Spotlight on: Year 1
Mrs Carol Kew shares stories from Year 1
Moving into Year 1 is a big change from Reception in so many ways, not least that the teaching is more formal, but, as one parent commented, it has been a very gentle transition for our new Year 1 pupils. We have also welcomed two new girls into Year 1, Hannah and Hasna, and they have both settled in so well that you would not realise that they had only just joined us.
This half term our topic is Beatrix Potter and we have been reading about Beatrix Potter’s life, in Victorian times. This week the girls have been listening to The Tale of Jeremy Fisher and writing their own stories, just like Beatrix Potter did with little drawings in the margins.
In Science lessons we have been studying animals and their different categories and asking, “Is Jeremy Fisher a mammal, reptile or amphibian?”.
Beatrix Potter published her own books, so the girls have been looking at early handwritten books and using inks to design illuminated letters.
Next week we will be setting up a printing shop and making our own little books.
Beatrix Potter also studied and painted fungi, and here is Maria looking at texture and pattern and then sketching a mushroom.
You will see that the overall topic has fused together Science, English, the humanities and Art, a perfect framework encompassing knowledge, understanding and skills.
The girls are also enjoying their lessons in French and Mandarin, Music and sport.
This term Mr Severy joined us to teach Computer Science and this is a highlight of the week for our pupils.
Our next topic is Christmas. We will be looking at Victorian Christmases, Christmas around the world, how we use our senses at Christmas and studying the Nutcracker. After half term Christmas songs and carols will be heard all around Pre-prep as we start to practise for the Nativity play.
From the girls
“We work very hard in Year 1, but it is great fun!”
“We have to work all day but we still have a whole hour to play and talk.”
“We are in the second line in assembly and not in the front. In Year 1 you can go to the School Council meetings.”
Pictured: elected School Council reps for Year 1: Amelia (left) and Kiana (right).
“I am too grown up now to play in the little house.”
“In Year 1 I am learning to read and do grown up writing. I always wanted to read proper books and now I can.”
“At lunch time we can now line up and choose what we eat.”
“We have small books to write in.”
“In Year 1 you can go to clubs: sport, art and craft, Spanish and book club.”
“We love being in Year 1.”
“We only bring things to show everyone on Fridays, and it has to be very special.”
Pictured: Zara talking about her flower press.