Dear Class 1 Parents,
We hope you have all had a wonderful Easter break. Our main theme for Term 5 is ‘Kenya’ and Term 6 is ‘We’re Going on a Bug Hunt’. We have lots of exciting learning opportunities planned for the children.
Literacy
The children will be exploring African animals and insect themes through fiction and non-fiction books. Our focus for Reception children is to build on their confidence to enable them to use their phonics knowledge in their independent reading and writing. Year 1 writing focus will be on persuasive letter writing, stories, poetry and explanations about life cycles. Year 1 children will also be extending their understanding of punctuation, grammar and vocabulary.
These are some of the books we will be sharing in class:
Little Red and Hungry Lion
Non-fiction African animals
Handa’s Surprise
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Bad-Tempered Ladybird
Mad About Minibeasts
Because a little bug went kachoo!
Bog baby
Superworm
and many, many more!
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
Compare numbers to 10 using the language ‘bigger than’ and ‘smaller than’.
Finding a number one more than or one less than.
Recall number bonds to 5.
Comparison of numbers to 10 and finding the difference.
Number bonds to 8.
Finding the missing number.
Adding multiples of the same number.
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
Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s.
Counting forwards and backwards within 100.
Partitioning numbers.
Comparing and ordering numbers.
Number - Addition and Subtraction
Adding equal groups – sharing and grouping.
Making and adding doubles.
Finding half and a quarter of a shape.
Finding half and a quarter of an amount.
Shape, Space and Measure - Time
Describing position.
Order the days of the week.
Order the months of the year.
Telling the time to the hour and to the half hour.
Money – recognising coins and notes.
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.
Computing
We will be working in the ICT suite and will be learning how to use a Word document. We will be changing the colour, font and size of the text.
If you would like to find out more about what your child will be learning please look at the curriculum map on the Class 1 webpage.
RE
In RE we will be thinking about what makes every person unique and special. We will be listening to Bible stories about Jesus welcoming children into God’s family.
Geography
The children will be learning about different African animals and different types of weather/climates we experience in locations around the world. The children will learn about the human and physical features in the UK and Kenya.
Reading
Every child should be reading for a minimum of 10-15 minutes every day. Remember to discuss the book, pick out favourite words, retell the story and make the reading fun!
The children will continue to bring home a Dandelion book or Monster Phonic book that they can read by themselves using their phonics skills. These books will be changed every Friday.
The coloured band book and picture book will be changed every Wednesday.
May I also remind you that when 6 pages of their reading record has been filled in your child will receive a reading certificate during Friday morning assembly.
Science
We will be learning about plants by naming the parts of a plant, looking at the life cycle of a plant and making observations about a cress experiment.
History
We will be learning about Blackboys Village a local history topic. We will be finding out about how Blackboys got its name and how the village has changed over time. To support this learning we will be completing field work around the local area. In term 4 the children will learn about how vehicles have changed over time e.g. trains, cars and aeroplanes and start to look at timelines.
Phonics
All children will be continuing their daily phonics sessions. Please do continue to help your child practice reading and writing the sounds from their appropriate stage. The Reception will be using the letter sounds they have learnt to read CCVC and CVCC words and captions in phonics and the Year 1 children will continue to extend their knowledge of alternative spellings of letter sounds.
Art
The children will be exploring colour mixing and will be using these skills to create an African sunset picture.
Science
We will be naming the parts of our body and finding out about our senses. We will be doing lots of learning outside and observing the insects and animals in our role play areas as a farm shop and minibeast investigation area! In term 6 we will be looking at the life cycle of a butterfly and observing caterpillars growing in our classroom! The children will also be pond dipping in our very own school pond and going on minibeast hunts!
Year 1 Homework
The children will continue to be given a weekly maths sheet to complete. The common exception words your child needs to learn to read and write are at the front of the homework book. Homework books will be given out on a Friday and need to be handed in on a Thursday morning.
Educational Visit
We are in the process of trying to organise a visit in term 6 to support our learning about mini-beasts. As soon as the details have been confirmed we will let you know.
Forest School
Forest school will continue run on a Monday afternoon. The children will attend fortnightly, please see the new rota for details of the dates for your child to attend.
Additional parents will also be required in order for these sessions to run. If you are interested in helping please speak to the school office.
P.E. Kits
Our P.E. lessons are on Tuesday morning and Friday afternoons. Please make sure your child has their full P.E. kit and it is clearly named- thank you.
Uniform
Please check that your child’s uniform is clearly labelled with their name. Many thanks.
Water Bottles and Sun Hats
Hopefully the weather will start to get warmer so please can I ask that your child brings a named bottle of water to drink in class. A named sun hat is also useful to have in school on particularly bright days, so that should we go outside for any long periods of time, these can be worn.
Finally, if you ever have any queries or questions please do not hesitate to email us:
sbooth@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk
jnobes@blackboys.e-sussex.sch.uk
Very Best Wishes,
Mrs Booth, Mrs Nobes and the Class 1 team
