4th March 2022

The newly formed Beech Class are enjoying their more spacious learning environment and have settled in well. It’s great to be able to focus on the Year 1 curriculum and plan lessons that specifically meet their needs. I’ve already noticed a difference in engagement: the children have more opportunity to speak and be listened to for a start.
So, what’s in store for this half-term? Our Maths topics are Length and Height, followed by Weight and Volume, giving plenty of opportunity for practical Maths activities with a ‘real life’ application. Your child may want to help with measuring out ingredients or want to know how tall everyone is in the family.
Many of our English objectives will be covered through Read, Write Inc., although we are hoping to do some extra handwriting practice in class and develop writing through Science, Geography and RE.
Our Science topic is ‘Building Things’, which links with the work we did before Christmas on ‘Materials’. The children will learn to investigate, using scientific methods, the effects of water and wind on different (unconventional) building materials. They will design a structure and test its suitability using the skills of prediction and observation.
London is the focus for our Geography topic. Beech Class will consider what a city is like to live in and how people get around using public transport. They will identify London landmarks and find out what job the Mayor of London does. We will learn about The Great Fire of London and Guy Fawkes.
In RE the children will think about what it means to belong to a faith community. We will learn about welcoming traditions (for example, Baptism) and the promises adults make to each other at a wedding. We will look at symbolism relating to these events in different faiths.
Mrs Edwards will continue to teach PE skills on a Monday. I know she’s hoping to use the outdoor space, so please make sure your child has leggings or joggers in their PE bags. We’ll be exploring our new scheme, ‘Real PE’, on a Tuesday which to date, is proving to be very popular with Chagford children!
Outdoor learning with Paul from Devon Wildlife will take place on Tuesday afternoons. Paul will explore nature and habitats within the school grounds, by encouraging the children to wonder, imagine and notice; vital characteristics for pioneering scientists. Not only will this be great Science work, but will also contribute to positive well-being.
Things you can do to help your child next week:
• Take a photo of your child reading in an unusual place and send to me via email
• Practise skip counting in 2s and 5s (2,4,6,8 etc.)
• Use the language ‘shorter’ and ‘taller’ in everyday contexts
• Look at a map and identify roads, towns, cities etc. Perhaps explore ‘Google Maps’
Enjoy the sunshine this weekend.
Audra Fitzgerald

Our friends at the #MaryAnningRocks campaign were so impressed with this brilliant model of Mary Anning, the trailblazing fossil hunter and palaeontologist from Lyme Regis, that they have promised to send us stickers for all the children who learned all about her in Beech Class last term. Great model making and what great Chagford Champions..

Did you have a great Pancake Day? We did! Look at this lovely confident writing - well done Beech Class.