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