Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 15th December 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! What an exciting week it has been for everyone in Key Stage 1 - we have performed our Christmas Production of "A Builder's Christmas" to the whole school on Tuesday and all the parents on Wednesday and Thursday. We are all so very proud of everybody - it has been tricky with a lot of illness floating around but all the children stepped up and did a fantastic job - WELL DONE!

Half Term Homework

We will not be sending home the homework books this week or 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. 

Although we are all here until Wednesday next week, we would like to use this opportunity to wish you all an amazing Christmas and a peaceful New Year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 8th January!

Much love

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 8th December 2023

 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 Jumper Day

All the children looked amazing in their Christmas Jumpers on Thursday and we have raised money that will continue to sponsor Thoko and her local community in Malawi. 

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!

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!

Looking forward to seeing you all next week!

Yours in anticipation,

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 1st December 2023

 Happy Friday everybody and oh my goodness, it's December already! 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 Wednesday 13th December at 2:30pm and Thursday 14th December at 9:30am. Entry to these performances will be with the show's programmes which you can get at the office on Monday 4th December from 2:45pm and Tuesday 5th 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 7th December. On this day, the children can wear their fabulous festive jumpers and donate £1 which goes to our continued sponsorship of Thoko in Malawi. The charity Action Aid use this money to ensure that Thoko and the other children in her community enjoy their right to an education just like all of us at Down Hall. (Articles 28 & 29)

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

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!

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 & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 24th November 2023

Happy Friday everybody - we hope you have had a really good week. Things have begun to get a bit more Christmassy here as we have started going into the hall to practice our Christmas Production - just over 2 more weeks until showtime! We have kept busy back in the classroom, however, looking at different Victorian toys and how they were played with!

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!

• 7th December - Christmas Jumper Day
• 8th December - PTA Movie Night

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 22 & 23.

For Year 1's this focuses on number bonds to 20. This continues to build on last week's number bonds to 10. We can apply the knowledge that 6 + 4 = 10 to help us know that 16 + 4 = 20. It is good to reinforce how we can spot patterns to help find all the number bonds to 20. Below is an app to explore these bonds by selecting a 10 frame or a 20 frame and then putting the blue and orange aliens in them. You can then use the key pad function at the side to enter your calculations.

https://www.coolmath4kids.com/manipulatives/ten-frame

For Year 2's this focuses on addition of 2 two-digit numbers. When we do this we do partition the number into tens and ones but then represent these by lines for the tens and dots for the ones. This is a progression from actually using the tens and ones apparatus from Year 1. See below for how we set this out to help support the solving of the calculations:

Reading Skills

Every week we encourage you to keep up all your reading at home as this makes such a huge difference. We wanted to spend a little time this week speaking more about reading skills because as the children move through Key Stage 1, particularly in Year 2, it becomes less about "Can you read this?" and more about "Do you understand this?"

Understanding what they have read (or comprehension) is vital for the children as they progress through Year 2 and we support this through our VIPERS reading skills. This stands for:

Vocabulary    Infer    Predict    Explain    Retrieve    Sequence

You can explore these ideas with your child after reading using some of the following question prompts:

Vocabulary - have a good range of vocabulary in order to understand the text

• What does the word _____ mean in this sentence?
• Find a word that means _____ on this page.

Infer - understanding reached through reasoning about what you have read

• Why was _____ feeling _____?
• Why did _____ happen?

Predict - what you think will happen based on what you have read

• What do you think will happen next?
• How will this character's action affect what will happen next?

Explain - what your thoughts and opinions are about the book

• Who is your favourite character? Why?
• Would you like to live in this setting? Why?

Retrieve - discuss the characters, events and setting of the story

• Who did _____?
• Where did _____?

Sequence - order the key events in the story

• Here are 5 events from the story - number these 1-5
• What happened after _____?

We hope this helps you discuss the books your child reads at home as the more they practice these skills the more fluent in comprehension they will become.

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 superb weekend!

Much love

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Thursday 16th November 2023

 Happy Thursday everybody! Only a short week but we have been busy creating our own zig-zag story books in English of our own versions of the story of "Rosie's Walk." We have also been working on different calculation strategies in maths. Well done everyone!

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!

• 21st November - Flu Immunisations 
• 23rd November - Individual and sibling school photographs
• 7th December - Christmas Jumper Day
• 8th December - KS1 PTA Movie Night

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 20 & 21.

For Year 1's this focuses on number bonds to 10. I don't think we can overstate how important this skill is. Being able to recognise pairs of numbers that make 10 underpins almost all mental maths calculations and will benefit the children in every area of their maths development. Once you've worked through the page treat yourself to the "Ten Thing Bowling" episode of the Number Crew - an oldie but a goodie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5R0QZfACbo

For Year 2's this focuses on number bonds to 20. This builds on the above Year 1 concept but simply extends this to 20. But really, all you are doing is focusing on the ones of the 2-digit numbers and applying your number bond knowledge to 10 again. We have also been exploring this week how addition and subtraction are the inverse of each other. So if we know that 14 + 5 = 19 then we know that these 3 numbers make up a number family and can also derive 5 + 14 = 19; 19 - 14 = 5 and 19 - 5 = 14. The link below is a good game to further explore 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.

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 & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 10th November 2023

 Happy Friday everybody - we hope you have enjoyed a fantastic week! We have been very busy in KS1 - we have continued to look at stories with patterned and predictable language and using these to create our own versions of these stories. We have also been creating model homes using nets in Design & Technology!

Upcoming Events

A few reminders for you in November - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time:

• 21st November - Flu Immunisations 
• 23rd November - Individual and sibling school photographs

KS1 Christmas Production

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 and although we are at a very early stage we thought you might like to make a note of our performance dates & times. They will be:

• Wednesday 13th December at 2:30pm
• Thursday 14th December at 9:30am

Look for a letter at the beginning of December with all the details about how to reserve tickets.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 18 & 19.

For Year 1's this focuses on ordinal numbers and patterns. Using the language first, second, third etc and then relating this to 1st, 2nd, 3rd is the main skill you will be looking to consolidate here. This language comes to the fore when describing and extending patterns. Have a go at creating your own patterns, practically and on paper. You can also try this game out as well: 

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ordering-and-sequencing/shape-patterns

For Year 2's this focuses on solving number problems. The ability to apply all our understanding in addition and subtraction is the whole reason for us learning to become proficient in maths. We teach the children to spot the important pieces of information in a worded problem and notice the words that indicate if we need to add our numbers or take them away. Look carefully at the information on page 18. Maybe your child could also come up with their own worded problems for you to solve?

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.

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 are not able to monitor our emails during the school day so if any collection arrangements change or you have an important message for us during the school day, please contact the school office and they will let us know. 

Have a great weekend!

Kind regards

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 3rd November 2023

 Happy Friday everybody and welcome back to the second half of the Autumn Term! This week in Key Stage 1 we have been looking at the counting system and how we compare and order numbers in Maths and we have had a week of Philosophy For Children where we explore our thinking skills and giving clear reasons for the opinions that we hold.

Upcoming Events

A few notes for your diary during November - more details will be on the newsletter as we get nearer to the time:

• 21st November - Flu Immunisations 
• 23rd November - Individual and sibling school photographs

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 16 & 17.

For Year 1's this focuses on the number line. The number line is an important tool for identifying how numbers relate to each other, what is more or what is less. The games below focus on developing these skills, in particular being able to identify numbers that are 1 more or less than a given number:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/chopper-squad

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/robot-more-or-less

For Year 2's this focuses on ordering and comparing numbers. Using the signs < (less than), > (greater than) and = (equal to) to compare numbers is an important part of the Year 2 curriculum. As well as comparing numbers we can use it to compare calculations e.g. 4+3 > 2+2.

The link below has a range of short games that we have used in class to support this idea:

https://www.mathbrix.com/skills/comparison

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.

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!

Kind regards

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 20th October 2023

  Happy Friday, everybody! Wow! We have finished our first half term in Year 1/2! All the children have settled in so well and worked extremely hard in our first 7 weeks and we now want them to have a fantastic rest! Over the last 2 weeks we have been continuing our work on our "Knock Knock! Who's There?" project by looking at the different features of the houses in our surrounding area. All the children found this very interesting and it was very exciting to go outside of school!

Cauliflower Christmas Cards

All the children will have come home this week with their Christmas card design attached to the order form. If you wish, these designs can be turned into not just Christmas cards but mugs, books and wrapping paper too! If you do want to have the design realised into any of these items you need to place the order online first. All the details about how to do this are clearly set out on the form that came home. Once you have placed the order online, you must tick the box indicated and return the artwork and form back to school by Wednesday 1st November so we can send it away to be printed. If you do not wish for your child's design to be made into items then you do not need to return the artwork.

School Council Elections

Congratulations to Noah, Hanna and Layla who have been elected as School Councillors for Amethyst, Diamond and Emerald Class respectively. All the children clearly believe that you will do a great job in representing them - well done!

Massive thank you and well done to all children who also put themselves up for election - don't be too disappointed; there's always next year.

The Council will hold their first meeting after half term.

Half Term Homework

As stated at the beginning of the blog, we are very proud of all the children's efforts this half term and would like them to have a good rest. To that end we do not send homework books home during the holidays. 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 hope you have a fantastic half term holiday, whatever you are doing and look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 30th October!

Much love

Mr Jude, Miss Smith & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 13th October 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! How time flies - it seems amazing that we are about to move into our last week before half term! It has been very busy here in Key Stage 1 but we took some time to reflect this Tuesday for Mental Health Day. After a special assembly, we used the film "Inside Out" to explore the different emotions that we all have and the things that make us feel these emotions. In the afternoon all the children spent time in different classes doing some mindful activities. It was a very calm and lovely day! Here are Diamond class engaging in their painting session:

RRS Article 31: Every child has the right to relax and take part in a range of artistic activities.

School Council Elections

Next week, all classes will be electing their representative for the School Council! Any child who was not a councillor last year is eligible to stand so we have asked the children to have a good think as to whether they can be a wonderful and inspiring representative for their class.

Over the weekend, if your child is thinking about standing for election, maybe they would like to make a poster or create a short speech that might help them convey their suitability to be a Class Councillor. Be creative - what might make people vote for you?

The new School Councillors will be announced in assembly on Friday 20th October. Good luck!

East of England Sumdog Maths Contest

Calling all you amazing mathematicians!

You have been entered into the Sumdog Competition. It starts on Friday 13th October at 3:30pm and finishes at 3:30pm Thursday 19th October. Why not have a go and get your class on the school leaderboard? The winning class will get an extra playtime!

Let's show our school what great mathematicians we are!

Good luck

Mrs Hurley

Harry Potter Book Day

Thank you to everybody who attended this event! It was very busy but it was lovely to see so many people eager to be there.

We didn't have time to fit everything in so here is a link to the activities should you want to have a go at them or finish your drawings and of course for anyone else who did not attend. 

Harry Potter Day

Miss Harvey

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 14 & 15.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting in 2's, 5's and 10's. Counting on in 2's is very important for helping children to identify even numbers and as mentioned before in previous blogs, counting on in 10's really helps develop the children's understanding of place value. This will all serve as a precursor to when the children start looking at times tables more formally later in the year and as they move into Year 2. The games below focus on developing these skills:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/ordering-and-sequencing/chinese-dragon-ordering

https://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/saucerSorter/

For Year 2's this focuses on partitioning numbers. Children are most used to partitioning numbers into their tens and ones (e.g. 38 = 30 + 8). However, we can partition numbers in many different ways - so if 30 + 8 = 38; 20 + 18 = 38 and 10 + 28 = 38 too. We encourage the children to look for patterns to help them find different solutions to the same answer. The link below has an app that lets the children create numbers using tens and ones equipment and then rearrange these to create different combinations of numbers that make the same amount. However, splitting the numbers into tens and ones can also be done practically by bundles of sticks or pencils to represent tens.

https://apps.mathlearningcenter.org/number-pieces/

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.

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!

Kind regards

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 6th October 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have had a very exciting week in Key Stage 1 with the visit of the football freestyler Jamie Knight. Jamie did a whole school assembly with us in the morning where he showed us some tricks and spoke about his journey in becoming one of the top freestylers in the world. His message of perseverance and self belief was something the children could very much relate to. In the afternoon each class had a workshop with Jamie, trying out their own skills!

World Mental Health Day

On Tuesday 10th October, we will be celebrating World Mental Health Day at Down Hall.

The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is "Mental health is a universal human right."

Down Hall Primary School see mental health and wellbeing as "being comfortable, healthy and/or happy."

To celebrate this very important day, we would like the children to come to school next Tuesday (10th) in non-school uniform wearing clothes that are comfortable and, if possible, linking to the colours of "Inside Out" which are: green, purple, yellow, blue and red. We hope this will encourage them to explore some of their own emotions. Throughout the day, the children will be taking part in class activities relating to World Mental Health Day. We aim to raise awareness of mental health and drive positive change for everyone's mental health.

Harry Potter Book Day

Message from Miss Harvey:

Thursday 12th October is Harry Potter book day and Miss Harvey is inviting any fellow Harry Potter fans to attend a special after school event full of Harry Potter activities to celebrate.

This will be straight after school until 4pm and all children are welcome to attend but be quick as there are only 30 spaces.

Dressing up is encouraged so please feel free to bring something to change into after school for the event.

A letter will come home with your child by owl on Monday with a reply slip.

Miss Harvey

Parent/Teacher Consultations

On Tuesday 17th October & Wednesday 18th October we will be holding our Parent/Teacher Consultations. This will be an opportunity to meet and discuss how your child has settled into their new Year group. 

Bookings can be made now via Scopay. If you are unsure of your Scopay login, please go and see the office as they will be able to issue you with your details. It is important to have these details as they will be used to book trips, dinner money and meetings throughout your child's time at Down Hall.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 12 & 13.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting skills and comparing amounts. Developing accurate and reliable counting and then being able to say which of two or more amounts is more or less is an important aspect of the Year 1 curriculum. It is also important that the children understand that equal means the same as. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

For Year 2's this focuses on the number line and making estimates as to where numbers lie on the number line. When doing this, it is important to firstly look at the numbers that we can see already on the number line - are they going up in 2's, 5's, 10's? From here, look at which 2 numbers the arrow is in between to work out a number that is more/less than the given numbers. The game below will help reinforce the ideas presented in the homework book:

https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/37/placing_numbers_on_a_number_line

Alternatively, you can draw out your own number lines, giving a starting point and an end point and asking your child to place numbers where they feel they would go between these numbers.

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.

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 super weekend!

All the best

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 29th September 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have been working hard this week in English with looking at stories with patterned and predictable language. We used the story "Go Tell It To The Toucan" and used its patterned language to re-tell our own versions. Here are some of Amethyst Class making their puppets, rehearsing and performing their "Go Tell It To The Toucan!"

Harvest Collection

For Harvest this year we are collecting for The One Love Project; a soup kitchen and food bank providing support for those families and children that really need it. We will celebrate in school with a special assembly where we will share songs that we have rehearsed for the occasion. If you are able to send in any non-perishable items for the collection before Friday 6th October they would be most gratefully received. We thank you for your continued support in helping our children understand Children's Rights and learn how we look after ourselves, each other and our world..

RRS Articles 24 and 27: Every child has the right to the best possible health and a good standard of living.

Football Skills Masterclass Day

We are excited to welcome Jamie Knight to Down Hall on Tuesday 3rd October. Each class will receive a masterclass session during the day. They will learn a number of football skills as well as attend an assembly where Jamie will demonstrate some of his tricks.

***All classes need to wear PE kit on this day!!***

After school Jamie will host an extra masterclass for those who sign up. Please see this week's newsletter for further details of this.

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 10 & 11.

For Year 1's this focuses on counting to 100. This will continue to build upon the work on tens and ones from last week. Remember - having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Reinforce how 24 is represented by the digits 2 & 4 but 24 is actually a 20 and a 4. Explore the hundred square on page 10 and look for the patterns you can see there. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

For Year 2's this focuses counting on in different steps. This looks at the patterns that are present in counting on in steps of different amounts and how even numbers always have even multiples but odd numbers alternate between odd and even multiples. The hundred square app below is really good for creating these steps and spotting patterns. Alternatively, practice writing out sequences of numbers, in particular, the 2's, 5's and 10's and discuss any patterns that you can see.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/paint-the-squares

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Is is also important to talk about a book when you have finished your reading. Which is your favourite part? Did you like this character? Why? 

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

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 superb weekend!

Best Wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 22nd September 2023

  Happy Friday, everybody! We hope you have had a great week. We have been busy in KS1 looking at the features of non-fiction texts in English as well as working on numbers to 20 and number bonds in maths. 

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 8 & 9.

For Year 1's this focuses on tens and ones. Understanding how 2-digit numbers are made up of tens and ones is fundamental to all the maths we do in Key Stage 1. Having a clear understanding of what digits represent in numbers is such an important aspect of our maths learning. Although we represent the number 12 with the digits 1 & 2, 12 is actually a 10 and a 2. Again, look at page 8 to understand the idea and then work through page 9. If you wish to extend your child's work in this, count objects and group these into tens so you can see how these larger numbers can be represented by tens and ones. There are also some games in the link below to help reinforce these ideas.

For Year 2's this focuses numbers to 100. Again, keep looking at these numbers in terms of their tens and ones - how is the number 24 different to 42? Look also at how each number can also be represented by words. When it comes to writing the words, encourage the children to be as accurate as possible in their spelling.

Place Value Games

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Is is also important to talk about a book when you have finished your reading. Which is your favourite part? Did you like this character? Why? 

Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

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 & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 15th September 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have had another busy week in Key Stage 1 and we have been exploring our project of "Knock, Knock! Who's There?" in more detail. We have been making labels and captions for things around our homes and looking at different types of homes that people might live in.

Overview Meeting - Monday 18th September

Just a reminder that we will be holding our Overview Meeting on Monday 18th September at 2:30pm. If you arrive a bit before this time at the school office, we will let you into Amethyst Class to share with you some important information about life in Key Stage 1. The meeting will need to end at 3:00pm prompt so as to let the children back into class from PE ready to go home.

Please don't worry too much if you cannot attend this meeting as we will send home a copy of all the information shared. We look forward to seeing you!

House Photos

Thank you to those who have sent in a photo of the front of your child's house for our learning on houses and homes. If you haven't sent one in yet, don't panic - it is not too late! Please send in a photograph (not too big!) of your child's house with their name on the back and we will copy it and send the original back to you. Alternatively, if you would prefer to send it digitally then please do so using our KS1 email address below

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Maths Homework

Today your child will be coming home with a maths homework book. This week, we would like you to look at pages 6 & 7.

For Year 1's this focuses on numbers 1-20. Look through page 6 together with your child and practice counting the apples in the picture. Look at how the numbers can be represented by digits and words - both are important! Then let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further counting games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Counting Games

For Year 2's this focuses on place value. Understanding how numbers can be broken down into tens and ones underpins all our work on addition and subtraction during Year 2. It is important that the children understand that 45 is not 4 & 5 but 40 & 5 as the 4 represents 4 tens. Let your child work through page 7, supporting them as needed. There is also a quiz on pages 2-5 which your child can do if they are super eager! There are further place value games on the website below to further extend these ideas:

Place Value Games

Reading At Home

Reading regularly at home will make a huge impact on your child's reading development and learning across the whole curriculum. Please read each week as often as you can and jot it down in the reading diary. Always remember to have your child's reading book and reading diary in school everyday!

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 wonderful weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst, Diamond & Emerald Blog - Friday 8th September 2023

Happy Friday, everybody - it has been an extremely fantastic (and hot!) first week back in Key Stage 1! The children have all settled in so well and myself, Mrs Yuille and Miss Smith have been very proud of how well all the children have done. Thank you for taking the time to look at our weekly blog - it will prove very useful as a means of communicating to you things that are happening in school and any times when the children will need to bring anything special to school with them.

It is important that your child brings with them a water bottle and their reading diary and reading book everyday. Please ensure any hats, cardigans and jumpers are all named!

Overview Meeting - Monday 18th September

We will be holding our Overview Meeting on Monday 18th September at 2:30pm. If you arrive a bit before this time at the school office, we will let you into Amethyst Class to share with you some important information about life in Key Stage 1. The meeting will need to end at 3:00pm prompt so as to let the children back into class from PE ready to go home.

Please don't worry too much if you cannot attend this meeting as we will send home a copy of all the information shared. We look forward to seeing you!

House Photos

Our project this term is "Knock Knock! Who's There?" where we learn all about features of homes and different types of houses. As part of our work on this, if you could send in a photograph of the outside of your child's home, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please name the photo on the back and we will copy it and send the original back to you if you wish to have the original returned. Alternatively, if you would prefer to send it digitally then please do so using our KS1 email address below

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Swimming

Swimming lessons are due to start on the week beginning 18th September. Please see the letter that went home this week for details and ensure that you return the slips attached. 

Swimming for Key Stage 1 is on Thursdays.

Please remember swimming costume, towel, swimming hat (compulsory) and flip flops to walk to and from the pool on these days. All earrings must also be removed on these days. We are all so very excited to have swimming back at Down Hall Primary!

Homework Books

We will be issuing your child with a maths homework book next Friday. We will explain the expectations of homework both at our Overview Meeting and in next week's blog.

In the meantime, don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home and jot it down in their reading diary when you have read - reading little and often will make a huge impact on your child's reading development.

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 wonderful weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude, Mrs Yuille & Miss Smith

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Thursday 20th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody, and welcome to the last blog for this academic year! It seems incredible that we are already at the end of the year - it has flown by! We have all absolutely loved working with all your children this year and it has been a privilege to watch them grow, learn and flourish as the year has progressed. We are all sure that they will continue to be just as fabulous as they move on to being Year 2's and 3's!

UNICEF Shoeshare Appeal

Just a reminder that on the last day of term we are collecting shoes in partnership with Unicef and Clarks, who will cleverly turn our old shoes into money that will help fulfill the rights of children around the world. You can send your child with a spare pair of shoes on the final day of this term so they can place their unwanted school shoes into our collection box. If you have any other unwanted pairs, you can send these in too. Staff will be in on Friday so you can still drop them off to the box in reception on that day too!

Article 28 & 29: Every child has the right to an education.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER HOLIDAY!!!

We will be available on our Key Stage 1 email up until lunchtime on Friday 21st July and then again from Monday 4th September.

ks1@downhallprimary.com

Remember: children return to school on Tuesday 5th September.

When we come back in September we will be back in three Year 1/2 classes which is system we have run very successfully for many years aside from the last 2 years where we had single year group. We are looking forward to Miss Smith joining our team in Emerald Class along with Mrs Yuille in Diamond Class and Mr Jude in Amethyst Class.

All that remains is for everyone here in Key Stage 1 to wish you an amazing summer holiday. We would also like to give our heartfelt thanks for all your support and kind words over the year - it means so much to all of us!

Much love

Mrs Yuille, Mr Jude & Miss Smith

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 14th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We hope you all had a lovely time at Sports Day last Friday! It was so lovely seeing all the mums, dads, grandparents and other family members out together on the field for a picnic lunch and watching the children compete together! 

It is amazing to think that we are about to head into our last 4 days! In school this half term, the children have very much enjoyed using Chrome Music Labs to explore digital music in our computing lessons. Here is the link if you would like to further explore this learning platform at home:

Chrome Music Labs

UNICEF Shoeshare Appeal

We are once again holding a collection for Shoeshare so now is the time to start rummaging around in your cupboards for old shoes that don't fit or you no longer wear! Shoeshare is a collaboration between UNICEF and Clarks Shoes which works towards improving Children's Right around the world. More than 1.6 million pounds has been raised by Shoeshare to help ensure that children all around the world have access to quality education.

You can read more about the scheme here.

It's hard to believe that together we can make such a huge difference by the very simple act of sorting out our shoes but really we can. Shoes need to be in pairs and if possible held together with an elastic band. There will be a drop off point at the office or you can just send shoes in with your child at any point during the last week of term.

Thanks in advance for your continued support in helping our children to learn about sustainability, the wider world that we live in and how to care for others.

RRS: Every child has the right to an education and a clean and healthy environment.

Book Collection

All children have had their reading books collected in this week. We will pass these on to their next class teacher so they are ready to be re-issued in September. We have let the children keep hold of their reading diaries as there are lots of useful logins inside these. Please bring these reading diaries back to school on the first day back.

The children's school work books are all handed up also - current book and most recent completed book. These completed books are sent home after the October half term.

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 fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 7th July 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! It was lovely to see so many of you all at our Open School Evening on Tuesday and, of course, visitors from lower years who will be in Key Stage 1 next year!

Spelling Frame

Hopefully your child will have come home this week with their login details for Spelling Frame - check their bags or they may well be stuck in their reading diary.

Spelling Frame is a similar learning platform to Sumdog but uses games to support the learning of spelling patterns and rules. When you have logged in, you can select a Year group and then select a spelling rule or phoneme to explore. In the future, the spelling rule being covered in class will be added to the blog to further support homework tasks but we wanted to share this with you before the summer holidays so you could use the site in this time.

Visit the Spelling Frame website using the link below to login and start exploring different games to support your child's spelling!

Spelling Frame

Homework

We would like to thank you all for your hard work in supporting your child with their homework this year. We are returning the children's homework books to them today but we are not asking for them to be returned again this year.

If there are some pages left, please work through them at your own pace. The maths homework book is also a useful tool for looking back over the ideas we have covered this year as a reminder during the summer holidays so your child does not get too rusty over the 6 weeks off.

Don't forget to keep up all your fantastic efforts with your reading at home in order to maintain the great progress made this year. 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 - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 30th June 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! This week has been exciting in meeting our new class teacher for September but there is even more things happening next week! We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone at Open School next Tuesday and then all taking part in our Sports Day on Friday.

Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday 4th July - Open School 4:30pm-6:30pm
• Friday 7th July - Sports Day (KS1 in the afternoon)

PSHE - Changing Me

This half term in Personal, Social and Health Education we are learning about how to cope with change. This includes learning about change in ourselves as we grow from a baby to how we are now. It also includes a lesson next week in which we will be noting the differences between male and female bodies, using the correct terminology. This lesson is very much laying the foundations for future Relationships and Sex Education, which is now a statutory requirement to be taught in schools. We see this as a crucial part of Safeguarding our children and keeping them safe. We are planning to deliver this lesson during the next couple of weeks.

Sports Day

On Friday 7th July we will be holding our Sports Day. Please see the letter on the website explaining the structure of the day.

Some key points to note:

• Sports Day begins for KS1 at 1:30pm.
• Children come to school on Friday in their PE kit but we would like your child to wear a colour t-shirt that matches their team colour: Brooklyn - Blue; Deepdene - Green; Hambro - Yellow; Teignmouth - Red.
• Parents can join their child for a picnic lunch which will be 12:00-1:15pm. Please ensure that you complete the Google Form on the Sports Day letter so we know what your child is doing at lunch time on this day - you can use the link below. Please collect your child from their classroom at 12:00pm as you would usually at the end of the day. The children will be collected from the field by their teacher at 1:15pm.
• Please note that the above timings are approximate but we will try to stick as close as possible to them.

Sports Day Form To Complete

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 64 & 65.

For Year 1's this looks at 3D shapes. This covers the names of the 3D shapes the children should know and it is important to discuss the mathematical properties of these shapes, that is the number of faces, vertices and edges.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas.

For Year 2's this looks at drawing shapes and patterns. Patterns can be repeating patterns, sequencing patterns (like at the bottom of page 64) or symmetrical patterns. Look around you and see where you can find shape patterns.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Shape Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a lovely weekend!

Much love

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 23rd June 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! It has been another busy and hot week in Key Stage 1 and we are all very busy working on our animal habitat dioramas in Design & Technology. Fingers crossed they will be ready for you all to see at Open School in a couple of weeks time!

Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday 4th July - Open School 4:30pm-6:30pm
• Friday 7th July - Sports Day (KS1 in the afternoon)

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 62 & 63.

For Year 1's this looks at 2D shapes. This covers the names of the 2D shapes the children should know and it is important to discuss the mathematical properties of these shapes, that is the number of sides and corners (or vertices).

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas.

For Year 2's this looks at sorting shapes. This again helps the children to focus on the different shapes mathematical properties - faces, vertices and edges for 3D shapes and sides and vertices for 2D shapes.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Shape Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a super weekend!

Much love

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - 16th June 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! Well, Summer has certainly arrived and it has been a very hot week, however, myself and Mrs Yuille have been very proud of how hard the children have applied themselves this week despite the heat! Well done everybody! Remember, whilst the temperature is well above 20°C, ties can be removed as and when needed. Also, remember to bring sunhats and water bottles and the children can bring some sun cream in to apply themselves before play time and lunch time.

Upcoming Dates

• Wednesday 4th July - Open School 4:30pm-6:30pm
• Friday 7th July - Sports Day (KS1 in the afternoon)

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 60 & 61.

For Year 1's this looks at measuring time. Understanding how time is measured helps work out slower and quicker times and whether times are earlier or later than each other. Try timing your child doing different tasks and compare the times that it took. Also reinforce how 60 seconds make up a minute and 60 minutes make up an hour.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Time Games

For Year 2's this looks at 3D shapes. This focuses on the names of the shapes the children should know and their mathematical properties - faces, vertices and edges.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Shape Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 9th June 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! Welcome back to our last half term in Year 1 or Year 2! Reminder of the upcoming dates (note the change to the date for Sports Day):

• Wednesday 4th July - Open School 4:30pm-6:30pm
• Friday 7th July - Sports Day (KS1 in the afternoon)

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 58 & 59.

For Year 1's this looks at reading and writing the time on an analogue clock. This can often be quite a tricky concept so take the time to notice how the hands of the clock are different from each other and they have a distinct role in telling the time. Practical reinforcement of reading the time to the hour and the half hour around the home will also help embed this concept.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Time Games

For Year 2's this looks at 2D shapes. This focuses on the names of the shapes the children should know and their mathematical properties - sides, corners (vertices) and lines of symmetry.

Below is a link to some games to help support these ideas:

Shape Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Thursday 25th May 2023

 Happy Thursday, everybody! Phew - another half term done and the children have all worked extremely hard at all the learning opportunities presented to them in the last 6 weeks. It has been lovely to see everyone taking a keen interest in the work we have done as part of our "Down At The Bottom of The Garden" project - be it finding out about our common garden birds and flowers or finding out more about Charles Darwin by visiting Down House!

After half term we will be looking more closely at the different minibeasts that are all around us, so if you can, take advantage of the good weather and get a bit closer to nature to find out about the fascinating microscopic world that is all around us!

We would like all the children to have a relaxing week off, so we are not sending homework books home this week but if you can keep up the reading little and often this will have a hugely positive effect on their progress.

Have a wonderfully relaxing break!

Much love

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 19th May 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! Amazingly, we are going into our last week before Half Term! The last few weeks are always very busy so here are a few dates to be aware of in our last Half Term:

• Friday 30th June - Sports Day (KS1 in the afternoon)
• Wednesday 4th July - Open School 4:30pm-6:30pm

Whole School Sumdog National Competition

Calling all you amazing mathematicians!

You have been entered into the Sumdog Competition. It starts on Friday 19th May at 3:30pm and finishes on Thursday 25th May. Why not have a go and get your class on the school leaderboard?

I will be monitoring how well each class is doing and the winning class will get extra playtime! Let's show everyone what great mathematicians we are!

Good luck

From Mrs Hurley

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 56 &57.

For both Year Groups, this continues to look at the area of time.

Keep practicing these areas as outlined in the homework books and relate them as much as possible to your child's everyday life. We will leave the same links as before to help support this learning at home.

Months Game 1

Months Game 2

Time Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend - don't forget next week the children are only in school Monday - Thursday before breaking up for half term.

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 12th May 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! We have been busy this week in Key Stage 1 looking closely at the characters in "The Gruffalo" in English and exploring addition and subtraction strategies in Maths.

Coronation Celebrations

As promised, here is a link to our Special Events page on our website for some photos of Key Stage 1 performing "Sing A Song Of Six Pence" to the rest of the school. We all enjoyed it very much!

Coronation Performance

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 54 & 55.

For both Year Groups, this is looking at the area of time.

For Year 1's this looks at days of the week and months of the year.. Being able to sequence the days of the week and the months of the year is an important area in time and underpin all the later work that we do going into Year 2. Think about the different things you do on certain days and the key events of the year and in which month they happen.

Months Game 1

Months Game 2

For Year 2's this looks at reading the time on analogue clocks. Read carefully through the page which explains this concept and be patient - time can be a very challenging area of the maths curriculum! There are lots of time games on the link below to help practice your clock reading skills:

Time Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille

Amethyst & Emerald Blog - Friday 5th May 2023

 Happy Friday, everybody! What an exciting day we have had today as part of our Coronation Celebrations!

Coronation Celebrations

Today, everybody looked fab in their red, white and blue clothes! We all enjoyed making flags and crowns ready to watch Pearl and Quartz class crown King Charlie! Then in the afternoon, each Phase group performed a short song or poem based on a royal theme. Amethyst and Emerald class shared the song "Sing A Song Of Six Pence" with some small drama moments - it was all very lovely! We will be updating our Special Events page on our website next week.

We hope you all continue to enjoy your own Coronation Celebrations over this long weekend - if you do anything exciting we would love to see a photo!

Maths Homework

This week, we would like you to look at pages 52 & 53.

For Year 1's this looks at money. The use of coins in shopping is becoming less and less common in our everyday lives but it is still part of the curriculum for the children to recognise the different coins we have and use different combinations of coins to make amounts. Dig out your change drawer and practise making amounts and counting money. There are lots of games in the link below that support the concepts of money in Key Stage 1.

For Year 2's this continue to look at money. Again, keep exploring this concept practically using real coins but also using the games featured in the link below:

Money Games

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 - we would love to see you!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend - again!

Best wishes

Mr Jude & Mrs Yuille