Autumn 1

We have had a fantastic half term in our English lessons! We explored the story Where the Wild Things Are, where the children identified settings, characters, and even wrote their own invitations to their own ‘rumpus.’ With the autumnal season upon us, we also explored sensory language and autumnal poetry, and even had a trip to the forest to act as a catalyst for writing our own poems next half term. The children have worked so hard, and we are excited to see what new ideas they come up with in our traditional tales topic!

In Maths, Year 1 has been diving into place value, addition, and subtraction. We’ve been exploring how to break down numbers, understand their value, and solve problems using practical tools like number lines and counters. The children have been working hard on addition and subtraction, building their confidence with mental calculations and hands-on activities. They are becoming experts in place value!

It’s been a fantastic start, and we’re so proud of all the hard work and creativity Year 1 has shown so far. Here’s to an even more exciting next half-term!

Autumn 2

Year 1 have had a fantastic term in their English studies. They’ve explored a range of fairytales, from creating story maps and wanted posters for the Big Bad Wolf, to lost posters for the Gingerbread Man, and even planting their own beanstalks for Jack to climb. The children have also explored the story *Paddington and the Marmalade Maze* and had the chance to make their own marmalade sandwiches, writing instructions for themselves on how they would do it again. Across all the texts we have looked at, the children have explored settings, characters, and emotions in depth too, and really thrown themselves into all activities. 1

In Maths, Year 1 has been exploring lots of exciting mathematical concepts. The children have been learning about repeated patterns, creating their own designs and spotting patterns in everyday objects. They’ve also been investigating 2-D and 3-D shapes, identifying their properties and using them to build and create structures. In addition, the children have developed their understanding of capacity and weight through hands-on activities, using scales and measuring jugs to compare, estimate, and explore. Fractions have been another focus this term, with the children learning about halves and quarters in a fun and practical way—making their own fractions using pizza plates!

It’s been a busy and rewarding term, and the children have shown great enthusiasm and creativity in their learning. Big well done, Year 1! You’ve earned yourselves a restful Christmas break. Merry Christmas, and see you all in 2025!

Spring 1

Year 1 have had an exciting and engaging term in English, diving into the adventures of Supertato! The children wrote letters to both Supertato and the mischievous Evil Pea, thinking carefully about what they wanted to say. They also explored adjectives, using descriptive words to bring both characters to life. To wrap up our learning, the children created their very own postcards for the Evil Pea—what a fun way to develop their writing skills!

In maths, the children have been strengthening their understanding of addition and subtraction through hands-on and practical activities. From using counters and number lines to solving real-life problems, they’ve been working hard to build their confidence with numbers in a fun and engaging way. They have also been learning about fractions and sharing, exploring halves and quarters through fun activities like cutting shapes and sharing objects equally. These practical approaches have helped them develop a strong understanding of key mathematical concepts.

For this term’s Project-Based Learning (PBL), the children took on the role of aviation experts in their project, We Are Pilots. They explored the history of aeroplanes, learning about how they have changed over time and the materials used to build them. Through exciting discussions and creative activities, they developed a deeper understanding of the science behind flight.

As part of our RE topic on Christianity, Year 1 also had the opportunity to visit the local church. The children explored the key features of the church, learning about their significance and how they are used in Christian worship. It was a wonderful experience that helped bring their learning to life!

It’s been a fantastic term of learning, and the children have shown brilliant enthusiasm and curiosity throughout. Well done, Year 1, it's been a great term.

Spring 2

This term in maths, Year 1 have been busy strengthening their mathematical skills through exciting and hands-on activities. The children have been exploring repeated addition and practicing counting in twos, fives, and tens. Some of us have even taken the next step and started learning about multiplication!  Alongside this, we have been discovering different shapes and their properties, identifying their sides, faces and vertices. We will go on to explore shapes fit into the world around us next term. 

On Finance Fridays, we have been learning all about money and its importance in everyday life. The children have discussed what we use money for, exploring the difference between our ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ when making purchases. We have also been revising our knowledge of coin values through fun and interactive games, including a class favorite—coin bingo! These activities have helped us build confidence in using money and making informed choices.

It has been a fantastic term of learning, and we can’t wait to continue exploring new mathematical concepts in Summer Term! 

In English, the children immersed themselves in the magic of language. They had a blast exploring poetry, playing with rhyming words and crafting their very own acrostic poems. Our adventures continued as we delved into The Bear and the Piano, where the children wrote imaginative letters inviting the bear to a fun-filled party. We also read The Very Hungry Caterpillar—the children learnt the days of the week, practised sequencing the story, and created their own engaging story maps.

In Science, our curious explorers focused on the world of animals and living things. They investigated different creatures, with a special look at fish and mammals, discussing their characteristics and habitats through hands-on activities.

For our ‘We Are Pilots’ project the had the children became engineers! They built their very own aeroplanes using junk modelling, and their innovative creations were proudly displayed during our exhibtion. To cap off this fantastic project, we took a memorable trip to London City Airport, where the children witnessed real planes taking off—an experience that truly brought their learning to life.

It’s been a brilliant term, and we are so proud of the enthusiasm and creativity Year 1 has shown. Great work, everyone—here’s to many more adventures next term!