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

Weekly Update: 20th April

Information: We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting reading at home, by hearing your child read. Can we ask you to continue to write in the home school diaries, whenever you hear your child read.
Thanks again to parents who have been continuing phonic learning at home, using websites provided in the blog. Updated phonic tests were given out in home school diaries before half term.

Literacy:
This week we are learning about non-chronological reports. We are focusing on bats and will be finding out facts we already know and what we would like to learn. We will find out the difference between fact and fiction. The children will use a variety of resources including factsheets, the internet, reports, non-fiction books and video clips. The children will be using this information to make their own factsheets and documentaries which will be filmed. 

Ask your child what they know about bats. Where do they live? What do they eat?

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

Maths:
This week we will be continuing to practice our x2, x3, x5 and x10 Times Tables. We will also be starting to investigate fractions of shapes. Being able to identify and colour halves and quarters of simple shapes. We will also be looking at fractions of quantities finding a half, then a quarter by halving again.

Here are some websites to have a go at:

Times Tables:
http://www.arcademics.com/games/tractor-multiplication/tractor-multiplication.html
http://resources.oswego.org/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/maths/multiplication/play/

Fractions:
http://resources.hwb.wales.gov.uk/VTC/ngfl/ngfl-flash/fractions/fractions.html
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/fractionflags/fractionflags.html

Topic:

This week we will start our new topic for this half-term called ‘Plants’.
It is a really interesting topic that focuses on science and art.  So your children will hopefully be coming home with lots of interesting facts to tell you!

In the first lesson the children will be discussing what we mean by plants and why plants are so important to us.  We will learn what seeds need to grow into healthy plants.  The children will grow their own cress – taking responsibility to make sure that their pot is nurtured correctly to allow the cress seeds to grow.  Just to check that seeds need daylight and water we will place some seeds in the dark and ‘forget’ to water other seeds – it will be the children’s job to document the results!

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. 

We will read the story based on Mark 11:1-11 and ask the key questions:

* Where did Jesus get the donkey from?
* What did the people use to wave with?
* What did they put on the road?
* Why do you think they did that?
* Where have you heard the words ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’?

Have a great week
Year 1/2 Team

Weekly Update Tuesday 14th April

Welcome back after the Easter Holidays. We hope everyone had a wonderful time.

Here is what we are doing this week:

Literacy:

This week the children will be writing a recount about their Easter holidays. The following day the children will look at their writing and highlight all the connectives, adjectives and punctuation. They will then be able to see which sentences need improving. The children will get some improvement time and add to certain sentences to improve them. We will also be completing our weekly grammar activities and reading comprehensions.  

Ask your child what they have enjoyed doing over the Easter holidays. Can they describe a day in detail using adjectives? 

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

Maths:

This week we will be identifying and describing 3D shapes. We will be going on a shape hunt around the classroom to see which shapes we can find. We will be looking to find cubes, cuboids, cylinders, cones, spheres, pyramids, and prisms. Children can also bring into school 3d shapes they have identified at home, to see if the other children can guess what shape it is!

have a go at these activities:

http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/me3usa/flash/index.html?goLesson=14
http://primarygamesarena.com/Shapes-and-Colors-Activity3004
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/3d/index.htm
http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/shape.htm


Topic

Welcome back to the new term.  We hope that you had a wonderful Easter break!
This week we will be looking at the season of Spring and learning lots about the Sun.  The children will learn about how the Earth orbits the Sun and how seasons are created.  Interesting facts will be learnt during the lessons giving the children a greater understanding and interest in space and, in particular, the Sun.
We will be reading poetry about and creating our own metaphors to describe the Sun.  For example: The Sun is a yellow balloon, The Sun is a fiery ball in the sky and so on.
The children will discuss what Spring means to them and what environmental changes occur during this season.  Artwork will be created for our new Spring display.
Interesting fact – did you know that the reason there is more daylight during the spring is the earth’s axis tilts toward the sun at this time of year.

We will also be continuing daily phonic activities- see previous blog entries for websites.

Have a great week
Year 1/2 Team

Weekly Update 30th March

Information-

Although it is the end of term, we still have a whole host of activities this week. On Monday afternoon, we will be hosting our Egg Rolling Competition. Please make sure that your eggs are hard boiled before decorated, it can get very messy in the hall if not. If possible can eggs for the competition be sent in a named box, to keep them safe before they are rolled!

We are all looking forward to the Easter Bonnet Parade on Wednesday afternoon, it is a pleasure to see how much work the children put into their bonnets and how proud they are of them.

This week we will be focusing much of our activities to the Easter Story.

We will also be finishing off assessments. Your child should come home this week with the outcome of their phonics check in school. The sounds highlighted are the sounds your child will be working on in school in daily phonic activities. We would be grateful if children could continue to practice these sounds at home as well.

Here are some websites to reinforce phonic awareness:

Phase 2: http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-2-games.html
Phase 3: http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-3-games.html
Phase 4: http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-4-games.html
Phase 5: http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-5-games.html



Have a lovely Easter Break

Take Care
Year 1/2 Team

Weekly update 23rd March

Information

This week on Friday the 27^th we have our Easter Fair. Children will be allowed to wear their own clothes on Friday, all contributions towards the tombola are greatly appreciated. The tombola will start at three and bingo starts at four.

Maths

This week we will be looking at how to solve word problems using addition and subtraction and then moving on to use all four operations.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=postsortingwordproblem  - Try some online questions.

 

English

This week the children will be learning about commas. We will be writing lists using commas to separate each item and writing and before the last item. We will be reading the book The cat who lost its purr. The children will be writing a recount of the story and writing a character description of the cat. We will also be completing a spelling and reading test this week. 

Can your child write a shopping list with you using commas?  

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

 

Come and See

This week we are continuing a new topic called “Change.” We will be exploring the fact that we change and grow. We will ask key questions about Lent. We will use the letters of the word LENT to make up a prayer or prayer, either individually or as a class. E.g.  love helps us to …..

This week we will also be completing phonic assessments and reading assessments.

 

Have a great week.

The Year1/2 Team

 

 

Weekly Update 16th March

Information

Thank you to all of those who attended the Book Fair this week, the total book sales came to £1102. Using commission earned, children will be able to enjoy many new books in the library.

Class photograph proofs went home on Friday. If you would like a copy of the class photograph, the photographer will be collecting all orders in on Wednesday  25^th March.

Maths

This week in Maths we will be collecting all kinds of data from within our classes and using different ways to interpret it. We will focus this week on:

·         Organising and interpreting information in a simple table

·         Sorting, organising and interpreting information in a block graph

·         Sorting, organising and interpreting  information in a pictogram

Here are some websites to try:

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=barchartv2    - Children can experiment with different types of block graphs.

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/interactive.aspx?cat=18  - Interactive Activity where children can create pictograms.

 Literacy

This week the children will be learning about contractions and which two words make up one contraction. The children will then be looking at sentences with missing punctuation and need to recognise the mistakes and correct them.

We will be reading the fabulous story Mucky Pup by Ken Brown and writing a recount of this. The children will then be thinking of the next adventure for Mucky Pup and writing about this. They will be encouraged to use punctuation, adjectives and connectives. We are also going to start a weekly reading comprehension this week where the children will need to read a story or information and answer questions about this.

Can your child find any contractions in their reading books? 

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

 

Topic

This week the children will be learning all about classifying animals.  In teams they will be grouping animals according to their own classification system (e.g. number of legs, with or without wings, diet, habitat and so on).

The children will be introduced to how scientists group animals and learn: birds/reptiles/fish/mammals/amphibians/insects/plants.  These classifications are used to help us study them.

If you want to have a go visit:  http://sciencenetlinks.com/interactives/class.html   and click on ‘Learn more’ (top right).  Once read through this click on to ‘continue’ and then play.

Interesting fact – People are mammals.  So are dogs, cats, horses, duckbill platypuses, kangaroos, dolphins and whales.  What do all these animals have in common, you ask?

The answer is – MILK!  If an animal drinks milk when it is a baby and has hair on its body, it belongs to the mammal class.

 

R.E - Come and See
This week we are starting a new topic called “Change.” We will be exploring the fact that we change and grow. The children will be looking at the following photographs and discussing the following questions:

•             What difference do you notice between winter and spring?

•             Why do you think the seasons change?

•             How do you think you have changed?

•             What can you do now that you were not able to before you came to school?

•             How are you better at sharing and being kind now?

 

 

 

Have a great week!

The Year 1/2 Team :)

 

 

 

 

Weekly update 9th March 2015

 

Information

Well, last week was a fantastic reading inspired week! On Thursday we were so impressed with the fantastic costumes that the children wore and enjoyed watching them all parade in the morning. Thank you all so much for the time and effort that went into making the children look fantastic!

This week we welcome Mrs Marsh back to school after her maternity leave. She will be taking over in Mrs Malone’s class after her sad departure last week to pastures new in Liverpool. We wish them both well as they start new adventures.

Monday 9^th sees the photographer in school. He will be taking class photographs so please remind the children to stay neat and tidy- or at least until they have had their photo taken!

Maths

This week in Numeracy we will be continuing to look at multiplication as ‘lots of’ and introducing the × sign to the children. We will also be beginning to look at division by grouping objects, for example we will be asking if we have 60p, how many 10p coins will we need to make this.

We will be concentrating on the 2, 5 and 10 times tables so if you can help your children practise these that would be great! Some of the Year 2 children may be ready to start working on the 3’s and 4’s if they are confident with these. The children will continue to sing along with Percy Parker to help them learn their tables!

 

Year 1 children will count on and back in 1s or 10s and say the number that is 1 or 10 more or less up to 100.

They will also add two multiples of 10 by counting on in 10s.

 

Year 2 children will count on in 2s, 5s or 10s; recognise odd and even numbers;  and understand multiplication as ‘lots of’ and use the × sign.

They will also begin to understand division as grouping.

Websites to help

 

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/850/carrollv4.swf

 

http://www.taw.org.uk/lic/itp/itps/Grouping_1_3.swf

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/maths/crosstheswamp.shtml

 

http://resources.oswego.org/games/Ghostblasters1/gbcd.swf

 

http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/penguin-jump/penguin-jump.html

 

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/850/carrollv4.swf

 

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/testtest.html

 

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/dividermachine.html

 

http://www.wmnet.org.uk/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/846/3bears.swf

 English

This week the children will be continuing writing their stories that will be entered into a creative writing competition. We will be focusing on descriptive language, connectives and punctuation. We will then be looking at what a ‘suffix’ is and recognising that it goes at the end of a word to change the meaning. We will have lots of practice through games, matching cards and writing activities.

Ask your child what happens to a word when ‘ing’ is added? Does it change the meaning? For example – run – running.

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

Topic

This week the children will be learning all about caring for pets.  We will be discussing what kind of animals people keep for pets and which animals are not suitable to be kept at home.  They will learn about the five freedoms that the RSPCA hope all owners will give to their pets.

 

The children will also learn the difference between a carnivore, herbivore and omnivore.  They will be learning to classify animals according to their diet and using a Venn diagram to display their findings.

 

Interesting fact – did you know that the largest carnivore is the brown bear.

 

Come and See

The children will be continuing with the theme “Meals”. They will be Reveal the story of Jesus’s special meal. The will discuss the story below:

 

The children will discuss the following questions:

Why this was called the Last Supper?

What did Jesus do? 

What did he say?

When did Jesus share this special meal?

What food and drink did Jesus and his friends share? 

How do you think his friends felt?

What did Jesus ask them do?

How do the friends of Jesus do what he asked today?

During Mass who does what Jesus did at the Last Supper?

Why do you think the bell is rung?

 

The children will discuss our special prayer “The Our Father” and talk about the meaning of the words in the prayer. The children will illustrate the prayer with some pictures.

We will read the Story Gary and his family going to Communion.

We will talk about the following questions:

·         Who received communion?

·         Why didn’t Gary receive Holy Communion?

·         Why do you think Gary is looking forward to his First Holy Communion?

·         What would you like to ask children who have made their

·         First Holy Communion?

 

 

We hope you have a great week!

The Key Stage 1 team.