We’ve had a fantastic week of learning in Beech Class! One of the highlights was our Learning Together Morning, where we focused on spelling strategies. It was wonderful to see so many parents join us, engaging with the various techniques we explored to support spelling at home and in the classroom. For those who weren’t able to attend, please don’t worry—we will be hosting another Learning Together Morning next half-term, and we look forward to seeing you there.
In English, the Year 1 children have been diving into the much-loved story Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. They worked hard to sequence the events of the story and used it as a tool to spot and practice key grammar patterns, such as sentence structure and punctuation. Their enthusiasm for the story has been wonderful to see. At the same time, the Year 2 children have been embracing the world of poetry, focusing on onomatopoeia and how words can create vivid sounds and images. They channelled their creativity into writing calligrams—shaped poems that visually represent their subjects. Their festive calligrams about Christmas trees were truly impressive, capturing the sparkle and magic of the season.
In History, we’ve been continuing our exploration of the Great Fire of London. This week, we delved into the causes of the fire, discussing how factors like wooden houses and narrow streets contributed to its rapid spread. The children also reflected on the important lessons learned from the fire and how these led to changes in building materials and city planning that have made London safer.
Art has been an inspiring area of learning, with Year 2 children exploring the technique of pointillism. They compared different paintings that use this method and discussed how tiny dots of colour can come together to form beautiful, detailed images. Meanwhile, the Year 1 children have been practicing various line styles, taking inspiration from the work of Paul Klee. It has been wonderful to see how their confidence in using different artistic techniques is growing.
Computing has been another area of focus this week. The Year 2 children have been developing their confidence with technology by practicing how to log onto laptops independently and safely shut them down—a valuable skill for their growing digital literacy. The Year 1 children have been using Scratch Junior on the iPads, an engaging and child-friendly app that introduces them to basic programming concepts. Through Scratch Junior, they’ve been learning to create their own animations and interactive stories, developing problem-solving skills and creativity along the way.
It’s been a week full of creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. The children’s enthusiasm and hard work across all areas of learning have been a joy to see. Thank you for your continued support, and we’re excited to share even more learning adventures with you in the weeks to come!