Welcome to the year 1 class page for 2021-2022. Here you can find out about all of the fantastic things we are doing. 

This half term we went on a trip to Sherwood forest where we worked on our map/ orienteering skills and enjoyed creating forest art. 

 Newsletter and topic web 

                                                                                                June 2022

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back after the holidays.  We have a long last term ahead of us, packed with lots of fun and exciting things! Our topic is ‘Enchanted forest’ which will include a trip to Sherwood forest and hopefully lots of work outdoors, weather dependent! Please see the attached topic web for a breakdown of what we will be focusing on in each subject.

Science targets

This half term we will be working on the topic of ‘plants’. During the unit these are the targets we will be trying to achieve:

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Phonics

Just a reminder that the phonics screening test will take place this term for year 1 children. Please ensure children are in school where possible. Any extra phonics work done at home would be beneficial and could make a huge difference. Thank you to the many parents who have already started phonics work at home.

Reading

In order to meet the expected standard for a Y1 reader, your child would need to be fluently reading and understanding the book colours stated below by the end of each term.

Genre

This half term we will be going back to looking at a specific genre. Our genre this half term is poetry. We will be linking our literacy work to this genre and will be adapting and writing our own summer poems.

Memory

The suggested memory activity this half terms is a matching pairs game. Use a selection of matching pair cards. Encourage child to turn card, replace it turn another card to attempt to find a pair. There are some interactive versions of this game online.

P.E

P.E will continue to take place on a Monday and Thursday. A reminder that long hair should be tied up and earrings taken out or taped up. Thank you to everyone for following the safety rules.

Homework time table

Passport statements

• Ask to join in another child’s game.
• Know what I am really good at.

As this is the last newsletter of this year I would just like to take the time to thank you for your support throughout the year, and if you would like to discuss anything or have any further questions, then I am available before and after school on most days or via Dojo.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

Children started the day with different craft activities such as crown making, paper chain competitions, key ring making and having fun memorial photos take in the photo booth! The afternoon consisted of cream teas after a party food lunch and performances from each class from their dress up decade. We were the 60's! Children sang a beautiful signed version on the national anthem.  

 We have had lots of fun at our historical street parties! The first one was in 1919 to celebrate the peace teas at the end of the war where we learnt about what life was like for people then. The second party was 1953 where we learnt about the Queens coronation and had salmon paste and cucumber sandwiches and jam and cream cake, using some of our D&T skills to help to prepare the party. Some children even used their ICT skills to film and be TV chefs. 

 Children have visited a Synagogue and Cathedral to compare and learn about the different religious buildings and their features. 

                                                                                                April 2022

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope that you have all had a lovely Easter break! This half term our topic is called ‘Party time!’ I am very excited about this topic and I am sure the children will love it. We will be having lots of parties in the style of parties from history. Please see the topic web attached.  

Science Targets

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Animals – grouping.’ These are the targets that children will be working on.

Phonics

We are still doing work on alien and real words ready for the Phonics screening check which will take place the week beginning 6^th June. Any work at home on alien words will be a massive support to your child in preparation for this.  If you need any help or support with this please come and see me.

Genre

This half term we will be focussing on the genre, fairy tales. We will look at a range of fairy tale stories in order to help us write our own fantastic fairy tales using key features and vocabulary.

Reading

In order to meet the expected standard for a Y1 reader, your child would need to be fluently reading and understanding the book colours stated below by the end of each term.

Memory

As mentioned in previous letters, there is a link between memory and retention of learning. Here is the suggested memory activity for this half term-

Provide a sequence of coloured cubes beginning with two. Allow the child to view the sequence. Cover the sequence and encourage the child to copy the sequence from memory.

P.E

P.E is still on a Monday and Thursday this half term. Thank you for sending children in PE kits on these days.

Homework timetable

Passport statements

• Show care towards animals.

If you wish to discuss anything else with me please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

A few events from this half term. Children have taken part in ocean day to raise money for a sea turtles/ ocean charity linked to our St. Lucia topic. Children have also taken part in crazy golf and worked on their ICT searching skills.  

 We had the most wonderful day at The Deep! Children learned lots of information about turtles ready to start our St. Lucia topic. 

Look at our fantastic costumes for World Book Day 2022! Children also visited our new library and shared a book with their favourite teddy and enjoyed a snack.  

                                                                                                February 2022

Dear Parents/Carers,

This term we are going to be busy learning all about St Lucia, the second largest Caribbean island, through different subjects every day. I had to break the news that it would cost too much to visit, but fortunately we can follow the adventures of Barnaby Bear! See attached Topic Web to find out about what the children will be learning about this half term.   

Science Targets

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Animals - Humans.’ These are the targets that children will be working on.

Phonics

In the Summer term children will be expected to do a phonics screening test which is an official test set by the government. Any work at home on alien words will be a massive support to your child in preparation for this.  If you need any help or support with this please come and see me. We will also be concentrating on this for morning activity this half term as well as doing another mock screening test.

Memory

We have noticed a link between children’s memories and being able to follow instructions and retain things that have been taught. To try and help your child’s working memory you may want to try this game.

Going to the Zoo- Using zoo animal toys, sing we’re going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo. Place a toy animal on the table and ask the child to say what it is. Cover it. Ask what animal is at the Zoo. Repeat, adding another animal, ask what 2 animals are at the zoo. Uncover and see if you are correct. Keep adding animals until they find it difficult.

Reading

In order to meet the expected standard for a Y1 reader, your child would need to be fluently reading and understanding the book colours stated below by the end of each term.

Author

This half term we will be focussing on the author, Nicola Davies. We will look at a range of her nature books in order to help us write our own non-fiction information pages.

P.E

P.E will continue to take place on a Monday and a Thursday this half term.

Passport statements

• Understand how to keep safe outside of school.
• Know what I am really good at.

Homework time table.

I am looking forward to talking with you about your child’s progress at parent’s evening this half term. If you wish to discuss anything else with me, please feel free to catch me before or after school or on dojo.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

For safer internet day we have been looking at a few areas of online safety including the chat options in games and in app purchases. Children have been teaching me about Mario party games. Here is the class poster we created linked to Mario Party and how to stay safe on the game. 

 We took part in Eco day where children dressed up in yellow (sun), blue (water) or green (land) and donated £1 to go towards helping the school become more environmentally friendly.  Children learnt about how to look after the environment and make a bird feeder to hang in the school garden to help to feed the wild life through the winter. 

 We went to the gym festival where we worked on our jumping, landing and floor skills. 

 The children were very excited to get a visit from the fire engine during our Great Fire of London topic. Children got a tour of the engine and a fire safety talk from the firefighters. We will be looking at the difference between fire fighting now and in 1666. 

                                                                                                January 2022

Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope that you have all had a fantastic Christmas break! As we return back to school our new topic is ‘Fire, Fire’ which will be based around the Great Fire of London. Please see the attached topic web for a breakdown of what we will be focusing on in each subject.

Science Targets

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Seasonal changes - Winter.’ These are the targets that children will be working on.

English

We are continuing to work on joined handwriting. If you would like any information or advice on how to assist your child at home, please do feel free to come and see me. We will carry on working towards our Phonics screening test that will take place in the summer.

Author

This half term we will be focusing on the poet, Michael Rosen. We will look at a range of his poems as well as different styles of poetry and will use what we learn to create our own poems.

Reading

In order to meet the expected standard for a Y1 reader, your child would need to be fluently reading and understanding the book colours stated below by the end of each term.

Memory games

We have noticed a link between children’s memories and being able to follow instructions and retain things that have been taught. To try and help your child’s working memory you may want to try this game.

• Find 10 everyday items i.e. key, spoon. Encourage the child to remember as many of the items as they can. Remove one item without the child looking. Child to identify the missing object. Try to increase the number of objects removed.

P.E

P.E will continue to take place on a Monday and a Thursday this half term. Thank you to everyone for taking earrings out or taping up ears for PE, it is really important for health and safety. Please remember children will need a jumper/ coat/ gloves/ hat for outdoor PE.

Passport statements

As part of PSHE this half term we will be working on:

• Understand what is right and wrong
• Always try their best.

Homework time table

Thank you so much to everyone getting homework in on time.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

 The children in KS1 and Early Years have been busy writing pieces to go in the termly newsletter. Please find it attached to see all of the fun things we have been up to as a key stage and also celebrate children's achievements in their writing.

Here is our enterprise journey! We decided what we wanted to make and looked at the costings. The children then decided how much we needed to sell each item for in order to make a profit. We then went to the enterprise market to sell our product and to spend our money on other classes stalls, thinking about the money we have and what we could buy. 

 This week we have been working on our important anti-bullying message! We have talked about who you can report bullying too and the different types of bullying. This week is all about 'One kind word' Children have been thinking about kind actions. 

STOP - Several Time On Purpose

START- Start Telling And Reporting Trouble 

VIP  - Verbal Physical Indirect.  

                                                                                                November 2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

This is always a fantastic time of year in school with the run up to Christmas! This half term we will be doing lots of festive activities as well as our main topic ‘London Adventure’ I have created a topic web so that you can see what this topic will be covering.

Science Targets

Our Science topic this half term is ‘Materials.’ These are the targets that children will be working on.

English

If you do want to help with your child’s writing at home, we are focusing on joining our handwriting this half term. Our writing policy suggests that children should be joining their handwriting by Christmas in year 1.  Please feel free to ask if you need further support or advice.

Spellings

Thank you to everyone that has supported their child with spellings last half term. It really does make a difference in writing and gives children a huge boost when they get them all correct!

Genre

The Genre that we will be focusing on this half term is Traditional tales. We will be looking at a selection of traditional tales and will be building on our own story telling skills.

Homework

Thank you for supporting your child with their homework.

This half terms homework timetable:

Passport statements

This half term we will be working on:

• Solving problems without arguing.
• Saying sorry when we have done something wrong
• Always doing as the teacher asks.

If you have any further questions or concerns before this please feel free to catch me before or after school or on dojo.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

We followed instructions really well to create our own delicious Wonka bars. Next we will use the features of instructions to write our own recipe to tell someone else how to make one too! 

This half term we have been doing some outdoor adventure. In this lesson children had to break the code to find the secret message! 

 We have had lots of fun celebrating Roald Dahl Day and learning all about the characters that Roald Dahl created as well as about Roald Dahls life. We baked Mrs Twit's eye ball cakes, created extending crocodiles, did a quiz, made some huge BFG ears and lots, lots more!

                                                                                    September 2021

Dear Parents/Carers,

 Welcome back to a new school year, I hope you have all had a fantastic Summer break! Our topic this term is ‘Scrumdiddlyumptious!’ and as many lessons as possible will be linked to this topic. I have created a topic web so that you can see what this topic will be covering.

Science Targets

English

If you do want to help with your child’s writing at home we are focusing on using finger spaces, capital letters and full stops correctly this half term. We will then move onto using ‘and’ to join ideas and a huge focus will be on joined handwriting. Every child is also placed in a phonics group to suit their ability in order for them to progress at their level. They will be learning new sounds and spelling patterns each week, ask them to share these with you, but please feel free to ask if you need further support or advice.

Spellings

Children will get 5 spellings a week; if they correctly spell all 5 then they will be rewarded with a team point. The spellings they receive will initially be the year 1 words and then will be linked to the phonics sound that they have been working on that week and they will be tested on a Friday. Any help you can give your children at home is greatly appreciated and makes a big difference in their writing. Later in the year children will also get bonus words which will be random words linked to spelling patterns we have done in class. As each new half term starts the first weeks spelling test will be a recap test of a selection of words from the previous half term.

Author

Each half term we will focus on a chosen author or genre. Our first author that we are going to be focusing on this half term is Roald Dahl; he is a very famous children’s author that is loved by adults too!

Homework

Children will have the first few weeks to settle into their new surroundings before homework is given. Homework will be given out on a Friday and is to be returned by the following Wednesday. It is the children’s responsibility to hand it in as we are starting to build up independence. Your child may need support reading the task but as the year progresses they should become more confident at having ago by themselves. You are welcome to work with them and let them know if an answer is incorrect, supporting them to correct it.

  Homework timetable

P.E

P.E will take place on a Monday and Thursday. Children can continue to come to school on these days dressed in their PE kits. Please ensure that they are appropriately dressed for the weather, it does start to turn cold during out door PE at the end of the term.

Passport statements

The PSHE areas that we are working on from our passports are:

• Always say please and thank you.
• Share a favourite toy.
• Help tidy the classroom.

A few further bits of information:

• Just a reminder that children with pierced ears should have their earrings removed or taped up before school on PE days.
• We will be taking part in Roald Dahl day on Monday the 13^th September. It is a charity day that promises to be lots of fun. Children can dress up as their favourite Roald Dahl character and we will be doing lots of games and activities. More information can be found on http://www.roalddahl.com/create-and-learn/join-in/roald-dahl-day
• We will be testing children on number facts this year such as number bonds to 10 and 20 and also times tables later on in the year.
• Please avoid booking to go away during June as this is usually when the phonics screening check that we have to do in year 1 takes place. I will speak to you more about this during the first parents evening.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to catch me before or after school.

Thank you,

Miss T Ward

Class Teacher

 Here is our vocabulary triangle for this half term. Any work you can do at home looking at this vocabulary and the meaning of the words would be very beneficial.