Year 1 Newsletter
Term 1 & Term 2
Mrs Gilbert, Mrs Herbert and Mrs Middleton would all like to send out a warm welcome to all parents/carers and children of Year 1 and we hope all of the children have had a fantastic summer holiday. We are looking forward to welcoming the children into Year 1 and we are sure they will have an enjoyable year learning about lots of exciting things. Below, we have outlined what your child will be learning in Terms 1 and 2 (until Christmas) and any other information which may help you to support your child at school.
Our topic this term is centred around a Royal Ball with a particular focus on Castles: What were Castles like?
Year 1 will be learning about lots of exciting things. Children will be gripped by learning about the features of Castles and what life was like in Castles. They will study the Castles of the period and create their own Castles. Year 1 have a Castle set up in class and they will learn about the Castles defences.
Our vision is to…
• Create challenging but realistic learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum.
• Encourage children’s natural curiosity about the world around them and interest in historical and geographical events.
• Provide children with opportunities to express themselves and promote creativity.
• Motivate children though unique experiences.
• Place no limits on where our learning can go, through child led learning and answering any questions that arise along the way.
English
In English, we will be learning about instructions and we will use this information to create a set of instructions for trapping a dragon. We will also be learning about labels, lists and captions and we will explore this further by reading a selection of non-fiction texts about Castles. We will identify the key features that include: title, contents page, headings, simple facts, labels, pictures and captions, etc. We will also be exploring Traditional Tales and poetry.
Below are details of the grammar content to be taught during year 1:
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Word |
Regular plural noun suffixes –s or –es [for example, dog, dogs; wish, wishes], including the effects of these suffixes on the meaning of the noun. Suffixes that can be added to verbs where no change is needed in the spelling of root words (e.g. helping, helped, helper). How the prefix un– changes the meaning of verbs and adjectives [negation, for example, unkind, or undoing: untie the boat]. |
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Sentence |
How words can combine to make sentences Joining words and joining clauses using ‘and’ |
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Text |
Sequencing sentences to form short narratives |
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Punctuation |
Separation of words with spaces Introduction to capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks to demarcate sentences Capital letters for names and for the personal pronoun |
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Terminology for pupils |
Letter, capital letter. word, singular, plural, sentence punctuation, full stop, question mark, exclamation mark |
Maths
In Maths, we will have a strong emphasis on place value to help the children’s understanding and confidence grow when working with the number system.
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Week 1 |
Week 2 |
Week 3 |
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Week 5 |
Week 6 |
Week 7 |
Week 8 |
Week 9 |
Week 10 |
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Week 12 |
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Autumn
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Number: Place Value |
Number: Addition and Subtraction
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Geometry: Shape |
Number: Place Value |
Number: Addition and Subtraction |
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Computing
In Computing, the children will be learning how to enter text, draw and label castles and present information graphically. They will also learn how to navigate web pages to find information about Castles.
History
The Kings and Queens unit will teach the children about the significant British monarchs in history. Children will learn about Richard III, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria. The children will gain an awareness of the past and significant individuals through using timelines and making comparisons between periods in history.
Geography
The children will develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. They will be able to name, locate and identify characteristics of the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom.
Music
They will have the opportunity to listen to Medieval Music and use beat and rhythm to accompany stories and songs.
Religious Education
The children will build on the capacity to learn from stories, specifically how stories convey important beliefs and values.
PSHE
In the first half of the term the children will be focusing on the JIGSAW unit, Being me in my world. This theme focuses on self-awareness, motivation and social skills.
PE
This term, the children will be learning skills in gymnastics, dance, athletics and games. In addition to this, they will build their confidence in using the apparatus.
PE is on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please remember to take your child’s earrings out on PE days and fasten up any long hair/long fringes with soft hair bands. Parents of girls - remember to include a pair of socks if your child wears tights. If your child is unable to remove their own earrings they will be unable to participate in PE for health and safety reasons.
SCIENCE
This term we will be exploring ‘Everyday Materials’. We will be exploring commonly found materials and describe some of their properties, including whether they are natural or manufactured. They will be exploring properties of materials that would make the best shields and they will identify the materials used to build Castles. This will include looking at the properties of wood and stone. Children will have the opportunity to investigate which forces are used to operate a Castle`s drawbridge and which material is best to create a catapult missile.
LIBRARY
Our library time is on Mondays. Children can take out a maximum of two books and keep them for two weeks. Please encourage your child to read their library books and return both books regularly.
HOMEWORK
Homework activities are sent home every Thursday and should be returned by the following Tuesday. Each week, the activity will alternate between a Maths or English. In addition, your child will be expected to learn their spellings which they will be tested on every Tuesday. These are linked to the phonics learnt that week.
Every child has their own reading book. May we request that you make a comment each time you hear your child read. As soon as there is a comment in the reading book, your child will have the opportunity to change their book every morning at 8:40am, in the Library. Please try to read with your child every evening. We will send home phonics sounds and these need daily practice at home.
VISITS/ENRICHMENTS
During this term we will be visiting Warwick Castle in order to enrich the children’s learning and experience first-hand what life in a Castle was really like. More information will be provided nearer the time. We will also have a Medieval banquet with Year 2.
ASSEMBLY
Celebration assembly will continue to be held on Thursday afternoons.
HEALTHY SNACK
May we please remind families that children are welcome to bring a 'healthy snack' to school to eat during their break. As an Enhanced Healthy School, we encourage all children to eat either a piece of fresh/dried fruit or vegetable, when children bring biscuits or crisps they will be asked to save them to eat at lunchtime. Thank you for supporting our school with being healthy!
PARENT’S EVENINGS
We would like the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your child’s needs and progress. Two evenings are to be held on the 16th and 17th October. However, if you wish to discuss your child’s learning before this, or at any other time, you are welcome to make an appointment. If you need to speak with either teacher before school please ask at the school office first, thank you.
Mrs Gilbert and Mrs Middleton
Year 1 Teachers