Category: Primary 1

This week we have started our new science topic, our first focus is Wonderful Water.  We have learned about water turning into a gas when it is heated up.  We used our observational skills to watch a kettle boil and we noticed a gas coming out of the kettle as well as the water inside the kettle moving and bubbling.  At first we thought the gas coming out of the kettle was smoke but we then learned that it is actually still water but it had changed state into steam.  We have also used this topic to inspire us in art too.  We looked at a George Seurat painting of a boat on the water and we noticed that he used an art technique called pointillism (lots of dots of paint) to create his picture.  We had a go at using the technique pointillism to paint a picture of a boat on the sea.  We used a cotton bud to make the dots of paint.  The colours we used were red, blue and yellow, and learned that these were the primary colours.  We were all very proud of our pictures.

P2 – In Numeracy we have continued to look at number sequences up to 100.  We based a lot of learning on the board game Snakes and Ladders.  This helped us to start at any number within 100 and continue to count.  We found starting on a number which we then had to bridge the decade the trickiest.  For extra practise try counting on from 59 up to 79.  In Literacy we have been using the word boost book “Billy Monsters Daymare”, the boost words are; gloomy, tiny, wail, soothe and stroke.  For a challenge try to use one of these words when you are having a conversation.  For spelling we focused on ‘ai’ words, we used our outdoor learning time on Thursday to complete a word hunt around the playground (Mrs Currie had hidden ai words for us to find and we had to write them on our whiteboards.)  For our reading comprehension work we explored characters from our reading books and completed a profile for them.

P1 – In Numeracy we have continued to consolidate our knowledge and understanding of the numbers to 10.  Through our play room investigations we were ordering numbered lollisticks by sticking them into play doh and we have been counting pictures and matching them to the correct numeral using peg cards.  We have also been improving our written formation of the numbers too.  At home for extra practise try writing the numbers 0 – 10.  In Literacy we have learned the three sounds c, k and ck, we have discussed where we see and hear these sounds in a word and we have found out the ck doesn’t start words it only comes at the end of a cvc (consonant, vowel, consonant).  We used our outdoor learning time to consolidate this using large letter cards to build words.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Currie

Literacy

This week we have been learning about the ‘k’ and ‘ck’ sounds. The ‘ck’ sound is a tricky one. We use this sound when the ‘c’ sound is at the end of the word. We have been using this rule to help us read and spell words this week. Listen to the ‘k’ song below:

We have been using our velcro mats to spell words and some of us have even started spelling words in our learning journals. We have all been working on our formation of the ‘k’ sound. It is quite tricky but we are remembering to draw a straight line, then from the middle of the line kick up and then go back to the middle and kick down. We were also working on our reading skills this week and trying to find the correct word for a picture.

What is the correct spelling – cat or ckat. Why?

What is the correct spelling – sick or sik. Why?

We put up a word document on the netbooks and had a go and typing. We were able to spot some sounds we know on the keyboard.

We also played this game on the netbooks too:

http://www.literactive.com/Download/live.asp?swf=story_files/slides_US.swf

Numeracy

We have been continuing to work on counting with 1-1 correspondence, matching the numeral to the value and number formation. We enjoyed playing lots of games to reinforce our learning this week and we have also started number talks. During number talks we are learning about the make-up of a number. E.g. 4 is also 3 and 1 or 2 and 2. So far, we have focused on numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Next week we will look at 5 and 6.

We were introduced to subitising this week too. This is when you need to try to figure out the number of objects without counting them. Check out this song we used:

Here are some links to the games we have been using on the smart board or net books this week:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/gingerbread-man-game (Try the matching part of this game)

https://www.themathsfactor.com/games/try/?gameid=46&prefix=ZONE&config=IPG_CM_Y1_CA_001,%20support&title=Count%20the%20Yeti%201%20to%2010 (We played the silver level. Can you try the gold level at home?)

https://www.tvokids.com/preschool/games/caterpillar-count

 

We decided to share with you our learning highlights of the week:

Ethan: I liked learning about the ‘k’ sound. I can write the ‘k’ sound.

Reka: I learned the number 2, “half a heart says I love you, add a line now I’ve made the number 2.”

Oliver: I learning about letters, we learned the ‘k’ sound. It is a yellow sound.

Sylvia: I liked learning about numbers, we learned about the number 4. 4 and 0 is 4.

Sophie J: I liked learning about numbers. I found 4 things in the classroom – I found 4 letters.

Joanna: I liked learning about numbers, we learned the number 5. 4 is beside the number 5.

Lennox: I liked learning about the number 5, I can write it like with the neck then the tummy and then the hat.

Harry: I liked learning about the number 4.

Myron: I learned about the ‘k’ sound – it is a kicking sound.

Anaiya: I liked learning about numbers. I liked playing a game on the computer.

Anna: I liked learning about letters. I can write the ‘c’ sound – it looks like a half ball.

Parker: I can make 4 with 2 and 2.

Grace: I learned about the number 2. 1 and 1 is the same as 2.

Kian: I liked learning about where animals live. It is called a habitat they need somewhere to keep their babies stuff and to keep predators away.

Zaki: My work was on the work to be proud of wall.

Max: I liked writing the number 8. I can do it.

Amelie: I learned about the number 6. You can make it with 5 and 1.

Sophie F: I have been writing the number 2 “half a heart says I love you, add a line now I’ve made the number 2.”

Carly: I learned about the ‘ck’ sound, you use it at the end of the word.

Lucy G: I have learned about the ‘c’, it comes from the back of your mouth.

Chloe: I liked learning about the number 7. I can write it “across the sky and down from heaven, now I’ve made the number 7.”

Mason: I learned about the ‘c’ sound. It comes from the back of your mouth and it is yellow.

P2/1 have used their Author study of Julia Donaldson to link up their learning.  They have all learned and written some facts about Julia Donaldson and then they used her story of The Stickman to help them develop their skill of retelling a story.  We used her story Paper Dolls to help us strengthen and develop our fine motor skills, we have all created our own set of paper dolls which involved us having to fold the paper and then cut out one doll that when you opened it out it created a series of dolls holding hands.

In  Numeracy we have been focusing on the number before and after up to 100.  We have been using 100 squares to help us with this.  When we use the 100 square we have discovered that we can see patterns within the numbers; the last column going down shows us the decade numbers etc.

In class we have been using “I Love Literacy” and “I Love Numeracy” practical tasks to help us consolidate our learning by using many different skills and learning techniques.  Ask us to explain some of our tasks to you and how we complete these within our school day.

Have a lovely long weekend,

Mrs Currie

Phonics

Kian: we learned the ‘t’ sound.

Harry: it’s blue because it’s like ‘s’ and comes from your tongue.

Reka: ‘t’ for tam.

Riyah: we learned the ‘a’ sound.

Mason: it comes from the tunnel. The tunnel goes to a house. The ‘a’ sound lives in the basement of the house.

Lucy: the ‘a’ sound is black.

Carly: the song is about an ant crawling on your arm.

We’ve also been blending sounds together to make words. We know that a black sound needs to go in the middle of the word (most of the time) so that it makes sense. Practise layering up your sound cards in your sounds folder to spell and read words e.g. cat, sat.

Can you listen out for the sounds we have learned in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4l4u9YaIfQ

 

Numeracy

This week we have been working on what numbers represent and showing our understanding that the numeral has a value with it.

Our first task was gluing pom-poms onto a piece of paper. We had to be careful to use the correct number of pom-poms. Did you spot these on our numeracy working wall last night?

Sophie F: we had to get pom-poms into glue and stick it on the paper. There was a number in the middle and you had to have that many pom-poms.

We completed a task where we listened carefully to an instruction e.g. draw 6 flowers, and add that detail onto our drawing.

Kian: you had to draw a number of things. You had to draw 4 clouds.

On Wednesday, we had different boxes with lots of dinosaurs in them but we only had to colour in a certain number of dinosaurs. We had to keep checking how many we had coloured in and how many still needed to be coloured.

Amelie: we had to colour the number of dinosaurs that the paper said.

We also completed a counting and recording activity.

Harry: we counted dinosaurs then wrote the number in a circle.

You could try some of these things at home using your whiteboard and pen from your maths bag.

Those who didn’t attend the meet the family event last night will be given the maths bag home on Wednesday in your child’s homework folder.

 

Our Highlights

Lennox: playing with the bricks. I built a taxi.

Amelie: playing with Carly.

Anna: playing with the blocks. I built a house.

Anaiya: playing with the house corner.

Carly: playing with Amelie because she is my best friend.

Lucy G: playing with Sophie because she is my best friend.

Sylvia: playing with Kian because he is my best friend.

Sophie F: playing in the house corner because it is my favourite bit.

Chloe: playing with the house corner.

Grace: I liked watching numberjacks.

Kian: I liked playing with the bricks. I built a Disney castle.

Mason: playing with Grace because she is my best friend.

Joanna: playing with the baby dolly.

Max: playing with the train track.

Zaki: playing with the train track with Max.

Harry: playing with the bricks and building a school.

Parker: playing with Kian because he went with each other.

Myron: playing with the blocks.

Sophie J: playing with Lucy because she is my best friend.

Riyah: playing with the bricks. I built a tower.

Reka: playing with Sylvia because she is my friend.

Pupil Voice:

Lucy G – I have enjoyed drawing pictures.

Mason – I have enjoyed drawing.

Harry – I made Mr Googly-Eyes!

Reka – I have liked drawing.

Myron – I have enjoyed playing with Max.

Riyah – I have been drawing pictures.

Sophie F – I have been learning all about the number 9.

Ollie – I have made a box to keep pencils in.

Carly – I have been learning how to write the number 5.

Grace – I made a beautiful crown for my mum I am going to put beads on it.

Anaiya – I have been drawing numbers.

Joanna – I can draw a number 8.

Sophie J – I showed everyone my cuddly toy Chloe.

Parker – I enjoyed playing with Jack in the big playground on Funky Friday.

Max- I have enjoyed playing.

Anna – I have enjoyed playing with the train track.

Lennox – I have started to make an elephant using junk material.

Zaki – I learned about the number 9, I drew the number 9 and I counted the number 9 and I sang a number song with Mrs Roy.

Kian – I have been playing with Harry outside, we like to play tig.

Chloe – I like to play with the dolls house.

Sylvia – I like to draw pictures for everyone.

Teacher voice

Mrs Stewart – I liked playing the game for the ‘p’ and ‘s’ sound.

Mrs Roy  – I enjoyed working in P1 this morning. We were learning how to write the number 9 and count up to 9. We also went to our first House Assembly led by the House Captains. Mrs Beattie came to join us after play time. It was lovely to see her!

 

This week we have continued our Author study of Julia Donaldson books.  We have engaged with the story of The Gruffalo and were inspired to write some sentences and to create our own Gruffalo faces.

P1 have learned the phonics sounds c and p and have had a lot of fun learning what colour each of the letters are.  Ask your child what colours c and p are and why?

P2 have started to learn the P2 key words, these are words which they will work on learning to read and write over the course of P2.  Some of these words can be sounded out but others we need to take a photograph of in our mind and learn them.  The words we have covered so far are;

can, came, all, for,had, as, at, but, be, are

Continue to practise these at home by looking out for them when you are reading together.

For numeracy we have started our Number Talks sessions.  We are looking at how to count larger amounts by grouping.  Look at this Number Talks picture and discuss with your child how many different ways you can work out how many.

P1 have learned the numbers 4, 5 and 6 and have been practising writing them.  Have a go at home.

I’m sure you’ll agree the children have all worked hard this week.  Well done everyone, especially Khyla who was our Hot Chocolate Friday Nomination for the week.

Have a lovely weekend

Mrs Currie

 

Phonics

Amelie: we have been learning the ‘m’ sound.

Sophie J: it comes from your lips.

Anaiya: it’s a red sound.

Lennox: we put jam on our lips and lips went red.

Kian: we pretended it was like lipstick and we made the ‘m’ sound.

Harry: we have been learning the ‘c’ sound.

Chloe: it’s yellow.

Myron: it comes from the back of your mouth.

Max: you need a torch to see the back of your mouth.

Kian: the torch turns your mouth yellow.

Ollie: ‘m’ for mug.

Grace: ‘m’ for mum.

Chloe: ‘c’ for cup.

Mason: ‘c’ for cat.

We have been using these songs to enhance our understanding of these sounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2fB71gOD0o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU0AB79253I

 

Numeracy

Mason: we have been learning how to write the number 6. You do “bend down low to pick up sticks, now I’ve made the number 6.”

Parker: we have been learning how to write the number 5. You do “the neck, the tummy and the hat.” You can only lift your pencil for doing the hat.

Anaiya: we have been learning how to write the number 4. You do “down and across and down once more, now I’ve made the number 4.

Chloe: we have been learning how to write the number 3. You do “around the tree, around the tree, now I’ve made the number 3.”

We have been playing this game on the smart board this week as part of a rainbow learning activity:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ordering-and-sequencing/caterpillar-ordering

 

Our Highlights this Week

Anaiya: playing with the puzzles in the playroom.

Grace: drawing a love heart.

Amelie: playing with the dolls house.

Kian: building a castle with bricks.

Max: playing with the pirates.

Carly: playing with the building bricks in the playroom.

Harry: playing in the dinosaur museum.

Chloe: playing in the house corner.

Sophie F: drawing shells.

Sophie J: playing in the house corner.

Mason: playing with the dolls house.

Parker: drawing a house.

Ollie: playing with the bricks.

Myron: playing with the pirate ship.

Lucy: playing with the dinosaurs.

Zaki: playing in the dinosaur muesuem.

Lennox: playing with the bricks.

Sylvia: playing with the dolls house.

Anna: playing with the bricks.

Reka: playing with the puzzles.

Joanna: playing with the play-doh.

Welcome to everyone in P2 and P1.  It has been an amazing start to the session.  The children have all come in and settled well.

This week we have been reading the book A Squash And A Squeeze by Julia Donaldson.  We learned that this story actually started off as a song by Julia Donaldson which she then turned into a book.  Click this link below to hear the song.

 

P1 have been learning how to complete their rainbow learning activities during their free play and they have also completed some pencil control activities to help develop their fine motor skills.

P2 have started to revise their letter formation of the letters a, b, c, d and e.  We have particularly focused on b and d and the sounds they make and what way they face.  We have been using the “bed” strategy to help us with this.

P1 have focused on the formation of writing the number 2.  P2 have been writing the numbers 11 – 20.

Super work from everyone!

Have a lovely weekend,

Mrs Currie