English – Perfecting Our Sentences
This term in English, we have been focusing on writing our very own narratives. We’ve worked hard on creating perfect sentences, making sure we always include capital letters, finger spaces, and full stops. We also began exploring other punctuation such as question marks and exclamation marks to make our writing even more expressive and exciting!
Maths – Mass, Volume, Multiplication & Division
In Maths, we explored the concepts of Mass and Volume, learning how to tell whether a container is full or empty and using balancing scales to find out how many cubes different objects weigh. More recently, we’ve moved on to Multiplication and Division, learning to count in 2s, 5s, and 10s. The children have really enjoyed using practical methods to deepen their understanding!
Phonics – Preparing for the Screening Check
With the Year 1 Phonics Screening coming up in June, we’ve been practising recognising and writing our phonemes, discovering new words, and using them in sentences. The children have shown a brilliant improvement—not just in their phonics knowledge, but also in their independence when writing full sentences. Keep it up!
Computing – Exploring Text Tools
In Computing, we’ve been learning how to use different text formatting features such as bold, italics, and underline. We also explored the keyboard, learning how the space bar, backspace, and enter key affect the way we type and structure our writing. It’s been great to see the children grow in confidence with digital tools!
Art – 3D Sculpting in Action
Our new topic in Art has been all about 3D sculpture. We’ve had fun building towers using rolled paper, experimenting with shapes that are tall, thin, wide, and even laying structures on their sides. We also created layered designs using twisted and stacked paper strips, turning 2D materials into 3D masterpieces!
Exploring the Mud Kitchen
During a bit of free time at the end of the day, we took our learning outdoors to enjoy the mud kitchen. The children got creative, whipping up delicious dishes like crispy chicken, chocolate ice cream sundaes, and leafy green salads. It was wonderful to see them working together, communicating, and using their imaginations so brilliantly.
Science: Material Chemistry – Cinderella’s Mop Mission
In Science, we were given a special mission by Cinderella herself! She asked us to find the best mop to make her cleaning dreams come true. The children worked hard to test and sort different mops based on their absorbency, from the most absorbent to the least absorbent. We carefully examined each mop to see which one would be the most effective for Cinderella’s chores. We hope our results will help her, and we can’t wait to see which mop wins the title of Cinderella’s perfect cleaning tool!
Colour Splash: Painting and Mixed Media
Explore the exciting world of colour mixing through paint play in Colour Splash. Using a variety of tools and techniques, this creative experience invites you to experiment with vibrant colours and textures on different surfaces. Inspired by the bold, geometric patterns of Clarice Cliff and the iconic, layered style of Jasper Johns, you’ll create unique mixed-media paintings that push the boundaries of traditional art. Dive into a fun, colourful journey and discover your artistic potential.
Year 1 Forest School: Bird Watching Adventures
In Year 1 Forest School, children embrace the wonders of nature through bird watching! Equipped with handmade binoculars and field guides, they explore the outdoors, observing and identifying local bird species including Magpies, Red kite, Wood pigeon, Long tail tits and our friendly forest school Robin.This activity nurtures curiosity, patience, and a connection to the natural world, while also developing listening and observation skills.
History: A Journey Through Time
In Year One, we explored history through a chronological timetable, from ancient times to the medieval, industrial, and 20th centuries. We learned about significant figures such as Mary Seacole, a pioneering nurse who made a lasting impact during the Crimean War, and Sir Winston Churchill, the British leader who played a crucial role during World War II. We also discussed the importance of remembrance, reflecting on why it’s vital to honor and remember those who have shaped our history. It was a fascinating journey through time, filled with stories of courage, leadership, and resilience.
Exploring Reflective Materials
In Science, children become curious investigators as they explore reflective materials! Through hands-on experiments and observations, they learn how light interacts with different surfaces and discover which materials are best at reflecting light. This engaging topic encourages questioning, predicting, and testing, helping young scientists develop their investigative skills while understanding the importance of light and reflection in everyday life.
Design Technology: Creating Moving Pictures
In Design Technology, children embark on an imaginative journey to create moving pictures! Using sliders and other simple mechanisms, they design and construct their own interactive storybooks. This hands-on project combines creativity and problem-solving as students learn about how things move and work. By planning, assembling, and refining their designs, they develop fine motor skills and a deeper understanding of basic mechanics, bringing their stories to life with movement!
Computing: Exploring Digital Painting
In Year 1, our young learners dive into the exciting world of digital painting! Using age-appropriate software, children develop essential computing skills while exploring their creativity. They learn to use simple tools like brushes, shapes, and colors to create digital masterpieces, fostering fine motor skills and imaginative expression. Through fun, hands-on activities, students gain confidence in using technology as a creative tool, setting the foundation for future digital literacy.
Art & Design
This term, our young artists explored the exciting world of color. We learned about primary and secondary colors, discovering how mixing just two primary colors can create a brand-new one. Through hands-on activities like mixing playdough and experimenting with paints, the children enjoyed bringing their color creations to life. It was fantastic to see their creativity and curiosity shine as they experimented and discovered new possibilities!
Maths
In Maths this term, we focused on comparing numbers up to 10. The children built towers with cubes to visually represent their comparisons and used the signs for “greater than” and “less than” to describe relationships between numbers. These practical activities helped deepen their understanding of number value while making learning fun and interactive. It was great to see how engaged they were as they worked together to explore number comparisons!
English
This term, we also delved into the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The children loved exploring the story’s characters and themes. As part of our creative response, we designed and crafted our own puppets, bringing the story to life through imaginative play and storytelling. It was wonderful to see their creativity come alive as they acted out scenes and added their own twists to the classic narrative!
