Welcome to the Year 1 Class Page
Here, you can follow our learning journey throughout the year, both in and out of the classroom. We are all looking forward to working hard and having an exciting year!
Autumn Term 1 2025
Our topic this half-term is 'Into the Woods', where we will be looking at seasonal changes and weather patterns, in Science, and map skills, in Geography. In English, our main text is 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson.
Below, you can find our Year 1 Autumn Newsletter, Yearly Curriculum Overview and a list of useful dates for the autumn term.
Our First Week in Year 1
During our first week in Beech Class, we concentrated on settling into our new classroom and getting to know our teachers. We also took part in some Working With Others activities, to build our team working skills.
One of our first activities was thinking about the way we behave in school. We discussed different types of behaviour and sorted them into 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable'. We also made a 'Class Charter', which is a special set of rules we will follow to make Beech Class a kind and safe place to be.
We also discussed our similarities and differences, including the way we look, how we behave and our likes and dislikes. Everybody understood that, although we are different in many ways, we are all special and we should always be kind to one another. We made some paper plate faces, celebrating our differences.
To develop our WWO skills, we were challenged to work in groups to make the longest paper chain, using only one sheet of A4 paper. Everybody had to discuss how they were going to cut their paper to make the longest chain. Eventually, we realised that cutting thin strips would result in more links!
As our first week was nice and sunny, we were able to use our outside area in the afternoons, after working hard all day.
Art - Exploring Paint
In our Art lessons this half-term, Beech Class will be exploring how to use paint, to achieve a range of effects. In the first session, they explored making marks, using different sized brushes and paint thicknesses. It was lots of fun and really allowed them to explore the paint freely and creatively.
Maths Investigation Day
In Beech Class, our themes were sorting objects and making patterns. We began by sorting lots of different classroom objects in different ways. They included shape, colour and size. We had to make sure that there was at least one thing the same, in each of our sets.
In the afternoon, we looked at repeating patterns. We made some patterns with shapes and other objects, thinking carefully about the repeats.
Next, we collected some objects from nature, such as leaves, sticks and acorns, and used them to make some lovely repeating patterns.
Computing - Using a Laptop
In Computing, we have been learning how to use a laptop. We were shown how to log on, how to use the keys to type and how to use the track pad to move the cursor. We practised these skills by playing one of our favourite phonics games.
Geography - Maps
In Geography, we have been learning about maps. We learnt what maps are and how and why we use them. We looked at some different types of maps, including those found in atlases and huge road maps of the local area.
Autumn Term 2 2025
Our topic this half-term is, 'Superheroes', where we will be learning about real-life heroes, Florence Nightingale and Grace Darling, in History. We will also be designing and making some puppets, using textiles, in our Design Technology lessons.
Our main text in English is, 'The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man' by Michael Chabon.
Maths Week 2025
During Maths Week, we learnt about shapes, measuring and time. First, we looked at a variety of 2D shapes, named them and described their properties. Then, we went on a shape hunt around the school.
Next we learnt how to measure different objects accurately using cubes. We measured lots of things from the classroom and also our water bottles and shoes!
Finally, we learnt how to tell o'clock times. We made our own clocks, using paper plates, and used them to tell the time.
To consolidate our learning, we played a time game and then a game of o'clock bingo.
Anti-Bullying Week 2025
During Anti-Bullying Week, Beech Class learnt about what bullying is and how we can prevent it. Some of the school's Wellbeing Champions came to talk to us in our classroom. They gave us cards with different scenarios on that we then acted out. We discussed what was happening and thought about how we could be a good friend to others.
Finally, the children completed a 'Friendship Flower', showing how we can be kind and treat each other well.
Little City
We really enjoyed our time with Little City. We were able to dress up in lots of costumes and pretend we were doing different jobs, including vets, builders, mechanics, hairdressers and cafe owners.
Design Technology - Puppets
In DT this term, we made some superhero puppets using textiles. First, we looked at some examples of different puppets and looked closely at how the fabric was joined together. Next, we practised some different joining techniques, to see which would be the best to use when making our own puppets.
We practised joining materials by sewing, gluing and stapling them. We decided that gluing our fabric would be the best option, as it is strong and won't leave any gaps.
We used felt to make our superhero puppets. We had lots of fun making them and they were all fantastic!
Spring Term 1 2026
Our topic this half-term is 'Taking Flight'.
In Geography, we will be studying maps, along with the seven continents and oceans of the world. In History, we will be learning about the lives of famous aviators, The Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart.
Our main text in English is, 'Little People, Big Dreams: Amelia Earhart'.
Please see the Year 1 Spring Newsletter below for more information.
Science Week 2026 - Everyday Materials
We began the spring term with Science Week, where our theme was 'Everyday Materials'. At the beginning of the week, we learnt the names of different materials, including wood, glass, metal, plastic, fabric and paper. We sorted them into sets, discussed their properties and thought about which materials different objects were made from.
We then used all of our knowledge about materials to perform an exciting investigation. We wanted to find out which material would be most suitable to make an umbrella for a Teddy. We made some initial predictions, then tested four different materials to see which were waterproof and which were absorbent.
We predicted that the plastic would be waterproof and also flexible enough, to make an umbrella for Teddy and we were correct! We ended the week showing the other classes what we had learnt in the school's Science Fair.
Wellbeing Champions
Three of our Wellbeing Champions came to Beech Class to teach a sessions called, 'This is My Place'. The children talked about where they felt safe and the things they enjoyed doing. They each produced a square showing their favourite things, which will be put together as a class 'mosaic'.
Creative Arts Day
This year, Creative Arts Day focused on producing 3D art and our theme was 'Flight'. As a class, we produced two large pieces of 3D art using cardboard. One was Amelia Earhart's plane and the other was a hot air balloon. The children took turns to help make each piece with an adult and they also produced their own smaller planes out of cardboard.
Spring Term 2 2026
Our topic this half-term is, 'All Aboard!', where we will be learning about how transport has changed in History. In Geography, we will be naming and locating the countries of the United Kingdom.
Our main text in English is 'Mrs. Armitage on Wheels' by Quentin Blake.
Book Week 2026
This year, the theme for Book Week was poetry. Beech Class looked at at seaside themed poem called, 'Through My Magic Telescope'. We Thought of our own ideas and tried to use adjectives to describe what we could see. We then wrote our own versions of the poem.
On World Book Day, everybody came to school dressed as an adjective. We had lots of different examples, including sparkly, helpful, friendly, sneaky and colourful. We drew a picture of ourselves and wrote our adjectives.
During Book Week, Beech Class did a shared read with Year 4. It was lovely to share books with another class. We all took turns reading different books and stories to each other!
And finally, here we all are in our fabulous costumes for World Book Day!
Art - Mark Making
In Art this half-term, Beech Class have been learning about mark making and how we can use different types of marks to create pieces of artwork. Here, the children have been making marks on a large scale, thinking about how they use their hands, wrists and arms to produce larger motions. We used lots of different materials, including chalk, felt pens, charcoal and oil pastels. It was lots of fun and quite messy!
Visit to Amberley Museum
As part of our History work on transport, Beech Class visited Amberley Museum. When we first arrived, we went on a train around the museum. It had no windows or doors, so we had to be very careful!
Next, we did a workshop where we made an old fashioned cart wheel out of wood. The lady at the museum showed us an old cart and talked to us about how the wheels were made.
We were also lucky enough to have a ride on a 100-year-old, open top bus. Everybody sat up the top, where there was no roof. Luckily, it was a very sunny day!
Finally, we saw some examples of some old fire engines and firefighter's uniforms.
Summer Term 1 2026
Our topic this half-term is 'Street Detectives', where we will be studying the features of the local area and developing our mapping skills. In Science, we will be learning about different plants and naming their parts. Our main text in English is 'Dragon Post' by Emma Yarlett.
Please find the Beech Class Summer Newsletter attached below, which will give you more information about our learning this term.
Active Maths Day
We started the summer with 'Active Maths Day'. The children took part in different maths challenges, while being active at the same time. The activities included an addition race and a task where the children had to identify different calculations to make a number. They really enjoyed being able to work indoors and outside!