Hi everyone,

I am pleased to report that all of the children have settled very well and are enjoying learning in Primary 1.  It is great to see how confidently they already move around the classroom, playground and park and interact with each other, myself, their buddy and other teaching staff.

Term 1 planning is as follows:

Numeracy & Mathematics

• estimate amounts and check by counting
• use one-to-one correspondence when counting
• match and order numbers to 10 and beyond
• count forwards and back to 20
• find the number before/after/ between
• add on one, then 2
• share/use appropriate language to describe halves
• sequence days of the week/months of the year
• copy, continue and create patterns
• recognise/sort/match 2D then 3D shapes
• create a pictogram using relevant information.

The children also complete mental maths, Numicon and Number Talks activities each day which help them understand mathematical ideas and relationships essential for successful reasoning and problem-solving.

Literacy & Modern Language

Spelling words will continue to be sent home every three weeks, with week 3 being consolidation of sounds and spelling words covered so far.

To date we have explored a, t, s, i, p, n, r & m.  We will continue with d, e, c, k, g, l, f, o, b, u, h, w, j & v – 2 sounds per week (plus consolidation) until Christmas holidays.

We are also exploring:

• rhyme
• syllables
• blending
• using reading strategies
• prediction/main points/retelling/sequencing stories
• capital letters & full stops in sentences
• name writing.

French

We will be using the Camembear resource to explore greetings and colours.

Health & Wellbeing

P.E.

The children are enjoying the Daily Mile.  They are participating in  Games and practicing large ball skills as well as completing Cosmic Yoga and Dance activities and through these activities have an awareness that being active is a healthy way to be.

Health

We are developing positive relationships, co-operation, turn taking, tidying up, taking care of resources and  showing an awareness of our school Values within the daily routine of the class.

We will be exploring:

•  feelings, fairness, caring, sharing, friendships, equality and love within Mental Wellbeing
• hand washing and tooth brushing as part of our daily routine to maintain wellbeing and health
• internet safety.

Social Studies and Science

The children will be finding out about People in the Past through The Great Fire of London.  We will explore how people lived in the past and how their lives were different to ours.  We  will also look at local shops and services in comparison.

Our Science topics this term are Rain, Wind & Snow and Vibrations.

The children will:

• describe and record the weather, its effects and how it makes them feel
• use their findings to discuss and explore the seasons
• investigate how water changes from one form to another
• create instruments to explore sounds
• explore sound vibrations of various pitches.

Expressive Arts

Our art lessons will be topic-related painting, drawing and collage.  We will also investigate colour mixing and observe  our local environment to record ideas, thoughts and feelings.

We will practice seasonal songs in class and use our instruments to keep a beat or practice a rhythm.

Technologies

The children participate in Education City and Busy Things  on the classroom computers and are also learning to:

• start up and shut down the computer
• use the mouse
• select and click on an icon
• drag and drop
• use the space bar, shift key and delete button
• type their name.

Within technologies the children are using the class camera to record tasks and will develop practical skills using tools to solve problems within topic work.

 

 

Numeracy

The main areas of focus this term will be:

Multiplication

• We will be learning the formal method for multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers
• Time tables, as always, will be a huge focus. The 7 has already been introduced with the 9 following soon after. All other tables will be constantly revised throughout the term.

Data Handling

• Children will be using Microsoft Forms to create questionnaires for their classmates to answer.

• This data will be used to create various types of graphs on Microsoft Excel
• Children will also get the opportunity to interpret data from graphs and comment on any trends.

Addition and Subtraction

• Different strategies to add and subtract numbers up to 4 digits.

Rounding and Estimating

• We will be learning how to round numbers to the nearest 1000 (as well as revising rounding to the nearest 10 and 100).

Money

• Children will be given a budget of £30 and asked to plan and budget a day out with a friend, presenting their findings on a poster.
• We will discuss the terms profit and loss, as well as the differences between debit and credit cards.

Measure

• A block of learning has already been completed on measuring in mm, cm and m.
• We have also learned how to calculate area using the formula area = length x breadth, as well as calculating perimeters.

 

Sumdog diagnostics are still being completed and as soon as these are complete, I will be setting optional Sumdog homework which will focus on times tables.

 

 

 

Literacy

Reading

The children will read two novels this term as a whole class group, ‘There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom’ by Louis Sachar and ‘The Eye of the Wolf’ by Daniel Pannac. Active Literacy reading strategies (Prediction, Metalinguistics, Visualisation, Inference, Main Idea and Summary) will be used to help demonstrate a deeper understanding of the content being read in class.

 

Writing

This term we will be focussing on imaginative writing, the children will be learning how to use adverbs, similes and metaphors to describe characters and settings.

We will also be looking at persuasive writing, which we will link into our IDL topic, The Rainforest.

 

Listening and Talking

In November, the class will asked to perform a solo talk in front of the class (information will be sent home soon).

 

I.D.L. / Science

This term our topic is the Rainforest. Some areas we will be learning about are:

• The layers of the rainforest and some of the animals that live in each layer.
• Food chains and the transfer of energy through these food chains.
• The process of photosynthesis and its importance to life on earth.
• The pros and cons of deforestation, and the impact it’s having on our planet.

 

 

Health and Wellbeing

This term the children will be learning about the impact smoking has on the body. As well as this we will be completing work on building a growth mindset.

In P.E. the children will be learning large ball skills, specifically netball. We will also complete a block of athletics.