Welcome to Year 1
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on half-termly topics and our term plans can be viewed or downloaded from the Our Curriculum section of our website.
Don’t forget to have a look at our Good Sports page to see how active we have been.
Lockdown Activity
A few more pictures of your friends and their work. Love the look of those colourful buns, mmmm.
We have been hearing about a lot of interesting things children have been doing in while at home. Mrs Ramsay has been busy too sending out Lexia Certificates….yes, she can see on her computer all the hard work that is taking place. Here are a few photographs of Year 1 children keeping busy and active.
The Magic of Reading
Our Year 1 Design and Technology challenge this half term was to learn about moving mechanisms. So, Year 1 pupils decided to make a book that would appeal to the Reception children. They created a book that had flaps to lift and things to spin. They also learned how to use the binding machine to bind their books themselves. So now, for the crunch test…would the Reception children like their book? Class 3 went to read their book to Class 5 and I think the pictures speak for themselves.
Class 5 gave it 5 stars out of 5!
Class 4 Assembly
We have grown accustomed to great family assemblies and Class 4 pulled off another one with their favourite lesson ENGLISH.
Dressed as their favourite book character, they informed, sang and entertained us. Parents be proud with all the hard work your children have accomplished in Year 1 so far.
Thanks Class 4 for another smashing assembly.
Algorithms
Class 3 have been learning the meaning of ALGORITHM. Do you know what an algorithm is? It is a fancy word for a set of rules that has to be followed – usually by a computer or some sort of technology. Class 3 have become familiar with this word as they learned to program their Beebots. They were very good at solving the problem of getting their Beebot from point A to point B and really enjoyed it too. Well, who wouldn’t? The following week they were set the task of logging into the laptop, finding a particular program and then create an algorithm for a car to follow. A lot to remember but you can see from the photographs how focussed they were on their work.
Bowes Museum
After Christmas our history topic will be old toys, so we went on a fact finding mission to Bowes Museum to prepare. Whilst there we found out Father Christmas was having some time out; it would have been churlish not to pay him a call.
We had a good look at lots of old toys; some were quite precious and delicate so a lady wearing gloves just brought them round to show us. We did get to play with some old-style toys though and make peg dolls. We also got to spend time in a big Lego area too. Of course, a trip to Bowes Museum must include seeing the swan. It was amazing – even though we had to sit quietly for a-g-e-s waiting for it to move.
Leaf Man goes where the wind blows
Another book Year 1 children have been reading to inspire their writing is “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert. But Leaf Man has also inspired their creativity in other ways. Take a look at our display boards when you are next in school, our leaf men are brilliant.
On yer bike!
The Durham Schools Sports Partnership visited Year 1 and worked their magic enabling children to chuck out their bicycle stabilisers. Children first learned to balance their bike just pushing it along with their feet (no pedals). Once they were confident with this stage (which takes no time at all), the pedals were put back on and within a blink of an eye they were pedalling away – ON TWO WHEELS!!! To give the children their due, a little perseverance was required on their part. As the old saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again. Success came to those who tried. Well done, boys and girls.
Mr Men and Little Miss
Children in Year 1 have been impressing their teachers with their independent writing about their very own Mr Men and Little Miss characters.
Class 4 created their own character, Little Miss Lazy. I wonder which school she goes to. Certainly isn’t Newton Hall Infants.
We love maths
We love doing maths. Sometimes we do it inside, sometimes we do it outside. Sometimes we do on our own, sometimes we do it with a partner or group. Sometimes we just use our brains, sometimes we use equipment to help us. However we do it, we LOVE MATHS.
Modern Art – in the style of Jackson Pollock
Class 3 have been finding out the techniques used by Jackson Pollock to create his abstract art pieces.
They have blown very wet paint, they have dripped paint from pippettes, they have flicked and sprayed paint too.
Inspired by Jackson’s Autumn Rhythm, Class 3 have created their own Summer Rhythms which the children said needed to be in yellow, red and orange….obviously a very sunny summer; let’s hope so, Class 3.
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Problem
Class 3 have added to the collection of stories about Mr Grinling, the Lighthouse Keeper. Take a peek at the new problems he had to face and how he, Mrs G and Hamish, the cat, managed to overcome them.
Food Glorious Food
This term’s topic World Kitchen is one of our favourites. Can you guess why? The slide show might just give you a clue. We do also think about healthy eating too.
Stars of the Durham Gala Schools Dance Festival
Wowza!! Class 3 you were a-maz-ing – on and off stage.
Class 3 opened the afternoon session with their dance performance to ‘This is Me’ from the Greatest Showman. The greatest performers that should be. The children looked good, performed well using the whole stage with their variety of moves, they smiled, they enjoyed it and behaved impeccably during the whole afternoon. Mrs Lawson, Mrs Ramsay and the adults accompanying them had a very enjoyable time of it all.
A great big WELL DONE to you all.
They were awarded the Best Costume certificate too.
World Book Day
March 7th was World Book Day and our school looked very colourful and interesting as everyone dressed up as their favourite characters. There were some very interesting choices. Our children loved discussing their favourite characters and stories. It was great to see such an interest in books. Long live books and bedtime stories!
Simple Pleasures
As part of their topic, Toys from the Past, Class 4 made simple cup & ball toys having first written instructions:
Things we will need: a cup, a length of string, a square of foil, sticky tape
- Stick one end of the string down inside the cup.
- Stick the other end to the middle of the foil and scrunch it up into a ball.
- Play and have fun with your cup and ball.
Library Visit
Year 1 visited the local library to do some research for their DT lessons. This term they are making books for Reception, so they wanted to have a good look to see what makes books appealing to little children. They came back brimming with ideas and everyone had a wonderful time at the library, staff included.
Zoolab
We welcomed back Zoolab to show us their exotic creatures. Always a visitor we look forward to but sometimes they make our spine tingle a bit.
Gymnastics Carousel at Sherburn
Class 4 took part in a really good sports event hosted by Durham City Gymnastics Club at Sherburn. They had a go at trampolining, spring travellator, bars, beam, tumbling and an obstacle course. Everyone found something they enjoyed and something new to try. Please can we come back?
Sculpture
Class 3 have been using a new medium this week in their art – MUD! Actually it was clay but it felt like mud and we all know children love mud, so it is fair to say, everyone enjoyed this lesson. Take a look at some of the results… You will be impressed.
All About You!
Well done Class 3 for being so brave (you have only just moved up to year 1!) and being the first to do a family assembly.
You impressed everyone with your knowledge of your senses and what your bodies can do, with your singing, your speaking and everything else!
Like your song – you are a miracle, you are incredible, you are remarkable, you are a miracle, that’s YOU!
In the Past
Year 1 have been learning about what life was like in the past. They have been looking at houses and homes and life in school.
Our day at Beamish then, wasn’t so unfamiliar though not sure if everyone was looking forward to their lessons in the Beamish School classroom. Mmmm, wonder why?
Marvellous Maths
Thank you Class 3 for your Marvellous Maths assembly – very aptly named – and how cool were you rapping out your first song? Not only were Class 3 awesome but so was the audience; creating a fabulous atmosphere to end this half term. Thank you parents and children for your support and hard work making a day to remember.
Autumn Term Activity
You know how much we like being active, our focus for PE in Autumn was gymnastics. Take a look at our photographs to see what interesting shapes we found to extend and balance. We found remarkable ways to travel along the apparatus too.
