Multicultural week

Year 1 have had a fantastic time celebrating all things India as part of our Multicultural Week!

We started the week by sharing the beautiful story We Are All Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. The children discussed the important message that no matter our background, everyone is welcome in our Hazelwood community.

From there, the children explored India in depth, locating it on a world map and discovering some of its famous landmarks and places. They fully immersed themselves in the culture by tasting delicious Indian food, practising energetic Bollywood dance moves, designing their own Indian flags, and learning about India’s national bird, the peacock, before creating their own colourful peacock artwork. The children also had the exciting opportunity to visit The Nest for a spot of cooking. They made Indian cupcakes with an Asian twist, adding cardamom and saffron to create a unique and aromatic flavour. They were absolutely delicious!

A highlight of the week was learning about Dr Ranj Singh, a doctor and television presenter with Indian heritage. The children were inspired by his achievements and the values he has shown throughout his career. This encouraged them to think about their own goals and dreams for the future.

It was an inspiring, vibrant, and joyful week, and the children have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of their learning journey through India!

Forest School

This half-term, the children have been busy enjoying their weekly Forest School sessions. Forest School is a place of wonder and exploration for the children. From ‘cooking’ in the mud kitchen, building and construction, getting creative with natural materials, and enjoying delicious Autumnal treats around the campfire, each session has been an exciting experience. They've learned essential skills, such as safely cooking around the campfire, and developed a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

Please click here to see some photos of Year 1 in action.

Author Jeanne Willis visits Year 1

Last week, Year 1 had the exciting opportunity to welcome Jeanne Willis, the author of Bog Baby. She began the day by introducing herself, sharing the enchanting story, which will be the focus of our English work over the coming weeks, and answering the children’s many thoughtful questions.

The magic continued as Jeanne visited each classroom to guide the children in creating their very own Bog Babies. Using clay, feathers, googly eyes, and other crafty materials, the children brought their creatures to life with great imagination. Afterwards, they explored the Forest School area to collect twigs, sticks, and leaves, building cosy little homes for their new Bog Babies.

It was a truly inspiring and memorable day, sparking creativity and joy in all our Year 1 children.

Click here to see some photos of the day.

Year 1’s First Week Back!

Year 1 have had a fantastic start to the new school year and have settled in brilliantly to their new routines.

In Maths, we explored sorting and counting objects, using different ways to group them. In English, we began our work on Beegu, a story about a lost alien, and talked about friendship and kindness.

Our RE lessons have continued our learning about Christianity, building on our learning from Reception, while in History, we started thinking about the past and present, and how things have changed over time.

It’s been a great first week full of learning and excitement!

Please click here to see some photos.