Welcome to Year 1!

Each week we'll be keeping you up to date with our weekly blog. In addition to this, please read our half-termly curriculum map to find out what will be happening in Year 1. 

Important information

PE - Tuesday and Thursday. Please come to school in your PE kit on these days and these days only. 

Books - Change books Friday. Your child will come home with 1 new Library  book and a Phonics book every Friday. An Ebook will also be assigned each Friday, a login for this can be found in your child's reading record.   Please make sure you have been reading at home at least three times a week. Please record any reading you have done in your reading diary. Your reading diary must always be in your bookbag so that we can read with you in school. 

Spellings - New spellings will be sent home every Friday. Please make sure your child's spelling book is in their bookbag on Friday so that the new ones can be stuck in. Please use your spelling book to practice them. If there is evidence of practising, your child will receive a green point. Please also check which spellings have been marked as incorrect as these will still need to be practised.

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Spring 2

Week 2

What a brilliant week we have had.

In writing this week we have continued to explore writing facts to make a factfile- on monday we worked together as a team to create a communal fact  file, each taking turns to add our own facts to each season.

In maths this week we have started to explore using the addition sign alongside our number bonds.

In DT this week we tasted and described lots of different fruit in preparation for making our smoothies. We searched for where to find each seed in the fruit.

In music this week we continued to practice our songs for our upcoming performance at Pudsey Civic Hall- Sing up.

This week we had world book day. On Thursday, we all came in costume or pyjamas, enjoying reading and books together. 

 

Week 1

What a fantastic first week back we have had after the holiday.

In Writing this week we have started to explore fact files – writing lots of facts about the weather.

In Maths, we have continued to explore numbers up to 10 – this week focusing further on number bonds for the numbers 5-10.

In Science this week we have started to explore plants – we planted our very own bean plant. We are going to monitor the growth of our plants over this next term.

In Geography, we started to explore the United Kingdom. We named all the counties within the UK.

In PSHE we explored what to do in an emergency, focusing on who to call, what to say and where to send them.

The spelling this week are:

• bike
• mine
• fire
• smile
• like
• have
• go
• all
• are
• were

Spring 1

Week 6

What a brilliant week we have had.

In writing this week we finished comparing the seasons within our writing. This week we also visited the library.

In maths this week we continued to focus on the composition of numbers. This week we explore using number lines and part whole models when counting.

In Computing this week we finished exploring moving a robot. Using the bee bots we moved them safely around a maze ensuring they didn't bump into anything.

In music this week we used the percussion instrument for find and follow a steady beat.

In history we finalised exploring how toys have changes, focusing of the different materials used over time. 

• even
• eve
• evening
• theme
• delete
• house
• school
• friend
• our
• new

 

Week 5

What a lovley week we have had this week.

In writing this week we have revisited the story – What do you see when you look at a tree. This week we have focused on comparing differences within the season, using description within our writing.

In maths this week we continued to explore the composition of numbers up to 10, especially focusing on greater than and less than. We then also started to explore where numbers are position on a number line.

In science this week we focused on how different materials can be absorbant or how they can float. We used the water tray to explore which materials would float or sink, and predicted why.

In history this week we focused on how teddy bears have changed over time, exploring their shape, material and size.

The spellings this week are:

• snowflake
• rake
• cake
• shake
• lake
• so
• by
• my
• two

 

Week 4

What a brilliant week we have had!

In maths this week we have continued to explore 2D shapes, focusing on circles, triangles and rectangles. We identified their vertices and sides.

In Writing this week we continued exploring the book' That rabbit belongs to Emily Brown'. This week we focused on exclamation marks, describing characters and making a lost poster. 

In RE this week we focused on the holy book The Quoran. We explored the importance of the book and how to properly look after it. We then listened to the story of the prophet and the ants and discussed the importance of this message.

In Art we explored the artist Claire Cliff. We looked at her hand-painted plates and how they had used colour. We then created our own plates. These will adorn our wall adding a slash of colour to the walls.

The spellings this week are

• cowboy
• enjoy
• clay
• play
• toy
• come
• some
• once
• one
• ask

 

Week 3

What a fantastic week.

In writing this week we started a new book- That rabbit belongs to Emily Brown. This week we explored using exclamation marks. We then started to explore describing characters in preparation for making our own lost poster.

In maths this week we started to explore the faces in a 3D shape, identifying their curved or flat properties. We then started to explore 2D shapes, learning their names and starting to describe them.

In ICT we started to explore the commands forwards and backwards, instructing our bee bots around the room using these new commands. 

In art this week we continue to explore primary and secondary colours. Using Lego bricks, we printed primary colours on top of one another – layering them to create secondary colours.

The spellings this week are:

• rain
• train
• join
• point
• afraid
• you
• your
• they
• be
• me

Week 2

What a brilliant week we have had. 

In writing this week we planned our very own rhyming poems. We created our very own train journey and imaged what we could see out of the window. 

In maths this week we continued to explore making patterns, but we then started to explore 3D shapes and how shape surrounds us. We went on a shape hunt and matched everyday items to their shape name.

In PSHE we explore the people who keep us safe, and how we can contact them when needed.

In PE this week, we continued to build our team-building skills – this week focusing on communication. In PE, we challenged ourselves to pass a hoop down the line without letting go of others' hands. We used our communication skills to help us.

In History this week we had a very exciting guest. We had one of our grandparents in to tell us all about the toys they played with as a child and how they differed from the ones we play with now. 

The spellings this week are:

• pocket
• carrot
• sunset
• football
• playground
• farmyard
• are
• were
• his
• has

Week 1

What a fantastic first week back we have had. 

In writing this week we have explored the book" the train ride by Jane Crebbin. Within this book we explored poverty and the use of rhyming words.

In Maths this week we explored shape, starting by making repeating patterns.

In Art this week we explored primary and secondary colours, exploring how secondary colours are made.

In Science this week we explored everyday materials, identifying the properties of different materials and how they could be used.

The spellings this week are:

• unfair
• unhappy
• fresher
• higher
• undo
• hardest
• unload
• quicker
• darkest
• unlock

Autumn 2

Week 7

What a brilliant last week of term we have had!

In Writing this week we started to explore writing recipes, following the brilliant gingerbread we sold as part of our school enterprise fair. We explored writing ingredients lists and instructions for others to follow, remembering to use full stops, capital letters and finger spaces.

In Maths, we continued to explore our number binds to 5, using part-part whole models to find both the whole number, but also the part too. 

In Geography we continued to explore creating a map, drawing in a birds' eye view. We made a map of our playground, then found ways to innovate and improve it to make it even better to play on.

In PSHE we have explored sun safety, and ways to keep safe in the sun. We explored how to properly apply sun cream and how we can wear protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses.

This week we had a super sparkly time. We had our KS1 Christmas party. We had lots of fun dancing, singing and playing lots of party games.

Week 6

What a fantastic week we have had.

This week we worked as an amazing team with the year 2s to perform our Christmas nativity! What a fantastic show we put on. We even had a special visor come in and read with us.

In Geography we explored our playground and mapped it out, we explored the natural and man-made features and started to explore what we would change in the future.

In DT we finished making our puppets. We used staples and glue to secure the puppet, then decorated it following our designs.

In science, we finished exploring the seasons and explored the amount of rain we had collected each week of this month. We compared the amounts of rainfall and explored completing a bar chart to compare the amounts. 

Week 5 

What an exciting week we have had so far!

In maths this week we have explored the composition of the number 5, exploring using number bonds and part- part-whole models to make 5.

In writing this week we finished exploring the book" What do you see when you look at a tree and started to explore recipes – linking to our most recent baking venture.

This week we had our enterprise fair. Teaming up with year 2 we worked together to bake and design gingerbread. All money made goes towards our class pot for fun trips and resources. We used melted chocolate and sprinkles to create fantastic designs.

In Science this week we continued to explore the seasons, this time exploring summer. We compared the seasons, especially focusing on what to wear in the summer and winter, exploring how these differ based on the weather. 

In PSHE we explore keeping safe around germs, learning all about handing washing and how to keep ourselves healthy.

The Spellings this week are:

• brushes
• boxes
• dogs
• dishes
• churches
• cars
• boats
• foxes
• flowers
• lunches

Week 4

What s brilliant week we have had.

This week in writing we have continued to explore the book- What do you see when you look at a tree? This week we have explored writing simple recounts based on the experience of walking to westroyd park.

In Maths this week we have continued to explore parts and wholes except in part- whole models and part, par, part whole models. Together we explored breaking a number into more than one group.

In ICT this week we explored the artist Kandinsky, emulating is colourful and abstract work on paint.

In PSHE we discussed the importance of rest and how we can prepare ourself for sleep before bed. 

The Spellings this week are: 

• ditch
• witch
• patch
• catch
• batch 
• hutch
• fetch
• match
• switch
• kitchen

Week 3

What an exciting week we have had.

This week in writing we started a new book focus- What do you see when you look at a tree? To start this book, we adventured out on an extremely autumnal walk to our local park. Together we explored the different trees and wildlife around us. Within the week we also started to explore using plurals.

In maths we continued to explore parts and wholes, exploring how parts make a whole. 

In Art this week we were extremely busy making our lanterns for the Light up Farsley festival, recycling the plastic bottles we collected as team.

In music this week we explored keeping in time to music and clapping the beat to help us.

Week 2

What a fantastic week we have had.

In writing this week we have continued to explore the story of the three billy goats gruff. We started to innovate the tale to make it our own. We created storyboards and started to write our own twist on the classic tale, using all of our important writing skills. 

In maths this week we have continued to explore mass, height and capacity. We compared capacity in the water area and tried to find objects heavier and lighter than us. We also started to use equality symbols to compare numbers and amounts.

In DT this week we continued to explore textiles, this week designing our very own puppets. We decided to design animal puppets and some were seasonal too.

In science, we have continued to explore the seasons, this time exploring the winter season.

In computing, we explored using the line and shape tool within paint. We also emulated the work of Peit Mondrian.

The spellings this week are:

• bank
• skin
• think
• kit
• basket
• pink
• tank
• kick 
• mask
• honk
•  

Week 1

Welcome back Year 1, I hope we all had a fabulous holiday filled with rest, excitement and fun!

In writing this week we have started to explore the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff. We have described the characters, setting and started to use exclamation marks – especially for the grumpy troll. 

In maths this week we have started to explore mass and length. We have explored the meaning or taller and shorter as well as lighter and heavier. We worked together to find something taller than us, and smaller than us. We used bucket scales to compare weight, even finding things that weigh the same amount. 

This term we have started to do DT. In DT this week we have started to explore how to join fabrics together. We used glue, staples, rubber bands, pegs and many more. We will eventually make our own puppet.

In Science this week we started to explore the seasons. We discovered each season's name, and explored what the weather could be like in each. Rain was consistent throughout, unfortunately. 

This week we also learnt all about bonfire safety, learning what we can to look after ourselves, our family and our animals – wildlife included.  We even painted our own fireworks. 

The Spellings this week are:

• kiss
• buzz
• grass
• doll
• bell 
• clock
• fizz
• black
• fluff

Autumn 1

Week 8

What a brilliant week we have had.

In writing this week we have focused on using capital letters and full stops. We wrote sentences about family-based memories and future plans we would love to make with our family.

In maths this week we have focused on counting to and from 100, continuing to focus on decade numbers. 

In art this week we focused on the mixed media artist Brianna McCarthy. We focused on her use of shape and colour within her art, and emulated this in our own self-portraits. We continued to focus on pencil control for both shading and drawing and how pressure can affect quality.

On Thursday we had our Halloween disco. We danced the night away in a wide variety of costumes, singing and laughing too. 

On Friday we had a Pyjama day to celebrate collecting all of our sheep points. 

The Spellings this week are:

• here
• there
• where
• go 
• no
• love
• school
• the
• are

 

Week 7

What a fantastic week we have had.

In writing this week we have focused on using capital letters within our sentebnces, for names and the start of our sentence. We continnued to write sentnces about our family, and we started to turn this into a report.

In maths this week we focused on decade number, counting groups of 10. We later focuse don couting up in 10s.

In art this week we continued to be inspired by the artist Klee, creating out very own abstract portraits. 

In science this week we focused on the sence of smell,m using our nose to identify a veriety of scents from vinager to ginger. 

the spellings this week are:

• house
• come
• we
• he
• friend
• do
• so
• was      

 

Week 6

We have had a brilliant week this week.

In writing this week we explored a new story called My family, your family. Together we discussed how families can be different for each person, some big and some small. We started to focus on the skill of capital letters and when to use them.

In maths this week we focused on ordering numbers to 20, especially focusing on one more and one less.  

In Art this week we explored shading and how to use our pencils to create a block of shading in 1 direction.

In PE this week, we focused on using larger balls, practising our chest pass. 

On Thursday we all joined in with the school harvest festival. Together we sang lots of harvest songs to guests and parents. 

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The Spellings this week are:

• and
• the
• my
• I
• they
• here
• our
• love

Week 5

What an exciting week we have had.

In writing this week we finished exploring the enormous turnip. We focused on the ending of the story. Using finger spaces and phonics, we sounded out tricky words to retell the ending.

In maths this week we focused on counting forwards and backward to and from 20. We also compared numbers and explored one more and one less. 

In history this week we continued to explore life in the past and interviewed 2 very interesting grandparents. We explored old currency, toys, technology and day-to-day life. This was very exciting and interesting.

In PE this week, we continued to explore ball skills with Brad. Together we worked as a team to pass the ball around the square without dropping it – we used cupped hands and underarm throws. 

In Science, we explored the sense of taste. We all tasted a variety of foods, from limes to salted crisps and identified what they were; sour, sweet, salty or bitter.

The spellings this week are:

• push
• pull
• come
• ask
• there
• were
• once

Week 4

What a lovely week we have had.

In writing this week we have continued to explore The Enormous Turnip. We have focused on the skill of using finger spaces within a sentence. We have applied the skill of finger space and will continue to next week.

In maths this week we have explored 1 more and 1 less. We used resources to make 1 more and 1 less. We also explore number lines, and find numbers missing off the number line. 

In Science this we have explored sight, we explored how eyes allow us to see and the different parts of the eye.

In Art this week we explored the artist Paul Klee. Inspired by his use of art, we listened to different genres of music and created different lines.

The spellings this week are:

• school
• they
• house
• our
• full
• love
• some
• my 

Week 3

We have had a brilliant week this week.

In writing this week we have started to explore a new book, the enormous turnip. We have focused on the plot and the charters. In writing we have explored the skill of using finger spaces. We have discovered when to use finger spaces and have been applying this to our sentences.

In maths this week we have explored ordinal numbers, using cars and races to discover first, second and third. We have also explored using zero for counting and what it means. 

In art this week we created some amazing sketches of the front of our school. Together we used colour to show the amazing front door to our school.

In Pe this week we explored our ball skills, practising throwing and catching with an underarm throw. We used cupped hands to ensure we didn't drop the ball. 

On Thursday we went on a very exciting trip within our local area. We accompanied the local Leeds rangers to Westroyd Park, where we collectively explored different trees and the seeds they dropped. 

The spellings this week are:

• today
• says
• are
• was
• the
• is
• has

Week 2

What a fantastic week we have had.

In writing this week we continued to explore the funny bones. We worked in small groups to create movements and sequences to perform as a group. We then performed as a group with the rest of the class.

In maths this week, we continued to explore the numbers to 10. This week we explored how anything can be counted, and we also explored counting songs. 

In Science, we started to explore the human body. We traced around our friends and labelled as many of the body parts and organs as we could together. 

Our spellings this week are:

• I
• the
• do
• to
• no
• go
• of
• said

Week 1

Hello everyone and welcome back. Our PE days in year 1 are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Spellings will be given out each Friday in a red spelling book. Both a phonics and library book will go home each Friday and need to be returned the following Friday to be swapped. 

This week we focused on settling in, we explored the classroom space and settled into our new daily routine. 

In writing this week we started to explore the book – Funny bones. Together, we explored the text, adding movements to sections of the story. We used masks to become the characters and created a sequence of movements to retell a section of the story.

In maths this week, we started to explore numbers up to 10, starting by counting both forwards and backwards from 10. We then explored counting different groups to 10. 

In PE this week we had a very exciting guest from Leeds Rhinos. Each week Brad will come in to see us, teaching us a variety of ball skills. This week we explored working as a team.

Thank you for a lovely week!