Wonder Zone - Year 1 and 2

  • Suzanne Bray

    Class Teacher

  • Mrs Lorna Kite

    Class Teacher

  • Mrs Karen Edwards

    Higher Level Teaching Assistant

  • Miss Kim Whaley

    Teaching Assistant

  • Mr Guy Wakeham

    Teaching Assistant

Welcome to Wonder Zone! In our KS1 class children hone the skills of independent learning and explore the curriculum through a creative and energetic approach.  Learning is driven by the enthusiasm of both staff and pupils, with quality talk promoting inquiry and reflection.  We recognise and celebrate the fact that we are all individuals and take time to listen to each other with thought and compassion.  Children are happy to acknowledge their mistakes as an essential and valuable part of their learning process, and the supportive and inclusive environment means that children become empowered, confident learners. 

The adults in the class encourage rich conversations and facilitate the learning through the use of the 5 B’s – Brain, Bits & Bobs, Book, Buddy and Big.  The classroom is organised, colourful and a place of shared responsibility wherein children feel confident to ask for equipment, models and vocabulary to support their understanding. Children are encouraged to become "stretchy," curious learners who are always keen to explore the next steps in their learning journey.

 In English we have started to use the highly successful Read Write Inc to teach phonics, reading and spelling. As well as this, we are continuing to focus on punctuation and grammar with the aim of being really aware of the way in which sentences are crafted and words changed.  In maths, we are driving number knowledge, number patterns, times table facts and practicing the calculation of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. There are many really useful websites that can support this learning and help your child continue to explore key concepts at home:

English:

RWI phonics for parents

Oxford ebook Library 

Maths

www.topmarks.co.uk

www.ictgames.com

www.crickweb.co.uk

Mathletics: https://login.mathletics.com/

Times Tables Rockstars: https://ttrockstars.com/login

 

Additional online resources for times tables:

 

Oxford Owl - https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/maths/help-with-times-tables/ - this website has some ideas for supporting your child at home and some printable and online games.

The School Run - https://www.theschoolrun.com/maths/times-tables - has some advice for ways to learn times tables and different apps that are available at https://www.theschoolrun.com/best-times-tables-apps-for-kids

Times tables - https://www.timestables.co.uk/ - online games and support.

Mr Thorne's Times Tables Terra App has practice in each table that is not timed like TT Rockstars. There is a corresponding division app too. 

 

 

 

Autumn Term 2020 - 'Ourselves'
 
It has been so wonderful to welcome the children and families back to school. For all of the children in year 1 and 2, Wonderzone is a new class and the children have been so grown up coming into school without their parents under the new COVID rules - we are proud of them all and thank the parents for taking the time to prepare them for the new school environment.
 
This term our topic is 'Ourselves' and so far we have been learning about families and friendship in  English, how to keep ourselves healthy in science including lots of talk about germs and washing hands! In geography we have been learning about the geography of our school and in art after painting our portraits we have embarked on a colourful journey to learn all about primary and secondary colours and the art of Keith Haring. We are looking forward to more exciting learning ahead!
 
Wonder Zone's Topic Launch for Fair's Fair - Spring 2020
 
Wonder Zone launched this term's topic, Fair's Fair with a focus on fair-trade. On the first day of the Spring term, the children throughly enjoyed learning about the journey of a banana and the importance of fair-trade. On the second day, they practised their baking skills! Carefully, the children read and followed the recipes to make a delicious banana bread and scrumptious chocolate truffles! The children have started learning about how to keep healthy in their Science lessons and understand that cakes and chocolates are treats, meaning we only have a little occasionally. The children are now looking forward to their trip to The Eden Project where there will be a focus on the journey of chocolate. 
Potion Commotion Topic Launch! Autumn 2019
 
We started our first topic this year with a day to excite all of our senses! Children and teachers dressed up along a magical theme to find out more about potions and magic.
The day started with a potion making workshop with Mrs Kite and Mrs Patterson. After learning about the uses of common herbs they children began to devise their own potion for a friend or family member using a range of herbs, scented oils, coloured water and glitters. They labelled their potions for their chosen person and then told everyone else what effect they hoped the potion would have. 
The children then went on to Mr Birchall in the hall to make potion smoothies using a variety of ingredients, naming and trying their smoothie and assessing it. Some of the smoothies were surprising but the children really enjoyed giving them a try. 
After lunch the children enjoyed some time with Miss Neil who showed them how to make a wand, cutting, sticking and gluing materials to create their chosen effect. Finally the children wrote a potion with Miss Sumpter, recording the ingredients and  the ideas they had used when making their potions with Mrs Kite.  What a fun day! 
Feadon Farm Trip
 
We were very fortunate to be able to visit Feadon Farm as part of our Potion Commotion Topic.  Here we were able to get up close and personal with many animals associated with magic which fuelled fantastic animal reports on our return. We learnt a lot about the UK's native species and some from further away and surprised ourselves with our bravery when handling these animals. A huge thank you to the staff at Feadon Farm, Gary and Kirsty who were so knowledgable and made it such a magical day.  
Dig For Victory! Summer 2019
 
 
Explosive New Topic Launch!
 
Our first day back after Easter saw Wonder Zone working with Ryan, a World War 2 expert, to explore the timeline of events leading up to the outbreak of war in Britain.  Children enjoyed an interactive assembly, followed by a hands on workshop relating to war on the Home Front.  Children learnt how to distinguish between two different types of air raid siren, and worked collaboratively on their own Morrison Shelters within the classroom!  Perhaps most exciting of all was the opportunity to handle historic artefacts that helped us broaden our knowledge of people's jobs during the war.  Among the amazing objects were field telephones, a replica incendiary bomb, a range of helmets belonging to soldiers, wardens and Fire Watchers, in addition to signalling lamps and gas masks.  Children then made detailed observations, wrote labels and generated statements about the things that they had seen.  What a brilliant start to Summer Term!
 
Family Art Project
 
A huge thank you to all families who have taken part in the family art challenge, and those who are continuing to work on their masterpieces at home this week!  The children have been really proud, motivated and excited about sharing their family history with others, and we look forward to collating all artworks in a Sithney Art Gallery over the next few weeks.  More information will follow.