Weekly Update 27th April

What are we learning this week in Year 1/2?


Literacy

This week we are continuing our work about bats. The children worked hard last collecting the information from the internet and factsheets. This week the children will be given different sub headings and using their information, they will write a report. We will be looking again at the features of an information book and creating our own class information books to present to the other classes.  

Ask your child what they now know about bats. Are bats nocturnal? What other animals are nocturnal?

Have a go at some fun online literacy games at home. 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks1literacy.html

Phonics
Phonics websites
www.free-phonics-worksheets.com
worksheets for- 
- consonant and vowel recognition, 
- initial consonant sounds, 
- beginning and end blends, 
- consonant diagraphs, 
- silent letters,
- long vowel sounds,
- Phase 3 and 5 sounds.

www.sparklebox.co.uk
Has and Letters and Sounds section that covers all the phonic phases and the tricky words, 100/200 common words.
Lots of letter fans, mats, display ideas and games that follow ideas in  Letters and Sounds phases.

www.kidzone.ws/phonics
American site, simple worksheets mostly CVC and initial sounds.
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/phonics/
mix of very good interactive games and worksheets covering most phonic phases. Recommend Sandcastle quiz for phase 3 and 5.

www.phonicsplay.co.uk
a selection of interactive games for all phonic phases. Mostly simple games.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/words/dgi.shtml  http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures / http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/   (This site asks for a subscription but if you click on the appropriate phase there are games available without a log in) http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-3-games.html  http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/interactive/literacy.html  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/words/dgi.shtml  http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html  http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/  http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/   (This site asks for a subscription but if you click on the appropriate phase there are games available without a log in) http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-3-games.html


Maths

This week we will looking at adding and subtracting. We will be using problem solving skills to calculate different amount of money and how much change to give.

Here are some relevant websites to try:

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=PostSortingcalculationsv2
http://www.doorwayonline.org.uk/cashingin-fullscreen.html 
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=PriceListsv5
http://www.doorwayonline.org.uk/tillwemeet-fullscreen.html
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=howmuchleftv2
http://www.ictgames.com/change_eXchanger_50p.html

Topic

This week we will be studying wild plants.

The children will be going on a ‘wild plant hunt’ within the school grounds (weather permitting!).

They will be asked to use their senses to describe the plants they find – what do they look like, smell like and feel like.  How are they similar and how are they different to other wild plants?

The children’s challenge will be to write short paragraphs on two or three of the plants they find and to form their own opinion of the plants. Do they like it/not like it and why.  The children will be reminded to include the following within their writing:
* Capital letters
* Full stops
* Use of comma’s when writing a list
* Finger spaces
* Adjectives
Interesting fact – did you know that some plants are carnivores, gaining nutrients by eating various small insects and spiders! A well known example of a carnivorous plant is the Venus Flytrap.

Come and See

This week we are continuing a new topic called “Change.” We will be exploring the fact that we change and grow.

* How did Jesus die?
* What did Jesus say about the people who were putting him to death?
* How do you think he felt?
* What are your favourite words and phrases? Q  Why?
* What does the story tell us about Jesus?
* When he was dying who was he thinking about?

The children will be cutting out captions that Jesus spoke and placing them around the Cross on our class prayer focus.
Have a great week

The Year 1/2 Team