Welcome to Mars Class!
Mars class is a mixed class of Year 1 and Year 2 children.
Our teacher is Miss Kelly, and Mrs Williams is our teaching assistant.
We are lucky to have our own outdoor learning area and enjoy playing outside come rain or shine! The ethos of our class is to develop happy, confident and independent learners who are willing to try their best and find success in their everyday learning. Every child is unique and we aim to tailor lessons to the individual needs of the children.
On this page you can find updates about our learning and any special adventures we have been on. We hope you enjoy reading about our learning journey!
Discovery Education Link
Children have their own personal log in details and a personal
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MARS CLASS 2022.2023
AUTUMN TERM 2022
MARS CLASS 2021.2022
SUMMER TERM 2022
Week commencing 18/7/22:
This cheeky group have been busy despite a heatwave this week! We finished our KWHL grids this week for topic and science, the children have impressed me with their worldly knowledge. We also learnt a variety of computer skills to help our artwork. We explored art through technology, the children made some amazing patterns. On hobby day we dressed up as our hobby and we reflected how hobbies can help when feeling sad or frustrated. Alongside lots of busy learning!
Today the children enjoyed a movie alongside lots of snacks, an outside lunch and we played lots of games this afternoon.
I have adored every second with this cohort and lucky me I get to have another year with them all! Well done Mars class have an amazing summer you really deserve it!
Week Commencing 4/7/22:
Wow what a busy week! This week in English we looked at instructions, first we followed instructions for games and evaluated them. Then we identified bossy verbs and time connectives, finally we wrote our own instructions for when someone takes our favourite toy. The children created some amazing instructions.
In maths we have been recapping 2D and 3d shapes.
We have also been looking at classical and rap music, learning about Nelson Mandela, practising skills for sports day and lots of busy learning.
We also watched the KS2 play and it was amazing, Mars want to say a big well done to both grown ups and children that were apart of the show!
Week Commencing 27/06/22:
How are we in July already?
This week we have been finishing our learning on non-fiction texts. The Year 1's created some amazing non-fiction reports about giraffes and some receptions blew me away when they decided to create their own non-fiction texts during busy learning.
In maths we have been looking at time, the children are amazing at telling the time to the hour but next week we are continuing to be confident in telling half hour, quarter past and to.
This week we have also been practising our sports skills ready for sports day, creating our final print artworks and focusing on our handwriting.
Well done Mars Class!!
Week Commencing 16/6/22:
This week we have been learning all about non-fiction reports in english. We looked at fiction and fact sentences and created our own about giraffes. We also composed our own questions about giraffes to answer in our report.
In maths we have been looking at money, reception have been identifying coins and notes and year 1 have been adding using a combination of coins and problem solving.
We also went to Woburn Safari park, the children had an amazing time!
Year 1s have started looking at joined up letters in handwriting and we assessed how much we know about plants and began learning about seasons in science.
Please remember that both Reception and Year 1 have spellings to be checked for Tuesday.
Week Commencing 6/6/22:
Wow what a busy first week back!
This week Year 1 completed their phonics check and everyone did amazing! I’m so proud of them!
In English we looked at the prefix un and how it changes the meaning of words. We have also been working hard on our reading comprehension skills- remember you can practise these at home by using the questions on their bookmark.
In maths Year 1 have been looking at number to 100, partitioning and comparing them. Reception have also been looking at partitioning and learning their number bonds to 10 by heart.
We have also been busy in DT completing our target audience survey for a presentation for nursery, in art we have been taking inspiration from Keith Harring for our repeated patterns, in topic we have been comparing a South Africa village to our own homes and in p.e we are practising a range of skills ready for sports day.
Week Commencing 23/5/22:
For the first week back Reception will be writing about their holiday, please send a photo of what you get up to on tapestry. Even if it is what you had for dinner!
This week Mars have gone Jubilee mad!
This week in phonics Reception have continued to practise reading and writing those tricky adjacent consonants. Year 1 have continued to practise reading sounds the children find tricky to identify in words (aw, ue, ey, ou). Please over the holidays spend some time practicing the sounds with your phonics pack and play teach your monster to read!
In english we have been writing letters to the Queen, I have been so impressed with the Year 1s writing and the effort they have put into their handwriting for the Queen. Reception have been writing cards to the Queen and sentences along with an important invitation to Mars Jubilee Party for Little Stars.
Reception made biscuits and made a fruit salad. Mars and Little Stars had such fun at the party! In busy learning time we also completed jubilee challenges.
In maths we have been describing position and direction for objects. Year 1 even gave instructions to Reception to find the mystery object in the room.
In music we used instruments to play the song 'your imagination', in R.E. we looked at Christian stories and ordered them into new and old testament and in forest school we identified trees from their leaves.
Have a lovely holiday, you all deserve it and we will see you on Tuesday 7th June for the last half term!
Week Commencing 16/5/22:
This week in phonics Reception have been continuing with phase 4 with those tricky adjacent consonants and Year 1 have continued reading words with tricky alternative sounds ready for their phonics check.
In English the children have finished writing their own stories based on The Leopard's Drum by Jessica Souhami. Their writing was amazing and blew me away!! And we began to look at letters and invitations. In Maths we have been learning about fractions. The children have learnt to find halves and quarters of shapes and amounts.
In topic this week the children looked at the location of the equator and the climate in countries. We made our own balloon globes. In PE we continued to improve our ball skills and in Art we explored overprinting with a range of objects.
Week Commencing 9/5/22:
This week in phonics Reception have moved onto phase 4 this phase looks at adjacent consonants that can be tricky to sound out in a word e.g. st, lk, mp. Reception received a special bookmark from phonics fairy to help with these sounds. Year 1 have been revising all of their sounds ready for the upcoming phonics check. I have also provided an optional homework to help them practise. In English we have been writing our own story inspired by 'The Leopard's Drum', the children made story mountain plans first before writing their story.
In maths this week we have been exploring divisional sums and sharing numbers into equal groups. Reception have also been exploring sharing amounts into equal groups.
We have been continuing to master our ball skills in p.e. for invasion games, in topic we independently researched about 2 different countries in Africa and in art we experimented using different range of soft and hard materials to print.
Week Commencing 25/4/22:
This week Reception have been revising phase 3 before all move onto phase 4 sounds (bookmarks will be sent home to help support you) and Year 1 have been practising finding sounds within words and reading alien words leading to the Year 1 phonics check.
In English we began to look at narrative stories with our new english book 'The Leopards Drum'. The children were introduced to this book by Mrs Passan banging a drum and playing African music. I wonder if your child can tell you which animals try to take the drum?
In maths Reception have been halving numbers using physical objects and Year 1 have been adding equal groups.
This week we also became botanists studying and labelling the different parts of plants, in music we started learning our song 'imagine', in PSHE we discussed the importance of real news and how fake news can effect us and in forest school the children spent the afternoon creating a necklace with Mrs Tickle.
I have also sent a letter out today to your emails for our upcoming trip so keep an eye out in your inbox.
Have a lovely bank holiday weekend, don't have too much fun!
Week Commencing 18/4/22:
Wow we have been so busy we forgot to take lots of photos!
In English the children have been spending some time recapping on suffixes and grammar along with tricky troll words.
In maths we have been completing daily challenges to recap our previous learning.
We have also been completing our KWHL grids for our new topic and science. We also started our art topic of printing looking at the artist Esther Mahlangu.
The children have completed lots of independent learning during busy learning using iPads to research interesting topics (plants, Africa and Ramadan) and lots of independent writing.
Well done Mars!
Week Commencing 28.3.22:
This week we celebrated our Easter service at the local church. It was lovely for Mars to visit the church and did an amazing job of creating easter bonnets and beautiful singing! On Tuesday the children spent the day learning all about a variety of exciting explorers and went on a hunt for the correct resources an explorer would need. On Wednesday we were treated to a rock steady concert, had PE with Mrs Marriott and evaluated our toast from DT.
Today we are having such great fun on reward day! We have had an Easter disco, a Easter egg hunt, we decorated biscuits and are now watching a relaxing film whilst having popcorn and hot chocolate. They truly deserve it after a hardworking term.
We hope you have a lovely Easter holiday and eats lots of chocolate!
Week Commencing 21.3.22:
This week was careers week, we had some exciting people come in and tell us all about their jobs. We had Mrs Duncan tell us about being a scientist and an artist, Mrs Gilks told us all about being a headteacher, Reverend Nikki told us all about being a Reverend, a farmer and we zoomed a vet.
In english we wrote a letter to Miss Kelly or Mrs Williams to ask for a class job. Reception made their own CVs and wrote about their dream job. In maths we finished learning about measurement and used money to buy real items in a shop.
In P.E we continued to practise our ball skills, in R.E we had our own Hanukah celebration and in topic we sequenced explorers on a timeline.
Week Commencing 14.3.22:
This week is British Science Week and we have been scientists all week around the theme of growth. We did an experiment of 'Do our bodies grow?', 'How can we measure growth?' and 'Can we grow slime?' Don't forget to show us your cress experiment!
We also had Professor Bubbleworks visit us and Su Thompson telling us all about her visit to the Galapagos.
In English we have been looking at non-fiction reports and begun to make our own non-fiction report. In maths we have begun measurement and using non-standard measurements to measure objects.
We also made crosses out of clay to be on show in the local church ready for Easter.
Week Commencing 7.3.22:
This week has been assessment week. We have assessed receptions reading, and all of the eyfs areas of learning. Year 1 have been completing assessment papers, assessed their reading and writing a story all about people turning into cats.
Well done to all of the children!
We have also been practising our ball skills in p.e with Mrs Marriott and Miss Kelly, in topic we created our own maps of our school using symbols. In music we used instruments to play alongside Latin music and in DT we tested out different specifications of toast.
Week Commencing 28/2/22:
This week we have continued to revise our phonics sounds. In English we have been looking at time connectives and instructions. On world book day we read lots of stories, challenges with Puffin and a treasure hunt in the library.
In Maths we have been looking at comparing objects and numbers.
Wow! What a day we have had today!!
We have been so busy being explorers and enjoyed lots of different activities as well as making new friends with children from KPA.
We have explored the ‘earth area’ where we learnt all about life cycles and had a go at completing different animals life cycles.
We then moved on to the ‘space area’ where we spent some time talking about space and then created our own space art with giant chalk.
We explored the ‘Antarctic area’ where we learnt about penguins and tried to free some animals trapped in ice.
There was also a ‘desert area’ where we dug in the sand to find artefacts, this was so interesting because we found things like shark teeth, dinosaurs, and even an arrow head.
To finish the day we explored maps, we looked at a map of the school and found key places like ‘Mars Class’ ‘the field’ and ‘the playground’ before hiding numbered ducks and marking them on our maps for our partners to find, so we had to be very careful where we placed an X on our maps. We were so good at this, nearly all the little duckies were found!
Week Commencing 21.2.22:
Happy first week back!
Due to staff shortages and ringfencing we were unable to have many VIP lunches for the reading race, we hope you understand. So today we have reset the reading race for the children to have an even chance. So on your marks, get set, read!
This week we have been recapping our pink sounds, Reception have all the pink sounds in their phonics packs so keep practising at home.
Year 1 have been assessed on their phonics and I am so proud of the progress they are making, keep it up!
In English this week we have been looking at instructions and the features of instructions. In maths we have been looking at one more and one less, Reception to 10 and Year 1 to 50.
This week we also had PE with Mrs Marriott who taught us some ball skills, in topic we have been identifying features of towns and the countryside. In art we have been making collaged self portraits inspired by Frida Khalo.
Don't forget world book day is next Thursday and our author is Julia Donaldson.
Week Commencing 7.2.22:
This week in phonics we have been recapping our sounds, Year 1 have an added blue sound to their phonics pack and Reception have all of their pink sounds. Please practise these over the holidays.
In English we have been writing our own 'We're going on a hunt' stories. Year 1 successfully edited their own writing to make some amazing stories.
In maths Year 1 have been looking at exam style questions and consolidating our learning on numbers to 50. Reception have been consolidating their learning of numbers to 20.
In music we have been continuing to learn 'We are family' by sister sledge, in topic we have been identifying the 7 continents and 5 oceans of the world, in PE we practised a barn dance. On Tuesday we focused our learning on Internet safety day where we discussed consent and our digital footprint.
Thank you to the children who have shared photos of them enjoying their world book day book already.
Have a lovely half term, my super learners have worked so hard!
Week Commencing 31/1/22:
This week in English we have been continuing with 'We're going on a bear hunt' but creating our own alternative versions. We created our plans ready to make our own books next week.
In maths we have been continuing to learn numbers to 50 Reception made their very own number line and Year 1 have been identify tens and ones.
In science we have been looking at how the body changes from being a baby to an adult. And we got a chance to look at some very cute photos of both staff and Mars Class. Bonus points for spotting Miss Kelly! In art we used different colours in our portrait drawings to represent feelings and in Forest school we went on our very own bear hunt.
Week Commencing 24/1/22:
This week in phonics Reception received: ur, ow, oi and ear and Year 1 have been continuing to look at alternate sounds for aw, can you believe there are 7 ways? I wonder if the children can let you know the different ways...
In English we have been looking at stories with a repetitive pattern like 'We're going on a bear hunt'. The children loved finding out about onomatopoeia words and making story maps.
In maths we have been looking at subtractions to 10 with reception, they had a tea party with Mrs Williams. And Year 1 subtraction crossing 10 using number lines and tens frames.
Also this week in PE we continued our dancing with the theme summer, looked at how toast was made in D.T, identifying where we live in topic and lots of busy learning of course.
Reception parents look out for a Next step post on tapestry.
Week Commencing 17/1/22:
How the weeks are flying by now!
This week phonics fairy brought Reception: long oo (as in zoom), short oo (as in books), ar and or we also focused on alien words. Year 1 recapped: oe, e-e, or, aw and au. Mrs Williams and I love that we are giving out more and more word wall badges, so keep practising at home.
In English on Monday we took part in a poetry workshop and we have been looking at Julia Donaldson 'Snail and the whale', writing characters speech, identifying rhyming and repetitive phrases and comparing the 'Snail and the whale' with 'Zoom on the broom'.
In maths we have been focusing on adding numbers together, Reception using objects and finger and Year 1 using number lines and tens frames. We have also been mastering our number bonds to 10.
In Science we have been identifying body parts, in PE we have been creating dances around the theme of April showers mirroring our partner, in computing the children typed their own name and printed independently and in forest school we went on a bug hunt for the biggest bug.
Week Commencing 10/1/22:
This week Reception continued in phonics to receive pink sounds, they now know: ng, ai, ee, igh, oa. Year 1 have now received all their blue sounds. Please continue to revise these sounds using your phonics pack and our phonics videos on the school website.
In English we have been looking at stories by Julia Donaldson, this week we looked at 'Room on the broom'. The children have made predictions of what will happen next in the story by role playing, describing characters and asking questions.
In maths we have been looking at numbers to 20. Year 1 have been exploring number bonds of 20 using manipulatives.
The children have also spent time creating self portraits, introduced to our science topic, learning about our right to an education and creating dances inspired by ice skating.
Please remember if your child is currently isolating home learning is on our website alongside phonics videos.
Please do not hesitate to send me a message on tapestry!
Week Commencing 3/1/21:
Happy New Year!
This week the children revised their phonics sounds, Year 1 recapped adding the suffixes to verbs as well.
In maths we recapped tens and ones and Reception put numbers to 20 in order.
Mars did amazing at Graftham Water and hearing all the compliments of their behaviour has made me so proud of them!
We have made sure all children have gone home with new books this weekend. We would love if Reception kept practising their keyring words at home as this will make reading easier.
AUTUMN TERM 2021
Week Commencing 13/12/21:
On the last week of term Mars Class were up to fun things!
In maths Reception continued to build on their number sequencing skills and Year 1 were introduced to tens and ones. The children completed the investigation on which materials would be waterproof and strong for the three little pigs to use, apparently Mrs Passan got very wet during these experiments!
The children made a moving picture using a lever and experimented before creating a moving picture of the Great fire of London. We also decorated our christmas crowns for our Christmas lunch.
Lastly Spiderman visited Mars Class on Reward day, thank you so much to Mr and Mrs Lincoln for letting Spiderman surprise the children.
Hope you all had a lovely and well rested Christmas!
Week Commencing 6/12/21:
This week phonics fairy brought reception more phase 3 sounds and they have been practising using their blending skills to decide if a word is real or fake. Year 1 have continued to learn alternative phase 5 sounds and particularly enjoyed ey hokey cokey.
On Monday the children took part in the Christingle service and on Wednesday took part in the nativity tableau. The children did an amazing job despite the cold weather. Thank you for every one who came to watch the service and for parents kind offers of help.
In maths we have been looking at numbers to 20. Reception went on a number hunt around the school and Year 1 have been quickly recognising numerals and written words of numbers to 20.
In English we have been creating our own poems inspired by Spaghetti! Spaghetti!
Well done to Mars Class! 1 more week left!
Week Commencing 29/11/21:
This week phonics fairy visited Reception with our phase 3 sounds this week, j, w, x and y. Year 1 have continued to look at alternative sounds.
This week in English we have been performing poems, our first poem was all about spaghetti and the children had a taste before thinking of describing words. Please check out their performances on the website!
In maths we have been learning all about shape, the children have been going on shape hunts and finding the 2d and 3d shape properties.
This week we have been learning about Christingle ready for the service on Monday, singing christmas songs, we had a art lesson with author and illustrator Nick Sharratt on zoom. In topic we made our own London street after the fire of London and in forest school we tried to put the leaves back on the trees.
In English this week we have been performing poems, it would be lovely if you could take the time to watch them!
Week Commencing 22/11/21:
Well done to everyone for getting through the first assessment week of the year. The children worked really hard to demonstrate their knowledge of Maths, Reading and SPaG and helped to identify areas for development.
Also in particular well done to Year 1 on their phonics check!
We had a lovely week continuing to learn rhythm in music, design our science experiment for the three little pigs and be very busy during busy learning time.
Week Commencing 15.11.21:
This week the children have continued to be amazing independent learners, this is something we are continuing to encourage the children to take charge of their own learning and be proud of.
This week in maths both Year 1 and Reception have been learning to subtract simple numbers. Year 1 have grasped the concept of subtracting really well. Reception have been finding one less using tea partys and bus stops to secure their understanding.
In English Reception have been practising to segment and blend cvc words alongside markmaking and creating their own Beegu stories. Year 1 have been finishing writing their Great Fire of London non-fiction books.
On Friday we celebrated Children in Need, with a coin pudsey, dancing on the playground and yummy cake!
Week Commencing 8.11.21:
This week in phonics, Reception have been focusing on blending and segmenting words using phase 2 sounds. Please remember children need lots of practise to perfect this skill! And Year 1 have been looking at different suffixes that can be added to words and 'ow row your boat slow'.
In English we have been making our own non-fiction books about The Great Fire of London. I am impressed by how much Reception and Year 1 know about The Great Fire of London and have enjoyed using their knowledge to write amazing sentences. In particular Receptions letter formation is amazing!
In Maths Reception have been looking at one more and one less. Year 1 have continued to look at addition and 'take away' through tens frames, part-whole models and first, then and now.
We also have taken the time to learn all about Remembrance Day and how different animals also had a big role to play in the war effort. We discussed how purple poppies are worn to remember the war animals. This was a great opportunity to practise our colour mixing skills to create a purple for our purple poppies.
Week Commencing 1/11/21:
This week Year 1 became diagraph detectives, recapping phonics sounds they sometimes struggle with and finding them within real and alien words. Reception have been assessed this week on their vocabulary and listening skills as well.
In English we have been exploring non-fiction texts and identifying the features of a non-fiction text. Year 1 also recapped writing questions using question words and remembering question marks.
In maths Reception have continued their exploration of numbers to 10 finding 1 more. Year 1 have been continuing to use part-whole models to add single digit numbers together. I am extremely impressed by their quick grasp of quick adding by holding the greatest number in their head and counting on.
Also this week we have been creating landscape drawings of the great fire of London sky, our first gymnastic session with Mrs Marriott, exploring Diwali, developing our computing skills and looking at pumpkin seeds with Mrs Tickle in forest school.
Week commencing 18.10.21:
Wow what an amazing week, firstly well done to this weeks VIP lunch winners! Next VIP lunch 12th Nov.
This week in mars class we have been enjoying lots of fun spooky activities. We have been exploring some pumpkins by hammering in shapes to make faces, we then opened the pumpkins to discover what was inside. We then used the pumpkins to create spooky Halloween potions so much fun!
We also had spooky colouring pictures so we could practice using our gross motor skills and keep our colouring in the lines.
We have been practising our segmenting and blending with some CVC words like hat, bat, and log. We even had a go at mark making in a spooky slime bag and a bubbling blood bag!
We finished the week with some funny Halloween yoga and a yummy treat
Phonics fairy has been on holiday this week on the search for new sounds after half term, I wonder what they could be? We have been revising our current sounds in the meantime!
In English Year 1 have been writing a wanted poster for the Big Bad Wolf and successfully edited their own work, reception have been practising letter formation and their tricky troll words.
In maths Year 1 have been looking at number bonds to 10 using part-whole models and systematic methods. Reception have been practising their numbers to 10 and their number formation.
Finally we had forest school where we identified clues to the autumn season and made leaf kebabs.
Have a lovely break you all deserve it, see you on 2nd November.