Science: You can’t use a floppy fork!
This half-term in Science, we are looking at materials in KS1. This week, we looked at some objects that could be made using different materials. We studied each object and their properties to work out which material was best for each object and why.
We tested; forks, plates and cups.
Here’s what we found out:
1A
‘The best material for a fork is metal because it is strong.’
‘The worst material for a fork is fabric because it is floppy.’
1/2B
‘The best plates are ceramic if we are at home because they are hard but plastic in school because they are safer.’
2C
‘Paper is not a sensible material for a cup because it leaks.’
‘Plastic is the best material for a cup because it is strong but will not smash if it is dropped.’
Help at home by looking at objects and what they are made of. What are the properties of the materials used?
Geography – local walk
Today, we visited 5 different places in our local area. We followed a route on a map to find local landmarks. This is because we are being geographers this half term and studying our locality. We looked for both human and physical features in our locality. We kept safe by wearing our high vis jackets, staying with our partners and listening to the adults.
Help at home by supporting your child to learn their address and postcode.
We are Geographers!
This term our theme is all about planet Earth and our local area. We have been learning about the 4 countries that make up the UK and the capital cities of each country.
We also recapped what human and physical features are! Human features are man-made, whereas physical features are naturally occurring.
Help at home – Ask your child to give you an example of a human and physical features around your local area.
Next week in Geography KS1 will be going on an exciting tour around our local area – Scholes! The children are very excited. We will be stopping at places very close to school and observing the areas. We will decide to what extent we like each location and will be monitoring how clean Scholes is, by counting (and collecting) any litter we spot!
Science: materials
This term’s Science topic is materials. This week we have been looking at the different materials that objects can be made from. We have noticed that some objects are made from more than one material. We sorted items from our classroom using hoops to make a Venn Diagram.
Maths: adding two 2-digit numbers
This week in Year 2 we are focussing our learning on adding two 2-digit numbers together. To start with, we are learning to add two 2-digit numbers together that are not across ten. After this, the focus will be on adding across a ten.
Step 1 – write out the equation.
Step 2 – draw base ten to illustrate how many tens and how many ones are present in each number. (Lines to represent 10s, circles or squares to represent 1s).
Step 3 – add the tens together.
Step 4 – add the ones together.
Step 5 – add the above together.
By breaking the addition down into small, manageable steps we are able to answer these difficult questions with ease.
Help at home: by practicing these skills at home with your children. Use blank sheets of paper and ask children to talk through and show you their working out.
Adding two 2-digit numbers (not across a 10) –
Adding two 2-digit numbers (across a ten)
English – Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
We are using our class novel, Here We Are (Notes for Living on Planet Earth) by Oliver Jeffers to inspire our reading and writing learning this half term. We have enjoyed reading and discussing the book, picking out the main themes and messages.
We will link the book to our geography learning about our local area and art too. We will be reading about our school and Scholes, then writing about our school and village too.
Help at home
- read the book again and talking about the key messages
- talk about our local area – particularly what you like and dislike about it
- help your child learn their address
- read other books by Oliver Jeffers
There is a link to listen to it here. (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)
1,2B PE – large apparatus
There was much excitement in PE yesterday when we got the large apparatus out in PE. We climbed, stretched, rolled and balanced, refining our gross motor skills.
Living and learning : I know what a safe drug is
Today in our Living and Learning lesson, we discussed what drugs are used for, when we should take them, who can provide them and how to safely store them.
We each shared stories about a time where we have been poorly and what types of medicine helped us to get better. We then acted out a number of scenarios to show our understanding of illness, what to do when poorly, who to tell and who to trust to give us medicine. We also learnt that we should only ever have medicine when we are poorly and never take somebody else’s medicine.
One child said ‘My Mummy keeps all of the medicine in a cupboard that I can’t reach. It keeps me safe.’
Mastering Maths
This week in 2C we have been focussing on subtraction in Maths lessons. We have been practicing subtracting a one digit number from a 2 digit number. In order to secure this knowledge, we repeated our subtractions using lots of different methods and resources including 10 frames, number lines, 100 squares and counters. We also looked at related facts. One child said,
‘I know that 10 – 7 = 3, so I know that 20 – 17 = 3.
Help at home by practicing counting backwards from 10, 20 and 100!
Happy Christmas
Have a happy and healthy Christmas and see you all in 2023. Love from the Key Stage 1 Team.
