Willow Class School Blog Spring 1 Week 1
Date: 9th Jan 2026 @ 1:38pm
Happy New Year! What a busy first week back we have had in Willow!
It’s been a chilly week! We noticed the frosty mornings and crisp air as we came into school. We talked about how the cold weather changes our environment, from icy patches on the playground to the need for warm coats, hats, and gloves. We also noticed how the dry air created static electricity, making hair stand on end and giving us little shocks! Despite the cold, everyone stayed active and enjoyed their learning indoors and outdoors.
This week in computing, the children enjoyed programming Bee-Bots! They learned how to create simple algorithms and watched their Bee-Bots follow instructions. It was a
fantastic way to practise sequencing and problem-solving skills. In Geography, we became playground designers! We began to plan our dream playgrounds, thinking carefully about where to place different features and what makes a space fun and safe. The creativity was amazing! Our PSHE lesson focused on the importance of sleep. We discussed why sleep helps us stay healthy and ready to learn, and shared ideas for good bedtime routines.
In Year 1 we worked on number bonds to 9, using games and practical activities to make learning fun. In Year 2 we explored 3D shapes, focusing on cylinders and cones. We looked at real-life examples and discussed their properties.
In English, we started reading our new book, How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. The children practised using storytelling language and shared imaginative ideas about the story. How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers I Read Aloud In Art, we practised line work and sketching, learning how different types of lines can create texture and detail in drawings.
In Year 1 we learned the ‘ir’ sound in words like bird and shirt. In Year 2 focused on ‘al’ and ‘il’ making the /l/ sound in words like animal and pencil.
Our play project this week was all about space! We had an amazing time creating their own space goggles, building rockets, and learning about planets. We even explored the orbiting times of the planets and discovered fascinating facts about how they move in space. It was a truly out-of-this-world experience that sparked curiosity and imagination. In dance, we pretended to be fireworks using ribbons! We explored shape, space, and movement as they created dynamic patterns and flowing motions.
- Writing facts about space - Archie and Grey.
- Making my lifebelt lasso using card and string - Gracie and Raf.
- Making my cards for my daddy - Roberta.
- Playing outside with Szymon and Frankie - Felix.
- Making a rocket out of tube and tissue paper for the fire - Daisy-Mai
- Playing with Sophie outside - India.
- Trying to trace around the astronaut - Bea.
- Drawing a never ending staircase - Penny.
- Learning the /l/ sound - George.
- Creating a disneyland with the small world - Sophie.
- Learning a new dance with the ribbons - Ralph and Octaviah.
Reminder - Look who's talking class heat - Monday PM.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Miss Jackson, Mrs Gardener, Julia and Willow Class
