Year 1 News 31.1.25

Happy Friday Team!

In our English lessons, we have been working on our Octopus Opening, introducing a range of detective animals. We spent time editing our openings to make them the best they could be before planning our Build-Up Bear, thinking carefully about how our detective animals solve their mysteries. We then wrote our Build-Up Bears, describing how the animals uncovered clues and pieced together their investigations. Finally, we explored how they prepared for their special party invitations, bringing their adventures to a fun and exciting conclusion!

In our Math lessons, we focused on numbers up to 20, using number lines to place and estimate their positions. We compared numbers to 20, using the vocabulary greater than and less than, and practiced ordering them correctly. At the end of the week, we completed an end-of-unit quiz to review our learning. In the afternoons, we explored partitioning numbers, deepening our understanding with Numberblocks episodes all about teen numbers.

In our RE lesson, we explored The Stilling of the Storm (Luke 8:22-25) through drama. With a boat at the front of the class, we became actors—taking turns sailing, being the sea, or creating ocean sounds with instruments. We discussed how the disciples might have felt at different moments, using facial expressions to show their emotions. We also shared times when we felt worried or scared and what helped us feel happy again. Finally, we reflected on how we would have felt if we had witnessed one of Jesus’ miracles ourselves.

In our Science lesson, we recapped everything we have learned about animals and the groups they belong to. We explored the word diet and discovered that it means what an animal eats. We then learned about carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores—carnivores eat meat, omnivores eat both plants and meat (we had fun saying om nom nom nom!), and herbivores eat only plants. Finally, we looked at different animals and grouped them based on their diets.

In our Computing lesson, we had a real treat as we got to use the new BeeBots! We worked on moving the BeeBot around the mat, carefully planning our steps. Miss Willis showed us how to use coding to give the BeeBot instructions, and we had to predict where it would land. It was a fun and exciting way to learn about programming and problem-solving!

In our Forest School session, we worked together to create a giant fish using natural objects. We shook flour over our hands to make the fish’s scales and used natural treasures we found around the school to add detail. It was amazing to see our artwork come to life! We finished off the session by toasting marshmallows, making it a perfect end to a fun and creative outdoor adventure.

In our History lesson, we explored how Chester Zoo has changed over the years. We compared facts by placing them in "then" and "now" categories, looking closely at how the zoo has evolved. Using a virtual map, we examined the many new enclosures and how the layout has transformed. We also spent time drawing the old Chester Zoo map, discussing the key differences and how the zoo has grown over time. It was fascinating to see how much had changed!

In our Art lesson, we experimented with charcoal and oil pastels for the first time. We explored different techniques, such as smudging and blending, to create various effects. After getting used to the materials, we looked closely at insect samples and had a go at drawing our own representations. There were so many amazing artists in Year 1, and everyone created fantastic, detailed insect drawings!

In our Music lesson this week, we listened to and talked about our next song, Rhythm in the Way We Walk. We danced along to this reggae song and learned about the famous Jamaican musician Bob Marley. As we moved to the music, we enjoyed finding the beat and noticed our hearts beating faster as the song went on. It was a fun and energetic lesson!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing you all next week!

Miss Willis