Year 1 News
23rd January 2026
We have particularly enjoyed our science experiments this week. We did two blindfolded experiments. In our first experiment we identified different smells, like onion, vinegar, lemon juice and coffee. We then did a sight experiment. In pairs one person was blindfolded and the other gave them instructions for walking around cones in the playground. We then swapped over. We had to totally trust the person giving us the instructions!
Last Week:
In maths, we continued our ‘Place Value to Twenty’ topic. We found one more and one less than a given number and ordered numbers forwards and backwards. We recorded missing numbers on number lines from 0-20 and 20-0. We estimated the position of numbers on blank number lines from 0-10 and 10-20, by identifying the middle number as a starting point. We continued to represent numbers to twenty using Dienes, Numicon, ten frames and bead strings.
In phonics, we focused on the spelling, ‘ou’, which has the sounds: ‘ow’, ’u’, or ‘oo’ (as in moon). We identified this grapheme and correctly applied the sounds in real and alien words. We wrote sentences on our whiteboards using this spelling and sounds. We also revised the sound ‘ae’ with the spellings ‘ai’, ‘ay’ and ‘a-e’ through reading and writing words.
In English, we continued to focus on using the Year One Common Exception words to construct our own sentences. We used the story of ‘Elmer’ to do this.
In music, we continued to study pitch and we started to learn our song about the sea.
In P.E, we put movements together in our dance sequence.
In RE, we began our topic on ‘Who is a Muslim and what do they believe?’
In art, we created a picture in the style of the artist, Paul Klee. We enjoyed using wax crayons and watercolours.
Next Week:
In maths, will complete our ‘Place Value to Twenty’ topic, by comparing numbers within twenty, using the terms greatest, smallest, less than, greater than and equal to. We will order groups of numbers from the smallest to the greatest and the greatest to the smallest. We will start our new topic on ‘Addition and Subtraction’ within twenty. We will add numbers by counting on from different starting numbers, adding ones to two digit numbers and exploring number bonds. We will continue to use Dienes, Numicon, ten frames and bead strings to consolidate our understanding.
In phonics we will focus on the sound, ‘s’, which can be spelt as: ‘s’, ‘ss’, ‘st’, ‘c’, ‘ce’, ‘se’ and ‘sc’. We will practise identifying this sound and correctly applying it to real and alien words. We will write sentences on our whiteboards using this sound and spellings.
In English we will complete our writing about ‘Elmer’. We will use the Year One Common Exception words to construct our own sentences. We will then begin our work on writing instructions.
In science we will complete our senses experiments through touch and sound.
In music we will continue to study pitch and we will listen to music from different historical periods.
In P.E. we will practise our sequence of dance movements through music.
In RE, we will continue our topic ‘Who is a Muslim and what do they believe?’ We will learn about the prophet Muhammad.
In PSHE we will talk about who can help us when we are feeling nervous, worried or scared.
Important things to remember:
Please bring your reading book and home school contact book to school every day. The children read their books in school, so please can they bring their books in daily. On Fridays they enjoy reading with Year 3. Thank you.