This week in Beech Class has been full of exciting learning experiences and shared moments. One of the highlights was our “Learning Together” morning, where it was fantastic to welcome so many parents into the classroom. It was a joy for the children to share their progress, and equally lovely for the parents to see the learning process first hand—particularly how we approach writing. If you missed out this time, don’t worry! We will have another “Learning Together” morning next half-term, and we look forward to welcoming you then.
In English, Year 1 children have been focusing on an important skill—writing lists! From everyday shopping lists to magical, imaginative lists, the children learned how to organise their thoughts and ideas in a clear and structured way. A key part of this was adding adjectives to describe the items in their lists. This encouraged them to think about how words can bring their writing to life. For example, instead of just writing “apples,” they might say “crisp, red apples.” Through this process, they are learning how to be descriptive and expressive in their writing, which is a crucial step in building their literacy skills.
Meanwhile, Year 2 students have been exploring the story The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch. This delightful book gave them the opportunity to explore speech, and they have been learning how to use both subordinating and coordinating conjunctions to create more complex sentences. These conjunctions help link ideas together, and the children practiced using them in their own writing, making their sentences richer and more detailed. For instance, they might write, “Mr. Grinling prepared lunch while Hamish the cat watched closely,” or “Mrs. Grinling packed the sandwiches, but the seagulls swooped in to steal them.” This focus on sentence structure is helping to elevate their writing to the next level!
In Maths, Year 1 children have been working hard on their doubles. They explored the concept by using hands-on activities like counters and cubes to see how numbers can double up. This not only strengthens their number recognition but also builds a foundation for more advanced addition and multiplication down the line. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence growing as they begin to recall doubles quickly and correctly.
For Year 2, the focus has been on measurement. The children worked in small groups, learning how to use rulers and other tools to measure a variety of objects around the classroom with precision. This activity didn’t just teach them how to measure in centimetres but also developed their teamwork and communication skills, as they had to work together to ensure they were being accurate. Understanding measurement is a key skill, not only in maths but also in real-life situations, so it’s fantastic to see the children engaging so well with this.
In DT, the Year 2 children have focussed on free-standing structures. We explored some of the most famous buildings and towers from around the world—like the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and the Statue of Liberty. The children were tasked with evaluating these structures, considering what makes them stand tall and strong. They also discussed how they might apply these principles in their own future design projects.
For Year 1, the focus was on creating a pilot (test) slider as part of their design and technology curriculum. This was a fun, hands-on activity that allowed them to explore the mechanics of movement. The children experimented with different materials and designs, learning through trial and error how to make their sliders work effectively. It was great to see their creativity come to life as they tested out different ideas!
Music this week has introduced the children to the concept of patterns in notes. Through clapping, singing, and playing instruments, the children began to notice how certain notes repeat or follow specific patterns, helping to create melodies and rhythms. This is an important early step in understanding musical notation, and it’s wonderful to see the children making connections between sounds and symbols.
As always, the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity have been at the heart of our learning this week. We are looking forward to continuing our journey together, exploring new ideas and deepening our understanding in each subject. Thank you once again to all the parents who joined us for the Learning Together morning—it really made the week special. If you couldn’t make it, we can’t wait to welcome you next time!
Have a restful weekend
