Years 1 & 2 – Robins Class

Welcome to Robins Class page:

On this page you will be able to find information about the work which Year 1 and Year 2 pupils are undertaking. You will also find information of ways in which you can help and encourage pupils in their learning to enable them to fulfil the school values ‘To Nurture, To Grow and To Flourish’.

To enable you to be fully involved with your child’s learning we hold half termly consultation meetings which provide an opportunity for pupils and parents to meet with the class teacher to discuss progress, celebrate achievements and discuss the next steps. 

Our topics this term are as follows:

Autumn Term 1- Robins Class

  • Miss C Biddle
  • Mrs J Brown
  • Wednesday/Friday
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
English

In English, we will be looking at the book ‘Caveman Dave’. The children will use the ‘Talk for Writing’ process to learn the story and create a story map. We will then innovate the story by changing parts like the setting. Then they will have a go at writing their own story about what Caveman Dave does in a day. We will also have a non-fiction unit on instructions where the children will make a cave for Caveman Dave and then write instructions on how to make it.
In Phonics, Year 1 will be recapping the initial code sounds learnt last year before looking at different ways to spell the /ae and /ee/ sound while Year 2 will be looking at different ways to spell the /ae/, /d/, /ee/ and /i/ sound.

Maths
In Maths:
Year 1 our first unit is numbers to 10. We will then move onto part-whole within 10 and finish with the unit addition and subtraction with 10.
Year 2 will start by looking at numbers to 100. Then we will move onto two units of addition and subtraction.
Science
In Science, we will be learning about the human body with a focus on senses. We will first look at the human body and what we already know. Then we will look into the senses individually and why each sense is important/what we use it for. Finally, we will discover more about sensory impairment.
History / Geography
In Geography this half term our topic is spatial sense. Within this topic we will learn about aerial views and look at maps. We will learn about compass points and how to draw a map. Year 2 will look at maps of the local area and start to look at finding locations on a world map.
Art/DT
In Art this half term our focus will be colour. The children will be reminded of primary colours and look at secondary colours. They will start to learn about colours being described as warm or cool and learn about tints and shades of colours. We will look at the paintings ‘A Bigger Splash’ by David Hockney and Monet’s ‘Shadows on the Sea’ and ‘The Sea at Fecamp’. We will use these paintings as inspirations to paint our own sky and sea.
RE
In R.E. our focus will be on Christianity. We will be learning about ‘the prodigal son’ and how God is forgiving and loving. We will think about how we show love and forgiveness.
PHSE
In PSHE our topic is Beginning and Belonging. In this unit children will learn how to make the classroom feel a safe place where they can learn safely and happily. They will recap on how to build relationships in the class and how to cope with new situations. They will identify adults who can help them if they need support and know how to ask for help.
PE
Our PE lessons this half term will be around the skills sending, receiving, attacking and defending. The children will learn basic ball handling skills learning to control a ball when rolling, bouncing, throwing and catching. They will also progress from simple underarm catching to simple overarm throwing.
Our other PE session will be led by KICK.
Computing
This half term in Computing our unit of work will be Information Technology around us. Within this unit we will learn what information technology is and where we have seen it at home and in the world. We will think about how IT improves our word and understand how to use IT safely.

Autumn Term 2- Robins Class

  • Miss C Biddle
  • Mrs J Brown
  • Wednesday/Friday
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
English
Our English lessons will be linked to our topic, we will be starting with story writing and focusing on the book Toys in Space by Mini Grey. The children will work towards writing their own ending for the story. We will also be looking at a non-fiction unit which will be writing a recount.
Maths
In Maths we will be focusing on addition and subtraction and the different ways of solving a problem. Year 1 children will look at 2D and 3D shape and identifying their properties. Year 2 children will be looking at money and solving word problems.
Science
In Science, we will continue to look at the topic Animals including Humans. We will think about how we can classify animals into mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. We will also look at what makes an animal a carnivore, herbivore or omnivore and will compare the structure of different animals.
History / Geography
In History we will be looking at the history of toys and how they have changed over the years. The children will learn about popular toys through the 20th century and the early 21st century. The children will learn to ask and answer questions, identify and interpret different sources and recognise changes.
Art/DT
In Art we will continue to look at the Pop Art movement by studying Andy Warhol. We will be focusing on print-making. In DT we will be designing and making our own Hoctopize glove puppet, inspired from our English story ‘Toys in Space’. We will then evaluate our puppet.
RE
In R.E. our focus will be the Christmas story and why this time of year is important to Christians.
PHSE
In PSHE our topic is Emotions. We will learn how to recognise emotions and how we can deal with them calmly.
PE
Our PE lessons will be a dance unit based around our topic. The children will learn to move freely to music changing the speed and size of their movements. They will move to a rhythm and dance individually and as part of a duet.

Autumn Term 2- Robins Class

  • Miss C Biddle
  • Mrs J Brown
  • Wednesday/Friday
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
English
In our English lessons we will then be looking at the book The Night Pirates. We will begin by looking at the setting and developing a strong understanding of the characters. We will then be writing our own story based upon the book.
We will also be linking our English lessons to our Science topic and creating non-fiction writing about animals.
Maths
In Maths:
Year 1 will look at numbers to 20 and addition and subtraction within numbers to 20.
Year 2 will finish looking at money and then move onto multiplication and division.
Science
In Science, we will finish our topic of Animals including Humans.
Then we will start our new topic of everyday materials where children will learn about objects and the materials they are made of. As well as identify everyday materials and describe the properties of them.
We will continue to keep a diary of a tree across the year and notice the changes that occur as we move through the seasons. We will also think about other changes that happen.
History / Geography
In History we will be looking at the past and discovering what history means. The children will look at family trees, think about how we can find out about the past and talk about archaeologists.
Art/DT
In Art this half term our focus will be textiles. With this the children will be designing and making a flag.
RE
In R.E. our focus will be what makes church a special place for Christians. We will think about special places and what makes them special to people and ourselves. This will lead us to looking at the artefacts in a church and why the church is special for Christians.
PHSE
In PSHE our topic is Diversity and Communities. We will look our beliefs and how they may be different to those of other people. We will also look at how roles of boys and girls can be stereotyped. We will gain an understanding of what ‘my community’ means.
PE
Our PE lessons this half term will be on the topic multi skills. We will be practising the skills of sending, receiving, attacking and defending.

Autumn Term 2- Robins Class

  • Miss C Biddle
  • Mrs J Brown
  • Wednesday/Friday
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
English

In English, we will be looking at the book ‘Cinderella’ and learning about fairy tales. The children will learn about the features of fairy tales, they will retell the story using a story map and change parts of the story. Then they will have a go at writing their own fairy tale based on Cinderella. We will also have a non-fiction unit on diary entries where we will think about what Cinderella would have written in her diary.

In Phonics, we will be learning about the sounds /s/, /l/, /or/ and /air/. We will learn the different ways to spell each of the sounds.

Maths
In Maths:
Year 1 will look at introducing weight and volume. Then we will look at multiplication and division and finish the half term with halves and quarters.
Year 2 will start by looking at properties of shapes. Then we will look at fractions and finish the half term with the block position and direction.
Science

In Science, we will be learning about electricity. The children will be introduced to electricity and how to prevent electricity from harming us. We will also explore circuits and investigate into conductive and non-conductive materials.

We will continue to keep a diary of a tree across the year and notice the changes that occur as we move through the seasons. We will also think about other changes that happen.

History / Geography
In History this half term we will be looking at the Romans in Britain. We will learn about the Roman Empire, Roman Army and their invasion of Britain. The children will then learn about what life was like in Britain after the Romans and the towns they had built.
Art/DT
In Art this half term our focus will be History painting. The children will learn that a piece of art can tell part of or the whole story. They will learn about Picasso and the many pictures he painted of the Minotaur from Theseus and the Minotaur. The children will draw their own picture of the Minotaur.
RE
In R.E. our focus will be on Sikhism. We will be considering what is important to the Sikh’s. The children will learn about the Khalsa and how this influences Sikhs. They will then also learn about the ‘Festival of Baisakhi’.
PHSE
In PSHE our topic is Personal Safety. In this unit children will learn how to keep themselves safer in a variety of personal safety contexts. They will begin by identifying those people they have chosen for themselves who they trust. They
will be able to assess how safe they feel in the school building and grounds,
and will also consider safer places to play outside school. They will practise assessing risk, and will develop strategies for keeping safer, including learning about and practising assertiveness skills.
PE
Our PE lessons this half term will be on the topic athletics. The children will learn the skills they need to effectively jump, run and throw. We will practise these skills in a ‘Mini Olympics’.