Lostock Gralam C of E Primary School
Starlings: Blog items
5.6.20 Starlings Class Blog - FRIDAY, by Miss Gillam
Date: 5th Jun 2020 @ 9:02am
Good morning Starlings,
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am totally blown away by your surprise birthday messages. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. Thank you!
I will be celebrating by having a special tea with my family in the garden this evening. Fingers crossed the rain disappears by then or it is going to be a very soggy one. It will be worth it to get to see my amazing big sister and brother-in-law though. I haven’t opened my presents yet… that will be my next job after posting this. HOORAY.
Please continue to follow our attached timetable today. I have also listed some additional activities that you might enjoy having a go at below. Enjoy!
Art/DT Lesson
- In our Oak Academy lesson for today we are going to be making a terrarium. A terrarium is like an aquarium, but for plants instead of fish. We will be making a simplified version of this terrarium, including items we may have readily available in our homes and gardens.
https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/foundation/to-build-a-terrarium-year-1-wk6-5
- There is also a lovely DT lesson on the BBC Bitesize website today. Follow the link below to learn the basics of product packaging design and production.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zk9xhbk
Computing – How Games Work?
Learn all about what goes into making a computer game and how algorithms work.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkxybdm
History
Look at some photos of when you were younger. What things have stayed the same? What things are different now? Now see if you can look at some photos of when your parents or grandparents were little. What things have stayed the same from then until now? What things are different?
Reading
Practise reading more words with your set 2 and set 3 sounds using the booklet attached below. Try to read at least two pages a day over the next few weeks. Don’t worry if you find these works tricky to read, practise makes perfect.
- Say the sounds you can see
- Say the sounds faster and listen – Can you hear a work?
- Say the word
- Check for meaning
Well done for asking working so hard, Mrs Southern and I are so proud of you all.
Lots of love
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Smile, it’s Summer
Scientists have discovered that colours can make us feel certain emotions:
- White makes us feel cold.
- Red makes us feel warm or angry.
- Blue makes us feel cool or peaceful.
- Orange makes us feel warm or happy.
- Green makes us feel calm and peaceful.
- Black makes us feel sad.
- Yellow makes us feel happy and full of laughter.
When the sun comes out, people often say that they feel happier. Whatever the weather is like, though, we can all make people feel happy by the way we look at them. An unknown poet said, ‘There are hundreds of languages around the world, but a smile speaks them all.’ In other words, even if we can’t speak someone’s language, we can still let them know that we care by ‘speaking’ to them with a smile.
Think about people who make you happy. Think about their faces. When you think about them, do they look sad, angry or happy? If they make us happy, they will probably be smiling in our thoughts.
How does it make you feel if someone looks angry? How does it make you feel when someone smiles at you?
Today, why not decide to smile at people so that you can bring sunshine to their lives and make them feel happy? Remember: ‘There are hundreds of languages around the world, but a smile speaks them all.’
Dear God,
Thank you for all the people who bring me happiness.
I think especially of… (pause for the children to fill in the names).
Please help me to bring happiness to others, too.
Thank you that I can create happiness by something as simple as a smile.
Amen.
4.6.20 Starlings Class Blog - Thursday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 4th Jun 2020 @ 8:29am
Good morning Starlings
I hope you are all well and looking forward to another day of home learning. I have been very busy in school this week, it still feels strange to be there and not see your little faces. I have them all in my mind though. Our bubble classrooms are nearly ready and I can’t wait to welcome you all into our new zones soon. It won’t be long now.
There are the four adults who will be working with our two Year One bubbles. Mrs Elson will be working with Miss Gillam in one bubble and Mrs Rice will be working with Mrs Southern in the other. We have chosen to work like this to ensure that you ALL have an adult that you know really well to help you to settle back into school. Working and playing in a bubble just means that we are working with a smaller group of our friends, a smaller Starlings team. There will be no more than 15 children in each Starling bubble. We have made a lovely video to share with you soon where Teddy shows you exactly what our school looks like now that there have been a few little changes. I will keep telling you little bits about our return so that you know exactly what to expect when we get to see each other again in a couple of weeks’ time.
Please continue to follow our attached timetable today. I have also listed some additional activities that you might enjoy having a go at below. Enjoy!
Maths
A few weeks ago, our Maths work focused on Volume and Capacity. I wonder if you could solve some problems on the BBC Bitesize website today? In today's lesson, learn how to solve some farmyard problems about capacity and volume.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhgsy9q
Writing
Today I would like you to learn how to correctly write the days of the week in order and use them in writing. Remember that the days of the week always start with a capital letter and all end in 'day'.
You need to remember the sequence for the days of the week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Please follow the link below to see a lovely BBC Bitesize lesson with a video and activities to help you to learn the days of the week.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zm9hscw
History
Who is Valentina Tereshkova?
In today’s History lesson we are going to be learning all about Valentina Tereshkova. She was the first woman to go into space! We will be listening to and drawing the story of her phenomenal life. Get your space suit ready so we can blast off into space!
https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/foundation/who-is-valentina-tereshkova-year-1-wk6-4
Have a lovely day Starlings, fingers crossed the rain will stop soon so you can enjoy spending some more time outdoors.
With lots of love
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Pause for Thought: Being Grateful
Click here to watch the following video: https://youtu.be/dilMMKU762g
Lucky showed his gratitude to Jack by saving his life, and Jack did not abandon his faithful friend. He, too, showed gratitude in return.
Think about and discuss the following questions:
- Who are we grateful to?
- Who has helped us recently?
- Are we people who say ‘thank you’ often?
- Is there someone to whom we should show gratitude today?
Dear God,
Teach us to show our gratitude for what we have
By caring for those around us,
And for the wonderful world in which we live.
Amen.
3.6.20 Starlings Class Blog - Wednesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 3rd Jun 2020 @ 6:51am
Hello my SUPER Starlings,
It is Wednesday again already, the middle of the week. How did the new week start for you? Did you complete any of our ‘Boredom Buster’ activities yesterday? I have attached some more for you to have a go at today too.
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list for today. Below are some other activities that you might like to try today.
Music
Follow the link and watch the videos https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkgkwty. Complete the activity to make a musical jam jar. Please send me your photographs for the website. Have fun!
Boredom Buster
Choose one (or more) of the activities from the document attached below. They are short activities to keep you busy, and some of them you may have never done before. Take photos and send them to me via email, I would love to see which ones you have chosen.
Relaxation
Enjoy these relaxation activities. Take time to just enjoy some quiet, calm reflection and feel positive. The best way to enjoy these is to lay on your bed, or on the sofa in a quiet room. Please share your feedback about what you think about them. Enjoy!
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mX4JBBIcBk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtMHCVBgV00
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iRwqSWcUWU&list=OLAK5uy_nKjsXXOcGO9T9UlUdWgdAv-ZtZLgN10EQ&index=2
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neRnbbvCah0&list=OLAK5uy_nKjsXXOcGO9T9UlUdWgdAv-ZtZLgN10EQ&index=5
Science
https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/foundation/how-can-we-record-wind-direction-year-1-wk6-3
Today’s Oak Academy lesson is all about the wind. Wind is when air moves. We cannot see wind but we can see it moving objects around us. We will be looking at types of wind and conducting a wind logging experiment.
Please please remember to keep up with your daily Read Write Inc lesson and challenge yourself to read a book every day this week. This can be either a paper book or an online story on the Oxford Owl website.
Take care everyone and stay safe!
With lots of love from
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Pause for Thought: Be Thankful
Click here to watch the following video: https://youtu.be/Hp_g_5Hphd8
We can be thankful for things every day! If you’d like to, have a go at the following:
Can you think of someone whom you would like to thank? Could you send them a message or write a letter to them today? Free printable thank-you cards that are ready to colour in are available at: https://printable-cards.gotfreecards.com/categories/color-your-card/thank-you
Why not make a list of as many things as you can think of that you are thankful for today? You could ask your family to join in. I wonder if you can think of 100 things!
Dear God,
For families and friends…
We are thankful.
For the beauty of nature and the world around us…
We are thankful.
For all the things in life that we too often take for granted…
We are thankful.
Please help us to be willing to show our thanks - not only in what we say, but also in what we do - every single day…
We are thankful.
Amen.
2.6.20 Starlings Class Blog - Tuesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 2nd Jun 2020 @ 8:27am
Good morning Starlings,
How are you? Did you have a busy day of home learning yesterday? What have you got planned for today? Keep sharing what you get up to either on Twitter or in an email to admin@lostockgralam.cheshire.sch.uk.
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. I would like to highlight today’s PSHE lesson. As we start to think about our return to school, it is important that we remind the children about the importance of effective handwashing. In today’s Oak Academy lesson, we will discuss the use of a time capsule, as a way of storing memorable items from our time in COVID-19 lockdown. We will start by discussing how to stay clean and healthy, which will be followed by making a sign that can be used to promote good handwashing and reduce the risk of spreading germs.
Below are some other activities that you might like to try today.
History Challenge
Look at some photos of when you were younger. What things have stayed the same? What things are different now? Now see if you can look at some photos of when your parents or grandparents were little. What things have stayed the same from then until now? What things are different?
Reading
Please read or listen to the story of The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. If you have this story at home then please use the book. If not, please watch this video of the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUTb1dAnnK0.
Once you have read the story or watched the video, please complete the two activities below.
- Can you design your own creature?
- Can you write your own book review? Here is an animation video for you to enjoy, just for fun!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pk64x/the-gruffalo
PSHE – Would you rather?
Create some ‘Would you rather…?’ questions to ask people at home. For example, would you rather be a cat or a dog? Would you rather have three legs or three arms?
Art/DT
Design and create a woodland creature of your own. This may be the same as, or different to The Gruffalo. Here are some examples to help you. I am looking for you to be as creative as possible, you could even try to use some natural materials from outdoors. Please send me some photographs via Twitter or email.
Boredom Buster
Choose one (or more) of the activities from the document below. They are short activities to keep you busy, and some of them you may have never done before. Take photos and send them to me via email, I would love to see which ones you have chosen.
Have a wonderful day and remember just how special you all are to Mrs Southern and I. We are so excited to see you soon.
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Pause for Thought: Be Kind
Click here to watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcyc68d6OAk&feature=youtu.be
We should be kind because we care about other people. However, the video that we just watched suggests that kindness is also good for us. Ask the children to think about why this might be. You might like to start by revisiting the ideas suggested in the video (go to 0.20 minutes and play the following ten seconds).
Can you make a list of something kind that you could do each day of the week?
Dear God,
Please help us to be kind to those around us.
Please help us to think about the needs of other people.
Please help us to seek to live in peace.
Amen.
1.6.20 Starlings Class Blog - Monday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 1st Jun 2020 @ 7:30am
Good morning Starlings,
How are you? I hope you have had a lovely half term and have made the most of the glorious sunshine. We have been so lucky with the weather, haven’t we? Have you explored anywhere new this week? I went for a walk by the river yesterday afternoon and saw so many ducklings, cygnets and beautiful butterflies.
In case you missed it, we have put together a video of ‘Lostock’s Lockdown Memories’ for the children. Don’t worry if you didn’t send in a photo for this video, we will be making a part 2 video soon! You can watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPp5GuVgkVg&t=3s
Once again, I have attached a new timetable for you to follow this week with new tasks and projects to complete – remember this is only a suggested timetable and activities are always optional! I know ots of you are going to really enjoy my SPACE focus this week. Just do what you can, when you can. Your child's mental health is much more important than a home learning task.
PSHE
- Everybody Worries - Written and illustrated by Jon Burgerman
In this bright and friendly picture book, children learn that it’s okay to worry about coronavirus. Fun rhyming couplets keep the tone gentle and supportive, and you will find plenty of ideas for dealing with coronavirus in a positive way.
Everybody Worries offers your Starling the reassuring message that this crisis will pass, we are there for them, and we will get through this together. Follow the link below to read along or just listen to the story.
https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc?authid=Xu9pcOzU3TQx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbL2QGX2E6U
- Find out about what Star Qualities are here. Write a list of what you think your star qualities are. Ask a member of your family to do the same about you and then compare lists. Now swap over and think about the star qualities of a member of your family.
English
Find out about exclamation marks here and listen to the story of Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus. Then have a go at the activities attached below.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8x6cj6/articles/z3dcmsg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-dHeNfXtgc
Maths
Remind yourself about how to tell the time to the hour and half past with this video. Use a clock or make your own to practise telling the time to the hour or half past.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zhk82hv/articles/zcmdwxs
Creative
Using a felt tip pen or paint, take a thumbprint from everyone in your house. Use a dark colour pen or pencil to make the thumbprints into something. Have a look here for some ideas.
Reading
Are you keeping up with your reading? There are so many fantastic online resources available for you to use for free.
Mrs Southern and I miss you lots and can’t wait to see you all very soon. Keep working hard and making good choices at home.
Sending you all big hugs and lots of love
Miss Gillam
25.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - HAPPY HALF TERM, by Miss Gillam
Date: 25th May 2020 @ 8:41am
Good morning Starlings! Happy Half Term!
As we enter the start of what should be another half term, and we embark on another, tenth, week of lockdown, we wanted to thank you all for the amazing work you have done to keep your children safe, support their home learning, and communicate with us here at school. You have done an incredible job and we want to make sure that you are looking after your own mental health needs in this time of uncertainty.
It is important that we take some time to do something that will make us smile. That will make our children smile and that will bring us together at such a tricky time. So have a look below at some of our suggestions and choose one thing every day that brings happiness.
- Enjoy a yummy breakfast together; pancakes, boiled egg and soldiers, bacon sandwiches or maybe your favourite cereal.
- Have a carpet picnic, or a garden picnic at tea time
- Make something that shows off what makes you special for the school sharing window and deliver it to school on Monday or Wednesday this week.
- Draw a picture for somebody in one of our local care homes
- Tell us about something you have done in lockdown that you’ve never done before. Have you learnt to ride your bike, or tie your shoelaces? Have you baked bread for the first time? Have you planted some seeds and nurtured them into flowers?
- Talk about your favourite things to do and have a favourites day. Eat your favourite breakfast, listen to or dance to your favourite song, sing your favourite songs together, play your favourite game, watch your favourite movie or tv programme, read your favourite book or comic, wear your favourite outfit, arrange a video chat with your favourite friends or family member.
- Find a new way of hugging! Right now, hugging is a tricky thing because we have to keep our distance. Can you find a new way to send a hug to somebody? Perhaps send a postcard, or create a picture or video of you doing something funny/showing off a new skill.
- Facetime, zoom, whatsapp – keep in touch with those people closest and most important to you.
- Create a calm box, a little like the Christmas Eve boxes that so many of us use, put your favourite snacks, pyjamas, movie inside and settle down together for a soothing evening.
- Listen to some lovely audio books – Here I am reading a lovely story for you all. ‘While we can’t hug' helps to explain all of the ways we can show love and kindness to each other despite not being able to hug.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t3c8tE30r8
Guess what? One of our super Starlings will be celebrating their birthday this week. Wishing our lovely Amber a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Miss Gillam, Mrs Southern and all of our Starling friends. I hope the sun shines for you on Thursday and that you have the most wonderful day celebrating. Half term birthday’s are the best aren’t they? We all miss you lots and lots.
The Great Realisation
Incase you missed our Hot Chocolate Friday video last week, please see the link below. Here is another treat from all the staff at Lostock – we are missing you lots and hope you enjoy this.
Remember, we are collecting photos of you doing wonderful things during lockdown for our Hot Chocolate Friday video this week. We would like to create a Lostock lockdown story which includes pictures of your child/children sharing something they have enjoyed doing in lockdown. This could be anything from board games to painting or even swing ball! Whatever makes YOU happy! If you wish for your child to participate, please send an image to admin@lostockgralam.cheshire.sch.uk by Wednesday 27th May. It would be lovely to see plenty of smiley faces!
Look after yourselves, be kind to yourselves and have a wonderful week.
Lots of love from Miss Gillam
22.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - FRIDAY, by Miss Gillam
Date: 22nd May 2020 @ 7:34am
Hello hello!
Well I think I melted a little bit yesterday, it was so hot again! I hope you all managed to safely enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine over the past couple of days. It’s looking like it might be a little bit cooler this morning, get outside if you can! ☀️
To celebrate Hot Choc Fri this week, the staff have put together a little video of the poem called The Great Realisation. The poem explains all of the good things that have come out of lockdown. I hope you like it! We love thinking of different ways we can let you all know we are thinking of you and missing you. https://youtu.be/ms3Y8qC9zWw
Please continue to follow our attached timetable today. I have also listed some additional activities that you might enjoy having a go at below. Enjoy!
Maths
Any two-digit number can be shown using tens and ones. For example, the number 34 can be partitioned into three lots of ten and four lots of one. Can you partition 2 digit numbers into tens and ones by playing the game linked below?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z8sfr82/articles/zw4g2nb
Creative
- Can you create an African Inspired Pasta Necklace? Create a colourful necklace using pasta and paints.
- Can you make your own Fruit Kebabs? Perhaps you could create a rainbow inspired healthy snack?
Reading
Can you read and spell our Year One Common Exception Words? Use these catchy songs to help you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R087lYrRpgY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NOzgR1ANc4
Faith at Home
Join the Oak Academy weekly collective worship session for this week, led by Church of England’s schools and in partnership with those of other faith traditions. Please select Week Two: Courage (primary).
https://www.thenational.academy/extracurricular/faith-at-home
No Outsiders
I would also like you to explore another beautiful picture books which focuses on our No Outsiders theme today. I have chosen a lovely story called ‘Egg’ for you to enjoy with your family today. Here is a YouTube link where you can listen to the story being read by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, the authors of the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y73kXc4UiKM&list=PLE5MZB5pedUMQRHw2etfKDkufdGKDiPs
There are a selection of activities for you to choose from once you have listened to Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet reading you the story on YouTube. I would love to see some of this work from you. I really hope that you enjoy this, as this story has a really important message. I wonder if you can let me know what you think the message of this story is?
Please see activity booklet attached below. Drawing or writing your own version of these activities into your exercise book or onto a piece of paper is just as valuable. Please do not think that you need a printer to be able to complete these activities.
PE
I have attached a brilliant PE game for you all to play at home today or at some point over the weekend/holidays. The first player to complete 3 activities in a row in the winner. Have fun with this one, Starlings!
I know lots of you are feeling a bit fed up with being at home all the time now. Maybe today is a day to try something new? This could be helping with a job at home you don’t usually do, or maybe doing some home learning a bit differently? Instead of writing with a pencil on paper, why not try writing with some water and a paintbrush on the wall or floor (outside of course)! Let me know if you’d like any other ideas!
Whatever you choose today I hope you have a happy day because being happy is what matters most! Have a wonderful weekend and I will be in touch on Monday with some ideas for next week. Sending you virtual hugs and hope to see you all soon. We miss you and remember we are so proud of you all. You are such superstars!
Keep being amazing! ❤️
Miss Gillam
21.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Thursday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 21st May 2020 @ 8:49am
Good morning Starlings,
How are you? Did you have a lovely day of home learning yesterday? I know lots of you have been spending time in your paddling pools or going on walks to make the most of the lovely weather! ☀️ Fingers crossed for some more sunshine this afternoon. Every day you continue to amaze me with all of the busy jobs you are doing at home. It’s so lovely to see you working hard but also enjoying yourselves! Remember our home learning activities are my ideas, I know not all of you will fancy doing all of them so any other activities you do are great too! Do have a look around our Twitter page to see what else your friends have been up to!
Please continue to follow our attached timetable today. I have also listed some additional activities that you might enjoy having a go at below. Enjoy!
PSHE
What is a hero?
It is a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
Heroes/Heroines:
· are brave.
· help others because it is the right thing to do.
· think of others before they think of themselves.
· have stood up for something important.
· have made the world a better place.
Can you create your own definition? Who is your hero? Explain why this person is so special for you. Design a medal for your hero on A4 paper or on the computer. You may wish to make this medal out of old cardboard/card or any resources you may have at home. Please share your medals on Twitter or on send them into school so that we can display them on our Sharing Window.
Keep Fit
Here are some links to some new dances. Do remember our Kidzbop and 5 a Day dances too, all available on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YteMhrQvfCo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eklkuD0vF6s
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKE0Xnj818IDaHvIcRiq0Bg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7qLfNZxn-sT3G14Kb6Z5og
Computing - Picture it!
Take some photos while you go for a lovely walk! Use the PicCollage app to make a picture diary of your day! Add stickers and text!
Creative
- Can you follow the instructions on the video link below and create your own paper chain snake?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W-ucN4D29M
- Can you follow the instructions on the video link below and create your own moving paper fish?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmZgsnY8fMQ
- Bizarre Creatures
Draw the head of a creature, fold the paper, then someone else draws the body, fold again and then someone else draws the legs! What have you created?
Have a wonderful day and remember just how special you all are to Mrs Southern and I.
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
The definition of wise in the Oxford English Dictionary is ‘Having or showing experience, knowledge and good judgement’. When have you been wise, maybe you have been lost in a shop. This experience should have taught you always to stay near to the grown-up you are with, or should have led to you to learning exactly what to do if you got lost again. Being wise means learning from past experiences and carefully thinking about decisions that we make and things that we do now. What mistakes have you learnt from? I think we learn far more from the mistakes we make rather than the things that we get right!
Dear God
Please help us to be wise.
Help us to realize that there are consequences to everything that we do.
Please help us to make good decisions that will work out best for ourselves and for other people.
Amen
20.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Wednesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 20th May 2020 @ 8:21am
Good morning my lovely Starlings,
WOW! It is Wednesday again already and we are half way through yet another week. How are you? I hope you are feeling happy, safe and well. I hope you had a fabulous day yesterday and managed to keep busy and enjoy the sunshine. I think it is going to be another lovely sunny day today, fingers crossed.
Guess who I got to meet in school yesterday? You are going to absolutely love him Starlings. Teddy is going to make the most wonderful member of our lovely Lostock Gralam team. He loves playing with the grass on the field, chasing balls and lots of attention.
I love this quote about kindness being contagious. Contagious means that a feeling is likely to spread to and affect other people. Have any of you made a start on any of the kindness activities for Mental Health Awareness Week? You can find out some more about what that means and the importance of kindness on Newsround. Keep sharing all of the lovely things that you are going, you never know, it might just inspire somebody else to do something kind for their loved ones.
Newsround - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52557800
- How did it feel when you were kind to someone else?
- Did it make you feel happy?
- Did they do something kind in return?
No Outsiders
I would also like you to explore some beautiful picture books this week that focus on our No Outsiders theme, that is so important to us in school. I have chosen a lovely story called ‘Grumpy Frog’ for you to enjoy with your family. Here is a YouTube link where you can listen to the story being read by Ed Vere, the author of the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfRkj4pnSZM
There are a selection of activities for you to choose from once you have listened to Ed Vere reading you the story on YouTube. I would love to see some of this work from you. I really hope that you enjoy this, as this story has a really important message. I wonder if you can let me know what you think the message of this story is?
Please see the activity booklet attached below. Drawing or writing your own version of these activities into your exercise book or onto a piece of paper is just as valuable. Please do not think that you need a printer to be able to complete these activities.
Do you remember when we performed ‘Read all about it’ by Emeli Sande as part of our Christmas play last year? We all held beautifully made newspapers with special words written on them, celebrating the fact that we are all different but all equally special, important and valued. Would you like to sing with me? Here is the link to our special song, perhaps you could make your own little newspaper to dance with?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNGEsU-BbHc
Maths
Perhaps you could enjoy completing some Maths work in your garden or while out and about on your walk today? Surveys can be great fun. You could observe cars and other traffic on a nearby road. Decide on some categories to collect data on or you could even challenge your Starling to come up with their own question to answer e.g. what is the most common colour car. The children should gather the information and could then have a go at representing it in different ways.
Please continue to follow our class timetable and task list attached. Are you still enjoying your Oak National Academy and BBC Bitesize lessons? You might now notice that you prefer one resource to the other and choose to follow the sequence of lessons. This would be particularly useful for the writing lessons on the Oak National Academy website. If you have missed sessions, you can still go back to session one to ensure that each activity makes sense, as they do sometimes refer to learning from previous sessions.
- https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom/year-1/english#subjects
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/tags/zjpqqp3/year-1-and-p2-lessons/1
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with photos, messages and questions this week. Remember, if there is anything you need, I am here to help.
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Today I am going to introduce you to a very special person called Theresa. She lived more than 140 years ago. She was born on 2 January 1873 and died on 30 September 1897, at the young age of 24. Her mother died when Theresa was just four years old, leaving her father with five children to look after. One of her sisters, called Mary, took over running the household, while her eldest sister, Pauline, took charge of telling the younger children about God. When she was 14, Theresa decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to God, so she became a nun (someone who goes to live with others who give their lives to God). Theresa was made a saint in 1925. A 'saint' is a person who is a great example to us because he or she lived a special life and/or had special gifts. Although Theresa didn’t have a very long life, she used every minute she had to care for other people. Her best-known saying is, ‘What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love.’ Theresa became known as someone who would show love to others by doing little things. Sometimes she gave flowers, sometimes she prayed, sometimes she showed love and attention to people who struggled with problems. Theresa knew that she wasn’t physically strong enough to carry out great deeds, but she made a big difference to people’s lives by the little things she did for them. Very often, though, it's the little things that have the greatest effect on people’s lives, the little things which show them someone cares.
Time for reflection
Close your eyes and think about a little thing someone has done for you that made you feel special or happy. It may have been a kind word, asking you to play with them or even giving you a special present.
Decide to do something today that will make someone else feel special.
Dear God
Thank you for people who do things for me that make me feel happy and loved.
Please help me to do something today to show someone that I care about them.
Amen
19.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Tuesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 19th May 2020 @ 7:08am
Good morning Starlings
I hope you had a lovely day of home learning yesterday and managed to complete some of our 44 ways of being kind. Mrs Southern completed a random act of kindness by writing a lovely little message for each member of her family. What act of kindness are you going to do today? Don’t forget to share your kind gestures on Twitter.
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Below are some other activities that you might like to try today.
Reading
Open the document below ‘ea Phoneme Spotter Comprehension’. Read the letter on the left hand of the page. Then, answer the questions 1-4. The focus sound is ‘ea’. Here is a video to recap this sound (I know how much you all love Geraldine!)
ea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6F4KRdhqak
Creative
Design a menu for your dream day of food. Think about what you would have for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks and drinks.
Songs
Here are some of the songs that we enjoyed together when we were in school. Please revisit and recap our previous learning. They are very helpful, and I bet you could show your grown up's what you know.
- Days of the week - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tx0rvuXIRg
- Months of the year - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPeAo1hz8GA
- Count to 100 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TgLtF3PMOc
- Counting in 10's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yr-IuM4SEA
- Counting in 5's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r176jXYwct8
- Counting in 2's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyCr0IgbYcI
- Alphabet phonics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ZludcLyi8
- Phase 3 phonics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Jp5MutVlQ
Science
- Can you sort animals by what they eat? Please revisit the science words herbivore, omnivore and carivore. What do these words mean? Play the game by selecting if an animal is a herbivore, omnivore or a carivore.
https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animaldietgame2.htm
- I have attached another great set of Science experiments to conduct with kids at home. These fun and easy science experiments are great to do at home because they require ingredients you are likely to already have in the kitchen. The pack contains four different science experiments including a dissolving experiment, make your own lava lamp, fun with density and fireworks in a glass. Perhaps you could be a pirate today and complete one of our ‘Pirate Science Experiments’ at home?
Maths
- Can you play the attached 2D shape game? I wonder who will win by getting 4 in a row first?
- For those of you who enjoyed sorting the number sentences yesterday, I have attached an exciting number bonds to 20 sorting game for you to complete today. Remember to use your number line or objects to help you to calculate accurately.
Message from Mrs Powell
Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions.
Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching. As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea. The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”
The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
We all have the opportunity to help create positive change. You might not be able to change the entire world, but at least you can change a small part of it, for someone. Break the big challenge down into smaller pieces and then take those one at a time – like one starfish at a time. Remember you can achieve anything!
Have a wonderful day and remember just how special you all are to Mrs Southern and I.
Miss Gillam
18.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Monday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 18th May 2020 @ 7:25am
Good morning Starlings! ☀️
I hope you enjoyed your weekend! It’s a new week so let’s all start afresh by having a positive day. There are some activities listed below for Mental Health Awareness Week focusing on kindness which might get you off to a good start! 😊
Once again, I have attached a new timetable for you to follow this week with new tasks and projects to complete – remember this is only a suggested timetable and activities are always optional! Just do what you can, when you can. Please continue to aim for one activity out of each box below each day. This may not happen every day and that is absolutely fine! Your child's mental health is much more important than a home learning task.
|
A little bit of maths
|
A little bit of writing
Remember to use a capital letter, finger spaces, full stop and the conjunction ‘and’. As long as you remember our Year One Non-Negotiables, I don’t mind what you write. |
A little bit of reading
|
A little bit of topic work
|
Here are some extra activities if you fancy trying something a little bit different today.
English
- Use your imagination to write a silly sentence for each day of the week, e.g. On Monday I had a delicious picnic with the Queen on a huge pirate ship.
- Use the attached worksheet to read the sentence in each box and colour the picture to match. If you do not have access to a printer, read the sentence on the screen and draw your own picture either in your exercise book or on a piece of paper.
Maths
- Practise your counting forwards to 100 and counting backwards from 100. Pause the videos at lots of different parts and say which number will come next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dkPouLWCyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jMmZaFvRpE
- Sort the number sentences attached into two groups, ones that make 10 and ones that do not make 10. Do the same for number sentences that do or do not make 20.
Science
Let your imagination go WILD and create a new animal!
1. Draw or make your animal and give it a name. Maybe it will have the head of a lion, the neck of a giraffe and the body of an elephant.
2. Create a fact file about your animal including; What does it look like? Where does it live? What does it eat? What skills does your animal have? What does your animal need to survive? Think of any other information you might need to include! You could present this as a written fact file or maybe you could become a wildlife TV presenter and record a video about your animal.
Creative
Make your own puzzle game from some cardboard. Use the video below to help you.
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/814377545107667017/
Mental Health Awareness
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is Kindness. Choose at least one activity from each section of the attached grid to complete this week. 
I hope you all have a wonderful day. Please remember that I am so proud of you all and I can’t wait to see all of the exciting things you get up to on Twitter today.
Love
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Sometimes we are faced by big challenges, reading a large book, completing a big piece of writing or even learning to ride a bike can seem a huge task. Problems and difficulties can seem really big but if we break them down to small steps we can make progress and achieve anything we set our mind to do!
Dear God
When we find things difficult, help to keep us going.
Thank you for all the people who help us to take the small steps to overcome our problems. Please help us be there for others.
Amen
15.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - FRIDAY, by Miss Gillam
Date: 15th May 2020 @ 8:54am
Happy Hot Chocolate Friday Starlings! 😊
https://youtu.be/tIxUWOYwTn0 -Will you enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with us?
Well done for another week at home! You and your adults at home really are doing so well. I know it’s tough but you’ve got this! My sticker drawer in the classroom hasn’t been used in a while so I’m sending you lots of virtual Christian Value stickers to say a huge well done and to make you smile! I know you love them! ❤️
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Below are some other exciting activities that you might like to try today.
Reading
Please listen to ''I don't want to wash my hands'' read by Tony Ross. https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/birth-4/watch-i-dont-want-to-wash-my-hands-and-get-a-free-little-princess-book/ Discuss with your family what this story is about, and why this is important.
There is also a free ebook to download if you wish, also written by Tony Ross. https://cdn.literacytrust.org.uk/media/documents/I_Want_a_Bedtime_Story.pdf
On this website you will also find some lovely posters about washing your hands. Could you design your own poster? You could have a prince, princess, king or queen on yours.
https://youtu.be/DQRYfaFlY8A
PSHE
Listen to the song using this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hqRT9U0wg
How does this make you feel? Happy I hope! As we are all stuck at home and things often seem difficult. Perhaps you could create a well-being jar today or this weekend? Please follow the instructions in the document attached below to help you to do this. Please send me photographs of your jar via Twitter or email Have fun!
Active Maths
I have attached some active Maths activies for you to have a go at today. Most of these activities can be completed both inside and outside. It is looking a little bit gloomy so you might need to save some of these activities for a brighter day. Maths in the rain, wrapped up with my wellies on sounds like quite good fun to me though!
My favourite activites are the chalk activity and the counting in 2s, 5s and 10s activity.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, I can’t wait to see you all soon. Stay safe and keep busy. Here is a little video message from me and a lovely story by Mrs Southern. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/wIyeBY-av9U - Miss Gillam
https://youtu.be/Dmm3V5d6xbU Mrs Southern – Puffin Peter
Lots of love from
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El7P2W7XrYo
Louis Braille was born in France in 1809 and was three years old when he lost his sight in one eye. By the age of five, he was completely blind. At that time, there was no help available for blind people and many of them would end up begging for food on the streets. Louis’ parents didn’t want that to happen to their son, so they continued to educate him in every way possible.
When Louis was 12 years old, he met an army captain who showed him a way of sending messages at night using raised dots and dashes. Louis saw the potential for a communication system for blind people and, by the age of 15, he had found 63 ways to use a six-dot cell in an area the size of a fingertip. In this way, he created Braille, a form of written language for blind people, which they can ‘read’ by feeling the raised dots of the Braille characters with their fingertips.
Let’s try to be people who have the courage to move forward, no matter what happens. At the same time, let’s remember that there are many people who can help us if we need to talk about our worries.
Prayer
Dear God,
Whether I’m big or whether I’m small,
Sometimes I’ll try to be ever so brave,
And think about what God sees in me
And aim to be the best that I can be.
Amen.
14.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Thursday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 14th May 2020 @ 8:20am
Hello everyone, HAPPY THURSDAY!
https://youtu.be/wIyeBY-av9U
Do you remember how exciting it was seeing all of your friends dressed up for World Book Day? It makes me so happy remembering all the fun reading related activities we did on this day.
I hope that you all had a lovely day yesterday and managed to complete lots of your busy jobs. Every day you continue to amaze me. It’s so lovely to see you working hard but also enjoying yourselves! Remember our home learning activities are my ideas, I know not all of you will fancy doing all of them so any other activities you do are great too! Do have a look around our Twitter page to see what else your friends have been up to!
Maths
Our Oak Academy Maths lesson for today focuses on counting, comparing and ordering numbers within 100. Could you make your own number cards or pebbles? Choose 5 number cards and order them from the smallest to the greatest. Now repeat the activity ordering your numbers from greatest to smallest. Can you use ‘tens’ and ‘ones’ to explain how you know your numbers are ordered correctly?
Eg. I know 24 is smaller than 31 because 31 has 3 tens and 24 only has 2 tens.
Religion
Read the story of Pentecost using the documents attached below. Find out all about Pentecost using the Powerpoint. Discuss the following questions with a grown up.
- Who had been taken to heaven?
- What appeared to the disciples?
- What were the people blessed with?
Create a piece of Pentecost artwork or craft. Below are some examples, but please be as creative as you like. Remember to Tweet or email any work you feel particularly proud of.
Jobs
It can be such good fun to help your adults at home. I wonder what jobs you could do to make your adults’ day a little bit easier? Could you make your own bed? Help with the hoovering? Wash the car? Set the table? Elliot shared some fantastic pictures of himself laughing and smiling as he hoovered the stairs yesterday. Why not try a tidying up game today?
- Speed Challenge – beat time timer of race another family member. Who can make their bed the fastest?
- The Laundry Dash – This game can be played against siblings or parents! Once the laundry has been ironed and folded, separate into even piles. The aim of the game is to get your pile of laundry neatly back to where it is supposed to be, such as your t-shirt drawer or their sock drawer. Organising made fun!
- Drama – Act out the story of Cinderella. Think of the start of the story, Cinderella is doing chores and can’t go to the party. At the end of the story, she gets to put on a lovely dress/shirt and go to a party. Such fun!
- The Toy Sweep - The aim of this game is for your children to pick up all their toys from all over the house and put them back into their allocated storage spots. Give them a time limit and start the stopwatch. You can shout out how much time they have left, while they run around tidying up, to increase the excitement of the game.
- Dice Game - Each number of the dice corresponds to a different household chore. Roll the dice and whichever number it lands on, your Starling has to carry out the task, whether that be helping wash the car, dusting or hoovering.
- Musical Statues - Make any household chore more enjoyable for your kids by injecting some music into the situation. Play musical statues with them, and as they are carrying out the task pause the music so they have to freeze in the position they are in. Play the music again so they can continue with the job, and repeat.
- Treasure Hunt - Just like an Easter egg hunt, get your children scavenging around the house for little treats hidden underneath clutter. In the process of finding the hidden gems that you have placed they have to clean and tidy up along the way.
Please remember to take a look at our class timetable for some more suggestions to help you to keep busy today. Don’t forget how important daily reading and counting practice is too!
Have a lovely day and I will speak to you again tomorrow.
With love,
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Squirrels are often seen hanging on birdfeeders, trying to grab as much food as they can. Sometimes they even hang upside down while they feed! Sometimes they fall off, but they soon come back again to try to get more! Often birds can’t get to the birdfeeders because the squirrels are already feeding from them! The poor birds have to wait, even though they are hungry! Sometimes they fly away and perch in the trees, watching the squirrels feed. When the squirrels have finished, then the birds can have their turn to feed, even though the seed and nuts are really put there for them. It could be that the squirrel is trying to keep the food for itself. It could be that the bird is challenging the squirrel for the food. It could be that they are sharing!
There are times in our lives when we all find it difficult to share! Christians believe that God has given us the world and everything in it - it is a gift from God that we are all to share with each other. Christians also believe that it is good to share what we have with others. We can share our possessions, food, money, friends, talents, even our love.
Time for reflection
Let’s think about a time when someone has shared something with us.
Let’s take some time to thank God for that person. Let’s also think about ways in which we could share with others during the day ahead.
Here is a video link to Mrs Powell’s special message. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nxCpz4FPL8
13.5.20 Starlings Class Blog -Wednesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 13th May 2020 @ 9:01am
Morning!
Here is a little HELLO video from me! https://youtu.be/XIWD2Lj68Oc
It is Wednesday again already, the middle of the week. How did the new week start for you? Today you might fancy learning a new skill from the 30 day life skills challenge or maybe you would like to learn a new language! Oak National Academy have a lesson today about learning how to say the days of the week and months of the year in Spanish. There’s also other Spanish lessons about numbers, introducing yourself and saying your age. Give one a go if you fancy it!
Perhaps you would like to make your own playdough or salt dough to be creative with today? Don’t forget to share what you make on Twitter.
Faith at Home
Each Wednesday, Open the book come and join us in school for a very special Worship Assermbly. Today I would like you to join the Oak Academy weekly collective worship session online, led by Church of England’s schools and in partnership with those of other faith traditions. Suitable for those of all faiths and none. Today’s session is all about hope.
Have a super fantastic day!
Love
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
In 1984, Chris Baines actually sent out an invitation to his friends asking them to meet him at 4 am. His birthday plan was to have all his guests listen to the dawn chorus together. The dawn chorus is the singing of many birds before dawn each day.
This all happens about an hour before sunrise. At this time of day, it is too dark for the birds to search for food, but also too dark for them to be spotted by predators. There is less sequence to the dawn chorus. Robins, blackbirds and thrushes start first, which may be because they have biggish eyes to see in the dark and because they like to look for worms. After a while, all the other birds join in. Have you noticed the birds singing? I think it is lovely to think that we are all listening to the birds and enjoying their bird song even though we are apart.
Watch Mrs Powell’s Worship on-line by following this link.
Wednesday 13th Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUfvYnMRuDI
12.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Tuesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 12th May 2020 @ 8:28am
Hello my SUPER Starlings,
How are you? Did you have a busy day of home learning yesterday? What have you got planned for today? Keep sharing what you get up to either on Twitter or in an email to admin@lostockgralam.cheshire.sch.uk.
Today is a very special day for one of our little Starlings. Harriet is celebrating her 6th birthday today. Big birthday wishes from Mrs Sourthern, Miss Gillam and ALL of your Starlings class friends. We hope you have the most wonderful day xx
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Below are some other activities that you might like to try today.
Maths
- Investigate all the different ways to make 20 and write the number sentences, e.g. 20+0=20, 19+1=20 etc. Use objects to help you.
- Get some containers of different sizes. Fill each one with water. Use a measuring jug to see how much each holds, its capacity. Sort them from largest to smallest capacity.
- Make two sets of number cards, one set with numbers 0-20 and one set with the number words, e.g. one, two, three etc. Play games to match the cards, e.g. pick up pairs or snap
Science
- Make a list of the animals you see this week in your garden, on your daily exercise or maybe on the TV or games you play. Find out what they eat to see if they are carnivores, herbivores or omnivores.
Religion
- Many people belong to special groups. Draw a picture of you in the different groups you belong to. This could be your family, your school, your community, your religion, your clubs, plus more!
Creative
- Find a flower and take a photo of it or use a flower you have in your house or garden (remember not to pick them). Look very closely at the flower and do an observational drawing of it.
I also have a very special activity for you today. Mrs Southern has been thinking about you all lots and thought that it might be fun to complete some little challenges together. Have a look at her video to find out what she would like you to do. Don’t forget to share your challenges with us on Twitter!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyFD0rFmsxI&feature=youtu.be
A message from Mrs Powell
This story of Steven Bradbury highlights the benefits of sticking with it in the long run. You never know what might happen.
Steven Bradbury was an Australian speed skater. He had been to 3 Olympic games already - he hadn't won a medal. Over the past 12 years of training and racing he had suffered some horrific injuries, during which he nearly died. He was financially struggling and had to borrow money from his parents in order to survive.
In the 2002 games he was the oldest competitor in the event. People didn't think he stood a chance, including himself. He had managed to scrape through the heats but had what he describes as the best race on the way when he finished second in the semi-final. He realised he didn't have the raw speed of the younger racers so he employed a tactic of just hanging in there. This worked and got him to the Olympic final.
What can we learn from this? - Stick with it, who knows what might happen. - You can get a huge sense of satisfaction and a big boost from trying your best. - Just how much we can endure and overcome if we want to.
Bradbury trained for 12 years for the Olympics We can all benefit from his approach and learn his lessons if we get in there and have a go ourselves. Go on, go for it!
Follow this link below to see Mrs Powell's video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scxc9RKJ2vM
Have a wonderful day and remember just how special you are to Mrs Southern and I. We are both so proud of you all and can't wait to see you soon.
Miss Gillam
11.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Monday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 11th May 2020 @ 8:25am
Good morning!
It’s Monday again already. I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend and managed to celebrate VE Day in style. I know I did!
Did you see our preview pictures on Twitter yesterday? We have a little surprise for you...
Please start this morning by clicking on this link to enjoy a little video that the staff at Lostock have put together for you. Don't forget to sing along!
Lostock Gralam C of E - When I Grow Up
Once again, I have attached a new timetable for you to follow this week with new tasks and projects to complete – remember this is only a suggested timetable and activities are always optional! Just do what you can, when you can. Please continue to aim for one activity out of each box below each day. This may not happen every day and that is absolutely fine! Your child's mental health is much more important than a home learning task.
|
A little bit of maths
|
A little bit of writing
Remember to use a capital letter, finger spaces, full stop and the conjunction ‘and’. As long as you remember our Year One Non-Negotiables, I don’t mind what you write. |
A little bit of reading
|
A little bit of topic work
|
Today, I would like you to keep working through your maths packs or complete the following lesson online: https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/maths/to-compare-numbers-within-100-on-a-number-line-year-1-wk4-1
You will be comparing numbers to 100 using a number line to help you. Remember, sometimes it is easier to have one in front of you. Do you still have the number line we gave you in your pack?
I have also attached some lovely ‘Walking Maths’ ideas.
On the Oak Academy website, today’s writing lesson is based on ‘The Tiger who came to Tea’. Please follow the link to listen to the story and answer questions about what has been read to you.
https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/english/the-tiger-who-came-to-tea-year-1-wk4-1#slide-2
Have you been enjoying our Geography lessons? Here is a link to the Oak Academy Foundation lesson for the day. In this lesson you will be finding out about South America. https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/foundation/what-is-south-america-like-year-1-wk4-1
Alternatively, if you fancy something a little bit different, why not have a look at today’s History lesson on the BBC Bitesize website. In this session, you will find out about King Henry VIII. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhhsf4j
Please please remember to keep up with your daily Read Write Inc lesson and challenge yourself to read a book every day this week. This can be either a paper book or an online story on the Oxford Owl website.
Take care everyone and stay safe!
Miss Gillam
A message from Mrs Powell
Flowers
Have you planted your sunflower seed? All flowers are different and amazing, so, too, people are all different, but all wonderfully made. Just as flowers can brighten our day when we see them, so, too, each of us can brighten other people’s days by our care and our attitudes. We thank you, God, for the beauty of flowers. Giving flowers shows that we care. Flowers can brighten our day and fill our hearts with gladness. Please help us to be like flowers to other people, Brightening their day and bringing joy to those around us. Amen. Why don’t you give flower-pressing a go! Instructions are available at: https://tinyurl.com/y9hgtkjz
7.5.20, by Miss Gillam
Date: 6th May 2020 @ 9:00pm
Hello Starlings
I hope you all had a lovely day in the sunshine yesterday. As Friday is our special VE Bank Holiday, we would like the children to try out some fun VE activities today. Choose a few which take your fancy and have fun learning about why we will be celebrating VE Day tomorrow.
Some of the activities you can try:
- Learn the Lindy Hop Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=1TmPHBgn1Es&feature=emb_title
- Watch BBC Newsround to learn about VE Day:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/48201749
- Listen to the Horrible Histories VE song:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/watch/horrible-histories-songs-ve-day-song
- Send love to our NHS heroes:
Nurses and others - employed by the NHS and any other part of health and care - we have never needed them more. So let’s show them some love, and create a living map of gratitude from every corner of Britain. By dropping a heart on this map, you’re saying you appreciate the efforts undertaken daily in the NHS.
- Do your hair in a victory roll:
This rolled and pinned hairstyle was popular during the war and became associated with the victory
manoeuvre of fighter aircraft during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Watch the tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=JiNuMHD_vcM&feature=emb_title
- Visit an online museum:
The Imperial War Museum is inviting people to 'visit' from home by listening to a soundscape it has created to commemorate VE Day. ‘Voices of War’ is a four minute work featuring first-hand accounts of VE Day selected from IWM’s vast sound archive. It will be available to listen to at iwm.org.uk/history/victory.
- Cook a 1945-style meal by following these recipes:
Most food was rationed during the war and often cooks had to get inventive with their recipes. Meat shortages meant things like Spam or corned beef hash became staple dishes, while carrots were used to sweeten cakes and biscuits in place of sugar. Other commonly-eaten dishes included the potato, cheese and onion-filled homity pie, supposedly first made by the Land Girls. And where would any British occasion be without scones?
- Join in a national sing-along with Dame Vera Lynn:
The 103-year-old singer will perform from a window at her Sussex home just after 9pm, following the Queen's special address to the nation, and viewers are encouraged to join her.
- Make your own VE Day Anniversary Colour-in Bunting:
Celebrate 75 years of VE Day by decorating your home or classroom with this DIY downloadable colour-in pictorial bunting. https://www.bakerross.co.uk/craft-ideas/teachers/ve-day-anniversary-colour-in-bunting/
- Complete this VE Day Quiz:
- Which came first – VE or VJ Day?
- Which Prime Minister led Britain through WW2?
- Who were Britain’s allies during WW2?
- Where did crowds mainly gather to celebrate the end of the war?
- What happened to Adolf Hitler following the end of the war?
- Choose from some of the attached sheets from Twinkl:
Including make your own Spitfire plane, Morse code-cracking, fact files, themed colouring pages, reading activities etc.
- Look at the English Heritage for some fun activities:
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/siteassets/home/visit/ve-day-75/eh-ve-day-at-home-pack.pdf
On VE day itself join in with the celebrations:
- At 11am, a national two-minute silence will be held to reflect on the sacrifice of those who fought in the war.
- At 3pm, Britons are being invited to take to their doorsteps to raise a glass, cheer and clap during The Nation's Toast to the Heroes of World War Two. The official VE Day website reads that there'll be a chant of the phrase: "To those who gave so much, we thank you."
- A pre-recorded speech by the Queen will be broadcast at 9pm, the very moment her father, King George VI, addressed the people over radio on May 8 1945. It will form part of televised musical event VE Day 75: The People's Celebration on BBC One from 8pm.
I am quite sure that you will all find your own ways to have lots of fun and celebrate VE Day, whether it be by using some of our ideas or your own. However you choose celebrate VE day tomorrow, I hope you all have a wonderful time together with your families.
With love from
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Just over 80 years ago, the Second World War began. It was a huge war that involved most nations of the world. On 8 May 1945 at 3pm, Winston Churchill, the UK prime minister at that time, announced to the nation that the war in Europe was over. This meant an end to nearly six years of war that had cost the lives of millions of people and had destroyed families, homes and cities. Millions rejoiced at the news that Germany had surrendered, relieved that the intense strain of war was finally over. In towns and cities across the world, people marked the victory with street parties, dancing and singing. Can you imagine how it felt? What could you make today for a street party? My Gran Peggy told us that she danced all through the night as she had really missed dancing.
6.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Wednesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 5th May 2020 @ 9:01pm
Good morning my SUPER Starlings, happy Wednesday.
What have you been up to? Have you been a super learner so far this week? It is the start of a new day… I wonder what you will achieve?
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Below are some other exciting activities that you might like to try today.
- Have a go at another one of our ‘Awe and Wonder’ Science experiments. What will you discover today?
- Look in your fridge and kitchen cupboards for different foods. Sort the foods into ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’. Think about why you have put each food where you have.
- Make your own set of binoculars to use in your garden or on your daily walk to spot different wildlife. Write a list of the wildlife you spot in the week.
I hope you are all being kind to your family while you are spending so much time together at home, Starlings. Sometimes it can be tricky spending so much time with the same people. Remember the importance of having your own space and a little bit of quiet time. It is important for adults to have quiet time too. Perhaps you could find a nice quiet activity to do on your own today, give your adult a few minutes to just RELAX. Could you read some books? Watch a film? Do some colouring? Play with your toys?
Have a lovely day and I will speak to you again tomorrow.
With love,
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
What did the world look like on VE day? What were people eating? Over the past few months, you might have had to eat something different because shopping is a little more complicated. What food did people eat on VE day? Lots of you have been growing your own fruits and vegetables; I’m growing tomatoes, herbs and strawberries and waiting to see if my peppers will grow! During the war, food was rationed so people grew as much food as they could. Another one of my Gran’s favourite foods was liver and she would make me and my brothers and sisters eat it all the time because she said it was good for us! We really didn’t like that but I like the ideas of some of these war time foods; my Gran Peggy would have loved the liver casserole!
Here's some of the popular foods eaten during World War II and the sort of dishes that featured in VE Day celebrations. Do you fancy trying any of them?
- Dripping sandwiches with beef fat
- Lord Woolton pie (cauliflower, potatoes, parsnips, oats)
- Pork faggots with onion gravy and mash
- Homity pie (potato, onion and cheese)
- Corned beef hash
- Liver casserole
- Eggless fruit cake. Why do you think it was eggless?
5.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Tuesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 4th May 2020 @ 8:46pm
Hello you wonderful bunch!
How are you? I hope you had another brilliant day of home learning yesterday. It has been so lovely to see so many Tweets and emails about the fabulous things that you have been getting up to at home. Keep them coming!
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Below are some other exciting activities that you might like to try today.
Science
You are going to love this one Starlings… I know lots of you enjoyed the rainbow Science activities that I set last week so I have attached some different experiments for you to have a go at this week. For each experiment, make a prediction about what you think will happen. Think of a way to record what happens in your experiment. You could take photos or a video, or you might write about what happens.
Creative Activities
- Write your name in as many different ways as possible using just a pencil. Think about the size and shape, bubble writing, curly writing, backwards writing, etc.
- Draw a picture on someone’s back using your finger. See if they can guess what you have drawn. Swap and see if you can guess what they draw on you.
Maths
Here is a lovely little maths game for you to play using dice. All you need to do is roll two dice and add the numbers together. Can you write the number sentence? I wonder who will make the largest number?
Challenge: Could you 3 dice and add the numbers together?
Note: Please see optional game board attached. You could roll the same dice 3 times or use an online dice if you are struggling to find one.
Wellbeing
Finally, I have attached a ‘Wellbeing Activity Calendar’ for you to use. In school, we used a similar version as our advent calendar this year. The children loved all the little activities. The calendar contains daily activities to help families look after their wellbeing during self-isolation.
Keep busy, stay safe and keep smiling.
Lots of love from Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Please watch this clip and think about what we talked about yesterday http://tinyurl.com/qbkaq75
I love this story. Do you think Mr George likes cabbage now? Can you imagine how he felt? Victory in Europe (VE) Day marked the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945. Friday 8th May 2015 was the official 70th anniversary of VE Day. VE Day is another day that many people will never forget as it marked the end of a terrible war in Europe, though there was still fighting in Japan until later that year. Mr George’s memorable day was one of great danger followed by relief at still being alive. This is one type of memorable day although hopefully no one present will experience such a day! My Gran Peggy used to tell me when she had her very first orange as you couldn’t get them during the war; she used to make lots of marmalade as oranges became her favourite fruit! Mr George’s story reminds us that we all have special days that will stay with us forever. We don’t know when they will come or what they will be.
4.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Monday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 4th May 2020 @ 8:05am
Hello Starlings,
I hope you are all keeping well and have had a lovely weekend. I had another busy weekend of catch up video calls, films, quizzes and exercise with my family. It is amazing how quickly the weekend goes by even when I can’t get out and about.
Once again, I have attached a new timetable for you to follow this week with new tasks and projects to complete – remember this is only a suggested timetable and activities are always optional! Just do what you can, when you can. Please continue to aim for one activity out of each box below each day. This may not happen every day and that is absolutely fine! Your child's mental health is much more important than a home learning task.
|
A little bit of maths
|
A little bit of writing
Remember to use a capital letter, finger spaces, full stop and the conjunction ‘and’. As long as you remember our Year One Non-Negotiables, I don’t mind what you write. |
A little bit of reading
|
A little bit of topic work
|
Read Write Inc
I hope you are still enjoying our online Read Write Inc lessons. At this time, if your Starling is confident in the set they are working on and can read every sound from the set in lots of different words both during the lesson and in reading books, they are then ready to move onto the next set. Please do not rush this, we expect children to remain on the same set and need to repeat sounds, this is totally normal.
Note: If you have completed set 3, please continue to revisit these lessons and play games on websites like phonicsplay.co.uk. It is important to keep revisiting sounds to ensure that your child retains the new learning while developing fluency in reading.
On the Oxford Owl website, there are now some Speedy Green Word slideshows available to use at home. These slideshows are a great way to help with children’s fluency. There are eight slideshows covering all Read Write Inc levels available on the link below. Please follow the link and scroll down to ‘Speedy Green Word Slideshows’. Visiting this website may also remind you of some of the other brilliant Read Write Inc resources available to support home learning.
Miss Gillam’s Recommended Daily Jobs
- Spell your name (and other words) using the exciting fitness activity attached. Every letter has an assigned action. Perhaps you could video yourself spelling a word so your friends can guess what you are spelling? This game is great for both spelling and exercise!
- Today’s Maths lesson is all about recognising, reading and writing numbers to 100 on the ‘Oak Academy’ website. Remember to use the number line to help you and to count in 10s and 1s. It is much quicker!
Eg. 10 20 30 40 41 42 43. There are 43.
Today would be a fabulous day to start the ‘Oak Academy’ Writing lessons. As today is a brand new story, it would be a brilliant starting point if you have not yet completed any of these lessons. You can then follow the sequence of lessons with ease. Will you get a rainbow cheer for your super learning today?
Thank you all for your continued hard work and support. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Love from Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
Good morning! This week we are going to think about V.E day. I’m going to tell you little stories that my Granny Peggy told me; she lived in London during the war and my Grandad was an RAF pilot. First of all, I want you to think about a day you will always remember, happy or sad. A birthday, a family event, something you shared with friends. Is there a special food that reminds you of that day? My niece Edith is now 3 and I was lucky enough to visit her in hospital when she was a few hours old. I remember that gorgeous feeling, how hot the hospital was and helping my sister eat the chocolate I had brought for her! What special memory do you have? What reminds you of that? Some memorable days are happy and some are sad. Each of us will have our own experiences and our own reactions to them. There are as many different sorts of memorable days as there are different sorts of people.
1.5.20 Starlings Class Blog - Friday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 1st May 2020 @ 8:56am
Hello hello hello!
Are you ready for the weekend? Did you notice anything different about the date today? Thank you so much for all of your hard work this week, you are all making me so proud. Our Twitter feed is looking fantastic, filling quickly with lots of your amazing home learning. Please remember that you can also send work or photographs of your quality family time together to me via email. I can then Tweet the work for you if you would like me to.
admin@lostockgralam.cheshire.sch.uk
Do you like playing maths games? I know I do! Here is a link to some super games for you to play online. Please select either number bonds, doubles or halves. I do not expect the children to learn timetables in Year One. Learning how to count in 2s, 5s, and 10s is the expectation for our year group.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
Today is the ‘Friday Maths Challenge’ on the White Rose Maths website. Follow the link and scroll down to Friday. The most suitable questions for Starlings and questions 1 and 2. But why don’t you work with your family on the rest of the problems? Solve as many as you can! Help each other out.
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/year-1/
Art Challenge
Who is Max Ernst? What Art technique is he famous for? Follow the link below to a fantastic Art lesson, perfect for a Friday afternoon. All you will need for this lesson is a pencil and a piece of paper. Enjoy!
https://www.thenational.academy/year-1/foundation/to-go-on-a-texture-treasure-hunt-year-1-wk2-5
My final idea is a bit like Marmite. You will either love it or hate it. Please feel free to pretend that you never even saw this one…
Why not have a go at making music using everyday objects? Maybe you could use pots and pans to make your own drum kit? Please use the link below as inspiration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svg_fIoHij8
Have a lovely weekend Starlings. Stay safe and keep smiling.
Love
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
“Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.” Roald Dahl
You are amazing and you are doing something very special; by not leaving the house you are keeping safe. We have talked about making one small change that can change the world and actually that is what you are doing right now. I’ve said this a lot but future children will be reading how you made the world a safer place by staying inside.
Remember what you are doing is amazing and we are so proud of you. If you can, have a hot chocolate today. If not, have a cup of anything you like to drink and remember how very special we think you are!
“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.” Winnie the Pooh
30.4.20 Starlings Class Blog - Thursday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 30th Apr 2020 @ 8:52am
Hello everyone!
I hope that you all had a lovely day yesterday and managed to keep busy despite the rain. It was so lovely to see so many science experiments taking over Twitter. Keep them coming! Could you have a go at another rainbow experiment today? The ‘fruity sweets’ (aka Skittles) one looks like fun! 🌈
Maybe you could have a go at guessing the riddles attached and then write a new one about a book character from a story that you know. Make sure you send it to me so I can guess who you’ve written about! Perhaps you could video yourself saying your riddle so other children can have a go at guessing it on our Twitter page? ✏️
Are you feeling sporty today? Take a look at some of the games on this link for some inspiration on different ways to keep fit and healthy. Enjoy!
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/pe-home-learning
Each week, Oak View Academy are going to host an assembly, available from 11am each Thursday. They will provide opportunities for children to come together, hear from some inspirational guest speakers, and to think and talk about wider things affecting us. Check out the first assembly today at 11am!
https://www.thenational.academy/assembly
Please remember to take a look at our class timetable for some more suggestions to help you to keep busy. Don’t forget how important daily reading and counting practice is too!
Have a lovely day and I will speak to you again tomorrow.
With love,
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you like, as long as somebody loves you.” Roald Dahl
We always say that everyone is special and that we are all unique. During the past few months, you have been surrounded by love and we have all been reminded just how special those people around us are. Who are you going to tell how special they are today?
29.4.20 Starlings Class Blog - Wednesday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 28th Apr 2020 @ 5:28pm
Good morning my lovely Starlings,
WOW! It is Wednesday already and we are half way through another week. How are you? I hope you are feeling happy, safe and well. I hope you had a fabulous day yesterday and managed to keep busy despite the gloomier weather. It looks like you might need your coat and wellies if you go outside again today. ☔️ If you want to stay in the dry, have a look at some of these indoor activities attached to keep you busy.
Lots of you have beautiful rainbow pictures in your windows for everyone to see but how about growing your own rainbow? Have a go at one of the rainbow science activities attached for today’s special challenge! I’d love to see pictures or videos of you giving it a go.
Please continue to follow our class timetable and task list attached. Are you still enjoying your Oak National Academy and BBC Bitesize lessons? You might now notice that you prefer one resource to the other and choose to follow the sequence of lessons. This would be particularly useful for the writing lessons on the Oak National Academy website. If you have missed sessions, you can still go back to session one to ensure that each activity makes sense, as they do sometimes refer to learning from previous sessions.
- https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom/year-1/english#subjects
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/tags/zjpqqp3/year-1-and-p2-lessons/1
- https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/year-1/
Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with photos, messages and questions this week. Remember, if there is anything you need, I am here to help.
Miss Gillam
A message from Mrs Powell
“No book ever ends when it’s full of your friends.” Roald Dahl
Do books ever end if you have really loved them? Are there books you just love and don’t want to ever end? We remember stories forever; I still remember reading The Enchanted Wood when I was little, and when I read it to my daughter Emily it felt like I was visiting friends again. What book will you read when you are older? Maybe you are being read a book that someone loved when they were little.
28.4.20, by Miss Gillam
Date: 28th Apr 2020 @ 8:58am
Good morning Starlings,
Today is the perfect day for a bit of a lie in, isn’t it? I know my garden is feeling glad of a little bit of rain after all the dry weather we have had. Have you been remembering to water your sunflower seed?
What are you going to do today? Perhaps you could play a board game, complete a jigsaw, watch a movie or even play musical statues? I have been loving playing scrabble and connect 4 recently. I think I might raid the cupboard under of the stairs to see if I can find ‘Monopoly’ today, my favourite!
Please continue to follow our attached timetable and task list today. Keep showing me your super learning on Twitter, I love seeing what you have been getting up to.
Maths and Art
I have attached a ‘Maths and Art Document’ provided by First4Maths. There are lots of different ideas of how you can access maths through art work. Great fun!
Science Project - Animals
What is a mammal? What is a reptile? Can you use the internet to find out what these scientific words mean? Use a page of your exercise book to tell me what you find out. You could draw some animals under each heading, write a list or do something completely different. Please then complete page 69 of your pack, using what you found out to help you.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z6882hv/articles/zp92xnb
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z6882hv/articles/zp9pfg8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pap2a3PSkbw
At this time, you might be starting to miss your lovely Starling friends. Here is a link to a lesson on the BBC Bitesize website all about the importance of friendships. This lesson includes a video to get youactive, two video clips about friendships between children and two brilliantr practice activities.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhmpnrd
Thank you for all of your hard work. I am so proud of you all and think each and every one of you is amazing. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Have a FABULOUS day!
Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
“If you’re going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.” Roald Dahl
What could you read today? I’ve realised that I’m always talking about reading but that is because books are brilliant and you can learn so much without realising it. You learn lots of new words, visit new places, learn new skills or just get lost in a wonderful story.
27.4.20 Starlings Class Blog -Monday, by Miss Gillam
Date: 26th Apr 2020 @ 8:01pm
Hello Starlings,
I hope you are all keeping well and have had a lovely weekend. I had a busy weekend of catch up phone calls, exercise and garden games with my family. It is amazing how quickly the weekend goes by even when I can’t get out and about.
Once again, I have attached a new timetable for you to follow this week with new tasks and projects to complete – remember this is only a suggested timetable and activities are always optional! Just do what you can, when you can.
I know lots of you are now running out of resources in your packs that we printed out for you in school. Please do not worry about this. We are so lucky that there are now so many more online resources available for free to help the children to continue their learning journey whilst being home schooled. Although many online lessons have printable resources, it is not expected that you print these at home. Recording answers and copying out questions onto a piece of paper or into your exercise book is more than good enough.
Please continue to aim for one activity out of each box below each day. This may not happen every day and that is absolutely fine! Your child's mental health is much more important than a home learning task.
|
A little bit of maths
|
A little bit of writing
Remember to use a capital letter, finger spaces, full stop and the conjunction ‘and’, |
A little bit of reading
|
A little bit of topic work
|
Miss Gillam’s Recommended Daily Jobs
- I love the writing lesson on the BBC Bitesize home learning page today. It is all about forming letters correctly, something that we all need to master by the end of year one. It then goes on to teaching the children all about alliteration. The really rapid race reminded me of a race we learnt about at the Museum of Science and History. Can your Starling tell you about ‘The Big Bike Race’? Can you tell you about Hans Renold and the invention of the chain?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zh8c47h
- Again on the BBC Bitesize website is a fantastic maths activity based on ordinal numbers. We use ordinal numbers to describe which order things come in. Ordinal numbers are words like:
- 1st - first
- 2nd - second
- 3rd - third
- 4th - fourth
- 5th - fifth
- 6th - sixth
and so on...
Please use the link below to access some lovely teaching videos and activities based on ordinal numbers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhw8d6f
Thank you all for your continued hard work and support. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Love from Miss Gillam
Message from Mrs Powell
“The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives.” Matilda
When you listen to a brilliant story or read a great book, do you think about the characters and imagine you are doing those exciting things? What would it like to be Harry Potter, to go through the Gruffalo wood or visit Narnia?