24th March 2014

Well Spring has officially started! Let’s hope we see lots of lovely sunshine now!

It will be another busy week in Key Stage 1, here is what we will be up to this week!

Literacy

 

This week we are going to be looking at writing letters. The children will be looking at how letters are set out and writing a letter to the zoo!

We will be looking at the features of letters including:

• An address so we know who the letter came from, or where it is going to.
• Addresses and names that begin with capital letters.
• Dear and Love from at the start and the end.
• They can be written in the past tense- telling you something that has already happened.

 

Can you find any letters to look at with your child that shows any of these features?

 

This is a great website where your child can follow the instructions to write their own letter.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/letter_generator/

 

This is a great website to practice your punctuation!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/using_punctuation/play/

 

Numeracy

This week we will be looking at organising and interpreting information in a simple table and sorting, organising and interpreting information in block graphs and pictograms.

Year 1

The children will;

• sort and classify objects, e.g.

• sort using one criterion such as boy/girl or thick/thin
• sort objects again using a different criterion

• represent their work, e.g.

• use the objects they have sorted as a record
  use objects/pictures to create simple block graphs

• demonstrate the criterion they have used, e.g.

• respond to questions about how they have sorted objects and why each object belongs in a set
• talk about which set has most, for example ‘most children stayed at school for lunch’
  talk about how they have represented their work
   
  Year 2
  The children will;

• sort objects and classify them using more than one criterion, e.g.

• sort a given set of shapes using two criteria such as triangle/not triangle and blue/not blue

• understand vocabulary relating to handling data, e.g.

• understand vocabulary such as sort, group, set, list, table, most common, most popular

• collect and sort data to test a simple hypothesis, e.g.

• count a show of hands to test the hypothesis ‘Most children in our class are in bed by 7:30pm’

• record results in simple lists, tables, pictograms and block graphs, e.g.

• present information in lists, tables and simple graphs where one symbol or block represents one unit

• communicate their findings, using the simple lists, tables, pictograms and block graphs they have recorded, e.g.

• respond to questions about the data they have presented, e.g. ‘How many of our names have five letters?’
  pose similar questions about their data for others to answer
   
  Websites to help
  http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/grapher.html
  
  
  http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Flash.aspx?f=pictograms
   
   
  http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/data-handling
  
  
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/maths/organising_data/play/
   
  
  
  Science
  
  We will be continuing to look at plants and this week we will be observing the changes in our broad bean seeds and looking at what are the best conditions for seeds to grow.
  We will also be looking at the life cycles of different types of plants and drawing these.
  Also shortly we will be planting other seeds and getting ready for planting out in the allotment, very exciting! Here’s hoping for a good summer and a bumper harvest!
  
  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!!
  Also have a look around on the way to school, can you see any buds forming or spring bulbs coming up?
  
  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!
  Topic
  The children will be continuing their new topic called “How do our senses help us?”
  We talked about the importance of our different senses.  We will be discussing the question:
  “What do we use our senses for?”
  To support this learning at home you could talk to your child about the importance of our differences senses in our everyday life.
  This week we will be looking particularly at the sense of hearing. What sounds can you hear on your journey to school?
  Come and See
  The children will be continuing their new topic “Giving”.
  The children will talk about how Lent is the opportunity to pray, to give up things and to do more. Can you talk to your child about how they can achieve this?
  The key words the children will be focusing on are sharing, giving, opportunities, Lent, prayer.
  Some questions we will be thinking about.

• What opportunities does Lent offer?
• How might Lent help Christians to be better people?
• How might Lent help others?
   
  Reminders

Sainsbury’s vouchers We are continuing to collect Sainsbury’s vouchers. Please send them into school with your child if you have them. Many thanks.

 

 

Thank you for your continued support.

Year 1/2 Team.