This week in Year 1...

Dear Year 1 Families,

What a great week we’ve had in Year 1 again! The children have been demonstrating wonderful teamwork both in the classroom and out on the playground. They have been learning how to use the outdoor equipment safely and respectfully, and have shown how working together helps us make our classroom a positive and happy place to learn.

In English, the children continued exploring ideas around the story Flashlight. They listened to a soundscape to imagine what they might hear and see in a forest, and wrote about what they would notice when their flashlight turns on. To challenge their writing further, the children wrote about animals, practised their handwriting, and applied their phonics skills.

In Maths, the children have been learning how to combine two parts to make a whole using the addition and equals symbols. They showed confidence in forming number sentences and representing amounts using resources such as tens frames.

In Science, the children have been learning about amphibians and how they differ from other animal groups. They can now explain the differences between mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They have really enjoyed discovering new facts, and we look forward to learning next about what animals eat and where they sit in the food chain.

In RE, we have been exploring the idea of a journey. We discussed our own experiences of journeys, learned about the countdown through the Advent wreath for Christmas, and explored the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The children sequenced pictures of the journey and made thoughtful connections about how Mary and Joseph may have felt along the way.

In Art, the children have been learning to draw lines in different ways, including straight, diagonal, zig-zag and curved, to create a variety of shapes. This week, we focused on self-portraits and explored how we can use shapes to form the features of a face. The children really enjoyed creating their own portraits using shapes to represent what they look like. 

Next week we have our Parent Event for Christmas crafts and we would love to see as many of you there as possible. We will also be holding our Christmas Shopping Day for the children. Please ensure you have handed your slip to the class teacher. 

Have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing you Monday. 

The Year 1 Team

Looking Ahead - Key Dates for your Diary