Thursday 29th March

This week in maths we have been consolidating our mathematical learning.

On Monday we revisited our learning on counting in 1s, 2s, 10s and 5s.  We continued a number track, we solved the missing numbers on a number track and on a number grid and some of us challenged ourselves to work out the numbers on a partially marked number line.

On Tuesday we revisited our learning about equals to.

We asked the question does the = sign always have to be at the end of a calculation?

Eg 12 + 2 = 14  or 14 = 12 + 2.

Some of us used the scales.  We chose a Numicon piece eg 5.  We put the 5 on one side of the scales then thought of a pair of numbers that would balance the scales because they were equal to 5.  Eg 1+4, 2+3.

Some of us tried the following calculations. Both sides of the equals sign must be equal to each other.

20 = 4 + ?

4 + 6 = ?  +  ?

12 + 4 = 8 + ?

On Wednesday we revisited our learning on how to find the difference between two numbers.  Can your child tell you the difference between the 2 numbers shown using the cubes, on this bar model, the number line and in the word problem. Ask them the strategy they used.  Did they count on or count back? Over the Easter holidays help your child to practise counting in 1s forwards and backwards to 100, counting in 2s forwards and backwards to 50, counting in 10s forwards and backwards to 100, counting in 5s forwards and backwards to 50.  This will really help them in their maths lessons in the summer term when they will begin learning about early multiplication and division using these same numbers 2s, 5s and 10s. Continue to play the games previously posted. In English we have been learning about SPAG! This stands for spelling, punctuation and grammar. We practised:  Adding capital letters and full stops to sentences Deciding which words need capital letters Putting words in the correct sequence to make the sentence make sense Putting letters in the correct order to spell key words Practising spelling key words Your child will have brought some of this work home, during Easter please try and make up some more examples for your children to try.  We then had a treasure hunt around the classroom, where the children had to find pictures that related to clues and then answer a SPAG question.  In science this week we continued to use our learning about materials.  We had to invent something Nelson Mandela could wear to protect his eyes from the bright sunlight and the dust from the stones he hammered. We talked about materials that were see through/transparent where better than not see through/opaque.

Look at our wonderful inventions!

Next term our topic is 'Global Gardens'. The children will be making a fabric collage, inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy. During the holidays maybe your child may have time to sketch a picture of their favourite Easter flowers. We will also be taking part in Sustainable St Albans Week. Please could you send in a cereal box and two plastic drinking bottles for your child to re-use into wonderful new things! We will also be learning about rain forests and becoming authors and making our own books, filled with interesting information. During the holidays you might like to research some information for your child to share. A good website is  https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/search/rainforest/ or http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/rainforest.html. Thank you. 

Have a wonderful Easter break!
The year One Team

Friday 23rd March

This week we have been authors and written our own versions ‘The Black and White Club’. First we shared ideas about what we could change in the story and recorded them on a story grid.  Please encourage your child to make up stories using a 9x9 grid to help.

Friday 16th March

This week we have deepened our understanding of The Black and White Club story by doing an activity called ‘Tell Me More’. We worked in pairs and one child started to tell the story. The other child asked ‘Tell Me More’ to encourage the first child to think more deeply and add more detail to the story. We could use our knowledge of the story and our imaginations to help us add interesting detail.

We then worked in groups and made up class versions of the story using a ‘boxing up sheet’.

This helped us to change the story whilst making sure the story kept the same sequence and structure. All children had the opportunity to offer their ideas how to change and improve the story We tried to include story language, and interesting adjectives and verbs.  We then shared the stories and ‘magpied’ some our favourite parts to include when we write our stories next week. This weekend you could use a ‘boxing up grid’ to make up a story with your child. You could then ask your child to tell you the story and encourage them to include lots of interesting vocabulary. Perhaps they might like to write the story and bring it into school to read with the class!

This week in maths we have been learning about measurement.  We have been comparing and measuring the height and length of objects.  We have been using the vocabulary associated with height – tall, taller, tallest, short, shorter, shortest and length – long, longer, longest, short, shorter, shortest. We used these words to compare objects.  You may like to do this at home.  Find between two and five objects and compare which is the longest, tallest, shortest.  Can your child put the objects in order from shortest to tallest/longest. To extend your child’s learning further you may like to see if they can find something twice as long or half as long.

We talked about the equipment and units we use to measure height and length.  Ask your child to show you the actions they have learn to remember centimetres, metres and kilometres. We talked about why we have standard units of measurement and measured objects using a centimetre ruler.
To measure something accurately we had to remember to start at 0 and then read off the measurement.
On Friday we had a problem to solve. You may like to talk about this at home.

This week in history we have been learning more about Nelson Mandela. We learnt about when he was released from prison after twenty seven years, and we watched a video clip to try and imagine what it was like. Here is the link if you would like to watch it at home:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=png6cUURZB8

After that we used our history learning and our imagination to write a front page announcing his release. Here are some examples. 

In art we have used our computing learning about Mondrian and we worked in groups to create a temporary ‘collage’ in the style of Mondrian. Have a look at how lovely they are.

Today in art we have looked at the work of George Seurat and have used primary colour paint dots to make other colours. 

We hope that you have a lovely weekend - and that is does not snow too much!

The year One Team