Another busy week in Year One!

We have been getting to grips with days of the week and months of the year this week in maths (sorry if you have heard the songs continuously in your homes- they’ve been stuck in our heads too!) Leading on from this, next week we will be focusing on telling the time. In year One we need to be able to tell the time to the hour and half past the hour. This is something you may want to practice at home. If your child can already tell these times then challenge them with quarter past, quarter to and five minute intervals.

In English, we have started our next fairy tale- little red riding hood. What do our tales have in common so far? A BIG BAD WOLF! Now we have heard from Mrs Phillips in the office that he is not happy about not getting the job at our school. We hope he doesn’t pay us a visit…

In year One we will be holding our year group poetry competition on Thursday 8^th February. A first, second and third place will be picked across the year group and will be entered in to the whole school competition. If your child would like to take part, ensure they have learnt their poem off by heart by then and bring in props on this day if needed.

Reminder- On the 20th February at 10:15 it is our liturgy service in the school hall. All family members are welcome to come and worship with us.

Parents evening is the 6th and 7th March- check the newsletter for when online bookings will be available.

Well, we are blown away with the learning in Year One this week! They have worked so hard, well done Turtles and Pufferfish you have earnt a well rested weekend.

In maths this week we have introduced a new maths tool – dienes. We have used these to help us count in tens. We have been helping the bakers to solve maths problems- Did you know only ten gingerbread men can fit on to a baking tray?

Next week in maths we will be learning to tell the time. In Year One we need to be able to tell the time to the hour and half past the hour.

In literacy (you may have already seen Mr Cunninghams blog!) we found a letter from the big bad wolf asking for a job at our school! There was no way we were going to let that happen! We decided to write a persuasive letter to Mr Cunningham to explain to him everything we know about the big bad wolf and that we do not think it is a good idea! We hope that is enough to keep the big bad wolf at bay!

In phonics we are focusing on the various spellings of the sound-

ie       i-e      igh

This week our topic ‘a tale to tell’ has been linked to our maths and literacy learning.

In literacy we have been reading the ‘true’ story of the three little pigs as told by the wolf himself. Next week we will find a letter from the wolf – addressed to Mr Cunningham! I wonder what it could be about?

In maths we have continued our learning of counting in 2s but through money. We have told the children that if they can count all of the 2ps in the purses then the teachers can take our 2ps to the shops and buy some ingredients to make gingerbread men on Monday morning! Next we will be moving on to counting in 10s using baking trays of gingerbread men (you can only fit ten gingerbread men cutters on one tray)

In phonics this week we have been recapping these sounds-

e-e       ea        ee

Reminder- the poetry competition will be held in Year One the last week before half term. Plenty of time to keep practicing- booklets can be downloaded from parent mail if lost- if not ask the class teachers.

It has been lovely to welcome back all of Year One to a new term. We have started a new topic –

A TALE TO TELL

All based on traditional tales. Over the term we will be exploring various traditional tales and the alternative versions- for example the three ninja pigs!

This week we have focused on the tale the three little pigs, we have enjoyed retelling the story. However next week we will be reading the ‘true’ story of the three little pigs…

In maths this week we found out that the pigs materials to build their houses only came in packs of 2! So we had to work out how many packets the pigs would need to buy by counting in 2s.

Next week we will be continuing to count in 2s but using 2p coins to buy ingredients for gingerbread men.

In phonics we have been assessing children on their phase 5 sounds. In our phonics lessons we have been recapping the sounds

 ay        a-e       ai 

these all make the same sound- they are just spelt differently.

Thank you to all of our helpers who helped our little Year Ones walk all the way to the church this Tuesday for the advent service. We couldn’t do trips without your support, so thank you.

Reminder- Next week is the big nativity performance! Monday afternoon starting at 1:30 and Tuesday morning starting at 9:30, enquire at the office for any questions about tickets. We are really looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible- if you are unable to attend we will put lots of pictures on here for you to enjoy.

Reminder- Next Friday, 15th December from 3:00 you are invited to drop in to the classroom to read and share the stories the children have been writing this half term.

Have a lovely Christmassy weekend

Year One team

What a wonderful Friday it has been in Year One today, full of exciting scientific learning.

First of all we investigated a variety of materials and there properties. Then we investigated which materials would float and which would sink. Once we had found out which materials would float- we made our very own boats! Next week we will be testing our boats to see if they will float.

Next week is a busy week in Year One, we have our annual advent service at Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday. If you have replied to the green letter to say that you are able to walk with us and you have a DBS check with the school then we would like your help please. With our children being the younger members of the school we need as much help as possible- so if you have replied with the green form please come to Year One from 8:50 signing in through the office. Thank you!

We also have our dress rehearsal to the school next Friday. Please can the children’s costumes be brought in next week in a named carrier bag ready for this and the performances the week after.

The letter for tickets for the nativity  was sent out a couple of weeks ago. If you still need a letter they are in the school office. If you have any other enquires about tickets please ask at the school office too as they are organising the issuing of tickets.

Have a wonderful and restful weekend- wrap up warm!

The Year One team

Another fantastic week of learning has come to an end, this week we have been particularly focusing on phonics.

We have been assessing the children’s phase 3 phonics. Across the year group we have identified gaps- particularly those trickier sounds made up of more than one letter for example   URE,  AIR,  OA,   ER  etc.

We have provided each child with a pack of phase 3 sound cards. In school we have practiced some games using the sounds;

We would appreciate these games or similar being played at home to reinforce these crucial sounds.

Thank you for your support

The Year One team

We have started our new topic of journeys for this term.

The children have written a class letter to themselves and have discussed the journey that their letter will take to get back. I wonder how long our letters will take to return?

In maths this week we have been focusing on halves of shapes. The children have explored and investigated a wide variety of shapes to see if ALL shapes can be split equally in half. Next week we will be learning about halves of amounts. Perhaps you could practice this over the weekend- for example- you have ten sweets, one for you one for your child etc!

In literacy we have been reading the story the Hare and Tortoise, next week the children will be writing a letter to Hare giving him useful advice about how he can win his next race.

Don’t forget to book your parents evening appointment with us to discuss the wonderful learning we have been doing so far.

Have a wonderful weekend

The Year One team

Last Friday we planted our dinosaur seeds. We couldn’t believe how much it had grown over the weekend. Then we saw something poking out of the soil, it looked like a tail!

We have watched carefully over the week and to our great excitement we have grown our very own dinosaur! We have made him a bed and given him some water and food.

You have worked so hard over this first term Turtles and Pufferfish- we are very proud of you. Have a lovely and safe half term.

This week we have continued our exciting learning about dinosaurs. The children have begun reading a new book in English- How to grow a dinosaur. Apologies in advance- tomorrow the children will be coming home with packets of dinosaur seeds to grow! This theme will continue in our English next week when the children will begin to learn the skills to write a set of instructions. This weekend with your child you may wish to make something, so that they have the opportunity to hear the words first, then, next, after that and finally.

In maths, we will be moving on to money next week. This is a great chance for the children to play shops at home or even help with the shopping! We will be focusing on recognising coins and understanding the value that each coin has.

During our RE sessions we will be learning about our new topic- Prayers, Saints and Feasts. The first session will be focusing on where and when the children pray.

Have a lovely weekend, enjoy growing your dinosaurs (jelly beans!)

The Year One Team