Phase Leader- Miss Elmi  

Key Stage 1 News 2024-2025

Spring 1

The amazing Greenwood superstars have truly impressed us with their hard work this half term!

This term, KS1 truly shone as they transformed into incredible presenters, delivering unforgettable performances. Swan class captivated us with their assembly on the Arctic Circle, filled with fascinating facts and amazing singing that brought the frozen landscape to life. Heron class moved us with their heartfelt assembly on kindness, singing beautifully and showing the power of small acts of care and compassion. Hedgehog class inspired us all with their passionate presentation on saving the world, not only with their powerful message but also their amazing singing that made us all think about our role in protecting the planet. Ducks class amazed us with their assembly on the three significant queens in British history. They were dramatic and engaging, sharing lots of fascinating facts about the lives and legacies of each queen, all while bringing their stories to life with confidence and energy.

Year 1

This term, the children went outside to find natural materials and sorted them carefully to create their own land art, inspired by the works of Andy Goldsworthy. After learning about his unique art created using natural materials, they were inspired to draw different types of lines, from straight to curved, and also learnt how to draw various spirals. They then recreated his spiral land art in a painting, carefully capturing the flowing shapes. Following Goldsworthy’s techniques, the children used their sorted materials to craft their own land art, incorporating a range of lines and spirals to create unique and beautiful pieces. It was a fantastic opportunity to showcase their creativity and understanding of the artist’s methods.

The little historians were buzzing with excitement as they explored the lives of famous monarchs and their grand palaces, like Buckingham Palace! They began by sequencing the life of Queen Elizabeth I, learning about her clever rule and the challenges she faced during her reign. The children then took on the role of Queen Victoria, writing their own diary entries as if they were the monarch herself, reflecting on the events of her long reign. They also created a detailed family tree of Queen Elizabeth II, tracing her lineage through the generations of past royals. As they compared the lives of the three queens, each with her own unique way of ruling, the children felt a great sense of pride in all the fascinating history they had uncovered!

Year 2

The little historians were excited as they explored the lives of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. They learnt about Florence Nightingale by examining a range of sources, including photographs and letters, to understand her role in transforming healthcare. They participated in a hands-on workshop, where they explored the challenges she faced and the changes she brought to nursing. For Mary Seacole, the children created detailed timelines to track her life and achievements, learning how she cared for soldiers during the Crimean War. They also designed informative leaflets, filled with facts, to share her story and highlight her contributions. As they compared the two women, the children gained a deeper understanding of how both made lasting impacts on healthcare in their own unique ways.

The little artists explored Yayoi Kusama’s artwork, moving around the class with a partner, just like they were visiting a gallery, studying the various pictures of her colourful and vibrant pieces. They experimented with different techniques for creating polka dots, using a range of materials and equipment to capture Kusama’s signature style. They recreated one of her pieces using collage, practising the technique of overlapping materials to add depth and texture. The little artists sketched a pumpkin with shading, carefully focusing on light and shadow to bring their drawings to life. They used paint to recreate a painting in the style of Kusama’s pumpkins, combining their sketching skills with vibrant colours to produce stunning artwork.

The children had an amazing day at Tower Bridge, where they wowed the tour guide with their impressive knowledge of the bridge’s history. As they explored, they learnt fascinating facts and even created animations inspired by the "Jumping Bus" story. Walking bravely on the glass walkway, they had a thrilling view of the River Thames far below. Throughout the day, they sketched the iconic landmarks they saw, capturing the magic of the experience. With their fantastic behaviour and infectious enthusiasm, the trip was a brilliant success, and everyone had an unforgettable time!

Autumn 2

A term full of hard work, resilience, laughter, and happiness!

The Year 1 children gave a fantastic nativity performance, full of joy and pride. They worked hard to learn their lines and songs, helping each other along the way. On the day, they looked wonderful in their costumes and showed great confidence as they spoke their lines and sang beautifully. The adults in the audience were impressed, and it was clear the children had enjoyed the experience. Every child should be proud of their hard work and the wonderful nativity they created together. A big thank you to everyone who showed up to support and cheer on our amazing performers!

Squirrels did an amazing job with their class assembly about the Great Fire of London. They brought the story to life by using props and costumes that helped everyone feel like they were right there in 1666. The children worked together as a team, and their effort really shone through in every part of the performance. Their enthusiasm and teamwork made it a truly memorable experience for all who watched. Excellent effort, Squirrels!  

Year 1

The little explorers have had an exciting time learning about the Arctic Circle. They explored how different the countries and cities in the Arctic are compared to London. The children were fascinated by the physical features of the region, from sea glaciers to massive icebergs and vast mountains. They were amazed by the extreme cold and unique landscapes of the Arctic, gaining a deeper understanding of this incredible part of the world. It was an exciting adventure that sparked curiosity and wonder about the natural world!

This design and technology topic had the Year 1s buzzing with joy and excitement as it was all about toys! The children dived into their creativity, making paper toy birds that actually flapped. They explored different designs of paper toys, did research, and used their ideas to create their own toys. One of the highlights was designing and making a paper toy rolling dog, which the children were incredibly proud of. They were amazed at how well their toys worked and beamed with pride at their final products. It was a fun and hands-on way to learn and unleash their imaginations!

Year 2

The children have been learning all about London, and they've done an amazing job! They’ve explored famous landmarks using a map, learnt how to write directions using compass points, and deepened their knowledge of the city. They’ve also studied the physical and human features of London, as well as its weather and seasons. Along the way, they learnt key terminology that helped them understand the city's rich history and geography. With their newfound knowledge, the children are now fantastic tour guides, ready to share all about the wonderful city they live in!

The little scientists have been busy learning all about animals, including humans, and how to stay healthy. They explored the importance of a balanced diet, understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy food, and the role of exercise in keeping fit. The children thoroughly enjoyed testing their heart rates with different exercises to see how their bodies respond. They also learnt about hygiene, discovering various ways to keep clean and the importance of good hygiene practices. Creating an informative booklet about hygiene was a fun and engaging activity for them. Through all of these lessons, the children gained valuable knowledge and are now equipped with the tools to stay healthy. 

In KS1, we are incredibly proud of how well the children have worked and continued to grow as learners. This term, they have achieved so much and should be very proud of themselves. From all the staff in KS1, we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing even more progress in the next term!

Autumn 1

Well done to all the children for settling in so well!

Year 1

This term, the little scientists had an amazing time exploring the human body and its senses! Engaging activities like testing their sense of touch and taste not only made the learning fun but also helped solidify their understanding of how each sense works. They worked hard to use descriptive vocabulary effectively, and the laughter during the taste tests showed how much they enjoyed the experience. These hands-on lessons were such a fantastic way to encourage curiosity and scientific thinking in the little scientists!

What a delightful journey into the world of Giuseppe Arcimboldo! It sounds like the children truly embraced their creativity while learning about his unique style. Transforming their self-portraits into fruit portraits was such a fun and imaginative process. Creating 3D versions together fostered teamwork and collaboration, too. It's wonderful to hear that the teachers were impressed by the children's creativity and critical thinking. Well done, Year 1! Their masterpieces are priceless. 

     Year 2

This term, the little historians had an incredible time learning about the Great Fire of London! Using various sources to investigate the event and writing detailed diary entries was such an engaging way to help them understand events in the past. Exploring how London was rebuilt after the Great Fire was such an important part of understanding the city’s history. The children learnt about key figures like Sir Christopher Wren and how his design allowed London to be rebuilt safer. They’ve truly become experts on the topic, and it’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm for history!

In art, the little artists had an amazing time exploring the Great Fire of London through art! Working in teams to analyse paintings sparked their creativity and collaboration. Using collage along with cutting out silhouettes was such a fun way to represent the event visually. Incorporating marbling techniques added an extra layer of creativity, allowing them to experiment with colours and patterns. Their impressive artwork not only reflects their understanding of the historical event but also showcases their imaginative spirit. It has been wonderful to see such creativity in action!