Spring
Week beginning 25th March
English
This week in English, we worked on telling the story of our school trip to the Household Cavalry Museum. We started by planning our stories step by step using words like "First," "Next," "Then," and "Finally." Then, using our plans, we wrote down what happened on our trip, making sure to write in complete sentences. This helped us share all the fun and interesting things we did and saw on our trip.
Maths
In maths recently, we've been going over our addition and subtraction again to get better at working out sums accurately. We've been trying out sums set up in unusual ways, like "14 = 7 + ___."
School trip
Our school trip was fantastic! We went on a scavenger hunt in the museum, looking for various items, which was a lot of fun. We even got to dress up in the uniforms of the Household Cavalry soldiers, which was super cool. Outside, we watched the Changing of the Guard. The soldiers were so serious and the horses were well trained. After lunch, we took a stroll down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. The flag was flying high, which meant the King was there. It was an exciting day!
Week beginning 18th March
English
In English this week we have been working on our reading and comprehension skills. We looked carefully at different
pieces of writing, both fiction and non-fiction, then answered questions about what we had read.
Some of the top tips we learnt were to read carefully, underline key information and we started to learn more
about skim reading to help us find particular words quickly. We tried really hard and will continue developing
our comprehension skills as we move through Year 1.
Maths
In Maths this week we have been continuing our learning about capacity and volume. We worked practically
to measure how many cups of water different containers held. We made sure to use the key vocabulary
full, half full, nearly full, empty and nearly empty.
R.E.
As part of our R.E. learning this week we learnt about the Easter Story and what happened during the Holy Week.
We cut out different pictures including images of the Last Supper and Palm Sunday and stuck them in the
correct order onto a cross.
School Trip
We're so looking forward to our school trip next week and have started talking about what will happen on the day.
We had an email today from the Household Cavalry that we're very excited about!
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 March 2024
English
In English this week we have been continuing our learning about the story Katie in London.
Later in the week we had a go at planning our own version of the story by changing where Katie visits.
Instead of Katie visiting London we thought it would be fun if she visited White Bridge! We planned where Katie would go
first, next, after that and finally and added in adjectives to describe each location.
When we wrote our new stories out in full the next day they were AMAZING and our teachers were so impressed.
Miss Hester even came down to read some of the stories and loved them too.
Maths
In Maths this week we have been continuing our work on measuring but instead of length and height
we were starting looking at mass. We used balancing scales to help us work out which objects were heavier
or lighter and compared the weight of different items in our classrooms.
World Book Day
We loved celebrating World Book Day on Thursday and thoroughly enjoyed dressing up as our
favourite book characters. Some of the characters in Oak were Sonic the hedgehog, Mary Poppins and Mr
Willy Wonka. In Sycamore we had Alice in Wonderland, David Attenborough and Thing 1 from Cat and in Hat.
Thank you to everyone who made such a fantastic effort with their costumes this year.
School Trip
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians who have provided confirmation via Arbor that their child will be attending the school trip
to the Household Cavalry Museum. If you still need to confirm your child's attendance on the trip please do
so via Arbor as soon as possible.
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 26th February 2024
English
This week in English we started our learning about the story 'Katie in London'. As London continues to be our
topic this term we were very excited to continue learning more about our capital city.
We started the week by making predictions about the story and what we thought might happen. Next, we
sequenced events from the story ensuring that they were in the correct order with a sentence to accompany each
image from the book. Later in the week we used pages from the story to search the text for different punctuation
including full stops and questions marks but we also searched for adjectives too such as 'green emeralds' or 'golden lion'.
We will continue looking at this book next week as part of our London topic.
Maths
In Maths this week we have been starting to learn more about measuring. We have focused on measuring
length and height and have spoken about the difference between them. We worked practically to measure items around
the classroom and also answered questions comparing the height and length of different objects and people.
History
This week in history we learnt about the famous children's author Beatrix Potter. We started learning about her as she
is someone that originally came from London before moving to the Lake District. We read key information about Beatrix
and then became fact finders and answered questions about her.
School Trip
Thank you to all Parents/Guardians who have provided confirmation via Arbor that their child will be attending the school trip
to the Household Cavalry Museum. If you have any further questions please speak to your
child's class teacher.
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 12th February 2024
English
In our recent English lessons, we used the delightful tale of "Owl Babies". Initially, students engaged in sequencing the story's events, which led to writing sentences that narrate each sequence in detail. To enrich our language, we explored adjectives, describing the charming owls and their surroundings.
Maths
In Math, we focused on number lines up to 50. Our initial challenge involved identifying and filling in missing numbers, progressing to constructing our number lines from scratch and accurately placing numbers in their rightful positions. Additionally, we delved into concepts of 'one less and one more' and explored near doubles.
Computing
Our computing lessons introduced us to programming bugs. We were tasked with debugging instructions to navigate through a maze. When faced with incorrect instructions, we learned to de-bug by modifying these instructions, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a practical context.
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 5th February 2024
English
In our English lesson, we've been looking at the essential elements of sentence construction. We've dedicated time to refining skills such as letter formation, maintaining appropriate spacing, capitalisation, and punctuation. Our writing focus has centered on non-fiction pieces exploring the landmarks of London, offering students a real-world context for their learning.
Maths
In Maths, we've been tackling the concept of large numbers to 50, learning strategies for counting in groups of ten
and breaking numbers down into their tens and ones components using hands-on approaches.
Art
We learnt about the Chinese New Year and why each year has a different animal. We made yellow and red
Chinese lanterns which are said to bring good luck and prosperity.
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 29th January 2024
English
This week in English we have been continuing to complete work surrounding the Paddington at the Palace book.
We started the week by planning a letter to either the Household Cavalry or the King's Guard. We thought very carefully
about what we wanted to include in our letter and wanted to ensure we asked some questions too.
We wrote our letters properly later in the week and they have now been sent off in the hope that we
get a reply very soon.
Maths
In Maths this week we have been continuing our work with addition and subtraction. We have explored with
solving missing number calculations and have also worked on jumping back on a number line.
Science
In Science this week we have been learning about carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. This has all been part of
our animals topic and we had to sort different animals into the correct groups based on their eating habits.
As a year group we really enjoyed taking part in the NSPCC Number Day and some of the outfits made and worn
by Year 1 children were fantastic! Thank you to all the adults at home for your support with this fundraising day.
Reading Challenge
Congratulations to Sycamore Class who have successfully completed another 100 books for the Reading Challenge!
They enjoyed watching a film with their teddies from home on Friday afternoon.
Oak Class are still working towards their next 100 books but hopefully it won't be long before they can enjoy their
treat 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 22 January
English
In our English lessons, we've embarked on a delightful journey with "Paddington Bear." Initially, we engaged in a prediction activity, examining the book's cover to speculate about the story's content. This exercise sparked our curiosity and set the stage for the narrative to unfold.
After reading the story, we focused on sequencing. By using illustrative images and crafting full sentences with proper capitalisation and punctuation, we developed a deeper understanding of the story's structure and events.
Next, we concentrated on the art of storytelling. Our teacher demonstrated various reading styles – whispering, omitting words, and even skipping pages – to emphasise the importance of clear and audible narration. This prompted us to guide him back to effective storytelling techniques. We then practised retelling the story in pairs, some of us even had the opportunity to perform in front of the class.
Lastly, we delved into the world of adjectives. Our task was to describe characters such as the King's Guard and Paddington himself. This exercise allowed us to explore a variety of descriptive words, enriching our vocabulary and enhancing our ability to express ourselves in written form.
Overall, these activities not only deepened our comprehension of "Paddington Bear" but also enhanced our skills in prediction, sequencing, storytelling, and descriptive writing.
Maths
In our recent math sessions, we've been focusing on enhancing our understanding of number bonds and their application in calculating larger sums. For example, by recognising that 3 + 4 equals 7, we can easily deduce that 13 + 4 equals 17. This approach involves identifying the base ten and then adding the ones, facilitating our ability to work with larger numbers.
Additionally, we've delved into the concept of doubles. To make this concept more tangible, we used ten frames and counting bears in a hands-on activity. As a class, we selected a number and then followed three essential steps to find its double:
- Placement: First, we placed the chosen number onto the ten frame.
- Duplication: Next, we "added the same again" – effectively duplicating the initial number on the ten frame.
- Counting: Lastly, we counted all the bears in the ten frame to determine the total, successfully finding the double of our original number.
This practical approach not only made learning fun but also reinforced our understanding of basic addition and the concept of doubling numbers.
If you're interested in assisting your child with their math studies outside of school, I highly recommend the WhiteRose app. This free app, which doesn't require any login, aligns with the curriculum we use in class. To complement what we're learning at school, I suggest focusing on the following sections within the app:
- Addition: Sections 1 to 4 and Section 11.
- Subtraction: Sections 1 and 2.
Here is a link: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/1-minute-maths/id1584136366
Sycamore class is very close to completing its reading challenge!
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 commencing 8th January
English
To enhance comprehension and retention, the students initially focused on developing their retrieval skills. This involved listening to various facts about whales, discussing them, and then selecting and writing down their favourite ones. This exercise reinforced their listening and memory skills.
Following this, the class undertook a creative writing task. They were tasked with writing a postcard from the perspective of the character Noi. This required careful planning, including deciding on the recipient of the postcard and outlining the key events of Noi's adventure. To enrich their writing, the students also compiled lists of descriptive adjectives about the island and expressed the emotions experienced during Noi's adventure. This planning step helped ensure that their final postcards were coherent and structured.
Writing the postcard involves various key skills e.g. comprehension, creative thinking, planning, and expressive writing.
Maths
In our Maths lessons, we've been exploring the foundational concept of place value, specifically focusing on ones and tens. we began with an intuitive understanding that a group of 10 ones forms a single ten. To reinforce this concept, students engaged in a hands-on activity where they constructed towers using 10 individual cubes, visually and tangibly representing the idea of 'one ten'.
Building on this foundation, we progressed to composing numbers up to 20 using combinations of tens and ones. This exercise was not only about number formation but also about understanding the significance of place value in our number system. The students demonstrated their growing proficiency by effectively using tens and ones blocks to represent various numbers within this range, thereby solidifying their understanding of how larger numbers are structured.
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.
