Year 1 Update – Wk 28

Monday 21st May – BHS CPD dayTuesday 22nd May – Public holidayTuesday 29th May – Year 1 Bake Sale – please send along some tasty treats to besold.Monday 18th June – Public holidayFriday 29th June – School finishes at 12pm

Sharing day It was wonderful to see so many engaged and happy parents withtheir children at school today. All the year one children really enjoyed sharingtheir learning with you through dance, music, I.C.T, and collage. The childrenalso loved showing you their timeline and talking to you about their groupsinquiry. Next week we will post a link to many of the wonderful that our I.C.Ttechnician took during the morning.

Fractions This week in maths the children continued their learning aboutfractions. The children inquired into fractions of shapes and had a go at somereal life problems that involved thinking about halves and wholes. Childrenneeded to make sure that each person had the same amount or that each piecewas the same size.

End of unit 5 Our sharing day today marked the end of unit five. Next week ourU.O.I rotations times will go back to as they were before unit 5 started. Thanksso much to the parents who come in and help in the shared area and outsideduring U.O.I rotation sessions. This week was our last session of dance with MsTinner who supported the children to learn the dance that they shared with youtoday.

Next week our final unit of inquiry for year one begins. This unit comes under thetransdisciplinary theme of How the World Works. This unit Central Idea:The changes on Earth affect living things

Lines of inquiry

The Earth changes (form)How the Earth’s changes affect our lives (change)

How the Earth’s changes other living things (change)

Next week we will begin to look at the change of night and day. We will find outand talk about any of the misconceptions that the children may have. We will alsoprovide opportunities for the children to explore the idea of time difference usingequipment, books and a real life conversation!

Sunhats The warm whether is here! We have noticed that many children arecoming to school without a B.H.S sunhat. These can be ordered from the PTAuniform office.

Clay To celebrate Beacon Hill School’s 50th birthday Miss Cassie worked with allour year one children to design, create and make a piece of artwork using clay. These are currently on display in the stair well.Here is a slide show of each classes artwork.Project Theme – School Community1L Butterfly Garden https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QvD_lL9EjVjqwiyZpa30TQKJi_svmVD3

1P Self Portraitshttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1O_Us0RCgTbz5Y0LHXmLGdVm_7GDzpvTP1W Caring Heartshttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1UkfjJoVymm5Is5L3q7zkDZub3RuYIfiDPlease enjoy the clips.MathleticsWell done to all the children who have been completing their Mathletics tasks and

playing Maths Live at home. It has been pleasing to see so many children enjoyingthis online resource and improving their maths skills. All of the Year OneMathletics tasks are now open to each child. Please try and support your child incompleting as many of the tasks as they can by the end of the year.

Objects and numbers can be divided into equal parts and groups

Next week we will be continuing our work on fractions and equal parts. Thechildren will be applying the vocabulary of fractions such as, equal, half, quarter,whole, different and the same. They will begin to move from inquiring into shapesto inquiring into amounts of object and whole number. Next week we will alsolook at odd and even numbers. We will do this through story, numicon and othermaterials.

Mathletics

Please spend some time each week exploring the different activities that we haveset for the children. Under the ‘play’ section, children can practise their basicfacts by playing games with partners from around the world. It is not intended

that the children will do these tasks totally independently so please help yourchild to become familiar with the layout of Mathletics and how to go aboutcompleting the tasks.

Please support your child in learning how to log in using their user name andpassword rather than relying on an adult to do so for them. At school we areteaching the children to be independent with this skill.

Writing Next week during writing the children will write a reflection about oursharing day. They will need to remember parts of the day that they enjoyed aswell as be about to talk about how the unit helped them with their understandingof the central idea from unit five.

Reading Next week in reading we will focus on the comprehension strategy ofquestioning. Readers ask questions before, after and during reading. Next weekas children read we will encourage them to ask questions and then find out theanswers as they read or are read to. Please support this at home by playingquestion and answer games such as 20 questions, headbands, i spy and who ami?.

Learning centre Please remember that our Learning centre borrowing day foryear one is Monday. We have noticed that many children are not changing theirbooks often enough and many are forgetting to bring their books for many weeks.Phonics Next week unit 6 of our phonics programme will begin.Phonemes: ck, ng, qu, x Camera Words: away, see, look, very, once, weWe have been very impressed by the way in which many of the children are nowreading and recognising the Year One camera words. We would now like them tobegin learning to spell them correctly and use them in their own writing. Pleasehelp them at home by encouraging the correct spelling of these words when theyare writing in their play.

1L – Aden Wong

1P – Cadis Chan

1W – Glamour Poon

Well done to our Golden Book certificate children!

Often our children tend to choose stories for us to read to them. Our last unitof inquiry for year one is a science based unit. Here are some suggestions ofbooks from www.physci.com for you to borrow from the library to read withyour child. These would be good purchases should you wish to add to you non-fiction collection at home.

The 20 Best Science Books forKids 2018 It’s great when children develop a love of books at a young age, book choice isvery important in developing that love. Give them something boring to read andthey’ll quickly lose interest.But science books specifically written for kids are a sure-fire way to grab theirinterest.

The umbrella of scientific topics is magical to children: animals, space andexperiments are all full of wonder to young children so why not help them learnabout this wonder while they’re young to see what develops.

Even children’s fiction finds it difficult to match the most fascinating stories ofnature that are explained through science.So without further introduction here is our detailed list of the 20 best sciencebooks for kids:

1. Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals,Space, and More!

The ultimate book for the curious kid, the Science Encyclopedia covers just abouteverything in the physical and life sciences. The explanations are concise and fullof great information, plus most of them have beautiful photos or illustrations tohelp demonstrate the concept.

This is a pretty big book, with 304 pages to flip through. There are even DIYexperiments and a collection of weird facts the kids can impress their friendswith.This book is intended for the ages of 8-12, and fits that demographic nicely. Theinformation is easy to follow and paragraphs are broken up by beautifulillustrations to help maintain the reader’s interest.

find out more 2. National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia: 2,500 Animals with Photos,Maps, and More!

This bestseller not only includes interesting facts about 2,500 different animals, itfeatures over 1,000 beautiful photographs taken by professionals for NationalGeographic.

The book is organized by type of animal and includes a glossary and index. Theinformation about the animals is well organized, and easy for young readers tofollow.

While it is easy for kids ages 7 and up to read through, it doesn’t skimp oninformation. Details about the animal’s diet, lifespan, habitat, and other specialfeatures are included in each section.

There are also special “from the field” reports from different National Geographicexplorers who do research on the animals in this book.

find out more 3. TIME For Kids Big Book of Science Experiments: A step-by-step guide

For the burgeoning scientist, it doesn’t get much better than this book ofexperiments. The step-by-step instructions in this guide explain how to execute100 experiments in physical, life, and earth sciences.

These experiments were created by experts in the field and are inquiry based sothe kids are driven to answer the question posed to them.

The experiment guides are in full color and include background information onthe topic of inquiry, some fun facts, and explains the science behind theexperiment. Intended for the ages of 8-12, this book of experiments is a great wayto foster an interest in science.

find out more4. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why

For those with preschool aged kids, this book is a great option. Written for kidsaged 3-7, this interactive book delivers information, crafts, games, and otheractivities in a format that both parents and kids can enjoy.

The explanations are simple, and the activities link to concepts in the child’ssurroundings so they can relate.

As with most kids’ science books, the layout follows a question-and-answer formatto hold interest without introducing abstract concepts.

There are also plenty of colorful pictures throughout the book to help illustratethe information. This book is a great way to get kids interested in science andhelp them get ready for school.

find out more 5. Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, andConstellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky

This is the perfect book for your little stargazer. Its 96 pages include the story ofour solar system, space exploration, and how to identify starts and planets in the

night sky.

Beautiful color illustrations run throughout the book and the layout is such thatthe reader won’t get overwhelmed by the information.

There is even a special star wheel that makes it easy for readers to locateconstellations and planets. This is a thoroughly entertaining book, and is sure tofoster an interest in astronomy.

Even though it is intended for ages 8-13, it is interesting to anyone who wants toknow more about our solar system.

find out more 6. National Geographic Kids Brain Games: The Mind-Blowing Science of YourAmazing Brain

This is a very interesting book for kids that are curious about how their brainworks, or are fascinated by riddles and brain teasers. Included are explanations ofthe different parts of the brain and how they work, plus bizarre facts straightfrom a neuroscientist.

There are games, optical illusions and riddles throughout the book that areentertaining for the entire family. All of the information presented is based onsolid science, and explained in a way that is easy to understand.

The great thing about this book is that the reader doesn’t necessarily need tohave an interest in science to enjoy it.

find out more 7. National Geographic Kids Everything Rocks and Minerals: Dazzling gems ofphotos and info that will rock your world

For kids who are rock collectors or who have an interest in geology, this is a greatbook. Along with the identification of different rocks and minerals, there areexplanations of how each are formed in geological processes.

The explanations of geological processes are simplified, as is appropriate for theintended age group of 8-12 years.

This is an easy read with plenty of vivid photos to help in the identificationprocess. Some people have even used this book as a teaching aid in scienceclasses or home school.

While it doesn’t go into too much depth, there is a lot of good information in thisbook.

find out more 8. The Everything Kids’ Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water,Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You!

Written by an actual high school science teacher, this book features tried-and-trueexperiments that help kids understand the world around them.

Covering topics from biology, physics, chemistry, and astronomy, theseexperiments use household items that are easy to find.

While this book is intended for kids aged 7-12, some experiments do requiresupervision. This can be a great way to get involved and inspire curiosity in yourkids.

Like most science books geared toward kids, there is a question and answerformat to help catch and focus their energy into the projects. This book is a greatway to keep kids actively learning, even when away from school.

find out more 9. National Geographic Kids Everything Weather: Facts, Photos, and Fun thatWill Blow You Away

Extreme weather is fascinating to a lot of people, especially kids. While it is scaryto think about how dangerous it can be, one can’t help but wonder what drivessuch powerful events. For those who are interested in weather and extremegeological events, this is a great book.

Explanations of conditions that create hurricanes, tornadoes, and other events areexplained in a way that is easy to understand.

Also featured are some experiences shared by real-life tornado chaser TimSamaras. The book is filled with interesting facts and stunning photographs ofsevere weather conditions that readers of all ages can enjoy and learn from.

find out more 10. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space

It can be a challenge to find a science book that is appropriate for preschool agekids, but this is a great option for little ones who are interested in all things spacerelated.

The explanations are simple and presented in a way that is easy for beginningreaders to understand and read out loud.

The book itself is organized in a way that gradually introduces concepts, startingwith Earth. It goes on to explore the rest of the universe and beyond withbeautiful, colorful illustrations to hold interest.

At 128 pages long, this book is just the right size to present good informationwithout being overwhelming to the young learner.

find out more 11. My First Human Body Book

Anatomy and physiology can be a tough subject to break into as a child. It’s full ofcomplex systems to understand, unfamiliar words, and it’s just difficult to explain.

This book is perfect for laying the groundwork for the eventual learning andunderstanding of the complicated systems that comprise the human body.

Along with information, there are fun coloring projects that illustrate thedigestive, nervous, skeletal, muscular, respiratory, and immune systems.

The kids also learn about DNA, which is a difficult concept to explain.This bookhas been used as teaching aids in preschools and at home with success.

find out more 12. Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever

As far as kids’ books go, this one lives up to its name. Sure, it isn’t ascomprehensive as a university level marine biology textbook, but it covers someserious ground.

With 272 pages of interesting facts, photos, and diagrams, this book is sure toplease any kid interested in ocean life. It goes even further than marine biology.Explanations of events like tsunamis, storms and the impact oceans have on ourclimate are also included.

All of the information on the life, science, and ecosystem of the oceans is vettedby experts in the field. Last but not least, there is emphasis on the dangers posedby pollution, overfishing, and other destructive behaviors.

find out more 13. My First Book About the Brain

This fun, informative coloring book explains the workings of the brain with 25illustrations the kids can color. Each illustration explains important functionscarried out by the brain.

This book explains how the brain controls bodily functions, makes it possible forus to see, hear, smell, and feel, and so much more.

The brain is difficult for adults to understand, let alone children, which isprobably why this book won the Bronze Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in2014.

While it is meant for children ages 8-14, it has been used as study aids by collegestudents and adults who are fascinated by the workings of the brain.

find out more 14. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of How

National Geographic has already published an excellent book addressing the“why’s” of life, and has followed with one for the “how’s” as with the First BigBook of Why, this book is intended for preschool aged kids.

With simple, concise explanations and over 100 photos, this book is easy to follow.

The format follows the question and answer layout that has been successful withthis age group. This way, the reader is encourage to ask more questions, thuscontinuing the learning process.

Topics include animals, human bodies, and machines to name a few. Books likethese are a great way to foster curious minds.

find out more 15. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean

Another hit from National Geographic is this ocean reference book for little kids.This 128 page book covers familiar animals like dolphins and penguins, plus itintroduces several lesser-known marine animals.

Along with each animal profile are photos of National Geographic quality, plusfacts about the animal.

This book is appropriate for the intended audience, so don’t expect acomprehensive book about all aspects of marine biology. It is, however, a hit withkids who are interested in ocean life and even adults enjoy it.

This is a great bedtime read, or downtime book, and can also be used as ateaching aid.

find out more 16. Outdoor Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family-Friendly Experiments for the Yard,Garden, Playground, and Park

This book of experiments is a great way to foster curious minds at home. The 52experiments that are featured in this book have different themes in physics,chemistry, and biology.

All of the experiments can be done in your own backyard. While theseexperiments are safe, it is always best to supervise young children.

The activities are fun for individuals, but even better for play groups. Supplies areeasy to find, and most are regular household items. Instructions are laid out in away that is easy to follow while doing the activity.

This book is the perfect solution to summer boredom, plus it keeps the kidslearning year round.

find out more 17. First Human Body Encyclopedia

For kids who have a keen interest in human biology, a coloring book that goesover the basic concepts might not cut it. For these budding doctors and biologists,you’ll need something more comprehensive.

This book is definitely a more comprehensive guide to the workings of the humanbody than the coloring books or material intended for preschoolers.

This reference covers the human skeleton, muscles, circulatory system, digestivetract, and much more. There are prompted activities in each section to helpreinforce what was just learned, plus quiz questions to help remember importantfacts.

While this book is easy to follow, it is definitely meant for the more seriouslearner.

find out more 18. Engineering: Feats and Failures

For the mini engineering buff, this is a fun and interesting read. This book coverssome amazing engineering feats like the Hoover Dam and some failures like theTitanic and Hindenberg.

While these feats and failures are interesting, this book doesn’t stop there.

There are engineering facts that explains how these marvelous feats worked orfailed, along with photos and illustrations. This book is also great for engagingreaders with mathematical problems that help explain the engineering concepts.

This is definitely not just a picture book, the information presented will keepcurious minds busy.

find out more 19. Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from thePantry

Composed by the same author that wrote Outdoor Science Lab for Kids, thiscollection experiments use kitchen items for indoor activities.

This book can be used as a teaching aid for science classes, or as a companion forthe outdoor book for bad weather days. The experiments explore concepts inbiology, physics, and chemistry using cheap pantry supplies that most of us haveon hand.

The activities are great for individuals or groups, and the instructions are easy tofollow. There are experiments everyone can enjoy in this collection. With thisbook of experiments, there is no reason to be bored!

find out more 20. Ask a Science Teacher: 250 Answers to Questions You’ve Always Had AboutHow Everyday Stuff Really Works

A unique concept among kids’ science books, this is a collection of 250 of scienceteacher Larry Scheckel’s favorite questions. This science teacher loves to figureout and explain how things come to be and function, and over the years he hasheard all kinds of questions from his students.

Covering topics like human biology, geology, chemistry, zoology, and more, thisbook is laid out in a question and answer form that goes into detailedexplanations.

This is definitely a comprehensive book, at 368 pages just full of information.While this may not be ideal for smaller children, it is fantastic for the moreserious learner.