Saving Our Planet
In Year 1 we have been learning about, ‘Saving our Planet’ in Global Perspectives.
We also went on a litter walk around the school. My class showed such passion and commitment to cleaning up the litter in and around the school, I am so proud of them all.
I have even had reports from parents informing me that their child picks up litter when they are out walking at the beach.
They have been working very hard and even created their own display for our classroom’s ‘Art and Design’ board, to raise awareness about litter.
Well done Year 1!
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
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Writing About Harp Seals
This week in Year 1, we have been writing reports about ‘Harp Seals’ in English.
My students in class had to produce their own reports including information about their habitat, diet and appearance.
Students need continuous experience in writing. They need the chance to experiment using what they know about writing and the opportunity to apply and practise their developing skills and knowledge.
My class worked really hard, using mind maps and I am very proud of their efforts.
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
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Holiday News
The winter holidays are often a challenge for many parents especially when there are rainy days. However, the Year 1 students enjoyed the time at home and had lots of fun.
Usually on the first day back at school, they love to share their news with their peers, but could not do that with online learning. Instead, they have practiced their writing skills and wrote about the highlights of their holiday.
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher
Group Work
Group work is so important for students, providing great opportunities for them to develop and practise their skills such as listening to each other, working with others, helping and thinking of solutions
The students have had a lot of fun planning and producing pictures in their groups over a couple of weeks together.
Here are some of their creations:
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Have Boxes, Glue And Decorations?
Last week, the Year 2 classes were given the task to design and build anything they wanted to… We decided not to be prescriptive, as we were keen to see what ideas they came up with.
They were given the opportunity to plan their designs, identifying items they would need. So on Friday, armed with bags of boxes, glues, empty toilet rolls, decorations and paper, they eagerly waited for their teachers to say, “It’s time for Design and Technology now”.
I was really impressed by how the students worked together, shared decorations and motivated and supported each other.
Some of their projects didn’t come out quite as they had hoped. We discussed the reasons for this and they were able to identify that some glue was not strong enough or some boxes were too floppy.
All in all, it was fun and our students learned some valuable lessons!
Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
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Telling The Time
The students of Year 1 are learning to tell the time.
At this age, the students need very practical sessions to learn new concepts. Our first lesson was a recap of what the students already know. Building on their prior knowledge of morning, afternoon, day and night, how we know when it is morning and night and different units of time.
We talked about an analogue clock, what is a day and an hour as a unit of time. Of course, we had to make a clock and then show the o’clock time on our clocks. We had lots of fun playing “What’s the time Mr Wolf’?”
The students had lots of practice making the time on their clocks and asking a friend to tell them the time. They also asked each other how many hours from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock. Next term we will learn to tell the “half past”.
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher
Art & Design In Year 1
Art is a lot of fun, especially in Year 1. We encourage our students to explore, create, mix colours and use their imagination when it comes to our Art and Design lessons.
They use their little fingers to manipulate various art materials in class using their fine motor skills. As they paint, colour, glue and cut their fine motor skills are developing which in turn enables them to do more things independently from feeding themselves to tying their own shoelaces.
It is so important for children to be able to express themselves and be creative in their own way.
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Here are some of the fun creations and artwork our children have made:
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The Shapes Around Us
Everything we see in the world around us has a shape. We can find different basic shapes such as the two-dimensional square, rectangle, and oval or the three-dimensional rectangular prism, cylinder, and sphere in the objects we see around us.
In Year 1 this term, we are learning about shapes and noticing them in the world around us.
We had some fun making shapes using various materials in our classroom such as ice cream sticks, play dough and then we went onto the school field to create shapes with our bodies.
We look forward to learning more interesting facts about shapes as the term progresses.
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Global Perspectives – Growing And Growing Up
This year the students in Year 1 are being introduced to a new subject offered by Cambridge Primary: Global Perspectives. In this programme the students will develop the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication. It also offers opportunities to reinforce links with and skills learnt in English, Mathematics, Science, Art & Design, Digital Literacy, Music and Physical Education.
The Cambridge approach encourages the students to be responsible, innovative, confident, engaged and reflective.
Our first challenge in Year 1 is the topic, Growing and growing up. During our lesson time the students discussed the following, here are a few of their answers:
How do you know you are growing?
Every morning I look in the mirror and I look a little bit bigger? – Mataio
Every time you go to bed your bones grow. – Aziri
When you are growing, you get bigger and bigger and bigger. – Ifunanya
My mommy tells me I am growing. – Juliana
Why do you need to grow?
So you can get some food for your children? – Aubrey
So we can play and have fun. – Dean
So you can go to big school and so you can help your mommy when she is at work. – Defne
So you can become responsible and get a nice family. – Eva
How were you different when you were younger?
I didn’t know how to draw. – Keona
I was shorter and I couldn’t walk. – Wany
I couldn’t open the door and I couldn’t swim. – Pearce
I could crawl and I was walking with a balancer. – Stuart
Do you want to be a child or a grown-up? Why?
A child because you don’t have to worry when someone steals you because your mom and dad will help you. – Tilda
A child because then you don’t have to worry about anything and you don’t have to go to work. – Hayley
A child because I am fast. – Muhammad
A grown-up because then I can work and go to the shop and buy things. – Omar
A child because you can do more things when you are a child. When you are a grown up you have to work. – Jaanae
A grown-up because then I can do what I want to and then I can have a child and tell them what to do. – Nevaeh
We are looking forward to further discussions and learning about what games older people played when they were young.
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher
(*Masks were removed for photograph purposes only.)
First Day Of Year 1
The first day of year 1 is always very exciting, it is the beginning of the students formal schooling. The students arrived at school full of anticipation for the big day and the year ahead. This is what they want to learn about this year.
I want to learn to read books. – Keona
I want to learn about animals. – Wany
I want to learn about rainbows. – Juliana
I am excited to learn more Maths. – Tilda
I want to learn Maths. – Pearce
I want to learn to read books on my own. – Hayley
I want to learn about reading. – Ifunanya
I want to learn about pets. – Mataio
I want to learn harder sums. – Jaanae
I want to learn more Maths. – Eva
I want to learn about science. – Muhammad
I want to learn about growing up. – Neveah
I want to learn about my friends and my teacher. – Defne
I am confident that by the end of the year they will have learnt these things and so much more.
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher
