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On the stage

There are a few budding actors in Year 1 who should definitely be on stage at some point.  Scripts have been our focus over the past week – here are some scripts being put to good use.

What is an algorithm?

Algorithms are a set of rules or a process.  This is a hard concept to understand when you are 5 years old but we have started to think about how we can learn about them in Year 1.  We can follow instructions by listening to them or by reading them but if a computer needs instructions then it needs programming.  Here is our first attempt at programming – giving Beebots (half bee, half robot!) a series of instructions.

The characteristics of effective learning

In Reception we observe and assess children’s learning in seven areas. These are: communication and language; personal, social and emotional development; physical development; literacy; maths; knowledge of the world and expressive arts and design. Alongside these we observe children’s characteristics of effective learning.

These characteristics and the areas of learning and development are all interconnected.

‘The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.”

The characteristics of effective learning are:

Playing and exploring – engagement

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active learning – motivation

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing ways to do things

10 October 2014

This week, our homeworks are Practice Makes Perfect and Creative and are due in on Wednesday 15 October.

PMP: I can interpret data in charts

Children have been learning about how to interpret data in charts. They have a sheet in their book with a chart (either a bar chart or line chart) and they have to answer some questions about the information in the charts.

As always, please encourage children to find me before Wednesday if they need further help.

Creative: I can design a coat of arms. 

As part of our Big Topic on our Class Novel, we’re planning on doing some printing of coats of arms. Children have been asked to design their own coat of arms and been reminded of what they are historically and what it might mean for them now: symbols and pictures which represent who they are as a person.

Here are some real life examples:

Some can get very ornate, but I’m not looking for anything this detailed because we won’t be able to print them…

Festive lights switch-on

Moortown Community Group invite you to join in the Moortown Festive Lights Switch-On at 6.45pm (for 7.00pm start) on Wednesday 19 November.

This year, The Community Group will be gathering outside the ‘Transform’ premises, opposite the entrance to M&S, where mulled wine and mince pies, fruit juice and decorated biscuits will be served – all kindly donated by our local branches of Marks and Spencer and Cooplands.

For more information please see the Moortown Community Group website or their Facebook page.

The group looks forward to seeing you at this start to the festive season. Last year, they were not so lucky with the weather but the event will go ahead as planned whatever the weather. Fingers crossed for a fine night!

Well done, Year 1!

Well done to every child in Year 1 for a great assembly this afternoon. Special thanks to Byron who offered to take over Arundeep’s lines.

The children have all tried very hard this week to learn lines, use props and to speak in front of an audience.  There were a few nerves but also excitement this afternoon. Aisha summed it up well: ‘That was fun!’

Thank you to all the family and friends who came to watch.

Good luck with the Wake up Shake up routine tomorrow.

10 October 2014

This week’s homework is talk time.

Is it fair that some art is worth so much money when charities need money to help people?

The children are familiar with a few paintings by famous artists eg Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.  It will be interesting to investigate how much a painting like this is worth and then discuss whether this is fair when charities like St Gemma’s need funds to help look after people who are very ill.  There is no right answer and everyone has different opinions – the children need to hear differing viewpoints so they can form their own opinions. 

We will discuss this homework on Thursday 16 October as we’ll be at the Sculpture Park on Wednesday.

10 October 2014

Here are this week’s spellings.  There will be a spelling test on Friday 17 October.

10 October 2014

This week’s homework is Creative and is due on Thursday 16 October.

I can be an artist.

As we’ve been looking at so many pieces of art and tried a few ideas out in class, it’s now time to see what we can do ourselves. Create any piece of art you want. Take real care with your work as it would be great to include this homework in our gallery event at the end of the topic. Don’t forget, there are all sorts of types of art. Choose the one you like best or one you’ve never tried before…

• painting
• sketching
• pastel/chalk
• sculpture
• ICT
• photography

…and many more. I’m really looking forward to what you come up with.

Childline

We had a visit from Sam and Buddy from Childline this morning. We talked about some really important issues and the children had some really good ideas about how they could help people in certain situations.

Remember, Childline is free to call from any phone. The number is 0800 1111.