Friday 30th November

This week we have been learning a version of the story 'Shh Santa'. First we listened to the story and then we drew a story map. this is when we draw 8-12 simple pictures to remind ourselves of the main events. Please look at the example below and ask you child to use this to tell you the story. 

When we read a story with your child you could ask them to story map it and the use the story map to re-tell the story. 

The next day we 'stepped' the story. We used our story maps and worked in pairs to re-tell the story. When we step we use short phrases as we are trying to learn the sequence of the story. Here is an example of our stepping script. 

Christmas Eve
Santa jolly
Busy, busy, busy
Shh Santa
Don't wake children
Try

As your child you use the story map and show you how we step the story. 
After that we worked in pairs to tell the story. We passed a beanbag to each other to help us remember when it is our turn to listen and speak. When we are telling the story we try and use lots of expression to make our story interesting to listen to. If we cannot remember a part of the story we can pass the beanbag back to our partner - we are good learning partners! We then all sat in a big circle and told the story as a whole class. 

This week in maths we have been continuing our learning about subtraction.  On Monday we used a number line to use counting back as a strategy to take away.

To work out  6 – 1 = 5   we had to remember to put our right finger on the number we were starting with (6) and then use our left index finger to count back 1 to find what is left.  Your child may like to practise this at home. It is really important to remember that first jump and not to count 6 as taking away 1.

On Tuesday we used find the difference as a strategy to take away. We started with this problem. There are 5 red cars and 3 blue cars. What is the difference between the red cars and the blue cars?  Tell your partner how many more red cars than blue cars (the difference).We represented the cars using counters.

On Wednesday we used find the difference as a strategy to take away again.
Show sheets.
We had to look at the whole and the part we had been given to work out the difference. We know that you always start with the biggest number when subtracting.
Can your child find the difference between the numbers represented?
Can your child tell you the takeaway calculations represented below?

 

This week in D&T we made salt dough and then made a decoration for our Christmas tree. We used our plan to check the shape, pattern and any textures we wanted to include.

We have been learning about algorithms and how they are a sequence of instructions we give a computer in order to make something happen. We used iPads and Lego to make photo instructions to our partner, and we  had to follow the instructions carefully in order to make the same model! 

 

Today we have been thinking about Advent and what it means for each of us. We have use printing and collage skills to help get our classrooms ready for Christmas!

We also talked about the advent calendars we might have at home, the virtual joke calendar we will have at school and the 'reverse' calendar we are hoping to do. If you would like to contribute please send in your contributions at any point up to Thursday 20th. Thank you. 

Please could send your child's Christmas play costume in on Monday, if you have not already done so. 
We hope you have a good weekend and we might see you at the Christmas Fair! 
Year One Team