This week in Beech Class, the children have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm and creativity across all areas of learning. In maths, the Year 1 children have been working hard to deepen their understanding of the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. They’ve been using practical resources like counters, cubes and number lines to explore patterns and develop strategies that help them make connections between the different multiplication facts. It’s been lovely to see their confidence grow as they begin to apply this knowledge to solve simple problems.
Our Year 2 children have now completed their maths quizzes, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. They approached the challenges with resilience and focus, and we couldn’t have asked for more from them. To support and extend our learning in number sense, we’ve also been using the “Winning with Numbers” app. This is a fantastic tool that helps the children build fluency in number bonds and develop greater flexibility with number. It’s been wonderful to watch them engage with it so enthusiastically, often challenging themselves to beat their previous scores or try new strategies.
In English, the children have been stepping into the paws of Paddington Bear and imagining what it might feel like to write a postcard home from London. They’ve been working on describing the city as a setting, thinking about all the sights, sounds and feelings Paddington might experience on his adventures—from the hustle and bustle of Paddington Station to the grandeur of Buckingham Palace. The focus has been on using descriptive language and sentence structure to bring their writing to life and to capture the voice of a character.
In geography, we’ve been exploring the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. The children have learned about the incredible biodiversity found there, the different layers of the rainforest, and the importance of this habitat to our planet. They have asked thoughtful questions and shown real curiosity about the animals and people who call the rainforest home. This topic has sparked some fantastic discussions about conservation and how we can help protect such an important part of our world.
In art, the Year 1 children have been inspired by Vincent van Gogh and have been carefully painting vibrant sunflowers using acrylics. They’ve explored texture, colour mixing and brush techniques, and the results are absolutely stunning. Meanwhile, the Year 2 children have started work on their final pieces inspired by Piet Mondrian. They’ve been creating intricate line drawings based on a bird’s-eye view of our school, using bold lines and careful compositions to reflect Mondrian’s distinctive style. The level of detail and focus they’ve shown has been brilliant to see.
It’s been another busy and rewarding week in Beech Class, and we’re so proud of how the children continue to grow as learners.