Year 1 - Art - Watercolours
Making a Splash with Watercolours! Year 1 have had a brilliant time starting their new art topic on watercolours. The children loved exploring the paint by practicing different types of lines and swirls. They especially enjoyed seeing what happens when the paints get extra runny, watching with excitement as the colours mixed together to make brand-new shades. It was wonderful to see so many colourful patterns and happy faces as we learned how to use our brushes!
Year 1 - Science - Plants
This term, Year 1 are exploring their botanical skills as they begin our new science topic on plants. The children started by recapping their prior knowledge of plant parts, but things got interesting when Mrs Cookson challenged them to draw a flower; they quickly realised that not all flowers look the same, which left them feeling a little puzzled! To solve the mystery, the class headed outside to explore our school grounds, investigating the wonderful variety of flowers and plants growing right on our doorstep.
Year 1 - PSHE - Similar and Different
In our SCARF P.S.H.E. sessions this week, we’ve been exploring the wonderful things that make us "us." The focus was all about similarities and differences, helping the children understand that while we have plenty in common, it’s our unique traits that make our class so special. We spent time looking at how we are similar—like being in the same year group or sharing a love for playtime—but also celebrated the things that make us stand out, from our different heritages and languages to our unique talents and interests.
Online Safety - App and Play Stores
With millions of apps available and children accessing them from an increasingly young age, app stores can present a range of risks. From malware and copycat apps to inappropriate content and persuasive in-app purchases, this Wake Up Wednesday guide highlights how easily young users can encounter issues – even when using official platforms. It also offers clear, practical advice to help parents and educators manage these risks. From setting up parental controls and checking app credibility to having open conversations about safe usage, the guide supports adults in building children’s awareness, encouraging safer choices and promoting more balanced, responsible app use
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Year 1 DT - Making Puppets
Year 1 have been working incredibly hard this term to design and create their very own puppets. This week, we reached the finish line as the children carefully assembled and embellished their products with wonderful decorations. We are extremely proud of the imagination and hard work that went into every single design!
Year 1 - PSHE - What Will Happen to our Community if We Don't Look After It?
We had a fantastic PSHE session in Year 1 this week! We were delighted to welcome Fatima from Blackburn with Darwen Council, who came in to talk to the children about the importance of caring for our local community. The children had some very thoughtful discussions about what might happen to our parks and streets if we didn't look after them. To help put their learning into practice, they became recycling experts! What we got up to: Big Discussions: Thinking about the impact of litter on our environment. Material Sorting: Learning how to identify different materials like paper, plastic, and metal. Recycling Challenge: Sorting through rubbish to see what can be reused or recycled instead of thrown away. The children had a brilliant session and have come away with lots of new ideas on how to keep Darwen clean and tidy. A huge thank you to Fatima for such an engaging and inspiring visit! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #PSHE #CaringForOurCommunity #Recycle #KeepDarwenTidy #NurturingAmbition
Year 1 - Maths - Measuring Using Non Standard Measurements
Does your child know how many paperclips long their favorite toy is? This week in Year 1, we are diving into non standard measurement. We aren't using cm just yet—instead, we’re using cubes and paperclips to understand the concept of a unit. Try it at home: Ask your little one to measure their dinner plate using pasta pieces or Lego bricks! Just remember the golden rules: Line them up straight. No gaps. No overlapping! #Year1 #LearningAtHome #WhiteRoseMaths #EarlyMaths #Measuring
Year 1 - Phonics
The children in Year 1 have shown incredible dedication to their reading this week. We have been working hard during our Bug Club Phonics sessions, and the improvement in their confidence is wonderful to see. Our focus has been on: Blending with Precision: Combining individual sounds to read full words more fluently. Decoding Skills: Applying their knowledge to break down and read unfamiliar or challenging words. Spotting alien words: Using their detective skills to identify pseudo-words, which helps ensure they are truly mastering their graphemes. Learning to read is a complex journey, but the children’s persistence is paying off. It is a pleasure to watch them apply these new skills to their books and classroom activities. Home Learning Tip: When reading at home, encourage your child to point out any "alien words" they might find in their practice materials to test their decoding skills. Keep up the fantastic effort, Year 1. You are all becoming very talented readers.
Year 1 - Maths - Fluency Bee - Maths Mastery: One More, Addition, and Subtraction
Year 1 has been diving deep into the world of numbers this week as we explore one more, addition, and subtraction. Using the White Rose approach, the children have been moving beyond just finding the answer and are instead focusing on understanding the "why" behind the maths. Key areas of our learning include: Using Manipulatives: We have been using physical resources like ten-frames, counters, and part-whole models. This hands-on approach helps the children visualize how numbers can be combined or separated. Sentence Stems: To build mathematical vocabulary, we have been using specific phrases to explain our thinking, such as: "First there were 5, then 1 more was added. Now there are 6." "The parts are 3 and 2. The whole is 5." One More and One Less: The children are becoming experts at identifying the number that comes immediately before or after a given value, strengthening their understanding of the number line. It is wonderful to hear the classroom filled with such high-quality mathematical discussion. The children are not just "doing" maths; they are becoming mathematicians by proving their ideas and explaining their methods.
Year 1 & 2 STEM Challenge: How do birds make nests?
Year 1 and 2 turned into Ornithologists to hunt for natural nest materials, then switched to Structural Engineers to build nests that met our three "Bird-Approved" criteria: strong, waterproof and comfy! The nests were put to the test with a fan that represented the wind birds might face in their natural habitat and everyone's nest survived!
Year 1 History Comparing Toys from the Past
Toy Detectives in Year 1! Our historians at Darwen St James’ have been travel-travelling back in time! Using our Kapow History curriculum, the children explored how toys have changed over the generations. What we did: Compared "Past" and "Present" toys using our interactive board. Investigated materials like wood and metal vs. modern plastic. Discussed what has changed (batteries and screens!) and what stayed the same (the fun of a good train set!). It was brilliant to see such great note-taking and historical thinking from our youngest researchers. Great job, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1History #KapowHistory #LearningThroughPlay #ToyHistory
Year 1 - History - Exploring Toys from the Past
Step back in time with Year 1! As part of our Kapow History curriculum, our Year 1 historians have been busy investigating toys from the past .We’ve been asking the big question: What were toys like 100 years ago? From wooden spinning tops to clockwork wonders, the children have loved getting hands-on with history. We aren't just looking at old objects; we are building oracy by describing textures, comparing materials, and debating which toys have stood the test of time! It’s been a fantastic, interactive way to bring the past to life. Well done, Year 1! #DarwenStJames #Year1 #PrimaryHistory #KapowCurriculum #LearningThroughPlay #Oracy #NurturingAmbition
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