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Term 3 & 4 Newsletter – Class 1


Dear Class 1 Parents,

Welcome back! We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas Holiday and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a splendid 2024!

Our topic for Terms 3 and 4 is ‘Let It Snow; Let It Grow’. In Term 3, we will be focusing our learning on Winter and the Polar Regions. A copy of the Medium term plan is available on the class page on the school website.

Literacy

Children will continue to have opportunities to develop their vocabulary through new and exciting themed role-plays, as well as a variety of speaking and listening activities. We will focus on a number of different fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts to base our literacy work on, including:

Lost and Found

Emperor’s Egg

Little Penguin

Polar Animals

100 Things you should know about Penguins

Penguins

Rainbow bear (Michael Morpurgo)                   

Jack and The Beanstalk

Seeds

Eddie’s Garden     ...as well as many others!

Our writing focus for Reception is to gain confidence and to use their phonics to write simple words and sentences independently. In phonics, Reception children will be revisiting the single letter sounds and will be learning diagraphs. Year 1’s writing focus will be on developing their understanding and use of adjectives to improve description. They will also be encouraged to continue applying their growing phonic knowledge to further support their spelling. There will be a focus for both year groups on writing sentences with the correct capital letter and full stop.  The children will need to use finger spaces so separate words can be seen. 

Mathematics

Through the use of practical maths sessions, in which we will promote the use of a wide range of concrete apparatus, the children will be covering the following objectives:

Reception Objectives

Number

Estimates how many objects they can see and checks by counting them.

In practical activities and discussion, beginning to use the vocabulary involved in adding and subtracting.

Records, using marks that they can interpret and explain.

Begins to identify own mathematical problems based on own interests and fascinations.

Shape, Space and Measures

Beginning to use mathematical names for ‘solid’ 3D shapes and mathematical terms to describe shapes.

Selects a particular named shape.

Orders two or three items by length or height.

Orders two items by weight or capacity.

Uses everyday language related to time.

Year 1 Objectives

Number - Place Value

Describe the place value of numbers to 20.

Compare and order numbers.

Number - Addition and Subtraction

Add by counting on.

Find and make number bonds.

Add by making 10.

Subtract (not crossing 10).

Subtract (crossing 10).

Explore addition and subtraction fact families.

Compare number sentences.

Shape, Space and Measure - Time

Recognising and sorting 2D and 3D shapes.

Recognising the properties of 2D and 3D shapes.

Mathletics

Your child has a log-in for this online Maths website. Please encourage them to use this as regularly as possible at home to help develop their maths skills. This was very popular last year and the children loved receiving certificates for points earned!

Computing

In computing there will be a focus on photography. The children will use classroom devices to take photos and then up load them and edit them.

RE

In R.E. we will be thinking about why we are special and where do we belong. We will also be learning about Chinese New Year and the story The Great Race.

Forest School

In Class 1 this year we are extremely privileged to have Forest School sessions for your child every other week on a Monday afternoon. These will be run by a qualified forest school leader and former Blackboys’ parent; Mrs Lydia Godfrey. She is very skilled in this area and has been delivering Forest School lessons for us for a number of years now. She will be assisted by Mrs Harper. We would love it if there is a parent or two who would like to volunteer to help too.  If you are interested in helping please speak to a member of the Class 1 team or write your name on the sign-up sheet (outside area).

For Forest School your child will need the following items. Please ensure that your child brings the following items into school on the week your child is attending Forest School. 

Wellington boots

Long sleeved top

Trousers (not jeans)

Waterproof coat

Waterproof trousers (if possible)

Please be aware that the children will go out whatever the weather and are likely to get wet and muddy so do not send them with their best clothes.

DT

In term 3 DT will be learning about mechanisms. The children will be designing, making and evaluating a winter themed moving picture using a slider.

Reading

As was stressed in September, in Class 1 we are passionate about reading! Firstly, we would like to thank you for the support you have shown with regard your child’s reading. We do appreciate how busy life can be and know that it can sometimes be a struggle to fit everything in. In school, we will be continuing to read daily with the children. On some days this will be 1:1, on other days group or choral reading, but every day your child will be involved in hearing several shared stories.

Please continue to support your child with reading at home. The children will have a new phonic book sent home each Friday. This book maybe a Monster Phonic book or a Dandelion book. These are the books your child reads to you. Please remember that the idea of this is that the books should be read and re-read. Whilst reading the same book over again can be ‘challenging’ for us as parents, this repetition is very important for early readers as it helps them to gain confidence; familiarity; build their vocabularies; develop an understanding of rhythm and pattern; as well as for developing comprehension skills. The larger ‘real book’ changed on a Wednesday is the book you can share together. The reading record is for you to use at home but please ensure that it is kept in your child’s book bag. In the reading record please write one comment for each day that you read. When 6 pages of the white book have been completed then a reading certificate will be given to your child during our weekly Friday assembly. We will also be checking reading records for these certificates on Wednesday so in order to avoid disappointment with delayed certificates please be sure that your child’s reading record is in school Thank you for your continued support with reading.

Reception children will be bringing home the next set of letter sounds and High Frequency words to learn.

Science

The children will be learning about what makes Winter wintery; the similarities and differences between seasons with a particular focus on weather; where, how and why some areas of the world are very hot and others extremely cold; comparing ‘who’ and ‘what’ can survive in these cold regions; as well as taking part in experiments involving melting and freezing ice. The children will also be learning about the continents and oceans of the world.

During term 4 the children will be learning about plants in Science. They will be looking at which parts of the plant we eat, what plants need to grow and how different parts of the plants can be used.

History

The children will be learning about the explorer Ernest Shackleton. We will be using role-play, hot seating, drama, speaking and listening activities to learn about the expedition.

Art

The children will be using the technique of potato printing to create pictures of bluebells. They will also be looking at the work of the artist Lynn Flavell.

PE

We have two PE sessions a week. These take place on a Tuesday and Friday. Please ensure your child has their full PE kit (fully named) in school for each session. At Blackboys School we are extremely lucky that the Tuesday mornings P.E. session is led by gym and dance specialist teacher, Zara Breeze, who will be teaching Dance and Gymnastics. This session will take place in the hall.  Whenever possible the Friday session will take place outside so please feel free to also include jogging bottoms and a sweatshirt for this session to help keep them warm. Please ensure your child’s PE kit is clearly labelled and named.

Geography

The children will be learning about the Polar Regions and locate them on maps.


Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is very important for learning. The body needs a considerable amount of water each day to function effectively. Therefore we encourage the children to drink water at regular intervals. To aid us with this please send a named bottle of water for your child to drink in class. Children are able to drink from the water fountain but having a water bottle in the classroom is a lot easier.

9:05-9:25am Thursday Assembly

As a school we like to support local and international charities. Each term a charity is chosen by our school council and a collection for that charity takes place each Thursday during our assembly. It would be greatly appreciated if your child brought a small donation (spare change) on this day so they can put money into this collection. Parents are also always welcome to attend this assembly.

Parent Helpers

If you (or a Grandparent) can spare any time each week to listen to children read in Class 1 we would be extremely appreciative as it is most beneficial to the children’s learning. Please let me know if this is something you would be able to do - we can be flexible with days and times.

Finally, if you ever have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to email us:

Very Best Wishes,  

Mrs Booth and Mrs Nobes and the Class 1 Team

sbooth@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

 jnobes@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk

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