Willow

Welcome to Year 1 - Willow

Mrs Andreas and Mrs Bell

Willow Class have had a busy and positive start to the half term. The children have been enjoying activities from the Calm and Focus digital backpacks (TGMC), including daily journaling, guided tapping, guided drawing, laser focus, calm breathing, and finger pinching. These activities are designed to help the children regulate their emotions, build self-awareness, and prepare their minds and bodies for learning.

Literacy

In Literacy, we started a new text, I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. The ending of the story is fairly ambiguous, so we have had lots of lively discussions about what might have happened and why. The class enjoyed role-playing as the two main characters, Bear and Rabbit, and have been writing about how Bear might be feeling, what happened to his hat, and how he and Rabbit might resolve the question of who the hat truly belongs to.

Maths

In Maths, the children have been continuing their learning on addition. They have been consolidating their understanding of fact families and number bonds within 10, and have started to solve simple word problems. We have also been developing their reasoning skills and encouraging them to explain their thinking clearly.

Phonics

In Phonics, we are well and truly into Phase 5. The children have learnt that some of the sounds they were taught in Reception have alternative graphemes. They have enjoyed Growing the Code with sounds such as:

u (unicorn)
o (post)
i (spider)
a (paper)
e (fever)

They have also learnt some new Tricky Words, including oh, people, your, their, Mr, Mrs, Ms, and ask.

History

In History, we have looked closely at what life was like in the 1950s, exploring homes, jobs, shopping, entertainment, and transport. The children particularly enjoyed listening to Rock and Roll music from the 1950s and comparing it with music from today.

Art

In Art, we have started a new topic called Funny Faces and Fabulous Features. We studied a range of portraits, including paintings, drawings, and photographs. The children discussed facial features and learnt how to place them accurately. They then observed their own faces in a mirror and sketched self-portraits — their attention to detail was wonderful!

Design & Technology (D&T)

In D&T, we began our new topic, Shade and Shelter. To start, we explored the school grounds looking for different types of shelter. We found many, including welly shelters, gazebos, entrance shelters, and sheds — and even spotted porches, garages, and conservatories in the distance! The children worked brilliantly with their learning partners during this shelter hunt.

Science

In Science, we have started our exciting new topic, Human Senses. This project teaches the children that humans are mammals. They are learning to name and count body parts, identify similarities and differences, and explore how our senses help to keep us safe.

Physical Education (P.E.)

In P.E., the children are exploring and developing basic gymnastic actions on the floor and using low apparatus. In our sending and retrieving unit, they are practising catching, throwing, rolling, kicking, tracking, and stopping the ball.

Geography

Our Geography topic, Our Wonderful World, introduces the children to physical and human features, maps, cardinal compass points, and positional and directional language. They are learning about the equator, hemispheres, and continents, as well as the countries, capital cities, and major settlements of the United Kingdom.

Music

In Music, the children are exploring the five senses through sound. This topic links nicely with our Science learning, allowing them to develop key musical skills and techniques while engaging in a variety of musical activities and using classroom instruments.

Next Up:

In Literacy, the children will be writing a sequel to I Want My Hat Back.
In Maths, they will move on to subtraction, using part–whole models to build understanding.
In Phonics, they will continue to Grow the Code and learn more new Tricky Words in Phase 5.

Autumn Term 2025

Click on the links below to see what the children in Year 1 will be learning in the Autumn Term.