St Clare Class - Year 1
Class Teacher - Mr Fishman
Teaching Assistant - Miss Taylor
Support Staff - Miss Day, Miss Johnson and Mrs Klimaytys
Updated 20.7.22
Dear Children, adults, and everyone part of the Year 1 Community,
Thank you for support, help and dedication to learning this year. It has been an absolute pleasure working with and getting to know you all. I'm truly honored to have shared this learning journey with you all.
Thank you for the memories and wishing you all a peaceful and well-earned summer break.
Be safe, be brave and never forget to do things that make you smile :-)
Your teacher, always
Mr. Fishman and the whole Year 1 team
Updated 20.7.22
Making 'Worry Robots'
For our last lesson this year, the children in Year 1 learnt about the importance of saving the planet and how we must try our best to recycle. The children generously brought in their recycling from home and we used them to design and make our very own 'Worry Robots' - someone we can tell our worries to when we feel like it's hard to say to a grown up.
I hope that these robots fondly remind the children of their time in Year 1.
Updated 13.7.22
Last week the children in Year 1 were fortunate enough to have bikeability training run by Brighton and Hove council. Every afternoon last week the children were taught practical skills on how to balance on bikes in addition to learning road safety rules and how to cycle safely. They also learnt how to carry out a simple bike check, safe start and stopping procedures, turning left and right and they how to use the gears on their bicycles.
The children loved this unique experience and it made for a lovely change for learning outside of the classroom.
Updated 30.6.22
School Trip Day!
Today the children in Year 1 enjoyed a whole day out of school on a trip to Stanmer Park.
The day started by us walking to the local train station and then onto to the park itself. It was very fun being on the train as some of us had never been on one! We then tested our kites that we made in school and had a great time running and watching the wind take them up into the air! After that, we loved playing in the newly built playground before eating a well earned lunch. Then, we explored the nature area of the park and collected flowers and plants to create our very own sticky bookmarks. Finally, we all enjoyed playing some games with a parachute before boarding the train back to school.
It was a wonderful day out and thank you especially to all of the adults who joined us.
Updated 29.6.22
In preparation for our school trip, yesterday the children worked together in teams to make their very own kites. We spoke about what materials would make the best kite and we all agreed that plastic would be most suited because it is light and flexible.
We are all very excited to test them out when we get to Stanmer Park...watch this space for updates!
Updated 23.6.22
EXRA NOTE:
You may bring in any items that are German, not just food! So beer, toys, clothes, flags etc. are all welcome and appreciated.
Thank you :-)
Updated 22.6.22
Last Friday, the children in Year 1 had their final outdoor learning of the school year and what an amazing day it was! As always, the children began the day by greeting nature and welcomed each other using words and rhythms made by tapping sticks together. The children then worked together to collect and sort different sized sticks to be used both in the fire and in an original piece of artwork.
After that, the children were given lots of different natural resources including shells, sticks and leaves and were challenged in creating a game using these objects. This ties in with our current class novel in which the main character lives alone by the sea and is left to his imagination to create a game using only objects that he has access to. The children came up with many wonderful and creative games that they then taught each other.
After playtime, the children had another opportunity to 'explore and learn' by either making 'potions' in the mud kitchen, drawing a snapshot of nature using oil pastels and using sticks to create a house similar to the one in our class novel.
Finally, after lunch we made a fire and sang some camp songs, including a new 'telephone game' song that had us all in laughter! The day ended by making some delicious popcorn on the fire whilst the children practised their mindfulness listening to the sounds of the corn popping. At the end of the day, the children all put out the fire one at a time by pouring water over the fire while telling the rest of the class what they enjoyed most during the day.
It seemed that the home-made popcorn was a very popular choice indeed!
Updated 15.6.22
This week the children continued their learning of direction and movement. In addition to the many activities the children have completed, they particularly enjoyed this game. They had to navigate their partner to move an object across the treasure map using the vocabulary learnt in class. We then extended that learning and used our 'carpet spaces' as a treasure map.
Updated 8.6.22
This week, the children learnt the different between two different types of trees: deciduous (trees that leaves fall off) and evergreen (leaves that leaves are 'ever' green!)
The children then spent some time exploring the outdoor area and collecting leaves which we then sorted back in class.
Updated 25.5.22
It's been an incredibly busy few weeks with the children in Year 1 working hard outside of school producing some excellent projects. Many children made some exceptional flying machines, hot air balloons, delicious cookies and much much more.
Thank you to all of the adults who have helped the children in completing these activities - it has been wonderful to see.
Please click HERE for a glimpse of some of the projects completed over the past few weeks!
Updated 18.5.22
Holidays and Holy Days
This term the children in St Clare are learning about Ascension day and the importance of Pentecost. The children began the topic with a class discussion of what a holiday is and why they are special. This then prepared the children to begin their learning about Holy Days such as Pentecost, when Jesus returned to his father in heaven and sent down the Holy Spirit.
The children then made their own beautiful stained glass windows by carefully sticking coloured tissue paper into the shape of a dove.
The children felt very content with their beautiful artwork which is now proudly is on display in our classroom.
Updated 10.5.22
The children in Year 1 had a wonderful day last Friday for their 5th outdoor learning day this year!
The day started off by us greeting nature and sharing our feelings for the day ahead. Then the children collected different sized twigs and sorted them by size so that we could use them to assemble a fire. After playtime, the children then had various choices of activities which included: using pastels to create a scene from nature, exploring the mud kitchen and the Japanese art form of hapa zome. Whilst all this was happening, children had the opportunity to help saw some of the oversized twigs to make them suitable to burn and then some children helped to use these twigs in assembling the fire ready to burn.
After lunch, we ignited the fire and enjoyed singing some songs around it, learning the famous campfire song 'Kumbaya'. To close the day, each child helped to put out the fire by pouring over it a small amount of water.
It was an amazing day of exploring and creativity made even better by the glorious sunshine!
Updated 10.5.22
Summer Term Curriculum Overview
Please click HERE for an overview
of content covered in the Summer Term
Updated 4.5.22
A Stunning Start to our new topic - Flight
To launch our new topic of flight, the children made their very own bubble wands! Using simply two plastic straws and some string, the children worked together to make a structure that would then be used outside to make bubbles! After everyone had made their wand, on a glorious sunny day the children had so much using their bubble wands to create some rather marvelous bubbles.
We all enjoyed watching them fly way...
Updated 28.4.22
As part of the Department for Education's scheme, today the children were given the list of suggested activities for children in Year 1 to complete. These experiences are designed to inspire and provoke the curiosity and imagination of children whilst allowing them to explore the outdoor world around them.
Please take photos of the activity you choose and email them to:
myhomework@st-josephs.brighton-hove.sch.uk
(put your child's name and class as the subject line)
For an electronic copy of the list please click HERE
Updated 28.4.22
Exploring forces and gravity
As part of our science learning, this week the children in Year 1 explored the force of gravity. They were tasked to build a ramp using a wooden plank and Duplo and then investigated the distance and speed of how fast and far a car could travel down the ramp. They then changed the heights of the ramp with additional Duplo blocks to see how it changes.
Finally, each team were given the task to build the 'ultimate' ramp and they all lined up in a contest to see who could make their car travel the furthest.
Updated 7.4.22
Easter Holiday Homework Projects
To 'launch' our new topic of flight for the Summer term, please click HERE for a wide range of different project ideas that you can complete with your child over the Easter Break.
Have fun and fly high!
Updated 7.4.22
This week the children took their hands to some baking in Year 1, making some delicious chocolate Easter nests. The children worked together to break up some shredded wheat and then mixed in some yummy melted chocolate. They then used a spoon to create a nest shape and placed some chocolate eggs the centre whilst carefully positioning a chick on top! The happy children then took their nests home in a handmade basket!
It was a wonderful experience and the children loved getting covered in chocolate!
Wishing all the children, support staff, adults, carers, family and friends in the Year 1 community a very happy and healthy Easter :-)
Updated 4.4.22
As part of our Personal Social and Health Education, today the children in Year 1 learnt the 'Pants Rule' as covered by the NSPCC. The children learnt about their bodies and what parts are to be kept private.
For further information and activities and discussions to have with your child please click HERE
or click on the link below:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/pants-underwear-rule/
Updated 31.3.22
The Earth's Rotation
This week the children in Year 1 learnt all about the earth's movement around the sun and how days and nights are created. The children explored this idea by using a ball to represent the earth and a torch to represent the sun. They learnt how the earth receives light from the sun when it orbits around it creating day, and therefore no light from the sun brings night. This fun (albeit dizzy!) activity provoked lots of thought and conversations about the solar system and the changing of different weather for seasons.
Updated 24.3.22
It was Year 1's fourth outdoor learning day last Friday and what glorious weather we had! We started the day by 'greeting nature' with group chants and stick rhythms before moving onto our first task! In keeping with our learning about measure, the children had to work in pairs to measure the circumference of a tree using a tape measure. They then had to order the trees from narrowest to widest. After a story-time outside whilst enjoying some fruit and milk in the sunshine, the children then learnt about transient art and collected flowers, sticks, stones and leaves to create some beautiful artwork of their very own. We ended the day with designing our very own 'sticky bookmarks' like last time, noticing the different parts of nature that we available this time. It was another wonderful day full of excitement, intrigue and exploration.
Updated 17.3.22
Experimenting with Ice!
In keeping with our topic of learning about the Antarctic, this week the children were challenged to 'save the planet' by investigating how to stop ice from melting.
Each pair were given ice cubes and they had to investigate whether salt, sugar or tin foil would keep the ice cube from melting the longest. They loved seeing how the salt and sugar made the melting process slower and learning the science behind it.
Updated 3.3.22
Happy World Book Day!
Children across the school today came dressed up as their favourite storybook character to celebrate World Book Day. What a wonderful opportunity to dress up, have fun, read stories with each other and enjoy lots of wonderful stories.
Here are the children in Year 1 posing as a class...what characters can you see?
Updated 24.2.22
Celebrating the wonderful Half Term Work
Thank you to all of the children who spent time over the half term exploring their creativity. There were a wonderful selection of homemade igloos, penguins and intuits with even some research into types of houses in our local area.
A special thank you to all of the adults who helped, none of this would have been possible without you!
Here are a selection of some of the projects which are now proudly on display in our classroom!
Updated 11.2.22
Half Term Homework Projects
Please click HERE for an electronic version of the half term projects relating to our current topic Poles Apart. I hope you have fun exploring your creative sides.
Please send in any finished projects with your child when we return or send photos to:
myhomework@st-josephs.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Wishing you all a safe, happy, healthy and relaxing break!
From,
Mr Fishman and the Year 1 team
Updated 10.2.22
Channeling our inner Star-gazers!
This term, the children in Year 1 have been learning all about astronauts and meteor showers as told through the eyes of an adventurous little girl called Rocket, in Nathan Byron's brilliant book 'Look Up.' To celebrate the end of the story, this week the children made their very own telescopes using paper cups and card. They then painted them of a colour of their choice and decorated them with stars. Finally, they even wrote instructions on how to make them!
Updated 3.2.22
Last Friday the children in Year 1 enjoyed their third outdoor learning day this year! We started the day with some name games before we collected items from nature and stuck them onto a piece of card creating our very own 'sticky bookmarks.' This time we were also lucky enough for a dry, cool day and so we had lots of fun making our own mud paints and exploring the new mud kitchen outside.
20.1.22
Rapping about the continents!
As part of our geography learning, this week the children took to their rapping skills and learnt this cool song naming the world's seven continents.
Check out our video below.
To sing along to the original video used in class please click on the link here:
Updated 18.1.22
Spring Curriculum Overview 2022
Please find an overview of the Spring Term coverage HERE
A hard copy of this will be sent home with the children later in the week.
Updated 14.1.22
Making Electric Circuits
As part of our science learning, this week the children in Year 1 explored the different components that are needed to make a simple electrical circuit. The children learnt that in order to make the light bulb work they had to ensure all the components - wires, battery and bulb - were all connected as a complete circle. The children loved this lesson and there were smiles all round when they successfully made the light come on. It was definitely a 'lightbulb moment!'
Updated 5.1.212
A stunning start to our new topic 'Poles Apart'
To launch our new topic, today the children were given the challenge to build an igloo out of card, straws, glue and string! The children loved trying to use their design technology skills to build an effective shelter for the north pole! Watch this space for more information and learning about our new topic.
Updated 16.12.21
The children had a wonderful time for their annual Christmas party day! The day started by making salt dough ornaments for their Christmas trees at home. After that, the party and games begun with a treasure hunt around the school, musical chairs and pass the parcel. The children then enjoyed some sweet treats.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Updated 10.12.21
Performance Time!
After weeks of rehearsals, the children in Early Years and Key Stage 1 finally performed their Nativity show for adults, family and friends over three different days. The children were absolutely brilliant in remembering their lines, speaking with volume and expression, facing the audience and above all, dancing with passion! The children loved having the opportunity to rehearse and practice a show...here are two pics of some of the Year 1 cast after their final show.
Updated 2.12.21
Outdoor Learning - Part 2
Last Friday, the children in Year 1 enjoyed their second day of outdoor learning this term. In the morning, after a safety talk and demonstration, the children rotated in a carousel of three different activities: sawing, mud painting and sorting and collecting. Later in the day after a snack and story outside, the children tried their hands at making hats using foliage from the environment. Finally, we ended the day with a lovely cup of hot chocolate. It was a very fun day and the children loved being out of the classroom.
Updated 25.11.21
Apparatus time!
This term, during our PE lessons the children in Year 1 have the opportunity to use apparatus in the school hall, including: the climbing frame, balance beams and benches, ladders, slides and the many different padded agility tables. With regular use of this equipment, the children will build upon their upper and lower body strength, in addition to developing their agility and flexibility. Plus it's also great fun!
Updated 18.11.21
As part of our learning on Baptism, this week the children role played a Baptism service and recreated three of the major parts of this special sacrament. The children learnt about the naming of the baby, the application of oil and finally the blessing of the baby with holy water. Here are two pictures sharing this role play.
Updated 11.11.21
Introducing our new class book
Over the past two weeks, the children have been introduced to 'Mr Bear', the main character from our new class story. To engage the children in the story, we played an improvisation game in which the children had to use their imagination to act out how a red 'prop' could be used in different ways. The children portrayed some incredibly creative ideas, including a bowl of popcorn, a bunch of flowers, various fruits, a drum and an ice cream! Soon they will learn what the prop really is and how it relates to the story...!
Updated 19.10.21
Year 1 Visit the Hove Toy Museum!
Last week, the children in Year 1 visited the Hove Toy Museum as part of their learning about toys. The children traveled there in the school mini bus (which was a new experience for some!) and then enjoyed seeing some very old toys displayed in the Wizard's Attic. After that, the children participated in a special lesson where they learnt about the history of the museum and saw some more old toys. The highlight of the day was definitely getting to play with lots of different toys and dressing up some wooden spoon dolls. The children loved learning about and playing with toys that children played with a long time ago. After a delicious lunch outside in the sunshine, the children had one last tour of the museum to visit some of the other exhibitions.
Updated 14.10.21
Recreating a Montgomery bus in our classroom
In acknowledgement of Black History Month in the UK, today the children in Year 1 learnt about the incredible heroism of Rosa Parks. To help the children understand segregation, a 'bus' was made in the classroom with each child given a ticket to board. Little did they know, however, that the children had been segregated into boys and girls, with the girls forced to sit at the back of the bus and the boys at the front. This then led onto a great discussion about fair and equal rights. This activity was repeated but using hair colour and shoe type to determine where the children sat. After this activity, the children then learnt about segregation during the 1900's when black people had to sit at the back of buses and how Rosa Parks famously stood up for what she believed in.
Here are a couple of pictures from the day and a photo of Rosa Parks herself.
Updated 8.10.21
Today, the children in Year 1 took their learning outside as they embraced nature and used the world around them as their classroom. The day started off by gathering and sorting the different types of sticks in our wooded area, with the children then learning about fire safety and the 'green' and 'red' dragons. After this, they used some of the sticks they found to make their very own diablo toy and then went on a mini beast hunt, gathering leaves and sticks to replicate what they saw.
After lunch, the children were excited to go on a 'bear hunt' to discover that bears had visited during lunch and had left footprints. Finally, to finish the day they all participated in some traditional Hapa zome art using flowers and berries from outside. It was a glorious day and the children had a wonderful time.
Updated 30.9.21
God's love for family
As part of our learning about family in RE, the children in Year 1 this week collectively wrote a bed time prayer using inspiration and words from Psalm 16: 7-9. I hope that you and your child have time to read this prayer together and take solace in memorizing the words for them to say at night time.
Updated 23.9.21
Meet the teacher
Thank you to all of you who were able to attend this afternoon, it was lovely meeting you all.
For those unable to attend please click HERE for a copy of the Autumn Term overview and some important class information and diary dates.
Updated 23.9.21
Going wild for Wild
Our class book for the first few weeks of term is the wonderful 'Wild' by Emily Hughes. So far, the children have created their very own artistic version of the front cover and then wrote some thought bubbles as the girl describing what she loves to do in the wild. The children are really enjoying the story even though we have only just begun! Here is a picture of our display from inside the classroom...
Updated 16.9.21
'If you go down to the woods today....'
To introduce our new topic, this week the children in Year 1 had their very own teddy bear's picnic! First, the children learnt a song that was made famous by Bing Crosby in the 1950's. They then introduced their special cuddly toy that they had brought in to the rest of the class and explained what makes them special. After that, the children played the exciting game 'Mr. Bear's honey pot' and finally, we ended the day with some delicious hot chocolate and biscuits. It was a very stunning start our our fabulous new topic.
Here are some pics from the day...
Updated 10.9.21
Class Information
PE
PE will be on Thursdays and Fridays. It is crucial for health and safety that your child has a full PE kit in school and that their name is written in all items. PE kits are available for purchase from the school office.
Reading Diaries
Reading diaries will be handed out over the next 2 weeks, along with a book specifically selected for your child. The book will be one they are familiar with and have read in class. Your job - as the listener - will be to simply support them and guide them through reading this familiar text to promote their fluency and speed of reading.
As a friendly reminder, you must try to read with your child at least three times every week and then write comments in their reading record on how you felt the reading went.
Was your child able to read all words accurately?
Were there any tricky or new words?
Could your child recall what they read?
Were they able to relate to the characters in the story?
These will be collected in and checked on a regular basis
Updated 10.9.21
Teddy Bear's Picnic - Tuesday 14th September 2021
To introduce our first topic 'Bears, Bears, Bears' the children have been asked to bring in a cuddly toy for our very own teddy bear's picnic during the school day next week.
For a copy of the letter handed out please click HERE
Updated 10.9.21
Dear children, parents and carers,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your child to St Clare's Class and to a new school year. I feel honored to be your child's teacher this academic year and please be assured that I will do my very best to ensure they are safe and happy at all times.
Please do not hesitate to catch me before or after school if you have any questions, concerns or problems about your child's learning. Check this web page regularly for updates from inside the classroom!
I look forward to meeting you all and getting to know you better over the coming year.
Take care and stay safe,
Mr Fishman