The Junior School Curriculum
Year 1
Years 1 and 2 make up Key Stage 1 of your child's education.
GENERAL INFORMATION
J1 are expected to line up in the playground in the mornings and to be responsible for their own book bags, lunchboxes etc.
Pupils may bring in a drink of water and a piece of fruit for playtime in containers which should be clearly named.
HOMEWORK
Your child will bring home a reading book on most evenings.
Spellings will be sent home on a Friday to be learned for the following week.
Initially, one short piece of English and Maths homework will be set each week. Later in the year, short piece of weekend homework may also be set. Whenever possible completed homework should be returned the day after it has been set.
LITERACY/ENGLISH
Spelling
In J1, the children have spelling tests weekly. They will begin by revising words from Reception. Later they will progress to words with common rhyming patterns and letter blends. They should follow the 'look, cover, write, check' method in learning their words.
Reading
Reading is not a race - it is a doorway into a world of information and imagination. The children have a reading book from our reading scheme to take home as well as a school library book. We encourage them to read at home and they will be heard at school as well.
The reading record book enables parents and teachers to communicate about the pupil's reading and any other topics of interest.
Library
Our library day is on a Thursday. Please make sure that books are returned on that day. Whenever possible please visit a local library both to borrow books and find out information for topic work.
Writing
Joined up handwriting was introduced in Reception. The enclosed sheet shows how the letters are formed and will enable children to practise at home. Continue to encourage your child to write independently e.g. signing birthday cards, writing stories.
NUMERACY / MATHEMATICS
We will be covering the following topics throughout the year: addition and subtraction to 20 (and beyond), shape, measure and data handling, money and time. We will introduce a variety of mental maths activities throughout the lessons and also undertake maths investigations. Each child will have a hundred square and number line in their homework books to support with maths activities.
SCIENCE
Each half term we study a different topic.
Autumn Term
- Sound
- Light
Spring Term
- Materials
- Living and Non Living Things
Summer Term
- Mini Beasts
- Forces
If the children have information at home about any of these topics they may bring it in to share with us.
TOPIC
In J1 the children are taught history and geography in topic lessons.
In history, the topics are:
- Tutankhamen
- Boudicca
- The Mayflower
- The Castle
- King Alfred
- King Harold
In geography the topics are:
- The Weather
- Shops
- Transport
- The British Isles
- The Surrounding Environment
- Homes
P.E. / GAMES / SWIMMING
J1 will be having 2 lessons of Games (outdoors) and 2 lessons of P.E. (indoors). For the Games lesson they will need outdoor trainers, white socks and their P.E. kit. Indoors they will need their P.E. kit with indoor plimsolls and white socks. Please ensure all clothing brought into school is clearly named.
Year 1 will swim on a Tuesday morning. The lesson is from 10.30 - 11.00 a.m. The mini bus leaves Chessington Lodge at 10.00 a.m promptly.
The swimming costume should be mainly blue. One piece for girls and trunks, not shorts, for boys. All pupils will be required to wear a swimming hat. Swimming costumes/hats are available to purchase from the Junior School Office.
ART AND D.T.
We will be using a range of materials and techniques this year, including paint and glue, therefore each child should keep their own art overall in school.
VISITS / SPECIAL OCCASIONS
We aim to have a visit each term. This term, Years 1 & 2 will be visiting the Polka Theatre to see 'James and the Giant Peach' on Friday 27th November.
The Chessington Lodge Christmas Celebration will take place on Friday 11th December at 2.00 p.m. at St Mary's Church. The Christmas Parties will take place on Wednesday 16th December.
We will give you more details about these events nearer the time.
ASSEMBLIES
Assemblies take place everyday. Once each half term we meet as a whole Junior School at Chessington Lodge. We hold an assembly in the Church for J1-J6 twice a term; the next church assembly is our Harvest Festival on Wednesday 23rd September at 9.00 am.
If you have any concerns or problems during the year, please do not hesitate to come and see Miss Scanlon or Miss Hewitt