Year 1 - Blwyddyn Un

Welcome To Year 1 

Please also see our school Twitter page @Stmichaels or our class Seesaw account for further information and updates. 

Our Class Learning Journey 

Week beginning Monday 10th June 2024

Mathematics & Numeracy:

During our maths sessions this week, we continued exploring British coins and notes. The children have been working hard to recognise and calculate the value of different amounts. It’s wonderful to see their confidence growing as they solve problems involving money and learn the importance of each coin and note. You can practice this at home by letting them help count change or set up a small shop with toys!

Monster Phonics:

Our Monster Phonics sessions have been buzzing with the 'er' sound this week. The children enjoyed various activities, including identifying words with the 'er' sound, reading stories, and writing sentences. They are becoming phonics experts, and it’s great to see their reading and writing skills develop each day.

Delving into the world of digestion!

As part of our topic, "How does the human body work?", we delved into the fascinating world of digestion this week. The children wrote informative leaflets to explain the process of digestion and labelled diagrams of the digestive system, helping them understand each part's role.

The highlight of the week was our digestion experiment! The children were thrilled to simulate the digestion process, which brought their learning to life in a fun and memorable way. This hands-on activity not only deepened their understanding but also sparked lots of curiosity and questions.

Week beginning Monday 3rd June 2024

Independent Writing:
This week, we've been busy using our independent writing skills to create our half term recounts. The children did a fantastic job of reflecting on their experiences and writing detailed accounts of their activities.

Phonics:
We had fun exploring words with this week's Monster Phonics sound, 'oa', with the help of Miss Oh No! The children enjoyed identifying and using words like "boat," "coat," and "goat" in various phonics activities.

Mathematics & Numeracy:
During our maths sessions, we learned to recognise and identify the value of different British coins. We then used our problem-solving and reasoning skills to explore more complex questions about money, such as making specific amounts with different combinations of coins.

Science Week:
As part of Science Week, we had a blast learning about the effects of gravity and air resistance by making our very own parachutes. The children made predictions and tested how different parachutes worked. Towards the end of the week, we conducted 'pop rocket' experiments by adding water to vitamin C tablets and observed the reactions, discussing the impact of varying the amount of water on the rockets' performance.

Week beginning Monday 20th May 2024

This week in Year 1 has been full of special celebrations!

In our maths sessions, we explored the concepts of wholes, halves, and quarters. The children enjoyed practical activities that helped them understand how to divide shapes and objects into equal parts.

During our language sessions, we recapped our Monster Phonic sounds and high-frequency words learned so far. The children practiced reading and writing with these sounds and words, strengthening their phonics and literacy skills.

We also participated in several collective worship sessions this week. We celebrated Pentecost and held a special prayer service to Mary in our Garden of Faith. The children remembered their own mothers and took part in a beautiful ceremony where we crowned our Lady Mary with a garland of flowers. It has been a week of deepening our knowledge and celebrating our faith together.

Week beginning Monday 13th May 2024

This week we had a special visit from the author Ian Brown, who shared exciting stories about the adventures of Albert the tortoise. The children were captivated by his tales and had a wonderful time listening and asking questions.

In our topic work on the human body, we've been busy exploring and learning about skeletons. With the help of our friendly skeleton model, Boney, the children drew, labelled, and even created their own skeletons. It was a fun and educational experience that helped us understand how our bodies are structured.

We also took our learning outdoors to practice our balance skills. The children worked together in various activities that tested and improved their balance, making the most of the fresh air and sunshine this week.

In maths, our focus was on position and direction. The children practiced their left and right turns as well as clockwise and anticlockwise movements. They especially enjoyed programming the Bee-Bot, working collaboratively to give it the correct instructions to reach its destination.

During our language sessions this week, we continued to practice our punctuation skills, using capital letters, full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks independently.

Week beginning Monday 6th May 2024

This week, we delved into the world of punctuation, mastering capital letters, full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks. We have been applying these skills to both our independent mission activities and focussed tasks whilst exploring fascinating fun facts about the human body. 

A huge thank you to Dougie who played the perfect patient in our 'ur' sURgery this week, helping us explore various 'ur' words whilst making our Monster Phonics sessions super fun and interactive!

During our mathematics sessions, we continued our practical exploration of time, focusing on o'clock and half past times. Through hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences, we deepened our understanding of these fundamental concepts.

This week, we also had the privilege of participating in St. Michael's Pentecost Mass at St. Dyfrig's Church, further exploring the Pentecost story.

Week beginning Monday 29th April 2024

In literacy, we have embarked on an exciting adventure through the world of storytelling by exploring and writing recounts of our recent trip to Techniquest. We've brought our experiences to life on paper, capturing the magic and wonder of our time spent at the science centre. From the fascinating exhibits to the thrilling experiments, each recount has allowed us to reflect on our journey and share our discoveries with others, fostering both our writing skills and our ability to express ourselves creatively.

In mathematics, we've been on a journey through time as we've delved into the concept of telling time using analog clocks. With a focus on o'clock and half past times, we've honed our ability to read and interpret the positions of the hour and minute hands, mastering the fundamentals of time-telling in a fun and engaging way. Through interactive activities and hands-on learning experiences, we've developed a solid understanding of time and its significance in our daily lives.

During our topic sessions, we've embarked on an exciting journey of discovery as we've delved into the intricacies of the human body. Through hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences, we've identified and labelled the different parts of the body, from the head to the toes. This immersive exploration has not only enriched our scientific knowledge but has also fostered a sense of wonder and curiosity about the incredible human anatomy.

Week beginning Monday 22nd April 2024

This week, we have been immersed in the world of poetry, particularly focusing on rhyming poems. We've embarked on an exciting journey of creativity, crafting our very own rhyming poems focussed around the fascinating topic of the human body.

In mathematics, we have delved into the concept of time by exploring the months of the year. Through engaging activities and interactive learning experiences, we've gained a solid grasp of the sequence of months, their names, and their significance within the broader context of time.

We embarked on an exciting journey to Techniquest to delve into the fascinating world of human body and further explore our topic big question, "How does the human body work?" At Techniquest, we engaged in various immersive exhibits and activities designed to deepen our understanding of the human body. We encountered interactive models showcasing the skeletal system, muscular system, circulatory system, and more, allowing us to observe first-hand how these systems function.

Our trip to Techniquest proved to be an enriching and memorable experience, igniting curiosity and inspiring a lifelong fascination with the inner workings of the human body!

Week beginning Monday 15th April 2024

Science & Technology:
This week in Science & Technology, we embarked on an exciting exploration of the human skeleton. We identified and labelled various bones, deepening our understanding of the skeletal system. To enhance our fine motor skills, we got creative and crafted our own split pin skeletons, bringing our learning to life in a hands-on way.

Mathematical Marvels:
During our maths sessions, we dove into the concept of time by ordering the days of the week. Through engaging activities, we explored questions about today, yesterday, and tomorrow, sharpening our understanding of chronological order and the passage of time.

Monster Phonics:
In Monster Phonics, we delved into the sound of the week: 'oo'. Through hands on activities, we mastered reading, writing, and spelling 'oo' words independently, adding new tools to our phonetic skills.

Balance Bikes:

We enjoyed the thrill of improving our balance skills with the balance bikes this week. Through practice and perseverance, we honed our coordination and confidence, laying the foundation for future cycling adventures!

Language, Literacy, and Communication:
In our language sessions, we honed our skills by identifying rhyming words in preparation for crafting our own rhyming poems next week. Through exploration and creativity, we're nurturing a love for language and expression.

Religious Education:
As we concluded our topic on change, we reflected on the Easter story and its message of new beginnings, forgiveness, and the importance of saying sorry. Through discussions and activities, we explored the significance of these themes in our own lives, fostering empathy and understanding.

Week beginning Monday 8th April 2024

What a delightful start to the summer term! This week has been brimming with exploration, discovery, and collaborative learning as we delved into our exciting new topic, 'How does the human body work?'

Topic Exploration: How does the human body work?

We kickstarted the week by brainstorming and sharing our big questions about our new topic, 'How does the human body work?' From unravelling the mysteries of the human skeleton to understanding the complexities of the digestive system, our curiosity knows no bounds! We have been inspired by the magical adventures of Ms. Frizzle and her magic school bus, as we embarked on our first journey into understanding the human body. The magic of storytelling and imagination truly brought our learning to life!

Mathematical Marvels:
This week, we honed our counting skills by navigating the landscape of numbers from 1 to 100. Through engaging activities and problem-solving challenges, we're becoming adept at counting both forwards and backwards independently. Putting our problem-solving hats on, we tackled grid puzzles and pieced together 100-square puzzles, sharpening our logical thinking and analytical skills along the way.

Monster Phonics:
This week, we have we revisited and reinforced our grasp on the following sounds: ch, sh, th, ng, oo and ar as we embarked on the exciting journey of crafting sentences independently.

Religious Education:
During our RE sessions, we delved into the realm of moral and spiritual development. Through engaging activities and role-playing exercises, we explored the significance of saying sorry. Working in small groups, we brainstormed our ideas of how to follow Jesus' example by extending apologies and prioritising the needs of others.

Wishing you all a joyful Easter break!

Easter Homework:

Topic homework: How does the human body work?

The human body is fascinating! Why not visit your local library? choose some books on the human body and practise recognising the different parts of the skeleton or digestive system! Why not research some amazing human body facts online or make a skeleton from cardboard tubes and craft materials?

Reading Practice:

A polite reminder that we encourage you to continue reading with your child daily. Please ensure that reading books are returned to school weekly, allowing us to reinforce their learning in class and promptly exchange books.

Reading is a fundamental skill that lays the foundation for a child's academic success and overall development. By listening to your children read several times a week, you not only provide them with valuable support and encouragement but also help reinforce and strengthen their reading skills.

Week beginning Monday 18^th March 2024

Virtual Dinosaur Workshop:

Our week kicked off with an exciting virtual dinosaur workshop hosted by Cardiff Museum – Curious about Dinosaurs. The children had a blast exploring various dinosaur bones and fossils, delving into the fascinating world of prehistoric creatures. It was an interactive and educational session that sparked curiosity and ignited imaginations.

Pupil-led Collective Worship:

Our pupils took the lead in our Collective Worship session this week, sharing the story of Palm Sunday with friends and families. Through storytelling, reflection, and prayer, we deepened our understanding of this significant event in the Christian calendar. It was a beautiful opportunity for the children to showcase their leadership skills and share important messages with their peers and loved ones.

Easter Bonnet Parade:

To end the week, the children showcased their creativity and craftsmanship with their beautifully decorated Easter bonnets, spreading joy and cheer throughout the school. It was a delightful celebration of the upcoming Easter season, filled with laughter, smiles, and a sense of community spirit.

World Down Syndrome Day:

On March 21st, we joined the global celebration of World Down Syndrome Day by engaging in '21 acts of Kindness’. The children embraced the spirit of inclusivity and compassion by performing acts of kindness throughout the day. From helping a friend in need to sharing words of encouragement, each act contributed to creating a more caring and supportive environment within our classroom and beyond.

Week beginning Monday 11^th March 2024

Marvellous Maths Manipulatives:

We've immersed ourselves in the world of numbers using our fantastic maths manipulatives. Through hands-on activities, we've been mastering the art of counting in 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s. The children have been enthusiastically exploring patterns and developing a deeper understanding of numerical concepts.

Dougie the Dog Mentor:

Our beloved Dougie the dog mentor has been 'pawsitively' amazing this week! Dougie has been instrumental in boosting our pupils' confidence and reinforcing the importance of keeping our school 'Dougie ready' and litter-free. His presence has been a source of joy and motivation for all.

British Science Week:

We've had a blast celebrating British Science Week by delving into various scientific wonders. From exploring animal adaptations to diving into the fascinating world of dinosaurs, our curious minds have been on an adventure of discovery. We've also had the privilege of participating in live lessons from Science Farm Live, where we've investigated the intriguing question, 'What does a farmer look like?'

Cress Seed Experiments:

Excitement filled the air as we kicked off our cress seed experiments! Through these experiments, we'll be exploring how factors such as light, dark, and water impact seed growth. The children are eagerly anticipating observing the changes and discoveries that lie ahead by making their own predictions.

It's been a week filled with hands-on learning, scientific exploration, and mathematical marvels. We're incredibly proud of the children's enthusiasm and engagement in their learning journey.

Week beginning Monday 4^th March 2024

Exploring 'Mother Earth is Weeping':

Throughout the week, we've delved into the pages of our whole-school book, 'Mother Earth is Weeping' by Claire Donald. With eager minds and curious hearts, we've explored the themes of environmental awareness and the importance of taking care of our planet. Using our inference skills, we've become detectives, uncovering the deeper messages hidden within the book.

Litter Pick and Environmental Awareness:

In line with our discussions about caring for the Earth, we embarked on a litter pick around our school grounds. It was a hands-on experience where the children actively participated in cleaning up their environment. Through this activity, we emphasised the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, encouraging the children to think critically about their own actions and how they can contribute to a cleaner, greener planet.

World Book Day Celebrations:

On Thursday, we celebrated World Book Day with great enthusiasm! The classroom was filled with an array of characters from beloved stories as the children dressed up as characters from their favourite books. It was a joyous occasion where imagination flourished, and the love for reading was celebrated throughout the school.

Week beginning Monday 26th February 2024

Mathematics & Numeracy:
Our focus this week has been on counting and understanding number bonds. We delved into number bonds up to 5, 10, and 20, enjoying a bit of friendly competition as we aimed to beat our previous 'hit the button' scores!

Topic: Dinosaur Planet:
In our exploration of the Dinosaur Planet, we examined various dinosaur bones and started to dissect the different components of a dinosaur skeleton.

Eisteddfod:
A massive thank you to everyone for the incredible effort put into all the design and technology Eisteddfod entries this week! Your support has been invaluable in helping the children create some truly amazing entries. Choosing winners was certainly no easy task!

We continued practicing our songs and poems in our house groups, relishing every moment of our performances. A heartfelt thank you to all who supported us during our coffee morning on Friday. Together, we raised an impressive £273.80 for our school!

St David's Day:

We’ve been thinking about the life of St David and giving thanks to God for giving him such courage and wisdom. Together we have been remembering all the amazing things he did in his life which have helped us all to think about the ‘little things’ that we can do to make a really big difference.

St David's Day Mass:

We wrapped up the week by participating in our St. David's Day Mass alongside St. Michael's families and friends at St. Dyfrigs church.

Week Beginning Monday 19th February 2024

Mathematics:
In mathematics, the focus this week remained on measurement, with an emphasis on using standard units. The children engaged in practical activities where they utilised rulers to measure objects in centimetres. Collaborative problem-solving was encouraged, particularly when faced with challenges such as objects not positioned at 0cm.

Languages, Literacy, and Communication:
Throughout the week, the children continued to hone their phonic skills and apply reading strategies to extract information from various comprehension texts and identify 'real' and 'alien' words.

Topic: Dinosaur Planet:
During our topic investigation, we explored the dietary habits of various dinosaurs. Using a Venn diagram, the children sorted different dinosaurs into herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. An intriguing discovery was made, revealing that the majority of dinosaurs were herbivores!

Eisteddfod:
Preparations for the Eisteddfod continued this week as we collaborated within our houses, practicing our various songs and poems. Meanwhile, back in the classroom, we have enjoyed creating various symbols of Wales using different construction materials.

Religious Education:
In our collective worship and RE sessions, the focus remained on the significance of Mass and the concept of being welcomed into the parish family. We explored the ritual of Holy Communion or receiving a blessing together, emphasising the message of God's love.

Overall, it was a week filled with hands-on learning experiences, collaborative activities, and spiritual exploration across various subjects!

February Half Term Homework:

Weekly Spelling Tests:

After half-term, we will be introducing weekly spelling tests every Friday, starting on February 23rd, 2024. Your spelling words will be uploaded to Seesaw weekly.

Eisteddfod Homework Task:

Design & Technology - Please create something that represents Wales, for example, a flag, a model of a Welsh dragon, a love spoon etc. Please see the poster below for further details.

Topic Homework: Dinosaur Planet:

Dinosaurs are fascinating! Why not visit the library, choose some dinosaur books and practise reading and writing dinosaur names together? Alternatively, research amazing dinosaur facts together online. You could also make a mini-Jurassic Park from cardboard boxes and craft materials to make model dinosaurs feel at home!

Reading Practice:

A polite reminder that we encourage you to continue reading with your child daily. Please ensure that reading books are returned to school weekly, allowing us to reinforce their learning in class and promptly exchange books.

Phonics and Number Formation:

Please practice your Monster Phonics speech sounds and actions and accurate number formation using the videos below to support you. These resources will aid your child's practice at home.

Week beginning Monday 5th February 2024

• Visit from Dougie the Dog Mentor: We were thrilled to welcome Dougie the dog mentor to our school this week. To prepare for his visit, we practiced being "Dougie ready" by picking up litter around the school and being calm and patient as we welcomed Dougie into each of our classrooms. In groups, we had the opportunity to create Dougie posters, showcasing his role as a dog mentor to our school visitors.

• Health and Well-being week: As part of our Health and Well-being week celebrations, we delved into the concept of growth mindset and explored the power of positive affirmations. These activities aimed to nurture our mental well-being and encourage a resilient attitude towards challenges.

• Internet Safety Awareness: We dedicated time to learning about the importance of staying safe online. Through discussions and activities, we gained valuable insights into online safety practices and designed our own internet safety posters to promote awareness among our peers.

• Mathematics: In mathematics, we continued our exploration of measurement using non-standard units. Through hands-on activities and group work, we engaged in both collaborative and independent tasks and honed our reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Week beginning Monday 29^th January 2024

Eisteddfod Preparation:

This week, we have started practicing in our houses for our upcoming school Eisteddfod. We encourage you to check Seesaw for updates and resources where you'll find a copy of our poem, 'Daffodil,' and our song, 'Arderyn Melyn' to practise at home.

Mathematics & Numeracy:

In mathematics, we have been exploring the world of measurement using non-standard units. The week included a thrilling dinosaur hunt, where we measured dinosaur footprints using paper clips, Multilink, Numicon and counters!

Number Day:

On Friday, we celebrated Number Day with great enthusiasm! We dressed up as our favourite Numberblocks characters and engaged in a variety of fun-filled math activities and games. It was a fantastic way to reinforce mathematical concepts in a playful and enjoyable manner.

RE Topic 4 Celebration:

To mark the end of our RE Topic 4, we engaged in a heart-warming celebration. We decorated biscuits and prepared refreshments, coming together to enact the spirit of the parish family sharing moments of joy and togetherness.

Week beginning Monday 22^nd January 2024

This week, we have been showing off our phonic, reading, spelling and maths skills as we took part in various assessments throughout the week. We have also enjoyed practising our punctuation skills by writing captions for our Monster Phonics pictures.

As part of our daily Helpwr Heddiw sessions, we have enjoyed practising our Welsh language skills by taking part in a game of Welsh bingo and practising using phrases such as ‘sut mae twydd heddiw?’. As we have been delving into the world of animals as part of our Science topic, we enjoyed a visit from Amelie's pet axolotl this week! We are looking forward to learning more about amphibians as we explore different animal groups throughout this topic.

We ended the week by making cards for St Dwynwen’s Day and designing our very own dinosaurs.

Week beginning Monday 15^th January 2024

This week we have enjoyed getting stuck into our new topic, ‘Dinosaur Planet’ and suggesting various questions we’d like to explore from ‘what did dinosaurs eat?’ and ‘where did they live?’ to ‘what is a fossil?’ We’ve enjoyed exploring our new dinosaur museum, role playing with dinosaurs in the small world and creating our very own dinosaurs with 2D and 3D shapes.

We also enjoyed meeting Dougie, our dog mentor and his owner Miss Curnow from Cardinal Newman this week. We talked about the importance of being ‘Dougie ready’ as a school and discussed various class rules in preparation for Dougie’s visits such as the importance of being calm, quiet and litter free.

Week beginning Monday 8^th January 2024

Welcome back Year 1! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year! We’ve had a lovely week hearing all about your Christmas break spent with your families and friends and introducing our new topic…Dinosaur Planet!

Stomp, crash, roar! Watch out – there are dinosaurs about! Yes, that’s right, we’re travelling back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. Let's explore the Dinosaur Planet. Imagine you're a palaeontologist (that's a scientist who studies bones and fossils). Dig deep and discover dazzling dinosaur facts. Create a dinosaur museum and invite visitors to see your awesome dinosaur artefacts. You could even do a dinosaur dance or produce some prehistoric percussion. Which is your favourite dinosaur? The Tyrannosaurus, the Brachiosaurus or the Micropachycephalosaurus? Doyouthinkhesawus? Yes, he did. Run!

This term, we’ll visit a museum, look closely at ancient fossils and study reptiles to understand how dinosaurs may have lived and eventually died out. We’ll learn about the great fossil hunter, Mary Anning, and follow in her footsteps, studying dinosaur teeth and bones to find out what dinosaurs liked to eat. Learning dinosaur names, creating puzzling riddles, writing fantastic fact files and creating exciting dinosaur stories are some of the other activities we’ll be involved in this half term. We’ll also use our artistic skills to make model dinosaurs and to design dinosaur landscapes.

Help your child prepare for this project
Dinosaurs are fascinating! Why not visit the library, choose some dinosaur books and practise reading and writing dinosaur names together? Alternatively, research amazing dinosaur facts together online. You could also make a mini Jurassic Park from cardboard boxes and craft materials to make model dinosaurs feel at home!

Week beginning Monday 18^th December 2023

What a fantastic fun-filled last week of Christmas celebrations! We’ve enjoyed breakfast with Santa, exploring the Christmas grotto, enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner and taking part in various Christmas activities and crafts, ending the week with a Christmas party! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year spent with your family and friends.

Week beginning Monday 11^th December 2023

A huge thank you to all the families and friends who came to watch our Christmas concerts! We had an amazing time performing for you all and hope you enjoyed it just as much as we did!

Week beginning Monday 4^th December 2023

This week we have been focussing on the significance of Advent and the importance of waiting. As a class, we made our very own advent calendar to count down to Christmas and worked together to make advent wreaths.

To celebrate the end of our topic on ‘Me and My Community’, we explored the world of Welsh food by making Welsh cakes and tasting other well known Welsh food such as Bara Brith and Caerphilly cheese.

Week Beginning Monday 9^th October 2023

Language & Literacy:

In our language and literacy sessions this week, Year 1 students have been delving into the art of letter writing. We've been thoroughly exploring the features of a letter, setting the stage for the exciting task of writing our own letters next week.

Mathematics & Numeracy:

This week, mathematics and numeracy have been all about numbers and addition in Year 1. Through hands-on, practical activities with tools like Numicon, Multilink, and counting bears, our students have been uncovering the joys of addition and doubling. They've been working with number sentences, learning about the addition and equals symbols, and expanding their mathematical horizons.

Expressive Arts:

During our Expressive Arts session, we had the pleasure of immersing ourselves in the world of Welsh artist Rhiannon Roberts. We explored Rhiannon's remarkable watercolour techniques, and the children were inspired by her beautiful artwork depicting local landmarks. Our budding artists applied their own creativity by using soft pastels to create their own masterpieces inspired by Rhiannon's works. The featured landmarks included Pontypridd, Caerphilly Castle, Castle Coch, and Cardiff Bay. This experience allowed our students to express themselves artistically and connect with the cultural heritage of our region.

- Next week, we're eagerly looking forward to the practical task of writing our own letters, applying all that we've learned about letter features.

- In mathematics, we'll continue to explore numbers and expand our understanding of subtraction through engaging activities.

- Our artistic journey will continue as we explore new techniques and artists, nurturing our children’s creativity and appreciation for art.

Thank you for your continued support in your child's educational journey. Have a wonderful weekend!

Week Beginning Monday 2^nd October 2023

Language & Literacy:

In our language and literacy sessions this week, our Year 1 students have been busy honing their writing skills. Building on our exploration of community helpers from the previous week, we've delved into writing detailed descriptions of these everyday heroes. Along the way, we've emphasized the importance of punctuation, especially the use of capital letters and full stops. Our young writers have shown remarkable progress in crafting clear and well-structured sentences.

Mathematics & Numeracy:

This week in mathematics, our Year 1 students have been on an exciting journey of numbers! We've been focusing on the concept of "one more" and "one less" than a given number. To make this learning experience even more engaging, we've incorporated number lines and catchy songs. Our students have been singing and hopping along the number lines, making maths a fun and interactive adventure.

Harvest Festival Highlights:

Friday was a truly special day for Year 1. We had the pleasure of welcoming our parents and families to our Harvest Festival celebration. Alongside our Year 2 friends, we put on a heart-warming performance of 'Cauliflowers Fluffy' and 'Dingle Dangle Scarecrow.' The joy and enthusiasm of our students were infectious, and the audience was treated to a delightful show.

One of the most exciting moments of the day was the performance of our very own song, 'Pontypridd.' With the guidance of the Song Writing Doctor, Larry, our Year 1 class created a unique song that truly showcased their song writing skills. The energy and creativity on display were truly impressive, and we want to extend a massive thank you to Larry for his invaluable assistance. Our students had a blast performing their song for their parents and families.

- Next week, we will continue to build on our writing skills, focusing on expanding our vocabulary and sentence structure.

- In mathematics, we'll be diving deeper into number concepts and problem-solving to further develop our mathematical prowess.

- We look forward to more exciting events and activities, including further collaborations with our Year 2 friends.

Thank you for your continuous support and involvement in your child's education. Have a fantastic weekend!

Week Beginning Monday 25^th September 2023

Language & Literacy:

During our language and literacy sessions this week, our Year 1 students have been actively engaged in exploring the theme of "People Who Help Us." We have been writing lists of people who play important roles in our lives within our family, school, and local community. This has been a wonderful opportunity for the students to expand their vocabulary and develop their writing skills while recognising the importance of these individuals in our daily lives.

Mathematics & Numeracy:

In our mathematics sessions this week, our Year 1 students have been delving into the exciting world of numbers! We've been comparing and ordering numbers, which has allowed our young learners to practice essential mathematical concepts. They've also been discovering how the value of a number can be determined by the position of its digits, a fundamental aspect of place value. This hands-on experience has laid a strong foundation for their future mathematical journey.

Faith Week - Exploring Judaism:

As part of our exploration of different faiths, this week we have been diving into the fascinating world of Judaism. Our students have had the chance to learn about and appreciate the stories of Abraham, Sarah, and Moses. These stories have not only enriched their understanding of the Jewish faith but also provided valuable lessons in empathy, respect, and cultural awareness.

Buddy Activities with Year 3:

Our Year 1 students have had a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with their Year 3 buddies this week. Together, they explored the inspiring story of St. Michael. The children worked together to brainstorm adjectives to describe St. Michael, enhancing their vocabulary and communication skills. These buddy activities foster a sense of community, mentorship, and teamwork among our students, creating strong bonds and cherished memories.

We look forward to another exciting week of learning and growth in Year 1!

- We encourage parents to continue discussions about "Me and My Community, Wales” theme at home to reinforce learning.

- Stay tuned for more collaborative activities with our Year 3 buddies, fostering strong relationships and peer support.

Thank you for your continued support in your child's educational journey. Have a great weekend!

Week Beginning Monday 18th September 2023

Mathematics: This week in Year 1, our young mathematicians have been hard at work continuing to build and refine their number recognition, formation, and independent counting skills. They have been exploring numbers and quantities through various engaging activities. It's wonderful to see their confidence grow as they become more comfortable with numbers.

Literacy: In our literacy sessions, we've continued to focus on phonic recognition and independent spelling skills. The children have been diving into CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant), CCVC (Consonant-Consonant-Vowel-Consonant), and CVCC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Consonant) words.

Religious Education: During our RE sessions this week, we've been exploring the importance of family and how we can share God's love and care with one another. It has been a heart-warming and thought-provoking experience for our Year 1 class. They've had the opportunity to discuss their own families, share stories, and learn about the values of love and kindness in a faith-based context.

We're excited to see what next week will bring as we continue our journey of learning and growth together.

Week Beginning Monday 11th September 2023

Literacy: This week in Year 1, we have spent time practicing our spelling and phonic recognition. The children engaged in various activities designed to enhance their ability to spell and recognise words independently.

Numeracy: This week, we have been practicing our number recognition and formation. The children have been working on forming their numbers correctly and learning the fundamental skills that will serve as a foundation for future mathematical concepts.

Outdoor Adventures: One of the highlights of the week was our exciting outdoor adventure. We embarked on a series of orienteering activities around the school's outdoor area. the children had the chance to explore, navigate, and solve clues to reach different points. It was a fantastic way to combine physical activity with problem-solving skills, and the children had an absolute blast!

Our outdoor adventures have not only been fun but have also helped us develop teamwork and problem-solving abilities. We're looking forward to another exciting week of learning ahead!

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!

Week beginning Monday 4th September 2023

This week in Year 1, we have had a wonderful time welcoming the children back to school and getting to know them all. We have talked about the importance of being kind, respectful, and responsible members of our class community. We agreed to listen carefully to our teachers, take turns when speaking, and use our indoor voices while inside the classroom. Everyone did a great job of following these rules throughout the week.

Literacy: Our literacy focus this week was on the story of the "Colour Monster." We gathered together and listened to this fantastic tale about emotions and how to deal with them. We talked about how the Colour Monster felt and discussed strategies for handling different emotions. It was a fun and enlightening story time for all!

Writing: In our independent writing activity, "All About Me," we wrote about our families, favourite things, and what makes us unique.

Mathematics: We also had an exciting week in mathematics! Our young mathematicians demonstrated their independent counting skills, working with numbers and quantities. We practiced counting objects and even played some fun counting games.

Outdoor Fun: To celebrate the last of the summer sunshine, we enjoyed a special treat this week. We had a delightful time outdoors, where we savoured delicious ice lollies. It was a perfect way to enjoy the sunshine and bond with our classmates.

Overall, it was a productive and enjoyable week in Year 1. We focused on building a positive and respectful classroom environment, explored emotions through storytelling, practiced our writing and number skills, and had some well-deserved outdoor fun. We look forward to another exciting week ahead!

Week beginning Monday 3rd July

This week marked an important milestone as we had our three-day transition to Year 2! We had the opportunity to meet our new Year 2 teachers for September, Mrs Williams and Mrs Thomas and enjoyed sharing the story, 'All are Welcome' along with solving two maths mysteries! 

Upon returning to Year 1, we continued exploring the concept of capacity. From pouring and filling to comparing and estimating, we've been exploring how different containers can hold  different amounts.

During our RE sessions, we continued our discussions on the importance of being a good neighbour. We shared our thoughts and ideas on how we can show kindness and consideration to those around us and explored various scenarios and considered the impact of our actions on others.

As we approach the end of the academic year, it's important to reflect on the progress Year 1 have made. The children have shown tremendous growth, both academically and personally, throughout the year. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the positive attitudes they have displayed towards their learning.

Looking ahead, we have exciting plans for the remaining weeks, including taking part in Health and Well-being week to celebrate our time together in Year 1. We will continue to nurture our love for learning, explore new concepts, and cherish the friendships we have formed.

Week beginning Monday 26th June 2023

What an exciting week in Year 1, filled with learning and fun activities. This week, we focused on the importance of being a good neighbour and discussed how we can extend our kindness both locally and globally. We enjoyed engaging in thoughtful discussions on this topic and brainstorming ideas on how we can be good neighbours to everyone around us.

One of the highlights of the week was the Now Press Play Science session on Seasons. We had a fantastic time listening to the interactive audio story, which took us on a journey to explore the different seasons and the changes that occur during each one.

In mathematics, we have been challenging ourselves with independent addition and subtraction tasks. We have been developing our problem-solving skills by solving various math problems on our own.

We are looking forward to continuing our learning journey next week as we meet our Year 2 teachers, Mrs Williams and Mrs Thomas during Transition Week! 

Week beginning Monday 19th June 2023

This week in Year 1, we embarked on some exciting learning adventures and explored various subjects. Our week began with a thrilling visit to the space wonder dome, where we delved into the wonders of the universe. We gazed at the stars, planets, and galaxies, and learned fascinating space facts that left us in awe of the vastness and beauty of outer space.

In Access All Arts week, we dived into the world of illustrator Johanna Basford. We explored our own identities and expressed ourselves through art. Inspired by Basford's incredible work, we created magnificent artworks that showcased our individuality and imagination.

In Literacy, we became budding astronomers as we created our own planet fact files. We researched different planets in our solar system, gathered interesting information, and compiled it into detailed fact files.

During our Maths sessions, we explored the concept of weight using balance scales. We compared and described objects based on their heaviness and lightness, developing our understanding of measurement and reasoning skills. It was engaging to experiment with different objects and observe how the scales tipped in response to their weight.

Our Religious Education sessions centred around the exploration of Islam and the stories of the prophet Muhammed. We learned about the basic beliefs and practices of Muslims, gaining insights into their rich cultural heritage. Through stories and discussions, we developed an appreciation for the teachings of Islam and its values of compassion, peace, and community.

To conclude our week, we delved into the world of Italian music during our Italian session. We discovered the enchanting melodies of the Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano. Through listening and singing along, we immersed ourselves in the vibrant rhythms and captivating lyrics, expanding our cultural horizons and fostering a love for music from around the world.

It has been a week filled with exploration, creativity, and cultural discovery for our Year 1 class. We have delved into the mysteries of space, celebrated our unique identities through art, expanded our knowledge of different religions, and embraced the melodies of a foreign language. We look forward to more exciting adventures and learning experiences in the weeks to come.

Week beginning Monday 12th June 2023

What a fantastic STEM week exploring the wonders of space!

Language, Literacy & Communication:

This week we focused on the features of fact files. We explored headings, sub-headings, labels, facts, illustrations and photographs and discussed the importance of setting out our work in a clear and organised way.

Mathematics & Numeracy:

In maths, we delved into the concept of turns and directions. We engaged in fun activities such as moving in clockwise and anticlockwise directions around the classroom, turning objects, and following instructions that involved rotations.

STEM Week - Space Exploration:

We celebrated STEM week by immersing ourselves in the wonders of space. We were fascinated by the mysteries of the universe and had the opportunity to design our own rockets. We explored the different planets and learned interesting facts about each one. As part of our space exploration theme, we introduced scientific predictions. We made predictions about our very own rocket, Rocky 1 and used our knowledge of science and reasoning skills to make informed guesses about what would happen when we mixed vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. This helped us to develop our critical thinking skills and learn about the importance of making educated predictions in scientific investigations.

Week beginning Monday 5th June 2023

This week in Year 1, we enjoyed working together in our house teams for Sports Day. We participated in various activities and games and were cheered on by our teachers, friends and families! We had a fantastic morning with you all!

In our literacy lessons, we focused on reflecting on our time in Year 1. We wrote about our favourite memories, the things we learned, and the progress we made throughout the year. It was a wonderful opportunity to express our thoughts and emotions through writing, and we enjoyed sharing our reflections with each other.

In our topic and maths work, we delved into the fascinating world of seasons. We learned about the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. We explored the characteristics of each season and discussed the changes that occur in nature during these times. Through engaging activities and discussions, we gained a better understanding of the seasonal cycle and the impact it has on the world around us.

Our outdoor area continued to be a source of joy and excitement for us. We spent time exploring our mission challenges, engaging in hands-on activities that stimulated our curiosity and problem-solving skills. It was a fantastic opportunity to apply what we've learned in a practical and interactive manner.

To top it all off, we ended the week with a delightful treat! We enjoyed some refreshing ice lollies in the sunshine! It was a wonderful way to relax and celebrate a week filled with learning, teamwork, and outdoor adventures.