Class Teachers
1A - Miss Larkin
1B - Miss Johal
Teaching Assistants
1A - Mrs Aggarwal
1B - Mrs Vara
Welcome to the Year 1 page for Classes 1A and 1B at The Rosary Catholic Primary School!
Here you will find updates about what we have been learning, links to support home learning, and access to the online platforms we use to practise and strengthen our skills. In Year 1, we make the exciting transition from the Early Years to Key Stage 1, building strong foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics. Through play, exploration, and hands-on activities, we develop our curiosity and begin to discover more about the world, guided by our Catholic faith and values.
Religious Education
In Year 1, our Religious Education curriculum follows the six branches outlined in the Religious Education Directory (RED). Each branch is designed to help children explore and understand key aspects of the Catholic faith through engaging stories, activities, and reflections.
Autumn Term
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Branch 1: Creation and Covenant
Children explore the story of creation and God's covenant with His people, learning about the beginning of the world and God's promises. -
Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise
Pupils learn about the prophets who spoke of God's promises and the anticipation of the coming of Jesus, focusing on themes of hope and expectation.
Spring Term
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Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem
This branch delves into the life and ministry of Jesus, from His teachings in Galilee to His journey to Jerusalem, highlighting His messages of love and salvation. -
Branch 4: Desert to Garden
Children reflect on the journey from Lent to Easter, understanding the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, and the hope it brings.
Summer Term
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Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth
Pupils learn about the spread of Jesus' teachings and the mission of the Church, understanding how the message of Jesus reaches all corners of the world. -
Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter
This branch encourages children to appreciate and respect different faiths and cultures, promoting dialogue and understanding in a diverse world.
Through these branches, Year 1 students embark on a journey of discovery, deepening their faith and understanding of the world around them.
✝️ Year 1 Religious Education Knowledge Organisers 📖
To support your child’s RE learning, each term we provide a Knowledge Organiser. These handy guides summarise key facts, vocabulary, Bible stories, and important concepts for each branch.
You can use the Knowledge Organiser at home to:
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Talk about stories and topics with your child.
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Practice key vocabulary and understand its meaning.
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Ask simple questions to encourage reflection and discussion.
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Reinforce learning from class in a fun, engaging way.
By revisiting the Knowledge Organiser regularly, children become more confident in their RE learning and develop a deeper understanding of their faith.
🙏 Supporting Religious Education Learning at Home ⛪
To help your child explore their RE learning at home, we have provided links to videos and resources that support the six branches of the RED curriculum. These resources include Bible stories, animations, and child-friendly videos that reflect the key themes of each branch.
You can use them to:
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Revisit stories and concepts discussed in class.
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Discuss key ideas and vocabulary with your child.
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Encourage reflection and prayer at home.
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Make learning fun and engaging with age-appropriate videos and activities.
Regularly exploring these resources at home will help your child deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and connect classroom learning to everyday life.
📚 Branch 1: Creation and Covenant 🌎
Focus: God’s creation of the world and His covenant with His people
Creation Story Creation (Genesis 1-2) Nicene Creed Laudato Si’ God our Father KS1 Prayers
🔮 Branch 2: Prophecy and Promise ✨
Focus: Prophets and God’s promises leading to the coming of Jesus
Angel Gabriel Visits Mary Story of Elizabeth The Birth of Jesus Jesus and the Shepherds Mary's Big Yes
🕊 Branch 3: Galilee to Jerusalem 🚶♂️
Focus: Jesus’ life, ministry, and journey to Jerusalem
Jesus in the Temple He has sent me Jesus Calls His Disciples Jesus and the Children Zacchaeus
🌵 Branch 4: Desert to Garden 🌺
Focus: Lent, Easter, Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection
The Story of Easter Jesus Teaches in the Temple The Widow's Offering The Last Supper Jesus' DeathTemptation of Jesus
🌍 Branch 5: To the Ends of the Earth ✈️
Focus: The spread of Jesus’ teachings and the mission of the Church
The Road to Emmaus Jesus' Ascension God sends the Holy Spirit Story of Pentecost Glory Be Prayer
🤝 Branch 6: Dialogue and Encounter 💬
Focus: Appreciating and respecting different faiths and cultures
Online Learning Platforms
Accelerated Reader – Access Accelerated Reader here
Accelerated Reader is a programme that helps children develop their reading skills and understanding of the books they read. Once your child has completed the Read Write Inc Phonics programme, they will begin bringing home Accelerated Reader books, which are carefully levelled and colour-stickered to match their reading ability.
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At home, your child can:
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Read their Accelerated Reader book (or a book on myON, our online library).
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Complete a short comprehension quiz online about the book they have read.
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Track their progress and celebrate their achievements as they move through the levels.
These quizzes check how well your child has understood their reading and help teachers to see the progress they are making. The more they read and quiz, the more confident and fluent they will become as readers.
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myON – Access myON here
myON is our online library, giving children access to a wide range of age-appropriate eBooks that can be read at home and in school. Each book is linked to the Accelerated Reader programme, which means children can quiz on the books they read in myON just like they do with their colour-stickered Accelerated Reader books.
Children can:
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Choose from thousands of digital books tailored to their reading level.
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Enjoy fiction and non-fiction texts to broaden their knowledge and interests.
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Take Accelerated Reader quizzes after reading to check their understanding.
myON helps children develop a love of reading by giving them choice and variety, while also supporting progress in comprehension.
We encourage children to use these platforms regularly at home to build fluency and confidence in their reading skills.
Learning Overview
In Year 1, children build on the strong foundations from Early Years and begin their exciting journey through Key Stage 1. Our curriculum is broad and balanced, rooted in our Catholic faith, and enriched through engaging topics and high-quality texts from the Power of Reading programme, such as Beegu, Traction Man, and The Lonely Beast.
Across the year, children explore subjects including Religious Education, English, Maths, Science, Computing, Geography, History, Art, Design Technology, PE, Music, and PSHRE. They enjoy hands-on experiences and creative projects that deepen their learning and develop independence, curiosity, and confidence.
👇 You can view our full Year 1 Learning Overview below.
Power of Reading
At the Rosary Catholic Primary School, we recognise language as a gift from God and a powerful tool for communication, reflection, and understanding. Through the study of high-quality texts, pupils are encouraged to develop empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation of diverse perspectives and values that reflect the Gospel message at the heart of our school. English provides opportunities for children to express their beliefs, explore moral themes, and use their voices with confidence and compassion, promoting truth, justice, and the common good. In doing so, we help pupils grow into kind, thoughtful individuals who use their God-given gifts to transform the world around them.
✨ Our Powerful Texts 📘
📚 Year 1 Power of Reading Knowledge Organisers ✏️
Our Power of Reading Knowledge Organisers are designed to help your child engage deeply with their reading and writing learning. They summarise key vocabulary, important story details, grammar points, and writing objectives for each book or unit.
You can use them at home to:
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Preview and discuss key vocabulary before reading sessions.
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Ask questions about the story to improve comprehension.
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Support writing tasks by encouraging your child to use new words, phrases, and sentence structures.
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Track progress by revisiting previous units and reinforcing learning.
By using these knowledge organisers regularly, you help your child build confidence, improve understanding, and develop stronger reading and writing skills in a structured and enjoyable way.
Beegu The Dark The Lonely Beast
Mathematics
The fundamental purpose of Maths is the pursuit of truth, reflecting the order and wisdom of God’s creation. The skills developed through Maths - creative, critical, and analytical thinking - enable learners to use their God-given talents to serve others. Exploring the beauty and harmony of mathematics helps learners engage with something greater than themselves, inspiring them to be forerunners, trailblazers, and inventors who contribute to the common good. Grounding learning in real-world contexts encourages responsible application of knowledge, reflecting Catholic values of stewardship and service.
🔢 Year 1 White Rose Maths 💰
In Year 1, we follow the White Rose Maths scheme to help children build a strong foundation in number, shape, measurement, and problem-solving. Throughout the year, pupils will explore concepts in a fun, engaging, and hands-on way, developing confidence and fluency in maths.
Key areas of learning include:
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Place Value: Understanding numbers to 100, counting, ordering, and comparing.
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Addition and Subtraction: Learning to add and subtract using objects, number lines, and mental strategies.
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Multiplication and Division: Introducing simple repeated addition and sharing.
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Fractions: Recognising and using simple fractions such as ½ and ¼.
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Measurement: Exploring length, height, weight, volume, money, and time.
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Geometry: Learning about 2D and 3D shapes, as well as position, direction, and movement.
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Problem-Solving and Reasoning: Applying maths to real-life contexts and developing critical thinking skills.
👇 You can view our full Year 1 Mathematics Curriculum Overview below.
🗺️ Supporting Mathematics Learning at Home 🌍
We have gathered a variety of resources for families to help children practise and enjoy maths at home. These include:
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Workbooks and worksheets to reinforce learning
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Videos and tutorials to explain key concepts
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Games and interactive apps for hands-on practice
Using these tools regularly will help your child build confidence, fluency, and a love of maths while supporting what they learn in class.
Number and Place Value
White Rose Home Learning Place Value (Within 10) Place Value (Within 20) Place Value (within 50) Place Value (within 100) Odd and Even BBC BitesizePlace Value Charts Game Bead Numbers Game Place Value Basketball GameCoconut Odd or Even Game Underwater Counting Game Gingerbread Man Game Ladybird Spot Game Blast Off Game Helicopter Rescue Game Caterpillar Ordering Game Today's Number
Addition and Subtraction
Addition & Subtraction (Within 10) Addition & Subtraction (Within 20) Number Blocks Bumble Nums Jack Hartmann Addition Exercises Robot More or Less Game Subtraction Grids Game Post Sorting Game
Bingo Addition Game Beehive More or Less Game Adding & Subtraction Video
Shape
Length and Height
Mass and Volume
Multiplication and Division
Fractions
Position and Direction
Money
Time
Science
Through science, we recognise the world as God’s creation - a gift entrusted to us to explore and care for. Through scientific enquiry, children deepen their appreciation of the complexity and beauty of creation, learning that we are stewards of the Earth with a responsibility to use our knowledge wisely. The Plymouth Science scheme supports this by encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for life, all rooted in the dignity of the human person and the call to care for our common home.
🐛 Supporting Science Learning at Home 🌱
At The Rosary, we know that children love exploring the world around them, and you can help spark their curiosity at home, too! Below are some recommended websites with fun activities, videos, and experiments you can enjoy together. They are safe, free to use, and linked to what your child is learning in Year 1 science.
BBC Bitesize KS1 Science – short videos and quizzes covering the Year 1 curriculum.
Explorify – amazing pictures and questions to get children thinking like scientists.
STEM Learning – simple hands-on science ideas to try at home.
Science Sparks – easy experiments using everyday household items.
Royal Institution: ExpeRimental – quick video demonstrations of family science activities.
Wildlife Watch – spotter sheets and challenges to explore the outdoors.
National Geographic Kids – fascinating facts, quizzes, and games about animals and space.
💡 Just a few minutes of science fun at home can help your child build confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning!
Humanities
Through Geography and History, children explore people, places, and our shared world through the lens of Catholic teaching. In Geography, pupils learn about the environment and how humans interact with it, understanding that we are stewards of God’s creation and called to care for the common good. In History, pupils reflect on past events and human decisions, considering their moral and ethical impact on society. Together, these subjects help children appreciate the gift of creation, understand their responsibility to others, and inspire them to make thoughtful, positive contributions guided by Catholic values.
🏰 Year 1 Humanities Knowledge Organisers 🌊
To support your child’s learning in Humanities, we are sharing Knowledge Organisers for each unit of work. These organisers highlight the key vocabulary your child will be using in class, the main knowledge they need to understand, and the skills they will be developing - including geographical skills, historical enquiry, and understanding significant figures and events.
🗺️ Supporting Humanities Learning at Home 🌍
In Year 1, our humanities learning includes Geography (spatial sense, the UK – human and physical features, and the 7 continents) and History (the Gunpowder Plot, Kings and Queens, and Exciting Explorers). Below are some child-friendly websites you can explore at home to help bring these topics to life.
BBC Bitesize KS1 Geography – Videos, maps, and simple explanations of places, weather, and geographical skills.
BBC Bitesize KS1 History – Interactive activities and stories about important events and changes through time.
Royal Geographical Society (Discover Geography) – Resources and ideas to help children understand the world around them.
Historic Royal Palaces Learning – Stories, videos, and activities linked to key events such as the Great Fire of London.
National Geographic Kids – Articles, games, and facts about countries, weather, and explorers.
BBC Bitesize Geography BBC Bitesize History Historical Royal Palaces National Geographic Kids
Parent Workshop
Year 1 Curriculum PowerpointHomework
Autumn 1 week beginning 30th September
Maths homework one more or less a
Maths homework one more or less b
Autumn 1 week beginning 7th October
Maths homework ordering numbers a
Maths homework ordering numbers b
