Welcome to Year 1
Our Class Teacher is Miss Thorpe
Our Curriculum
Science:
In Science, Year 1 will be beginning their learning about Plants. The children will explore a wide variety of common plants, including wild and garden plants, and begin to identify and name different types of trees, such as deciduous and evergreen. They will also learn about the basic structure of flowering plants and trees, developing their understanding of roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit.
Through practical exploration and observation, the children will learn how seeds grow into plants and how plants change over time. They will investigate different types of plants in their local environment and begin to recognise that fruit and vegetables come from plants. The children will also develop their scientific vocabulary and observation skills as they learn to compare and describe different plant types.
By the end of the unit, children will be able to identify and name common plants, describe their basic structures, and explain how plants grow and change over time.
The children will explore key scientific questions such as:
• What do seeds need to grow into healthy plants?
• What are the basic parts of a plant?
• Where can we find common wild plants?
• What is the difference between deciduous and evergreen trees?
• Which fruits and vegetables come from plants?
• How do plants change as they grow over time?
History:
History is our driver subject this half term as we explore the theme of Seaside Holidays 100 years ago. Children will investigate what seaside holidays were like in the past and how they have changed over time. We will begin by exploring the features of a seaside holiday, including how people travelled, what activities they enjoyed, and what seaside resorts looked like in the past. Children will use a range of historical sources, such as photographs, postcards and accounts, to find out what seaside holidays were like in the Victorian era and within living memory. We will also learn about when and how seaside holidays first became popular and how they developed over time.
Through our History theme, we will be exploring the following enquiry questions:
• What was going to the seaside like 100 years ago?
• How do seaside holidays in the past compare to seaside holidays now?
• How do we know what seaside holidays were like 100 years ago?
• Do we go to the seaside for the same reasons as people did 100 years ago?
• Do all children prefer seaside holidays from the past, or would some prefer seaside holidays today?
As part of our learning, we will also visit Warrington Museum and Art Gallery to take part in a Seaside Holidays workshop, where children will have the opportunity to explore artefacts and deepen their understanding of seaside holidays in the past. Through this topic, children will develop their historical enquiry skills, learning how to ask questions, use evidence, and compare life in the past with their own experiences today.
English
Goldilocks and Just the One Bear by Leigh Hodgkinson will be the focus of our writing this half term. This engaging and humorous story will inspire the children’s creativity as they explore familiar characters in a new setting and begin to think about how stories can be adapted and changed.
During the unit, the children will continue to develop key Year 1 writing skills. They will practice joining words and clauses using and, using simple descriptive language to make their writing more interesting, and sequencing sentences to form short narratives. They will also focus on linking ideas using pronouns, helping their writing to flow more clearly. In addition, the children will consolidate their understanding of punctuation, including capital letters, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks, and will learn to use capital letters for places and days of the week.
By the end of the unit, the children will use everything they have learned to write their own version of the story, creating a new character or setting while maintaining the structure of a familiar narrative. This will allow them to demonstrate their developing storytelling skills, imagination and growing confidence as writers.
PSHE
In Year 1 PSHE, children will continue to explore Citizenship and what it means to be part of a class and school community. They will learn why rules are important and how they help everyone feel safe and ready to learn. The children will discuss the different needs of pets, as well as the needs of babies and young children and how these change as they grow. They will also explore how people are similar and different, and think about the groups they belong to. The unit will introduce voting as a fair way to make decisions, helping children develop an early understanding of fairness, responsibility and belonging.
Following this, the children will move away from Citizenship and begin to explore Economic Wellbeing. They will start to understand what money is, how it is used in everyday life, and why it is important. Through learning about keeping money safe, banks and building societies, and the difference between saving and spending, children will begin to develop simple financial awareness. They will also explore the wide range of jobs people do, both in school and in the wider community, helping them to understand how work contributes to society and how people earn money. This unit will support children in building early knowledge of financial responsibility, choices and the value of different roles in the world around them.
Our focus SDG for the term is: SDG 14 Life Below Water
Year 1 will explore Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. This goal focuses on caring for our oceans and sea life. Through links with Science and English, the children will learn about marine animals, ocean habitats and why it is important to keep our seas clean. They will discuss simple ways we can help, such as reducing litter and looking after our environment. This learning will help the children understand how small actions can protect sea life and keep our planet healthy for the future.
Our focus Children's Rights Article for the term is: Article 12
Our children’s rights focus is Right 12 – respect for the views of the child. Year 1 will learn about Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, created by the United Nations. This article teaches children that their thoughts, ideas and opinions are important and should be listened to. During PSHE lessons, the children will explore ways to share their views respectfully, such as through talking, drawing, role play and class discussions. They will also learn why it is important to listen carefully to others, take turns and understand that everyone’s voice matters.
Our PE days for this half term are: Mondays and Fridays. If there are any changes, I will inform you with plenty of notice.
Homework will be handed out on a Friday and should be completed and returned by the following Thursday.
Please find our Curriculum map below for more information.
Please make sure to check Seesaw for regular updates about our learning, homework and announcements.