Beech Class News 24.1.25

Dear Beech Class Families,
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As we progress through this half-term, we are excited to share with you the fantastic learning that is taking place in Beech class. It has been an enriching and fun-filled few weeks as we continue to engage the children in a variety of activities across all subjects. From space adventures to understanding the intricacies of shapes, addition, subtraction, and the workings of wheels, there's plenty to be excited about. So here are the highlights of our learning journey so far!

In English, we have been diving into the delightful world of the book, Toys in Space. This story has captivated the children with its imagination and creativity, as it follows the journey of toys who find themselves venturing into space. It's been an exciting narrative for both Year 1 and Year 2, sparking their curiosity and encouraging them to think about characters and settings.
The story has enabled the class to engage in writing activities that allow them to explore the story's themes and characters more deeply. They have worked on describing the toys, imagining their personalities, and even predicting what might happen next. 

Our science lessons have also taken us on a journey through the cosmos, as we explore the fascinating topic of space. The children have been learning about astronauts who work on the space station and the different planets in our solar system. It has been exciting to see how engaged they are in discovering these distant worlds. Beech class particularly loved a song which told them fun facts about each planet. 

We have discussed the names of the planets and some of their unique characteristics.  The class enjoyed discovering how close each planet is to the earth and to the sun. The curiosity and enthusiasm from the children has been wonderful to see and we look forward to continuing our exploration of space over the next few weeks.

In maths, we have wrapped up our topic on shapes, where the children explored 2D and 3D shapes, learning to recognize and identify them. They have also developed an understanding of the properties of shapes, such as the number of sides, vertices and faces.

This week, we have moved our learning onto addition and subtraction. Both Year 1 and Year 2 children have started reviewing key concepts in these fundamental areas of maths, with a particular focus on building fluency in addition and subtraction up to 20 (Year 1) and up to 100 (Year 2). 
 
The children have been practicing using number lines, counting on and back, and employing strategies like 'partitioning' to break numbers down into smaller, easier parts for calculation. We have also been using practical resources to help reinforce these concepts and make learning as fun as possible. Over the next few weeks, the children will focus on becoming more confident and independent in employing these skills.

In Design and Technology (DT), we have started a new and exciting unit focused on learning about different types of wheels and how they work. Over the course of this half-term, the children will explore how wheels are used in everyday objects, from toy cars to bicycles. The class are currently designing and making their own simple wheeled creation. We will focus on the key elements of design, construction, and evaluation, encouraging the children to think creatively about how to make their projects work.

We are always grateful for your support in reinforcing the learning that takes place in the classroom. Here are a few suggestions for how you can support your child’s learning at home:

Reading: Encourage your child to continue reading at home, especially books that engage their imaginations and spark curiosity. Ask your child to describe the characters and settings of stories, as this will help develop their understanding and writing skills.

Maths Practice: Practicing counting, addition and subtraction with everyday items is a great way to reinforce learning. Use items like fruit, toys, or coins to create simple addition and subtraction problems.

Thank you for your continued support, and for being such an important part of your child’s learning journey. If you ever have any questions or would like more information about what we are doing in class, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Warm wishes,
Rebecca Hamilton
Beech Class Teacher