In English, the children have been developing their writing through the book How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth. They have been introduced to ambitious vocabulary  which they then applied within their own sets of instructions. Some children also began to experiment with adjectives to make their instructions more descriptive, for example: Use a giant, bubbly sponge to scrub the muddy mammoth.

In Maths, the children have been extending their knowledge of place value. Year 1 have been securing their understanding of numbers to 10 and 20, using equipment and images to represent numbers in different ways. Year 2 have been building on this by partitioning numbers into tens and ones, and exploring how this helps them to understand the value of each digit. Across the classes, the children enjoyed using manipulatives such as cubes, bead strings, and place value counters to show numbers practically, before moving on to pictorial and written methods. This hands-on approach has really helped them see how numbers can be broken apart and put back together again in lots of different ways.

In Maths, the children have been extending their understanding of place value. They explored numbers to 10 and 20, using practical resources such as cubes, bead strings, and counters to represent numbers in different ways. The children then moved on to partitioning numbers into tens and ones, noticing how this helps them to understand the value of each digit. Through a mix of hands-on activities, drawings, and written work, they were able to see how numbers can be broken apart and put back together in lots of different ways.

In our topic learning, the children have been travelling further into the Ice Age. They learned how elephants are descendants of the mighty mammoths, and compared their features to understand how animals change and adapt over time. The children also explored new vocabulary such as extinct and prehistoric, using these words in their spoken sentences and their writing. Acting as archaeologists, they investigated how we know about creatures from so long ago, examining evidence such as fossils, bones, and cave paintings. This allowed them to step into the shoes of real historians and scientists, sparking plenty of questions and discussions.

During play projects, the children extended their knowledge of the Ice Age by being wonderfully creative. They designed and built their own mammoths using different materials, drew detailed Ice Age landscapes with snowy caves and herds of mammoths, and even wrote imaginative “messages from the past” to reflect what life might have been like for humans during this time. These projects gave the children the chance to combine art, imagination, and history, helping to make their learning memorable and exciting.

It has been a busy week, and we are so proud of how well the children have engaged with their new learning.

Homework:

The children have been sent home with their new, clear plastic wallets to keep their homework in. The children’s log in details are also on the wallet, with more to come if necessary. This week the homework that has been sent is:

Tahiti:

Year 1: Big Maths sheet and Letter formation handwriting practice sheet.

Year 2: White Rose practice paper.

Sumatra:

Letter formation handwriting practice sheet.

White Rose sheet: Recognising numbers as words

Key Notices:

A letter has gone out regarding the trips for islands this term. The cost of this amazing Historical Workshop and the trip to Pegasus Theatre is £20.00.This is voluntary but if we don’t receive sufficient funds to cover the costs then we may not be able to run these or future trips. Ideally please pay via MCAS.  If you are not able to access MCAS please complete the form below and return with the payment totalling £20.00. Payment due by Friday 4th October.