Key Stage 1 (yr1/2): 2024 - 2025
The Key Stage 1 (yr1/2) Teaching Team are Mrs Amanda Pow , Mrs Julie Garrett, Miss Helen Fisher & Miss Molly Green
Other staff who will also teach KS1 are: Ms Suzy Brunwin (music), Mr Sam Wright, Miss Leigh Pavey and our Sports Coaches, Mr Marc Troman and Mrs Katie Whenman (nee Murray).
contact us at: yr1@beacon-ce-primary.devon.sch.uk
The Learning environment:
This term, children will be taught through a mixture of whole class and year group lessons. Year 1 will still have access to independent activities through COOL (Choosing Our Own Learning) Rainbow Challenges. These challenges will enable children to apply new skills through a play-based approach similar to that experienced in Reception, whilst developing their learning further. It will be expected that each child completes these challenges during the week whether that be independently or with adult support. For each challenge completed children will earn a coloured lolly stick to put in their Rainbow pouch. The aim is to collect all six; red (construction), orange (creative), yellow (English), green (enquiry/topic), blue (maths), purple (bonus) – by the end of the week. Year 2 children will still be able to access similar challenges but there will be a greater focus on more formal learning.
This term's topic are...... .
Autumn 1 - Paws, claws & whiskers
This topic will have a science focus all about animals. We learn the difference between reptiles, invertebrates, mammals, birds & fish. We will explore what animals eat and how they move. We will also find out how to look after pets and discover more about their habitats.
Companion projects:
- Art - Mix it! (Colour mixing & artist studies)
- Music (Miss Brunwin)
- RE - Who is a Muslim & how do they live? (Part 1)
- PSHE - Being Me
- Computing - computing systems & networks, online safety
- PE - Fundamental skills & Invasion games
Autumn 2 - Splendid Skies
This topic will have a science focus all about the weather & seasons. We will record the daily weather & monitor how our local environment changes through the seasons. We will also explore extreme weathers around the world and make comparisons between different climates around the world.
Companion projects:
- DT - building structures (windmills)
- Music (Miss Brunwin) -
- RE - Why does Christmas matter to Christians?
- PSHE - Celebrating Differences (including anti-bullying)
- Computing - digital photography
- PE - Fitness & dance
Reading
Reading books will be changed each Friday when your child will bring home 2 reading books which match their reading ability. We suggest children are heard read at least 5 times a week - little and often is very effective. Please comment in the accompanying yellow reading record each time your child has read at home to an adult and send reading folders into school EVERY THURSDAY.
This year we will be continuing The Rocket Reading challenge. For every 10 reads completed at home, children move their rocket to the next planet and receive a certificate in achievement worship. We would like to emphasise the importance of reading a book more than once. The first read should be to decode the words using their phonic knowledge; the second should be to increase their reading fluency, and the third time to develop their understanding of the story further. When reading in school, we always love spending time talking about the story with the children, this discussion is vital for developing comprehension skills.
PE days
Autumn Term 1
Monday - Fundamental skills (Mrs Pow)
Friday - Invasion Games with Mr Troman (outdoors)
Autumn Term 2
Monday - Fitness (Mrs Pow)
Tuesday - Dance with Mrs Whenman
Wear PE uniform to school (yellow t-shirt, blue shorts, jogging bottoms/leggings when cold & suitable footwear) for all PE sessions.
Newsletters and Curriculum Information
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning will take place most Wednesday afternoons, weather permitting. Sessions will take place at the Beach, Manor gardens and Holy Trinity Church grounds and will include team building games and activities linked to our classroom learning. Please wear suitable shoes, coat and trousers to school and bring wellies in a bag when wet. Also, please wear a hat and apply sun cream in the hot sunny weather. We do supply all-in-one wet weather suits when raining. Extra adult helpers are required for these sessions. Please let the office know if you can help.
Home Learning
An information sheet outlining new activities will come each Friday in reading folders. Activities will generally consist of number facts, tricky word spellings and key phonic sounds (Pips/Tricky Teddies). There will be QR code links to access online maths activities.
Home Learning support resources
Phase 3 Phonic sounds
Phase 5 Phonic Sounds
Tricky Words (CEWs)