Why Castles, Bead Strings, and Forgiveness Filled Our Week in Year 1

Miss Broadsmith • May 2, 2025

Share this post

A whirlwind of learning, movement, and imagination in the Mary Ellis classroom

This Week in Mary Ellis Class:
  • Explored healthy friendships and forgiveness through a Bible story
  • Re-enacted the story of the paralysed man
  • Created animal fact files and sorted out sentence puzzles
  • Investigated materials in Science and learned about Norman castles in History
  • Practised athletics in PE – speedsters everywhere!

Year 1 have been very engaged with their learning this week.

At the start of the week, we discussed healthy relationships and how to solve problems, focussing on what a good friend does.


On Tuesday, the children heard the story of the healing of the paralysed man, learning about the Sacraments of Healing and Forgiveness. They made their own character and re-enacted the story in groups, talking about how the different people in the story felt.

 

In English, we have been puzzling out some mixed-up sentences and questions and putting together an animal fact file.

In Maths, the children have been using what they know of their number bonds to work out addition and subtraction problems. We also explored finding the next odd and even numbers on a number line and with bead strings.


A materials hunt was the focus of our Science this week. The children were busy searching around the classroom and outside for items made of different materials.


Following on from re-enacting the exciting events of 1066, they have been learning why castles were so important to the Normans in our History lesson.


Finally, the children have been practising their athletic skills in PE. They are too fast for the camera! Well done, Mary Ellis class!

Visit our learning blog

Previous posts

Two boys are sitting at a table looking at a map
By Miss Cruickshank June 13, 2025
Year 3 have kicked off the second half of summer term with imagination, energy and lots of learning. From mischievous characters in English to fraction fun with cake in Maths, it’s been a brilliant week full of questions, discoveries, and plenty of smiles.
Two young boys are talking to each other in a classroom.
By Miss Stokes June 6, 2025
From meeting Wilbur the pig in Charlotte’s Web to making rice dance during sound experiments, Year 4 have had a brilliant start to the half term. We’ve also been dreaming big about future careers—anything from astronauts to artists!
Two girls wearing blue gilbert vests are giving the peace sign
By Mr Clarke May 23, 2025
This half-term, Year 5 stepped through mysterious doors into enchanted gardens, ancient ruins, and futuristic worlds. From crafting vivid stories to unearthing dinosaur facts and testing friction, we’ve mixed science with storytelling — with a well-earned reward of woodland dens to top it all off!
Two young girls are sitting at a table painting
By Miss Locke May 16, 2025
After smashing their SATs with confidence and determination, Dina Asher-Smith Class enjoyed a well-earned week of creativity, sport and celebration. From Banksy-inspired art to rounders and a cinema trip, it’s been a perfect balance of learning and fun.
A group of children are sitting at a table in a classroom.
By Mrs Muncer April 25, 2025
Year 2 have hit the ground running this term with new classroom setups, exciting geometry lessons, fable writing adventures, and athletics practice. It’s been a busy and brilliant start to the summer, full of creativity, teamwork, and energy!
A group of children are standing around a flower bed.
By Miss Cruickshank April 4, 2025
From science experiments in the classroom to dancing daffodils and a peaceful visit to St Alban’s, Tim Peake Class have had a week full of learning, movement and moments of calm. Here’s a little peek into what we’ve been up to.
A group of children are posing for a picture in front of a dinosaur skeleton.
By Miss Stokes March 30, 2025
Year 4 have explored animal teeth, translated polygons across grids, and wrapped up a heartfelt book about friendship and loyalty. Add in a trip to the Natural History Museum, and it's safe to say this week has been full of excitement and learning!
A girl in a tie holds up a bag
By Mr Clarke March 21, 2025
This week has been packed with creativity, curiosity and some seriously fun experiments! We’ve launched rockets, grown salt crystals, tested volleyball skills, and even met a real-life author. Read on to find out what we’ve been learning and building.
A group of children are sitting at a table painting
By Miss Locke March 14, 2025
Year 6 have been busy showing just how far they’ve come, with assessment success, outdoor PE fun, and thoughtful discussions inspired by Wonder. They’ve also created worry stones in PSHE – a colourful reminder that it’s okay to feel all the feels.
A woman with pink hair is sitting in a chair holding a feather.
By Miss South March 10, 2025
Reception had a fantastic visit from Emma at the Wildheart Sanctuary, where they met Steve the white-tailed eagle and even a chick! From comparing wingspans to learning about sharp talons and beaks, it was an exciting, hands-on experience with these incredible apex predators.
Show More