Year 1 News 2021-2022
Year 1's Final beach School
Today it was our last visit to the beach this term. It was a little cooler this week and the tide was on its way in. We began by looking at the position of the sea, the boats, which were beginning to float, and learning about rip tides and beach safety.
Following on from our work about Mary Anning, the famous fossil hunter, the children drew dinosaurs in the sand and decorated them with shells, rocks and seaweed.
We talked about floating and sinking and the children made boats from corks, lolly sticks and rubber bands. We tested the boats in the rock pool to see if they would float.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Rock Pooling at the Beach
Another beautiful day for Year 1 to enjoy their second Beach School session this term. We began by looking at the tide tables and learning when high and low tides would happen.
We set out our boundary flags, collected our fishing nets and chose a suitable area for rock pooling. The children were excited to find so much interesting wildlife. Seaweed was in abundance and provided hiding places for crabs, snails and shrimps.
Next, the children had the opportunity to use binoculars to look into the distance, across to Wales, Hilbre Island and the boats on the shore.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Beach School Session
It was a beautiful morning this morning for Year 1 and their first session of Beach School. The children learned about the tides and how the sea moves onto and away from the beach each day. We practised some knot tying and all tied a ‘Fish on a Dish’ Knot.
The children listened to the story of Grace Darling and talked about lighthouses. We built or own lighthouses out of rocks we found on the beach.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
The Boat Museum
The infants have thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Boat Museum today, they explored the exhibitions in the historic dock complex before taking part in a craft workshop with lots of creative activities using art to teach the crafts, customs and social history of the boat people.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Puzzle Day 2022
It was ‘Puzzle Day’ today at Avalon. Year 1 started the day with some problem solving activities using our 100 bead strings. Later this morning we found 10 ways to make 12 using three different numbers. It was quite a challenge but we remembered that, ‘I can, I will, now watch me!’ and we did it!
This afternoon the children took part in a shape puzzle challenge in the hall and used large 2D shapes to recreate a variety of shape pictures.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Bee Bot in Computing
This half-term in Computing lessons, Year 1 have been learning about programming and algorithms. They have used directional language to program Bee Bots to reach a set destination. Year 1 had a go of creating their own Bee Bot mats last week, and this week were able to use them in partners to give the Bee Bots some new instructions.
They have also been practising 'debugging' - how to fix a mistake in their algorithm. The children have worked really hard and are super proud of their mats and their learning!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Mental Health Awareness Week
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Year 1 have been taking part in The Daily Mile each morning, walking or running around the playground and field.
We have used relaxation techniques, being mindful of the world around us, using our senses to fully experience sights, sounds and feelings whilst relaxing and watching the movement of the clouds.
On Wednesday, Year 1 listened to the story ‘Something Else’ and discussed the theme of loneliness. Then they took part in Brain Break Yoga with Miss Hardy
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Drama Workshop
This week, the Infants took part in a Drama Exploration Day with Altru Drama Company.
Year 1 enjoyed their warm up time using a variety of facial expressions to convey different emotions. They experimented with varying the volume of their voices and explored imaginative poses.
The children then used their knowledge of The Great Fire of London to re-enact the events of 1666. They took turns to play the parts of Thomas Farryner, the baker, King Charles ll, and Samuel Pepys.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
St Georges Day 2022
Year 1 have been looking at the story of St George and the dragon to tie in with St Georges day last week. We spent our art session designing our own dragons on the computer. Children independently selected different tools on paint to create a digital piece of art.
We have also painted some St Georges flags to celebrate!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
World Museum Trip
The infants had an exciting coach journey through the tunnel to visit the Liverpool World Museum today. Lots of enthusiasm and interest as they wandered the floors, exploring the Aquarium, the Dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt and the Bug floor. The children demonstrated impeccable behaviour as always and were super sensible around the museum, their teachers were extremely proud!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
British Science Week
Today the Infants were treated to a STEM Assembly with Professor Fog. We saw colour changing liquids, chemical reactions and heard a ‘squeeky pop’. It was an exciting introduction to British Science Week.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Mother's Day 2022
Year 1 have been looking at flowers in detail this half term including the parts that make up the flower - the stem, leaves, petals and roots. We enjoyed making some Mother's day cards using different shapes and materials to make our flower design.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Daffodils
Year 1 have been looking at daffodils over the past few weeks. We have drawn them and used watercolours to paint them, looking carefully at the detail and different colours we could see. We then made some 3D daffodils using egg boxes and paper straws. Our spring display is now looking lovely and bright!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Vehicle Survey - Collecting Data
This week Year 1 have been investigating data. We started by learning how to create a tally chart. We used this new skill to survey types of vehicles passing Avalon. We counted 45 cars, 5 vans and 2 lorries. We did not see any buses, bicycles or motorbikes. Next we learned how to represent data on a block diagram.
World Book Day
Year 1 had a thoroughly enjoyable day celebrating World Book Day. Aside from dressing up, the children have enjoyed playing ‘Guess Who’s Reading?’ were they chose which member of staff they thought was hiding behind their favourite animal story. They visited the book fair and had a lovely time sharing stories with the children from Year 4, also, a firm favourite was the parade, here the children each had a turn of showing off their costumes and dance moves to music parading along the stage to everybody in the infants.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Avalon Cinema
With the forecast unfortunately postponing our trip to the cinema, we didn't let the weather 'dampen' our excitement... Avalon brought us our very own cinema experience! The children thoroughly enjoyed watching 'Sing' with snacks and hot chocolate.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Measuring and Comparing Weights
This week in Year 1 the children have been measuring the weight of various items from around the classroom. They have compared the weight of objects using direct comparison, explaining why they thought an object was heavier or lighter than another. Next, we used unifix blocks and a bucket balance to measure how many blocks each object weighed.
We have talked about different ways to measure weight and looked closely at a set of kitchen scales and the standard unit of grams.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Exploring Winter Temperatures
This week, Year 1 have been finding out about Winter. We have measured the temperature, indoors and out, using thermometers. We enjoyed a frosty morning on the playground and talked a lot about frozen car windscreens and slippery puddles. We were hoping it would snow but in the end we had to make our own snowflakes out of paper.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery
Happy New Year!
Year 1 have been learning about the changing seasons of the year. We created a seasons wheel to demonstrate the order and cycle of the different seasons and made a Calendar for 2022.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Christmas Party
Year 1 had a marvellous time with Freddie Fantastic and his magic tricks! After a dance and a snack, the children thought they heard bells on the roof...to their surprise Santa had arrived to school with a little gift for everybody! What a lovely Christmas party!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Christmas Nativity 2021
We hope you enjoyed our delivery of ‘A Midwife Crisis’.
We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a restful break.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Chester Zoo
Year 1 had a fabulous time at Chester Zoo this week. We saw many different types of animals and thoroughly enjoyed our picnic lunch. We all learned lots of new information in our classroom session about ‘Life Processes’.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Celebrating Diwali
This week Year 1 have been looking at the festival of Diwali. We have read the Hindu Story of Rama and Sita and we were also lucky enough to have a special assembly by Mrs Kangura who spoke about the Sikh faith and the story of the gurus and why Sikhs celebrate Diwali.
In art this week we made our own Diwali pots from clay.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Remembrance Day
Following a special assembly about Remembrance Day, Year 1 took a trip to Grange Hill to visit the War Memorial, with it being such a lovely Autumnal day, the children observed and sketched the monument and were very enthused and interested about the history of the monument, asking lots of questions about the figures and the names. Well done Year 1, A lovely outing!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Remember, Remember the 5th of November!
This week Year 1 have been learning about The Gunpowder Plot and Bonfire Night. We wrote some poems using lots of onomatopoeic words to describe the sounds of the fire and fireworks.
In our Art lesson we worked collaboratively using bottle brushes and a spraying technique to produce ‘A Bonfire Night Sky’.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Exploring Autumn
This week Year 1 have been learning about the changing seasons and, in particular, Autumn. We have been on an Autumn walk to observe to changing outdoor environment and learned about how animals prepare for the coming months ahead.
In our Art lesson this week we used a blow painting technique to create a tree and then added fingerprint leaves in autumnal colours.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Harvest Celebration - Share to Show we Care
This week Year 1 have been preparing for Harvest. The children have been weaving paper to make harvest baskets and filling them with printed fruits and vegetables. Look out for them at our Harvest Celebration next Tuesday!
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
European Languages Day
What fun Year 1 have had today celebrating European Languages Day. Their mission was to find out about France. During assembly, they shared some fascinating facts about that country. At lunchtime they also had the opportunity to taste a variety of European foods, from the Spanish sweet dough churros to a feta Greek salad.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Harvest Rainbows
This morning Key Stage 1 joined hundreds of schools across the UK to take part in the NFU’s Harvest Live Lesson.
We learned about how our food is produced. We saw how different vegetables and fruits are grown and how they are harvested. The farmers gave us lots of information about their crops and answered lots of questions.
After our live lesson we created a Harvest Rainbow thinking about different ingredients for each of the seven colours of the rainbow.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Healthy Eating
This week Year 1 have been learning about healthy eating. We talked about fruit and vegetables and how important they are in our diet. In our Art lesson the children looked closely at textures and patterns before using the fruit and vegetables to print with.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
Self Portrait in Art
This week in Year 1 we painted our self-portraits. First, we used mirrors to look at our faces in detail, the colour of our skin, eyes and hair, and the small details – eyebrows, and eyelashes. We then drew our faces in pencil before using paint, mixing it to create the perfect colours. Year 1 really enjoyed this activity.
For more photos please see the Year 1 Gallery.
