, we might say, "First, there were 4 birds in a tree. Then, 2 more birds joined them. How many birds are in the tree now?" (4 + 2 = 6).
To reinforce this learning, we've been using hands-on manipulatives like cubes, allowing the children to physically count and add the numbers. This approach not only aids in understanding the abstract concept of addition but also keeps the lessons interactive and fun.
Additionally, we've been practicing writing down our number sentences based on these stories. This exercise not only helps solidify their understanding of addition but also develops their numerical literacy. It's a wonderful way to blend storytelling with math, making learning both enjoyable and effective.
History
In our history class, we've begun exploring the fascinating Victorian era, with our first lesson dedicated to Queen Victoria. To bring this historical figure and time period to life, we watched an engaging video about Queen Victoria, which was filled with interesting facts and stories. We all created a class mind map, where we collectively recorded the facts we learned. We the had the opportunity to record our new facts in simple sentences.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning 6th November 2023
English
This week in English we have been working on using capital letters, full stops and adjectives correctly in our writing.
At the start of the week, we learnt about Remembrance and then wrote sentences about what we had learnt
e.g. We wear a poppy to remember the soldiers that fought in the war a long time ago.
In Maths, we have been looking at addition and adding numbers together. We learnt about the number bonds of 10
and had a go at putting them in order systematically e.g. 0 + 10 = 10 then 1 + 9 = 10 and so on.
In Religious Education (R.E), we learnt about the festival Diwali. We learnt that Diwali is known as the festival of lights
and that Rangoli patterns are important for bringing good luck. We designed our own Rangoli patterns onto paper plates too!
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 31st October 2023
English
In our English lesson we heard about a really big adventure from a long time ago called the Gunpowder Plot. It’s a story with sneaky plans and big bangs that happened way back when kings and queens ruled the land.
We talked about the different people in the story like Guy Fawkes and what they did. To help us remember everything, we drew a big mind map on the board with all the facts and things we learned about the story – it was like making a map of our thoughts!
We also chatted about how we still remember the story today with fireworks and bonfires every year, which is pretty cool to think about.
After we got the story all straight in our heads, the children worked in twos to put the story in the right order. Once they did that, they took turns telling the story to each other, which was a bit like playing teacher. It was a fun way to make sure we all remembered the tale of the Gunpowder Plot!
In the next lesson, using the ordered images from the Gunpowder Plot, we came up with sentences to describe the events of the story, focusing on the use of capital letters, finger space and, full stops.
Maths
In Maths, the children got to learn about breaking up numbers into smaller pieces using what we call the part-whole model. It's a way of seeing how numbers can be made of other numbers.
Each child had a part-whole model diagram and some cubes for this lesson. They picked up a handful of cubes and split them between the two 'parts' on their part-whole model. Then, they put all the cubes together in the 'whole' to show how the parts add up to make the whole. The children then started to write number sentences from the model they had made.
Science
This term's science theme is "My Body." In our introductory lesson, we identified and labeled various body parts. We began the lesson with a dynamic activity, where the teacher prompted students to point to different body parts upon request. Following this, we engaged in a series of riddles, providing clues for the children to guess which body part was being hinted at. For our practical task, we labeled as many body parts as possible on a diagram of the human body.
Here is a riddle for you to try.
I’m with you when you run, I’m with you when you hop, I’m with you when you kick, without me you’d drop. I'm not a stick, but I have a calf, And after a long day, I’m ready for a bath.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home
this week. Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 9th October 2023
In our recent English class, we delved into the inspiring life of Walter Tull. As one of the pioneering black professional football players, his legacy stands tall, not just on the football pitch but also for his bravery during the Great War where he tragically lost his life. Our assembly focused on Walter's achievements, which paved the way for an English lesson where students wrote sentences about his remarkable journey.
In our mathematics lessons, we explored the concepts of "greater than," "less than," and "equal to." Using numicon and number lines, the students enthusiastically engaged in comparing various numbers, determining their relative values.
Our science class was a hive of activity as we embarked on an experiment to identify waterproof materials. This was inspired by a friend's quest for the ideal material to mend a tear in his umbrella. The young scientists tested a range of materials, including tissue paper, cellophane, and tin foil. By squirting water onto these materials and observing the results, the students made a fascinating discovery. While tissue paper was quickly ruled out due to visible water drips, both tin foil and cellophane were deemed waterproof. However, owing to its superior strength, the consensus was that cellophane would be the best choice for the umbrella repair.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home
this week. Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 2nd October 2023
In English we have started to look more carefully at spelling tricky words e.g. he, she, they etc...
We also started to have a go at recording dictated sentences thinking carefully about remembering finger spaces,
capital letters, full stops and using our phonic knowledge to sound out unfamiliar words.
In Maths we have been grouping and looking at 1 less within 10. When we were grouping objects
we did this in a practical way which made it an active Maths lesson and we really enjoyed it.
Thursday was Superhero Day at school and we all dressed up as a superhero of our choice.
In Sycamore Class we had Firefighters, footballers, a Doctor, the Tooth Fairy and many more.
In Oak Class we had a scientist, Police Officers, Wonder Woman and nurses too.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home
this week. Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 25th September 2023
In English we have been looking at the story The Three Little Pigs and had a go at acting out the story and then
wrote some sentences.
In Maths we have been looking at counting on 1 more and counting backwards from within 10.
This week in Art we learnt about different types of lines e.g. curved, vertical, horizontal and cross hatch.
We used coloured pens and pencils to create the different lines on a grid. Even though we were all doing
the same sort of lines in each box, every single person's sheet looked creative and different!
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home
this week. Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 18th September 2023
This week in Year 1 we have been continuing to settle into our new classes.
In English we have been looking at the story The Little Red Hen and had a go at writing some sentences.
In Maths we have been continuing to sort and count objects. On Friday we had a go
at doing some Active Maths and worked in teams to match numerals 0-10 with their word
e.g. 1 one 2 two 3 three
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home
this week. Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday.
Week beginning - 11th September 2023
This week in Year 1 we have been settling into our new classrooms and getting to know our
classmates and new adults.
In English we have been looking at the Funnybones story and had a go at sequencing pictures and
writing the names of the different characters.
In Maths we have been sorting objects and counting objects to 10.
In Science we learnt about materials and impressed our teachers by naming
lots of different materials that we could see around our classroom.
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians that have read with your child/ren at home this week.
Class teachers will be checking diaries on Monday and the Reading Challenge will be starting again.
