Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Welcome to our Year 1 class page!
Class teacher: Miss Plant
HLTA cover: Miss Gibbons and Mrs Gibbons
Support staff: Miss Ryan, Mrs Doherty, Miss Tafani and Mrs Burrow
We look forward to sharing some great Year 1 memories with you!
March 27th: Sports Inspiration Day
The children had an action-packed Sports Inspiration Day, trying out a variety of exciting sports and activities! They took part in handball, yoga, relay races, and dance, all while learning new skills and having fun. It was a fantastic opportunity to inspire a love for physical activity, teamwork, and healthy competition, leaving the children motivated to keep moving and try even more sports in the future!
March: English
In English, the children have been exploring classic traditional tales, including Hansel and Gretel and Anansi and the Golden Pot. One of their favourite activities has been hot seating, where they wrote questions to ask the main characters and then took turns stepping into the hot seat to answer as if they were the character. This fun and engaging activity helped the children develop their understanding of the stories while encouraging creativity, empathy, and speaking skills.
March 26th: Year 1 Class Assembly - Happy Mothers Day!
Our Mother's Day assembly was a heartfelt celebration of all the wonderful mums. The children shared a song, cards and special messages to show their appreciation and love. It was a beautiful moment of gratitude and reflection, filled with smiles and proud moments, as we honoured the important role mothers play in our lives. Thank you to all the parents who were able to join us for this lovely assembly; the children were very excited to show their mums how much they love them and they did an amazing job at it!
March 13th: Science Day – Charles Macintosh and Waterproof Materials
For Science Day, the children explored the fascinating world of materials through the story of Charles Macintosh, the inventor of the waterproof raincoat. They tested various materials to see which ones were waterproof and could be used to make a good raincoat. The hands-on experiments sparked curiosity and encouraged the children to think critically about how materials are chosen for different purposes, making science both fun and practical!
March 10th: Hansel and Gretel Day - Maths
The children had an exciting Hansel and Gretel Day filled with storytelling, problem-solving, and adventure! Throughout the day, they solved a series of Maths puzzles to help them escape the witch’s house. Just when they thought they were safe, the witch had one more trick up her sleeve—an obstacle course full of traps to dodge and escape! The day was a brilliant mix of learning and fun, helping to bring the story to life while building teamwork and maths skills.
March 6th: World Book Day
World Book Day was a wonderful celebration of reading across the school! The children arrived dressed as their favourite book characters, filling the day with colour, creativity, and imagination. Throughout the day, they took part in book-themed activities, shared their favourite stories, and enjoyed a special time reading together. It was a brilliant way to celebrate a love of books and inspire a passion for reading in every child.
March 4th: Visit to the M&S Archive – Leeds
The children had a fantastic time visiting the M&S Archive in Leeds, where they took part in a hands-on workshop all about fabrics and fashion through the years. They explored different materials, played interactive games, and even had the chance to try on old-fashioned clothes! The visit brought history and design to life, sparking curiosity and lots of conversation about how clothing has changed over time.
February 7th: Science – Floating and Sinking Experiment
In Science, the children had a great time experimenting with different objects to discover which ones float and which ones sink. They explored why some objects stay on the surface of the water while others sink, developing their understanding of buoyancy and material properties. It was a hands-on and engaging activity that sparked plenty of curiosity and scientific thinking!
January: Maths – Place Value, Addition, and Subtraction
In Maths, the children have been focusing on key concepts like place value, addition, and subtraction within 10. They’ve worked hard to understand how numbers are made up of tens and ones, and have practiced adding and subtracting with numbers up to 10. These hands-on activities are helping them build a solid foundation for more complex calculations in the future!
December 17th/18th: KS1 Nativity – Hey Ewe!
Our KS1 children delighted families and staff with their heartwarming performance of Hey Ewe! This lively nativity told the traditional Christmas story through the eyes of a curious little sheep, with plenty of catchy songs, joyful dancing, and wonderful acting. The children shone with confidence and enthusiasm, spreading Christmas cheer and reminding us all of the true meaning of the season.
A Special Visit from Santa
The children were filled with excitement as they welcomed a very special visitor to school — Santa Claus himself! Each class had the chance to meet Santa, share their Christmas wishes, and receive a small gift. The visit was full of smiles, wonder, and festive cheer, creating magical memories for all. It was a truly joyful way to celebrate the holiday season together.
December 3rd: Polar Express Day
Our Polar Express Day was a magical experience for the children! They arrived in their pyjamas, tickets in hand, ready to board the "train" to the North Pole. Throughout the day, they enjoyed a range of themed activities, from storytelling and writing tasks to festive crafts and hot chocolate treats. The day brought the wonder of the story to life and was a joyful way to celebrate the season while encouraging creativity and a love of reading.
November 29th: Wreath Making for Advent
To mark the beginning of Advent, the children worked together to create a beautiful wreath for their classroom worship table. Using natural materials and thoughtful teamwork, they reflected on the meaning of Advent as a time of waiting and preparation. The wreath now sits proudly on the worship table, helping to create a calm and reflective space throughout the season.
Autumn 2 English
During this half term, the children have been focusing on learning about instructions. They explored elements such as headings, equipment organized in bullet points, steps presented with numbered lists, and diagrams accompanied by labels.
This December, the class received a visit from a mischievous elf! They did a fantastic job documenting the elf's antics in a diary, allowing us to report back to Santa about all the mischief he caused in the classroom.
November 15th: RE – Learning About Noah's Ark
In RE, the children explored the story of Noah's Ark, sequencing the events to understand the key moments of the story. They discussed the important message of hope, faith, and caring for the Earth. Working together, the children created a beautiful display outside their classroom to share their learning with others. It was a wonderful way to reflect on the story's themes and work as a team to bring it to life.
Pizza Express Class Trip - 12th November 2024
The children had an amazing time at Pizza Express, where they not only discovered where food comes from but also learned about the different uses of various ingredients. This experience linked directly to their Design and Technology (DT) learning, as they explored the processes involved in preparing food, from choosing ingredients to creating a finished product.
The hands-on activity allowed them to roll out the dough, add their favourite toppings, and carefully transfer their creations onto trays for baking. Along the way, they practiced following instructions in English, learning how to give clear, step-by-step directions while making their pizzas.
The best part, of course, was the grand finale: savouring and enjoying their delicious handmade pizzas! It was a fun and tasty way to bring together their learning in both DT and English.
Library trip: Wednesday 25th September
Today we followed the return address on the letter sent to year 1 from the 'lost polar bear'. This led us to the local library in Armley. The children found clues, including a book and other evidence, adding to the ongoing mystery...
English
Religious Education
19th September 2024
Year 1 have been learning about how God made the world through the Creation Story. The children have begun to retell the story through song and actions, here is a small snippet...
Maths
First Day of Year 1
What a fantastic start to the year! On their first day of Year 1, the children were full of excitement and curiosity. We learnt so much about each of them and are looking forward to watching them grow and thrive throughout the school year. Here's a glimpse of their special first day—full of smiles, new friends, and plenty of adventure ahead!
Movie afternoon
After a fantastic first week, Year 1 enjoyed their very own movie afternoon on Friday with popcorn and hot chocolate whilst watching Inside Out.
