Class 1

Welcome to Class 1 – Our Early Years Unit for Reception and Nursery!

 We are Mrs Godman and Miss Vardy and have been the early years team at Aldbury for 6 years. We are lucky to have the support of Miss Shepherd and Mrs Janes this year.

 The Class 1 team aim to foster an inclusive classroom, enabling all members to flourish and make everyone feel happy and welcome.

We hope that this page will keep parents and carers up to date with all the exciting things that are happening in our class. We are very excited for the children to continue to discover all the wonderful things that make Nursery and Reception special.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to message Mrs Godman on Dojo or arrange to speak with her after school. 

Autumn 1st half 2024 Subjects/Topics

English/Literacy

The first book that the class will be exploring is 'Where the Wild things are'. One night Max puts on his wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another, so his mother calls him 'Wild Thing' and sends him to bed without his supper. That night a forest begins to grow in Max's room and an ocean rushes by with a boat to take Max to the place where the wild things are. Max tames the wild things and crowns himself as their king, and then the wild rumpus begins. But when Max has sent the monsters to bed, and everything is quiet, he starts to feel lonely and realises it is time to sail home to the place where someone loves him best of all.

In this Writing Root, the children discover some footprints and a clump of fur: who – or what- has been in class? Then they find Sam’s Sack, which is filled with objects beginning with the letter ‘s’. The classic text Where the Wild Things Are is shared and then, through song, roleplay and activities such as Monster Meet and Greet, the children devise their own Wild Thing characters to create their own version of the story. 

This classic text is widely considered one of the most important picture books for children and has had many different adaptations since first being published in 1963, including an animation, a live action film and even an opera. Multi-award winning, prolific author and illustrator Maurice Sendak has a distinctive and iconic stye and this text is the one he is most known for. This book has links to PSHE, exploring behavioural expectations, coping with strong emotions and the power of the imagination. 

Music lessons

One of the units we will be covering this half term is 'I've got a grumpy face'. The song I’ve got a grumpy face explores emotions and feelings using the voice and facial expressions. It provides the starting point for experimenting with timbre using voices and instruments, and composing new verses.

Most children will be able to:

• Make up new words and actions about different emotions and feelings.
• Explore making sound with their voices and percussion instruments to create different feelings and moods.
• Sing with a sense of pitch, following the shape of the melody with their voices.
• Mark the beat of the song with actions.

Physical Education (PE)

Game On Sports Coaches come into school on Fridays. This half term they are looking at all the exciting equipment we have to use in school. 

Miss Vardy and Mrs Godman also lead a PE lesson on a Monday. This half term is all about dance.

PSHE - Personal, Social, Health Education

This half term our topic is called 'Being Me in My World'. This learning journey helps children understand the importance of belonging, managing emotions, and building a positive community. Through various activities involving Jigsaw Jenie, Jigsaw Jerrie Cat, and interactive tools like the Jigsaw Chime, children learn about their feelings, empathy, and the rights of others. They explore how to work together, use gentle hands, and care for their peers' emotions. The lessons emphasise the importance of creating a supportive learning environment, understanding responsibilities, and respecting everyone's right to learn and play. Each session builds on these ideas, encouraging children to contribute positively to their school community.