Penguins

Welcome to Penguins Class!

Class Blog 25th May 2023

This week we enjoyed a day in Italy! We learnt some Italian words and looked at some famous Italian landmarks before creating Italian flags and Venetian masks, we had so much fun learning about the country and culture.

In history we have been learning about Grace Darling. This week we used all of our prior learning and knowledge to create factual posters about how Grace Darling and the RNLI changed history forever! Ask your children to explain how Grace Darling’s bravery influenced the formation of the RNLI, I’m sure they would be happy to tell you J

Class Blog 19th May 2023

This week we visited the local church in Eckington as part of our RE learning. We were met by Reverend Andy who answered all of our questions and gave us a fantastic tour of the building. Did you know that St Peter and St Pauls Church is almost 900 years old!

We took advantage of the beautiful spring weather this week and had our library time outside! We each chose a book from the school library and went out into the courtyard to read in the fresh air.

Class Blog 12th May 2023

In English we have been learning about the features of instructions! We looked at a range of ‘bossy’ verbs and practiced using commas within a list before writing our plans for a fruit salad. We then wrote our instructions up in neat, ready to follow when we make our own fruit salads in DT later this term.

This week we enjoyed a skipping workshop! We were taught how to use a skipping rope safely, and how to skip forwards, backwards and with a friend. We learnt many tricks and games which we have already began playing on the playground!

Class Blog 5th May 2023

In English we have been learning about the features of invitations. We looked at some different examples and picked out the main features, before writing our own!

In Maths we have been learning how to divide numbers by sharing. We used the ‘one for you’ method to work out how many times we could equally split the larger number into the smaller number.

Class Blog 28th April 2023

This week we have been learning about the life of Grace Darling as part of our “What’s Out at Sea” learning theme. Ask your children to tell you about how Grace Darling became famous, I’m sure they would be happy to tell you her courageous story. J

In RE, we have been looking at the similarities and differences of different religions. This week we compared ‘Special Places’ and looked at some places of worship used within different faiths.

Class Blog 21st April 2023

We have had a brilliant start to the summer term in Penguin class!

This week, we were able to take advantage of the sunny weather and have our PE lesson outside! We practiced our hand-eye coordination by using both our left and right hand to roll tennis balls to one another at varying distances.

In English we have been using adjectives to describe characters from the story, Cinderella. We used a range of synonyms and antonyms to describe and compare Cinderella to her two ugly sisters. We then used these words to write character descriptions, using the words ‘and’ and ‘because’ to extend our sentences.

Class Blog 31st March 2023

This week, we were visited by Reverend Andy from the local church. He told us all about the Easter story and answered all of our questions. Did you know Jesus was 33 years old when he died?

This week, we also took part in the Birk Hill annual egg hunt! We each designed our own Easter egg and had our friends in another class hide them around the playground. It took us only 8 minutes to find all 17!

Happy Easter!!

Class Blog 24th March 2023

This week in English year 1 have been creating comic strips with speech bubbles. We used a similar writing style to Sarah Hayes, the author of ‘This is the bear and the scary night’. We created our own story about a bear who joins our class for the day, we had so much fun creating the photo for our comic strip. Do you recognise any of the places around school?

This week, year 2 joined Kangaroo Class for their PE lesson. We managed to get some time in the sunshine and competed in relay races, using the teamwork skills that we practised last week.

Class Blog 17th March 2023

This week in Geography we have been learning about Australia! Last week we tracked the weather in Sydney and compared it to the weather in Eckington, we found out that Australia was much hotter than England, even during our summer! We researched additional facts about Australia, including the animals that live there, and famous Australian attractions and landmarks.

This week we enjoyed an afternoon of PE. We competed against each other in relay races to see which team could create a face out of different sports equipment the fastest. It tested our coordination, communication and teamwork skills – It was so much fun!!

Class Blog 10th March 2023

This week in Science, year 1 have been labelling and comparing different animals. In year 2, we have used this knowledge to extend our learning and write about how different animals are adapted to their habitats.

This week we performed our penguins class assembly to our friends and families. We had a brilliant time collecting and sharing all of our learning. We especially liked sharing our animal group posters we made and singing our favourite song about the 5 senses!

Class Blog 3rd March 2023

This week, we had a fantastic time celebrating World Book Day!

We made bookmarks for our family members and friends, we wrote and illustrated our own story books, and we shared our favourite stories with children from another class.

We made Alice in Wonderland themed crafts and made our own jam sandwiches in preparation for our Mad Hatter tea party.

We finished the day with a World Book Day quiz and our tea party!

In maths, year 1 have been practising using part whole models to show how many 10s and 1s make up a 2-digit number. We then used this learning to add together 1-digit and 2-digit numbers.

Class Blog 10th February 2023

In Science, we have been learning about the classification of animals. We looked at the different features of a range of animals and discussed which category they best fit in to. We found that most of the animals were mammals, including humans!

In Design and Technology, we have been designing and creating ships with a winding anchor. We made our designs using knowledge from our previous lessons and used cardboard, craft straws, cotton reels and string to make the winding mechanism. Next we will paint and evaluate our models.

Class Blog 3rd February 2023

In Science, Year 2 have been learning about healthy eating. We looked at the different food groups, and found out how these food groups help our bodies to stay strong and healthy. We created our own ‘balanced meal’ which contained all of our favourite foods from the 6 food groups.

In PSHE we have been learning about similarities and differences in boys and girls. We looked through different occupations and discussed if we thought they were jobs for boys, girls or both. The lesson turned into a brilliant debate where the children voiced their thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Class Blog 27th January 2023

In Science, we have been learning about the 5 senses and how we use them. This week we explored each of the senses by listening to different sounds, tasting different flavours of crisps, smelling a range of foods, playing an I-Spy game, and guessing items inside a feely bag!

In English we have been reading the book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. We ended the week by sequencing parts from the book and retelling the story. Next week we will be writing a diary entry from one of the characters.

Class Blog 20th January 2023

This week we enjoyed ‘A Day in China.’ We had a go at some traditional Chinese dancing, learned about Chinese new year and created some lovely Chinese themed crafts!

In Science, Year 1 have been learning about the body. We made a life size diagram of all the body parts we currently know, we are going to add to this as we learn more.

In Year 2, we have been learning about carnivores, herbivores and omnivores. We looked through animal ‘poo’ to see what foods the animals had been eating and then decided which category they fit into.

Class Blog 13th January 2023

In Maths, Year 2 have been learning about money. We have spent the week looking at the value of different coins and had a go at adding different amounts together. This will prepare us for next week’s learning where we will be looking at how to calculate with money to find change.

This term, our learning theme is Amazing Adventurers! In history we have been formulating questions to answer about Captain Cook, we looked at pictures of him and his ship and discussed who we thought he was and why he might be famous – we aim to answer these questions over the coming weeks!

Class Blog 16th December 2022

This week in Design and Technology, we have been building models of London attractions. Over the half term we have been looking at the structures of buildings, the strength of different materials and different methods to join materials together. We have used our knowledge to create strong structures which contain walls, roofs and hinged windows/doors. Can you guess which London attractions we have built?

In English we have been learning about commas in lists. We have practiced this by writing our own Christmas wish lists to Santa, making sure to use commas between each item.

Class Blog 9th December 2022

In PSHE we have been learning about the differences and similarities that we might have with others. We have looked at the lives of children from around the world and discussed how they may differ from ours. We have read the book, ‘There’s only one you’, by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, and talked about the message that the book gave. It has taught us that… “In all the world over, this much is true: You’re special – unique. There’s just ONE of you!”

This week we have been continuing with our Maths learning about 2D and 3D shapes. We have consolidated our learning by matching a mix of 2D and 3D shapes to their correct names!

Class Blog 2nd December 2022

This week in Maths we have been learning about 2D and 3D shapes!

Year 1 have been exploring 3D shapes, including spheres, cubes, cuboids, cylinders and pyramids. We used playdough to create some of these shapes, making sure to include the correct amount of faces, edges and corners.

Year 2 have been looking at 2D shapes, including triangles, quadrilaterals, hexagons, octagons, pentagons and circles. We discussed the properties of these shapes a group and worked together to find the number of sides and vertices to match each shape to their correct description.

Class Blog 18th November 2022

In English, Year 1 have been learning about the features of instructions, we sequenced and followed instructions to make jam sandwiches. We then used time connectives, such as first, then, next and after to write our own set of instructions on how to catch a wolf!

In PE we have been using our core strength to create different shapes with our bodies. We worked in groups to create different London buildings and attractions - which links to our learning theme, Brilliant Britain! Can you guess which London attraction is being replicated in the picture?

Class Blog 11th November 2022

In English, Year 2 have been reading The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. We have retold the story, created a character profile for the Big Bad Pig and sequenced the story by picking out the most important parts.

In Science, Year 1 have been on an ‘Autumn Hunt’, we searched the school grounds looking for signs of autumn. We then collected leaves and made our own leaf rubbings.

Class Blog 21st October 2022

This week we enjoyed a day in India. We spent the day learning about Indian culture and traditions by creating Indian themed crafts, including making the Indian flag, drawing rangoli elephants and designing our own henna patterns. We also took part in some brilliant Bollywood dancing.

In maths we have been learning about fact families. We have been working in groups to match the correct sums to their fact family houses.

Class Blog 14th October 2022

Continuing with our topic of Brilliant Britain, we have been learning all about Wales. We enjoyed making Welsh themed crafts, and building Welsh landmarks out of lego and playdough!

In science we have been looking at the trees in our school grounds, we observed their leaves and used our inquiry skills to match them to their name. We then used our knowledge to categorise these trees (and others) into deciduous and evergreen.

Class Blog 7th October 2022

In Maths we have been learning to partition numbers using Part Whole Models.

In Geography we have been learning all about Scotland. We enjoyed making Scottish themed crafts, listening to bagpipes and creating a Scotland fact sheet… whilst eating shortbread, of course!

Class Blog 23rd September 2022