Willow Class Blog Spring 1 Week 4

Date: 30th Jan 2026 @ 1:05pm

We’ve had such an exciting week in our classroom as we took part in our annual Literature Festival. We were thrilled to welcome John Dougherty, Sian Hughes, and Sally Grindley, who inspired us with their stories and creativity. One of our favourite moments was singing along to John Dougherty’s ‘Piggy Song’ — we loved filling the classroom with music and laughter! There's a Pig Up My Nose theme song.

In English, Year 1 have been planning our own ideas for how we might catch a star, using lots of imagination and original thinking. Year 2 have been innovating our own versions of a text by changing parts of the story to make it unique to us. We are very proud of the ideas we created.

In Science, we explored the properties of glass. We looked closely at why it is useful, how it behaves, and what makes it different from other materials. We then used this knowledge to make our own model windows, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

In History, we learned about why travelling to space can be risky. We thought about the dangers astronauts face and how technology helps keep them safe. We also read ‘The Sea of Tranquility’ by Mark Haddon, which helped us imagine what it might be like to walk on the Moon. Picture Book Friday The Sea of Tranquility

In PSHE, we focused on medicine safety. We discussed safety and reminded ourselves that medicines should only ever be taken with an adult. We had thoughtful conversations about making sensible choices.

In RE, we explored how we learn from our mistakes and looked at Bible stories that teach forgiveness. We reflected on how saying sorry and forgiving others helps us grow and build positive relationships.

In dance, we have been polishing our routines and working on smooth transitions between pieces of music. We also began learning a fun rap called ‘Grandma Rap’ and added actions to bring it to life!

In Computing, we used Bee-Bots to navigate around objects. We practised giving precise instructions, problem‑solving, and improving our algorithms when things didn’t work the first time.

Year 1 have now finished learning about 2D and 3D shapes and have moved on to exploring the number 11. We have been practising partitioning, writing number facts, and using practical resources to help our understanding.

Year 2 have been learning about multiplication, recognising equal groups, and division, using grouping and sharing strategies. We have shown great perseverance and confidence in our maths learning.

In Phonics, year 1 have learnt the sound y making /ee/ and year 2 have learnt ture making /cher/.

As part of our Play Project, we have begun exploring Chinese New Year. We have been creating colourful lanterns, decorations, and dragons, using a range of materials to bring the celebration to life. We also had a go at writing our names and messages in Chinese, which we found really exciting and interesting. Chinese New Year | BBC Teach

We have enjoyed: