Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 17th January 2025

 Happy Friday everybody! We have had a very busy time in our first full week back in Key Stage 1. We have been exploring the genre of explanation texts in English and finding out all about the history of chocolate!

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

As part of our current project we would like to share the 2005 film of "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" with the children. We use excerpts from the film to help us look at characters in our English work and use many of the scenes to help our descriptive writing and poetry work.

The film is classified by the BBFC as PG so we are asking for your approval to show the film to your child. If you have any concerns regarding this and you do not want your child to watch the film, please come and speak to us. Below is a link to the film's trailer for an idea of the film's tone:

Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

Reading Comprehension Homework Book

After a delay from the delivery company (despite being order before Christmas) the reading comprehension books have finally arrived today! Your child will be coming home with this comprehension homework book early next week. Just like with the maths homework book, we ask that you complete one page (double page where the task is spread across 2 pages) and bring the book back to school once completed.

In the blog from 15th November (scroll down to remind yourself of this blog) we spoke in depth about all the key skills involved in comprehension and how reading is more than just mechanically reading the words on the page. The activities in these homework books will help develop these skills. Again, please come and see us if you require further advice on this area.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 32 & 33.

For Year 1's this focuses on multiplying. The first step in confidence with the times tables is practising counting on in different steps e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8 etc or 10, 20, 30. Grouping objects such as socks or gloves is a good way of showing this in practical terms. Regular practising of counting on in multiples of different numbers will also help - maybe count the steps upstairs but in 10's or 2's instead of 1's?

For Year 2's this also focuses on multiplying. Remember, practicing little and often at times tables facts will help your child gain confidence in this area. We talk about this in class as "squeezing the orange" - the more effort you put in, the more juice you get out!

Both year groups can enhance their knowledge of multiples of different amounts through the game below:

Coconut Multiples Game

The interactive number square below is really good to "paint" the multiples and explore the patterns that they make too:

Paint The Squares

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day - we would love to see you!

Have a relaxing weekend!

Love & joy

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 10th January 2025

 Happy Friday everybody and a very Happy New Year to you all! It has been lovely to have welcomed all the children back and we have begun work on our new project for the Spring Term - "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" where we will be exploring all things chocolate!

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 30 & 31.

For Year 1's this focuses on adding and subtracting. The ability to switch between these different operations is very important for the children, so take particular care to look at the sign when solving these calculations to decide which approach to use!

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/addition-and-subtraction

For Year 2's this again focuses on times tables and their related facts. All that we mentioned last time holds true for this week too. Just like reading or riding a bike, practicing little and often at times tables facts will help your child gain confidence in this area.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/number-facts/number-fact-families

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Keep using the range of questions we have discussed previously as well! All being well, comprehension homework books should be coming home next week.

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

We hope you enjoy seeing what we have been up to this week in the newsletter. Have a super weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 20th December 2024

 Happy Friday, everybody! What an amazing week it has been for everyone in Key Stage 1 - we have performed our brand new Christmas Production of "The Fleece Force" to the whole school on Monday and all the parents on Tuesday and Wednesday. We are all so very proud of everybody - it has been tricky learning so many songs, lines and directions but all the children stepped up and did a fantastic job - WELL DONE!

Half Term Homework

As mentioned last week, we will not be sending home the homework books during the holidays - have a break and enjoy any new presents you get! It would be useful, however, if you keep up the reading, little and often, to ensure your child's continuing progress in this very important area. 

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all an amazing Christmas and a peaceful New Year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 7th January!

Much love

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 13th December 2024

 Happy Friday everybody! There is an expectant hush over Key Stage 1 today as we have all but finished our rehearsals of our Christmas Production. The children have worked hard and done so well in learning their lines, the songs, the musical instruments and how to put a performance together. They are all very much looking forward to sharing this with you next week!

Christmas Events

All the children looked amazing in their Christmas Jumpers on Thursday and we have raised money that will continue to sponsor Khadiza and her local community in Bangladesh. Its amazing to think that from such a small act on our behalf, we can make such a big difference for the young people who live such a long way away but share our right to an education. Thank you all so much!

Just a quick word on how amazing all the children were on Tuesday this week at the Pantomime. They had a great time in the theatre and were a credit to Down Hall. Although it was a long journey home, their resilience and good spirits made us all even prouder of them! Well done, everybody!

Christmas Homework

As there have been so many events going on at the end of this week and next week, we will be collecting homework books and Guided Reading books in this Friday and will not be sending them back to you until the new year. We will continue to send home the colour reading books, however.

In January, we will also be sending home a Reading Comprehension homework books as well to practice this important reading skill.

If you have any questions, please come and see us. We look forward to seeing you next week for our production!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 6th December 2024

 Happy Friday, everybody! Rehearsals continue at a frantic pace in Key Stage 1 and we are getting close to sharing all our efforts with you soon! Lots will be happening next week, so here are a couple of reminders for you all:

Christmas Production Programmes

Our Christmas Production will be on Tuesday 17th December at 2:00pm and Wednesday 18th December at 9:30am. Entry to these performances will be with the show's programmes which you can get at the office on Monday 9th December from 2:45pm and Tuesday 10th December from 8:45am. Programmes are limited to 2 per family and you can get 2 for either day or, if you prefer, 1 programme for each day. Please bring these programmes on the day of the performance to help keep entry quick and simple. We are all very excited to see you there!

Christmas Jumper Day

Our Christmas Jumper Day is Thursday 12th December. On this day, the children can wear their fabulous festive jumpers and donate £1 which goes to our sponsorship of Khadiza in Bangladesh. The charity Action Aid use this money to ensure that Khadiza and the other children in her community enjoy their rights just like all of us at Down Hall. (Articles 28 & 29)

The children will also need their Christmas jumper for our performances (Monday to the rest of the school and Tuesday and Wednesday to parents) so consequently will not bring their jumper home on Thursday but keep them in school until the following Wednesday.

Please be mindful, therefore, on Thursday when you send your child to school about what they are wearing underneath their jumper to ensure that they won't be too cold when they come home. If the children could bring in a plastic bag with their name on it then this would be extremely helpful in keeping everything organised too!

Upcoming Events

A few notes for your diary for things coming up soon - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time so keep a look out!

• 10th December - KS1 Pantomime Trip
• 12th December - Christmas Jumper Day & Christmas Dinner Day
• 13th December - PTA Christmas Bazaar
• 17th/18th December - KS1 Christmas Production

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 28 & 29.

For Year 1's this focuses on subtraction. As with all the different operations in maths, as much practice as possible is key in learning the approaches to solving these calculations. Try number lines, try concrete objects - toys, pencils, spaghetti - anything!

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/addition-and-subtraction

For Year 2's this focuses on times tables. All Year 2 children are expected to know their 2, 5 and 10 times tables by the end of this academic year. This also includes the related division facts, so if we know that 4 x 2 = 8 will also know:

2 x 4 = 8

8 ÷ 4 = 2

8 ÷ 2 = 4

The more eagle-eyed of you will realise that this is just the same as addition and subtraction being the inverse of each other and, yes, we can represent it on a triangle!

And again, the game below is good for reinforcing this idea:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/number-facts/number-fact-families

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Keep using the range of questions we have discussed previously as well!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Much love

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 29th November 2024

 Happy Friday everybody and oh my goodness, it's December next week! Things are getting close to our Christmas Production so we wanted to share some of the arrangements that relate to this.

Christmas Production Programmes

Our Christmas Production will be on Tuesday 17th December at 2:00pm and Wednesday 18th December at 9:30am. Entry to these performances will be with the show's programmes which you can get at the office on Monday 9th December from 2:45pm and Tuesday 10th December from 8:45am. Programmes are limited to 2 per family and you can get 2 for either day or, if you prefer, 1 programme for each day. Please bring these programmes on the day of the performance to help keep entry quick and simple. We are all very excited to see you there!

Christmas Jumper Day

Our Christmas Jumper Day is Thursday 12th December. On this day, the children can wear their fabulous festive jumpers and donate £1 which goes to our sponsorship of Khadiza in Bangladesh. The charity Action Aid use this money to ensure that Khadiza and the other children in her community enjoy their rights just like all of us at Down Hall. (Articles 28 & 29)

The children will also need their Christmas jumper for our performances (Monday to the rest of the school and Tuesday and Wednesday to parents) so consequently will not bring their jumper home on Thursday but keep them in school until the following Wednesday.

Please be mindful, therefore, on Thursday when you send your child to school about what they are wearing underneath their jumper to ensure that they won't be too cold when they come home. If the children could bring in a plastic bag with their name on it then this would be extremely helpful in keeping everything organised too!

Upcoming Events

A few notes for your diary for things coming up soon - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time so keep a look out!

• 6th December - KS1 PTA Movie Night
• 10th December - KS1 Pantomime Trip
• 12th December - Christmas Jumper Day & Christmas Dinner Day
• 13th December - PTA Christmas Bazaar
• 17th/18th December - KS1 Christmas Production

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 26 & 27.

For Year 1's this focuses on addition. As with all the different operations in maths, as much practice as possible is key in learning the approaches to solving these calculations. Try number lines, try concrete objects - toys, pencils, spaghetti - anything!

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/addition-and-subtraction

For Year 2's this focuses on how addition and subtraction are the inverse of each other and we can use this to check our calculations. So if we work out that 14 + 12 = 26 we also know (without needing to work out) that:

12 + 14 = 26

26 - 14 = 12

26 - 12 = 14

In class we look at this as a triangle to show the relationship between these 3 numbers:

The game below is good for reinforcing this idea:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/number-facts/number-fact-families

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Keep using the range of questions we have discussed previously as well!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a great weekend!

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith

Tulip, Bluebell & Daffodil Blog - Friday 22nd November 2024

Happy Friday everybody! We have begun to think about our Christmas Production this week and have discussed the general story and songs that will make up our show this year. This has been very exciting although we are at a very early stage! Look for a letter soon with all the details about how to reserve tickets.

Upcoming Events

A few notes for your diary for things coming up soon - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time so keep a look out!

• 6th December - KS1 PTA Movie Night
• 10th December - KS1 Pantomime Trip
• 12th December - Christmas Jumper Day & Christmas Dinner Day
• 13th December - PTA Christmas Bazaar
• 17th/18th December - KS1 Christmas Production

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 24 & 25.

For Year 1's this focuses on the signs we use in addition and subtraction calculations. Knowing the names for these signs is very important as is the fact that there are different words for each sign e.g. -, take away, subtract, minus. There are lots of fun games at the site below to further support your child's confidence with these operations.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/addition-and-subtraction

For Year 2's this focuses on subtraction of 2 two-digit numbers. We use the same approach as outlined last week for using lines and dots to represent the tens and ones but this time we make the first amount and cross out the second amount:

If we do not have enough ones to take away, then we exchange a ten for ten ones first:

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home - it will make a huge impact on your child's reading development. Keep using the range of questions we discussed last week too!

If you have any issues or questions, please, please come and see us at the end of the day. Just come down the steps to see us!

Have a lovely weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille, Mrs Holmes & Miss Smith