Welcome to our Year 1 Class Page.  

Curriculum Information for Parents and Carers – Year 1 Summer Term 2023

The Summer Term is underway and we would like to share with you a summary of what your child is learning in class.  We would also like to share some ways that you can support your child at home.

Detailed information about the topics can be found in the Knowledge organisers at the bottom of this page.  The Knowledge Organisers contain the key vocabulary and learning for each topic and you can look at these with your child over the course of the term. 

English

We will be exploring a number of high quality picture books to help us practise and apply our writing skills to: write a diary in the role of a character; develop and write questions; write a set of instructions; retell events using time adverbials; explore and perform poetry; write descriptions.

Mathematics

Multiplication & Division: Using concrete objects, pictorial representations and arrays for simple multiplication and division.

Fractions: Recognise, find and name half and a quarter as part of an object, shape and quantity.

Position and Direction: Describe position, direction and movement, including whole, half, quarter and three-quarter turns.

Number and Place Value: Count to and across 100, forwards and backwards, beginning with 0 or 1, or from any given number.  Count, read and write numbers to 100 in numerals.  Count in multiples of twos, fives and tens. Recognise the place value of each digit in a two-digit number (tens, ones).  Solve addition and subtraction problems.

Time: Sequence events in chronological order using language of time.  Recognise and use language relating to dates, including days of the week, weeks, months and years.  Tell the time to the hour and half past the hour and draw the hands on a clock face to show these times.

Money: Recognise and know the value of different denominations of coins and notes.

RE

Holidays & Holy Days: We will be learning about Pentecost.  Pentecost is a special celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom the risen life of Jesus is given.

Meals: We will be learning about the Mass (Eucharist).  The parish family gathers for the Eucharist (Mass), Jesus’ special meal.  We find strength in gathering for the celebration of the Eucharist and of God’s love in our lives.

Neighbours: In our topic of Neighbours, we will explore how we all share God’s world.  Loving our neighbours is an essential part of Christian living.

Other Faith: we will be studying Islam and the focal stories.

Science

On Safari - Children go on ‘safari’ to explore invertebrates and plants and animals in our school grounds (and even at home!).  We will have some caterpillars in our classroom to observe and discuss.

Holiday - In this topic, children will plan what they need to pack for a holiday, and explore the different animals they might encounter at the seaside.  We will also look into the human impact on the environment.

History

We will explore the past through a focus on Grace O’Malley.  The key questions lead children to consider what the characteristics of a pirate are, and to challenge stereotypes using historical enquiry.  We will learn about the complexities of the life and values of this significant woman living in the 16th /17th century.

Geography

This unit gives a geographical context to knowledge of animals and their habitats through a study of five continents.  We will look at pandas, penguins, sharks and elephants, as well as lesser-known birds, such as the swallow.

Computing

Digital Imagery: Children will use creativity and imagination to plan a miniature adventure story and capture it using developing photography skills.  We will learn to enhance photos using a range of editing tools as well as searching for and adding images to a document.

Data: Children will learn what data is and the different ways that it can be represented and developing an understanding of why data is useful, how it can be used and ways in which it can be gathered and recorded both by humans and computers.

Online Safety: Children will learn about online safety, including using useful tips to stay safe when online; how to manage feelings and emotions when someone or something has upset us online; and learn about the responsibility we have as online users; exploring the idea of a ‘digital footprint’.

Music

Summer Half Term 1: Samba Music!  We will be developing our performance skills and understanding of music from around the world by playing Samba music together.  The students will be learning the names of the different samba instruments and playing them together, practically cementing their knowledge of pitch and rhythms and challenging them by having to play complex polyrhythms together!

Summer Half Term 2: Is a recap of everything we have covered so far this year - rhythmic notation, pulse work, and pitch - specifically with a focus on the koday so, mi and la pitches, whilst introducing parts of pitch notation in preparation for Year 2.

PE

Ball Skills: In this unit, pupils will explore their fundamental ball skills such as throwing and catching, rolling, hitting a target, dribbling with both hands and feet and kicking a ball.  Pupils will have the opportunity to work independently, in pairs and small groups.

Athletics:  Children will be developing their Athletic skills of running, jumping, throwing and preparing for the KS1 Sports Day carousel.

Striking and Fielding: Children will develop their basic understanding of striking and fielding games such as rounders and cricket.  They will learn skills including throwing and catching, stopping a rolling ball, retrieving a ball and striking a ball.

Art

Children will learn about composition and work with different art materials to create texture for a project they develop over the lessons.  This project will use famous artworks of the seaside as inspiration.

Design and Technology

Inspired by the song, ‘Mouse in a windmill’, children will design and construct a windmill for a client (mouse) to live in.  We will explore various types of windmills, how they work and their key features.

RHE (Relationship and Health Education)

Children will learn about the Holy Trinity, along with how God loves them and their neighbours through the story of the Good Samaritan.  Children will learn about the different communities that they are part of, local and global. They will think about what it means to belong to a community.

Educational Visits

Holly Lodge: Invertebrates – to support our Science learning about creatures around us.

How you can help your child at home

Reading daily and talking about the book - recalling what has happened.

Completing Phonics Homework.

Helping with Maths homework.

Providing support with half termly projects.

Lots of talking!  This helps build understanding of the world around us, as well as vocabulary.