Summertime!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here comes the summer........

As I write this, there is rain pouring down the window and a gale is blowing the trees outside to at least a 45 degree angle, but it is apparently the start of summer! Well, the summer term anyway! That means that the children may wear their summer uniforms:

· Blue Gingham dresses for the girls
· A school polo shirt and grey shorts for the boys

Please can we also remind you, that girl’s bobbles and hair bands, should be either blue or black. Socks should be white for the girls and grey or black for the boys.

Of course, with the weather still being as unpredictable as it is at the moment, the children may still wear shirt and ties until the temperatures improve!

Because Easter was so very early this year, the first half of the summer term is quite a long one, but very busy. It does include the SATs assessments for Year 2 children, but these are completed in class, by their classteacher, so they will see it as part of normal classroom activities. Of course, the traditional residential visit to Beeston also happens this term, and it is always a real treat for the children – I can also speak from a parent’s point of view, as my own daughter loved it last year and still has the candle she made in pride of place!

We will be arranging a date for the parents of children in year 2, to give information of how you may support your child at home. Please keep an eye out for information in diaries about this, as we will be asking for a response from parents.

As we have so much to get through, we better make a start on this week’s activities!

Literacy

We start with a short unit on Labels, Lists and Captions. We will be linking this with our topic on science, labelling the parts of a plant and writing captions as to what the functions of the parts of a plant are. The children will plan their very own display in class, labelling all the materials they might need to complete it. I can’t wait to get the paint out and yet more glitter – endearing myself to Mr Derbyshire again!

As always, when we are doing non-fiction, the children will have a ‘marking ladder’, where they can self-check to see if they have remembered to use all the ‘ingredients’.

· My list is written with each item on a new line, one beneath the other
· My list is not written in full sentences
· My list uses no punctuation
· My caption includes a clear picture
· My first sentence tells the reader what the object is
· My second sentence gives more information

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/kids/flash/activities/lbbike/bike.asp the children should be able to label the bike fairly easily, but can they write a caption to explain what each part of the bike does?

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/Phase2delivery/Wales/Science/Keystage2/Lifeprocessesan/Lifecycles/Introduction/default.htm this does look quite complicated at first glance, but we will be using the illustrations and making our own captions. If you click on Interactive activity 1, then click on part 2, you will find a cyclical diagram of the life cycle of a plant. Maybe they could use their knowledge of the life cycle of a frog in part 2?

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=scenemenu2 have a go at labelling a scene from Cinderella.

http://www.kidsgowild.com/animalfacts a great site to show how to make a list of information – I could have stayed on this myself for ages! A really good one if you are interested in animals.

Numeracy

We begin this term by investigating block graphs. The children should be able to use their knowledge of pictograms, to read and begin to make their own graphs.

Although this is quite an easy concept to grasp, the vocabulary associated with it is quite complex. If the children understand the vocabulary, then the rest follows easily.

When we introduce a new mathematical topic with the children, you will receive a copy of a numeracy word bookmark in the diary. Please take it out of the diaries, and get your child to use it as a bookmark in their home reader. That way, they will be able to refer to it daily. Ask them if they can explain what each word means, or even give you an example.

MUST: Be able to read the time to the hour on an analogue clock and interpret information from a simple list, table, pictogram and block graph.

SHOULD: Be able to organize information in simple lists, tables, pictograms or block graphs.

COULD: Be able to sort and organise information in a pictogram

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/grapher.html a great site for making your own bar chart

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/bargraphs/bargraphs.html ideal for introducing block graphs. Click and drag each bug onto the correct place on the graph.

http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/math/graph/ quite hard to follow, but if you scroll down, you will see a number of sheets that you can print off at home to complete.

We will also be reviewing time with the children and by the end of the week, they must all be able to tell the o’clock and half past times. There are many links to support the teaching of time at http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?subject=Maths&topic=Time but remember to keep referring to the time around the house...

· What time is it now?
· What time will it be in half an hour?
· What time will we get home from school?
· What time is bedtime?

Science

Calling all those green fingered parents and grandparents out there – your children’s teachers need you!

This term we will be look at the parts of a plant and the functions of each of those parts. We will also be investigating the right conditions for growth and the variety of plants which we can grow in school.

If anybody is willing to spare some time to come into school and work with them children on their horticultural skills, then do please come in see either myself or any member of the 1/2 team. We make great cups of tea!

Although the following websites are a great way to learn about this topic during the wet weather, there is really nothing better than getting out the wellies and a trowel and having a great time in the garden. It might even be a good way to get the children helping out with the weeding after the winter – just as long as they know the difference between the dandelions and the prize azaleas!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/growing_plants.shtml can you find the right conditions for the plant to grow?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/plants_grow.shtml a little more challenging

http://www.topicbox.org.uk/browse.php?item_ID=5584&subject=Science&topic=Life%20-%20Plants this is a really useful powerpoint to download and keep for the whole of the topic. It is aimed at Year 3, but we really do need to push the children on, as their knowledge on this subject is very good already.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants/index.htm click on the seed growth leaf for a great animation of what a seed needs to grow.

http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=plantlabelmx a very simple resource to drag and drop the labels onto the right part of the plant. As you move through this site though, you will be expected to explain the functions of each part. This is also really useful in supporting the literacy for this week.

http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/earlygrowth/germination/germ.html how fascinating! You will need to sit with your child for this, but the use of stop motion photography is fantastic. Just click on the sunflower germination – it’s really interesting! The movies for flowers are also beautiful!

History

The children will love this topic! We will be learning about Florence Nightingale and how influential she was. There will be lots of fun activities for them to do as well as being investigators from the museum, who have to put a display together to inform other children in Warrington about her life. The museum curator (AKA Mrs Walker), will be inspecting the children’s work to see if it is of high enough standard for the museum exhibit!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/famouspeople/standard/nightingale/index.shtml#focus this is great site to start with, which tells all of the important facts about her life and work.

http://tlfe.org.uk/clicker/flashhistoryks1/florence.swf a good site for children to share

http://www.ushsdolls.com/paperdoll/pdfa.htm one to cut out and print, although really it should be a lamp instead of the rose!

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/7.cfm?s=7&m=136&p=228,resource&id=11121 print out and sequence the life of Florence Nightingale.

Here I Am

This week we will be completing the Self-Giving topic in preparation for moving onto our summer term topics next week. You will also be receiving the parents information newsletter for Here I Am towards the end of the week.

Science Show

This week is also science week across the whole school and Key Stage 1 are focussing on Materials. This is a great opportunity for the children to show off all the facts that they can remember from when we covered the topic in the Autumn term. The week will be finished off with a visit from Adrian Bowden, a specialist science teacher, whom many of the children have met before. His shows are always fantastically memorable and the children will no doubt talk to you all weekend about the things that he showed them.

Our homework this week, will not only build on the children’s labelling and caption skills, but a chance to use some of those science skills at home. Please keep an eye out in the children’s book bags on Tuesday, as this is the day when homework is handed out. As it is the start of a new term and for the Year 2’s, their last term in the infants, please do encourage their independence when completing and handing in homework. It is very good preparation for them when they move on next year, and also for the Year 1’s.

Think that’s all for this week!
Year 1/2 team.