What a busy and exciting week it’s been in Beech Class! The children have thrown themselves into their learning with lots of enthusiasm – here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to:
This week, the children began their new topic: Great Explorers. We started by thinking about what an explorer is and what they do. In Key Stage 1 history, children learn about the lives of significant individuals in the past – and explorers are perfect for this! We’ve talked about how explorers travel to faraway places, often discovering new lands or learning new things about the world.
We made a list of things an explorer might need, such as a map, compass, food, warm clothes, and even bravery! The children were brilliant at thinking about how explorers have to be prepared for different kinds of weather and challenges. We’ll be learning about real-life explorers very soon – stay tuned!
In Maths, both Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning all about time. Year 1 children have been learning to tell the time to the hour and half past the hour. They’ve been practising reading clocks and matching times with activities in their day – like when it’s time for playtime or lunch! Year 2 children have gone even further, looking at quarter past and quarter to the hour, as well as telling time to 5-minute intervals. They’ve been using their reasoning skills to solve problems involving time and are becoming much more confident using both digital and analogue clocks.
In English year 1 have been diving into the fairy tale Rapunzel. They’ve been using their imaginations to make predictions about what might happen next in the story. They’ve also been working on describing the setting – thinking about what Rapunzel’s tower might look like, what they might see or hear in the forest, and using exciting adjectives to bring the scene to life. Their ideas have been wonderful!
Year 2 have started exploring persuasive writing. They’ve looked at how advertisements try to make us want something by using persuasive language. The children have even created their own slogans – catchy phrases to grab attention – and have been learning about the power of three (using three describing words or ideas to make their writing stronger, like “fun, fast and fantastic!”). Their creativity and persuasive skills are really starting to shine!
In R.E. this week, our Year 1 children began their new topic in preparation for learning about Hanukkah and the menorah, a special candle holder used during the Jewish festival. To start exploring the idea of candles, the children thought about why we use them in everyday life—both in symbolic and practical ways. We talked about how candles help us see in the dark, how they’re used for reflection, and how they play a part in celebrations like Christmas, Halloween (inside pumpkins), and birthdays. The children then made their own candle craft and wrote on them something they were thankful for. Their thoughtful responses included being grateful for their family, their friends, and their warm, cosy homes.
In Music, Year 2 listened to the famous musical story Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. They learned how each character in the story is represented by a different musical motif and instrument, helping to bring the tale to life through sound. Building on this idea, the children thought about other storybook characters they knew—such as the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk or Dog Man—and explored how music could reflect their personalities. They carefully chose whether to use high or low notes, and decided if their characters would suit loud, stomping sounds or light, bouncy rhythms. It was a creative and imaginative session that helped them understand how music can tell a story without words.
