7th April 2014

Well, it is the last week of term and we have lots of exciting activities planned this week!

We are very excited to be meeting  Vinny our Guide Dog on Thursday and eggstremely eggcited about our Egg Rolling which will be taking place on Wednesday.  We are also looking forward to seeing all of the fantastic Easter Bonnets at the  parade which will be happening this week!

 

Literacy

 

This week we are continuing to look at writing letters. This week we will be looking at formal and informal letters. The children will continue to look at the features of letters through the story “Dear Greenpeace” before writing one of their own.

 

We will be discussing the features that we find in letters.

• An address so that we know who the letter came from, or where it is going to.
• Addresses and names that begin with capital letters.
• Dear written at the start and Love From written at the end.
• Usually 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 2D and 3D shapes. We will be reviewing the names of 2D shapes which we have learned last year, and also looking at 3D shapes. They will be describing the properties of the 3D shapes, in terms of edges, vertices (corners) and faces.

Why not play a game at home of What am I? Ask your child to describe a shape with 3 attributes :

· I have one curved face
· I have two flat, circular faces
· You will often find things wrapped around me
· WHAT AM I?
· A cylinder!

By encouraging them to use adjectives to describe the shapes, it will also support them with their writing.

By the end of the week the children:

Will be able to begin to use the names of common 3D shapes and describe features of familiar 3D shapes.

Will be able to describe features of 3D shapes including number, types of faces and properties.

http://www.ictgames.com/Y2shape.html

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/longshape3d.html

http://www.interactivestuff.org/match/maker.phtml?featured=1&id=15 wait for the arrow to appear which says ‘ready to play!’

http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ click on Year 2 and then 3D shape. The quiz will really help describe the shapes!

http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/shape.htm This site has a variety of games for both 2D and 3D shape.

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 be making the final observations of our broad beans and writing up our findings.

We will be asking:-

1. Do seeds/plants need soil to germinate and grow?
2. Do seeds/plants need light to germinate and grow?
3. Do seeds/plants need water to germinate and grow?
4. Do seeds/plants need air to germinate and grow?
    
   We have started planting some 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 the topic on our senses.
   This week we will be looking at our sense of touch and describing how different things feel.
   The children will be feeling different objects and using different adjectives to describe them.
    
   Come and See
   The children will be continuing their new topic “Giving”.
   We will be learning about Easter Sunday and looking at the story from Matthew’s gospel. We will then be writing the Easter Story. Christians remember Jesus died for everyone.
   The key words the children will be focusing on are sharing, giving, opportunities, Lent, prayer.
   Some questions we will be thinking about.

• How do you think the women felt before they went to the tomb?
• What did the angel have to tell them?
• What do you think the women said when they saw the disciples?
• What is Easter about?
   
  Reminders

 

Wednesday 9th April Infants Egg Rolling. The children need to decorate a hardboiled egg and bring in to school on the day.

 

Wednesday 9th April 3pm – FOSV Easter Tombola, Coffee and Hot Cross Bun Sale

 

Guide Dog As you know, our children worked really hard in order to raise enough money to sponsor the training of a new guide dog. They did really well and managed to achieve this some months ago. Our guide dog ‘Vinny’ is now grown up and doing well with his training. He and his owners will be coming into school next Thursday 10th April along with some pups. If your child has either an allergy to dogs or has a fear of them, please inform your child’s class teacher. Thank you.

 

 

Friday 11th April in the afternoon we have the infants Easter Bonnet Parade. Please could we ask that these are ONLY brought into school on the day, as storage is at a premium.

 

 

Easter Service School closes next Friday 11th April for the Easter Break. The children from Y5/6 will be leading us in an Easter Service that morning which starts after registration at approx. 9.15am. Everybody is welcome and we look forward to seeing you there.

 

Thank you for your continued support.

Year 1/2 Team.