Year 1 2025 - 2026

Summer Term 1  

Mini Explorers 

Curriculum

This half term our learning will focus around the theme of 'Mini Explorers'. We will be exploring our school environment and areas of interest close to school. We will walk to Marshall's arms, explore maps and identify features on aerial photographs. We will use simple maps to plot our own journeys and will explore some simple orienteering activities around the school grounds.

In Science, we will also be nature explorers by observing plants, trees and living things in our local environment. We will be able to name and identify some wild and garden plants. We will plant our own seeds, look after them and observe them growing. We will also find out about the life cycle of familiar amphibians. 

In English, we will be using the fabulous story of the 'Bog Baby' by Jeanne Willis. We will find out about the main character and describe him, using nouns and adjectives to make simple sentences. We will write instructions to explain how to look after a Bog Baby and finally we will write our own story about finding a Bog Baby and what we would do. 

In phonics, we will be continuing with our Floppy Phonics. Revising what we know so far and beginning to consider alternative pronunciations of digraphs and trigraphs. 

In Art we will be learning to draw sketch plants and flowers and add watercolours. 

In RE we will be exploring the religion of Islam. We will talk about people who are important to us and consider why. We will understand how Muslim's worship and celebrate and what is important to them. 

For more detailed information on the Year 1 curriculum, please see our overview.KS1 Curriculum Overview 

Homework

Our priority for homework continues to be reading and supporting our phonics teaching. We ask you to ensure your child reads at least three times a week. Please can you record in your child's reading diary so we know they have read. 

Each Friday, your child will bring home their phonics folder. Please practice reading the real and 'alien' words at home as much as possible to help prepare your child for the screening test in June. 

We encourage you to use the ‘1-minute maths’ app (White Rose Maths) which supports your child's fluency in counting, addition and subtraction facts.  https://whiterosemaths.com/1-minute-maths

PE Days

Monday and Thursday 

Please come in PE kit on these days. Please ensure your child comes appropriately dressed for these lessons, particularly in the winter as outdoor sessions still take place. We request that no jewellery is worn in school and on PE days we ask that your child has any earrings covered or taken out.

Celebration assemblies

These will be on Fridays at 9am, every third week. You will get a message from school if your child is receiving an award in assembly.

TAPESTRY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Please follow our Instagram account: @hartfordmanor72

We will also message directly on Tapestry, sharing photos, reminders and important information.

We are very happy to receive messages and updates on Tapestry. You can share photos of your child's acheivements outside of school or special things they have done. However, if there is an urgent message please always use the school office as we may not check the account everyday.