Week Commencing 13th July 2020

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Hello Year 1,

 

How are you all this week? Would you believe that you have made it to your final week in Year One already? You should all be so proud of how far you have come and everything you have achieved throughout your time in Year 1, whether this be at school or at home. We know the last term has been a little different, but we could not be more impressed with the resilience and perseverance you have shown along the way. We are so very pleased with each and every one of you and we know that you will continue to build on these skills in Year 2.

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As your final part of home-learning for this year we hope that you will enjoy all the fun and exciting activities we have planned for you. This is your last week of work so give it that final push, making sure to try your very best and have fun whilst doing so. We think that you will particularly enjoy the cooking aspect to this week’s learning. What food will you use to create your treasure map that you can eat? Remember to make sure you put ‘x marks the spot’ for the buried treasure! And even though it is the last week you can still send us pictures of your creations to hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk (Year 1 in the subject), we would really love to see how imaginative you have been.

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This week in wellbeing you are thinking about looking forward to Year 2. There are 3 questions for you to have a think about and to complete the sentences and then you get to design your own pair of sunglasses with all your favourite lessons in the lenses! You all should be so proud of what you have achieved in Year 1 and you will continue to build on this in Year 2.

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This week for reading we have chosen our favourite story, The Rainbow Fish. We love this book because it teaches the importance of kindness, you can watch Mrs Hannaway read the story on the website too. Not only is being kind to others one of the Gig-Mill school rules; it is also something that is very important to follow all of the time. What have you done since being at home that has been kind and brightened up someone else’s day? Miss McMahon and Mr Withers have had their birthdays whilst you have been at home, so we have all made sure to make that day special for each other by sending each other a nice message. Maybe you could write a kind message or draw a picture for someone that you haven’t seen in a while. Think about what might make them smile.

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All three of us are incredibly proud of each and every one of you! Well done for all you have achieved; you have continued to exceed expectations and develop your passion and love for learning along the way. A fantastic year, we know you will keep striving for success in year 2.

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Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers 😊

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Week Commencing 6th July 2020
 

Hello Year 1,

 

How did you get on with your balancing challenge? Did you get the highest score? We know you will have all tried your hardest and persevered. This week in PE it is time to get your dancing feet going. Although some of you may not necessarily enjoy dancing remember there are lots of ways to move and to express yourself to music. So, this is a chance to become creative and see what you can do. You were all great when we did our Lion King and Enormous Turnip dances.

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In maths this week, you are learning about capacity – this is quite a big word. Before you start your learning, what do you think the word capacity could mean? We will give you a clue, you often need liquid and containers to help you. Remember when we are learning something new it’s ok to not get everything right because you are still learning about it. You will need your capacity knowledge to help you with this week's topic and computing tasks. When completing your topic task, try to use as many of the words linking to capacity to describe what you are doing as you can e.g. my jelly boat is half full, it had 100ml of water.
 

This week in Phonics we are focusing on alternative ‘igh’ sounds. We thought that you would enjoy becoming a detective and going on a sound hunt to find as many alternative ‘igh’ as you can. Not only could you practise writing the word but this week we would love for you to have a go at drawing your own phonics flashcards.
 

We have loved seeing your fish that you have created through Purple Mash and we look forward to seeing more of your work this week. Have a look in your 2Do’s - this week it is practising your number bonds.  
 

This week for wellbeing you are looking back on your time in Year 1, we look forward to seeing your memory roads and what you have enjoyed about this year.
 

We are really missing your voices and smiley faces. Keep on being safe and trying your best at home. We are all so proud of you.

 

Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers 😊

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Week Commencing 29th June 2020

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Hello Year 1,

 

What has been your favourite part of your week this week? How did you get on with the challenges you have set yourself? Did any of you complete your challenges – Miss McMahon has managed to complete hers so is thinking of a new one for this week. Miss Hatton and Mr Withers are still working hard at theirs so maybe you are too. Remember perseverance is key!

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Another challenge we set you was to see if you could create a boat out of recycled materials that floated. It was amazing to see your boats in action and how creative you were with the recycled materials you used. Thank you for sending them in.

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This week we are finishing our summer topic of ‘Beside the Seaside’, we thought it would be nice for you to write a recount of what you have enjoyed learning about and maybe even some ideas about what you would have liked to have learnt about so we can use your ideas to help us next year. We have really enjoyed seeing all your creations to do with this topic and how imaginative you have all been. We are exceptionally proud of you; we know it has been a little different learning from home and not in the classroom. Over the next few weeks there are some exciting topic lessons to look forward to!

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You are all superstars at your rolling numbers, and we hope you have enjoyed practising your times tables in our maths challenges over the past couple of weeks. This week you will be using your multiplication knowledge to help you with the Oak Academy learning. Can you create equal groups using items from around your house? There may be things that are already in equal groups, have a look around and see what you can spot.

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This week, you will notice in our overviews that where a video is being used from YouTube we are accessing it through SafeYouTube to make sure that the content that you see is always safe and suitable. You will now only see the video that we wish to share via the link on our overview which helps to ensure that we are all keeping safe online.

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Often in PE we practise our balancing skills, this week we have combined PE and Wellbeing together, challenge yourself and how long you can hold your balances. Remember the game that we have played many times in PE where your teacher tells you parts of your body you can balance on e.g. if we said 3, you could balance on one foot and two hands. Why don’t you play this game with someone in your household to see who can get the highest score?

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Keep trying your best, you are all brilliant! Remember to spread your happiness and joy.

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As always stay safe,

 

Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers 😊

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Week Commencing 22nd June 2020

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Hello Year 1,

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We hope you’re all staying positive, looking after your families and challenging yourself in your learning. What was your favourite part about last week's learning? How exciting that it was Dudley Castle’s 950th birthday, did you send off your entries for the competition? It was lovely to see some of your creations – we really enjoyed receiving them and we thought you were very imaginative.

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Remember if you would like to send us any of your work send it to hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk (Year 1 in the subject), it makes us so proud to see you trying your best at the activities we are setting you and coming up with interesting ways to approach your learning.

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This week, we think you will really enjoy topic work! You’ve got to put your recycling skills to the test and see if you can create a boat that floats (can you spot the rhyming words?) For this activity you will need to think about the materials that you are going to use and whether or not they are waterproof. We look forward to seeing your boats and how they cope on the water.

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In wellbeing for this week, you will notice two big words that link to the Gig-Mill school values – perseverance and resilience. Do you think you know what these words mean? Have a go at explaining their meaning to a grown up in your house. What do you think you can do to build these skills? Miss McMahon is setting herself the goal to run 10km, Mr Withers is setting himself the goal of walking further each day and Miss Hatton is trying to get more creative in the decorating of her cakes. What challenge will give yourself? Maybe you can get your whole house involved and make it a family activity.

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You all came such a long way with your phonics, so keep up the hard work and make sure to use your phonics in your reading. We know you all love books and so this is a great way to read and practise at the same time. Can you spot some of the sounds that we have already learnt in your books? Which is the most common sound you can see?

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As always, we are incredibly proud of all your hard work and achievements. We hope you enjoy the tasks and challenges we have set for you this week but remember the most important thing is to try your best and have fun whilst doing so.

 

Never give up. Keep smiling and stay safe,

 

Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers 😊

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Week Commencing 15th June 2020

Hello Year 1,
 

We hope you are all ok and enjoyed getting creative with your art pictures this week. Although the weather wasn’t quite so hot last week, we hope you still managed to create a lovely picture to do with summer. This week it’s all about getting creative and designing a piece of artwork on Dudley Castle for its birthday! Do you know how old it’s going to be? Have a guess and see if you can get it right!

Did you enjoy Oceans Day? We hope that you managed to help the sea creatures by helping to recycle items around your house and sorting them into their different materials. Did you recognise any 3D shapes whilst you were helping with the recycling? If not have a look next time and see what you can spot!
 

This week we are continuing with the Oak Academy tasks, but we have also set you a few extra challenges as normal including a little science experiment! We hope you enjoy having a go and predicting what you think might happen before you have a go. Remember if you would like to send us any of your work send it to hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk (Year 1 in the subject), we love seeing what you have been up to.
 

All we ask is that you continue to try your best and have fun whilst you are learning. Don’t worry if you can’t do it all, just have a go. You are all super hard workers and we are incredibly proud of how hard we know you will have been working for your grownups too.
 

As always, make sure to keep positive and stay safe, you are all doing so well!

 

Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers 😊

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Week Commencing 8th June 2020

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Hello Year 1,
 

We hope you have had a great week and have enjoyed the sun. We hope you found the activities we set you were lots of fun, remember if you want to show us any of your work or special activities don’t forget you can send it to hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk. (Please use Y1 in the email title / subject). We really enjoy seeing what you have been up to.
 

This week we have created another set of activities for you. We are looking forward to seeing your nature pictures and hopefully you will enjoy learning about recycling and how you can help your environment.
 

Miss Hatton, Miss McMahon and Mr Withers have continued their cooking and this week Mr Withers has enjoyed lots of cake after his birthday. Have you helped cook anything while you’ve been at home?
 

Remember to keep smiling and keep trying your best. You are all superstars and we continue to be very proud of you! Keep doing what makes you happy.

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Miss Hatton Miss McMahon and Mr Withers

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Week Commencing 1st June 2020

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Hello Year 1,
 

We hope you had a great half term and enjoyed spending time with your family whilst staying safe. Did you try something new or do something that you really enjoyed? What was it? As always, we love to hear what you have been up to and it has been fantastic to see all the amazing things that you have been doing. If you want to show us any of your work or special activities don’t forget you can send it to hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk. (Please use Y1 in the email title / subject). It puts a big smile on our faces when we receive things from you.
 

This week we have created another set of activities for you, continuing with Oak Academy for English and Maths. We hope that you enjoy the creative side of this week's plan with topic and computing linking together to explore music. Miss Hatton, Mr Withers and Miss McMahon all know how creative you can be when we get the instruments out at school so we are looking forward to seeing your creations this week.
 

We have reached our Marvellous Middle of our topic “Beside the Seaside”. What have you enjoyed learning about so far? When people visit the seaside sometimes, they have a picnic, have you had a picnic? If not, maybe you could create your own picnic to have inside or outside?
 

We are missing all your smiley faces, conversations and enthusiasm to learn but we are all very proud of what you are doing at home. Remember to always keep safe but it is also important to have a good balance of school work and doing the activities you enjoy. Miss Hatton, Miss McMahon and Mr Withers have all being trying to cook new recipes each week and have been sharing our successes with each other, our favourite so far has been our very own version of Nandos.
 

Keep smiling and keep up the good work. We all very proud of you and missing you so much, you are all superstars! Remember to do what makes you happy 😊
 

Miss McMahon, Mr Withers and Miss Hatton

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Week Commencing 18th May 2020

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Hello Year 1!  

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We hope you are continuing to work hard at home and are enjoying some of the work that has been set for you.  

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This week in our topic, we are learning all about the history of the seaside. We all love going to the seaside and we are hoping to be able to go there in the summer if it is possible. Have you ever been to the seaside? What did you enjoy about the seaside? How is the seaside different to where we live in Stourbridge?  

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The seaside has changed a lot over the years. Why don’t you ask your family what they remember about the seaside from when they were young? How is the seaside different now? Your family might have some photographs of seaside holidays from when they were young. You could look at these photographs together to help you. 

 

Remember if you want share your work with us please share it via the email hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk. (Please use Y1 in the email title / subject.) We really enjoy seeing all your hard work. 

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We are really proud of all of you, keep working hard and enjoy your home-learning activities and remember to have lots of fun with your family too. 

 

Mr Withers, Miss McMahon and Miss Hatton :) 

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Week Commencing 11th May 2020

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Hello Year 1!,

  

We hope you are still smiling and keeping your spirits high – the sun is now shining again! 

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It has been lovely to see your plants and lighthouses along with lots of your other work this week. Mr Withers made some lighthouses with some of the children in school last week too. 

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We hope you enjoyed looking up the different coastal features last week, did you find out any interesting facts? This week you are learning all about maps! Have you ever had to use a map? Do you have one at home? Don’t worry if you don’t have one as you will be creating your own this week, we are looking forward to seeing how creative you can be! 

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Did you do anything special for VE Day? Mr Withers, Miss McMahon and Miss Hatton dressed up in red, white and blue for the day and made a flag that they could stick in their window next to their rainbows.  

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If you want to share your work with us, remember to use the new school email hello@gig-mill.dudley.sch.uk. (Use Y1 in the email title / subject box) We really love seeing your work and it brings a smile to our day. 

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Remember that whatever you are doing this week stay safe, have fun and keep smiling.   

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You are all stars, we are very proud of you! 

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Mr Withers, Miss McMahon and Miss Hatton :) 

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Week Commencing 4th May 2020

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Good morning Year 1!  

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We hope that you are staying safe at home and still smiling.  

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We have loved seeing your work and your smiling faces this week and can’t wait to see more of what you have been up to.  

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Miss McMahon, Miss Hatton and Mr Withers all had a challenge of their own last week along with all the other staff. Mrs Hannaway sent us all a secret word and asked to create the word in anyway we wanted and take a picture with it ready to send back to her. We hope you have seen our picture in the video of all the staff at Gig Mill, if you haven’t watched it yet see who you can spot by looking on the school website. 

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This week we have set you some more activities and challenges which we hope you will enjoy completing. Don’t worry if you don’t manage to complete them all, remember the most important thing is trying your hardest and doing your best. 

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We hope you are enjoying the new topic ‘Beside the Seaside’ and this week you will learn some new key words to do with our topic. You can get very creative with Maths and Wellbeing this week so please share with us your potions and your creative ways to weigh things around your house.  

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This week, we'd also like to invite you and your family to join in the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of VE Day, which is happening on Friday 8th May. Please click on the link on the school website homepage or here. 

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As well as having a go at these activities remember to do the things that you enjoy doing with your family, as this is also very important.  

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Keep up the hard work, you are all doing brilliantly.  

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Mr Withers, Miss McMahon and Miss Hatton :) 

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Week Commencing 27th April 2020

Good morning Year 1!  

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We hope that you are all ok and staying safe at home.  

Miss Hatton, Mr Withers and Miss McMahon were in school recently and we have all made rainbows using different materials. Have you made a rainbow yet? If you haven’t why not try and make your own, you can use anything - if you can, you could even go outside and have a go at creating one in this lovely sunny weather. 
 

We have even had to replant some of the beans - we’ve put a stick in the pot to help the plant stand up as it gets taller.  

 

How big are your beans? Have you had to replant them? This week we have set you a science task to do with plants, you can even use your bean to help you! 

As a little challenge, if you’re out in your garden or on your daily exercise walk, we would like you to try and collect some natural materials such as leaves, twigs and anything else that you can spot. You can use these to help you create your topic challenge for this week of making a lighthouse.  
 

We have put together some other activities that we thought you might enjoy this week, and we hope you enjoy our new topic ‘Beside the Seaside’.  

We hope you are all keeping yourselves and your family safe and making sure that you look after each other whilst you are at home and you keep on smiling. When we were at school, we know how hard you were all working and we are so proud of everything you’ve achieved this year so far.  

 

Keep up the hard work, 

 

Mr Withers, Miss McMahon and Miss Hatton :)