Purple 2022 - 2023

Welcome to Purple Class

We are a Year 1 class who are taught by Mrs Loveland and Mrs Buckley.

This is what we will be learning about in the Spring term:

Maths:

In maths children will continue to deepen their understanding of number and place value. Children will strengthen their understanding of all number bonds to 20 and use solve problems using concrete, pictorial and abstract methods. The children will further develop compact methods for addition and subtraction and become confident in explaining strategies to solve real life problems. Children will become fluent in their understanding of doubling and near doubles which will act as a valuable tool in developing mental strategies in maths.

Children will also explore length and height. They will gain the understanding that height is a type of length and that the language they use changes, depending on what type of length they are describing and comparing. Furthermore, children will learn about mass and volume. They will explore mass through comparing objects and using balance scales to check their predictions. 

English:

At Weston all children are exposed to a wide and rich variety of fiction and nonfiction books that aim to develop vocabulary, comprehension and written outcomes.

At the beginning of the Spring term the children in Purple class will be reading, analysing and exploring the story Hermelin by Mini Grey. This beautiful book follows the adventures of Hermelin, a detective mouse, who helps the occupants of Offley Street find their missing items. Children will have opportunities to write their own detective narrative, reinforcing Year 1 English objectives to sequence sentences, accurately use basic punctuation and write using prefixes. Children will also complete a non-fiction piece of extended writing, looking at how to compose and write an informal letter.

In the second part of the term we will explore the classic story: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. This beautifully illustrated text follows Max who puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. Children will write a non-chronological report and portal narrative. Children will build on previous learning to accurately write suffixes added to words, combine words to make sentences and sequence sentences to form short narratives

Science:

Everyday Materials

In this unit children will learn to identify and name everyday materials and will have the opportunity to explore the properties of these materials. Children also will carry out a simple investigation to help them decide which material would be most suitable to use for an umbrella. At the end of the unit children apply their knowledge of everyday materials to sort objects by their properties.

Scientists and Inventors
Children will learn about the inventions of Lego and ear muffs and will explore the materials used to make them. They will investigate other materials that keep us warm, carrying out simple tests. Children will find out about the work of animal scientists, such as vets and zoo keepers. They will group and sort animals to make their own paper zoo, and will act in role as a vet, identifying the body parts of different animals.

History:

Toys

Children will learn about popular toys through the 20th century and the early 21st century. Firstly, it asks the children to think about their favourite toy from today before moving on to look at toys which were popular when their parents and grandparents were children. Throughout the unit, the children will develop a range of historical skills such as: asking and answering questions, identifying and interpreting different sources and recognising change and exploring how this influences them today.

Geography:

Our Country

The children will learn about the countries of the UK developing learning beyond children’s immediate environment and own locality to the UK in general. Children will explore the UK by looking at individual countries, capital cities, human and physical features along with comparing and contrasting the capital cities of London and Brasilia in detail.

Computing:

Scratch Jnr

In computing, children will be introduced to the principles of coding, using the age-appropriate ScratchJr software. The platform encourages basic understanding of algorithms and how to create precise instructions for visual working programs. It begins to develop a sense of creating, debugging and logical reasoning, which are required for further programming at KS2.

Painting

Children will learn basic painting skills in a painting application on a computer or tablet device. Children will use a simple painting program to paint with different colours and brushes, create shapes, fill areas, undo and redo and add text.

Art:

Portraits

In art children will learn about portraits, and use of different materials and techniques when making their own. The children will also have the opportunity to explore the work of Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse and Andy Warhol, and create artwork inspired by them.

Design and Technology:

Sensational Salads

In DT children will have the opportunity to learn how to peel, zest and cut safely and apply these skills when preparing healthy dishes. Children will learn key information about healthy eating and where their food comes from. They will gain some practical ideas about ingredients that can be combined to make interesting and healthy salads.

Religious Education:

Jesus as a friend

Children will learn about the concept of Incarnation and ask the question: Was it always easy for Jesus to show friendship?

Easter - Palm Sunday

Children will learn about the concept of salvation and ask the question: Why was Jesus welcomed like a king or celebrity by the crowds on Palm Sunday? 

Music:

Pitch and Beat

Children will explore beat through using music, body percussion and instruments. They will combine a steady beat with word rhythms and explore changes in tempo. Children will also develop further understanding of pitch movements through singing, pitched percussion and listening games.

Physical Education:

The children will have two P.E. sessions each week.

Outdoor PE will be taught on a Friday.  In outdoor PE children will work on movement, evading and attacking. Children will learn how to strike a ball accurately when kicking from the ground and will apply skills competently to a range of activities.

Indoor PE will be taught on a Monday. Children will work on their gymnastic skills and perform asymmetric spins on their front, back and bottom, demonstrate quality work on the floor and apparatus, hold balance at different heights using various points and perform in different formation.

P.S.H.E.:

Think Positive

Children will recognise, talk about and accept their feelings, both positive and negative, as well as how to manage certain emotions. They will explore themes of thinking positively and calmly, making good decisions and developing resilience. They will also explore the positive feelings associated with being thankful, grateful and mindful.

 Digital Wellbeing

Children will consider how we can use the Internet in a safe and responsible way. Children will discuss how the Internet can be useful in our everyday lives and how we can balance time online with doing other activities to keep our mind and body healthy.

Homework:

Homework in Year 1 will look different in the spring term. Children will be set weekly homework that is designed to consolidate and extend taught concepts. This will include weekly phonics, highlighting taught sounds and common exception words, and maths consolation.  The weekly homework tasks will be shared via Class DoJo every Thursday. We ask for you to share your child’s completed work via Class Dojo on your child’s portfolio. From here teachers will review and reward completed tasks.

Reading: At Weston, we encourage children to develop a lifelong love for reading. We ask for children to read regularly at home to adults and to themselves. Reading books will be changed on Wednesdays. Please send your child in with their books each day as they could be heard reading any day of the week. Please continue to support the use the ‘Bug Club’ at home. This is a valuable resource in helping develop your child's reading and comprehension skills. We have found that children who regularly access ‘Bug Club’ books at home progress more quickly than those who don’t. Reading is fundamental to the wider academic and personal development of children.