Breakfast, lunch and water to fuel your brain
This week we’ve found out how a healthy, balanced diet and good hydration provides us with the energy our brain needs to function throughout the day.
Nutritionists believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but what children eat can be just as crucial. Breakfast cereals and foods rich in whole grains, fibre and protein and low in added sugar may boost attention span, concentration and memory and prevent children having a mid morning energy drop. http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/breakfast.html
Fruit at playtime, provided free for Reception and Key Stage 1 and the only snack allowed at Key Stage 2 playtime, can provide an energy boost for the rest of the morning. Remember the weekly fruit tuckshop on Tuesdays is available to Key Stage 2 costing 20p per item.
A healthy, balanced lunch is also crucial to refuel the brain for the afternoon’s learning and this week children, who bring a packed lunch to school, have been given a copy of our Guide for Healthy Packed Lunches (https://www.moortown.leeds.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/packed-lunch-guidance.pdf). The guide was launched in September 2010 but may not have been seen by children new to the school or children who may have previously had school dinners.
The importance of hydration for the brain, to maximise learning, has been another focus of our Brain Box week. Children need to have a water bottle to keep in their classroom to allow regular water breaks throughout the day. This should be taken home weekly to be cleaned. Water is also provided at lunchtime for packed lunches and school dinners.
As well as regular exercise and opportunities for relaxation these factors all contribute to a healthy brain!
Better brains with more sleep
‘Your brain needs lots of sleep to repair itself and to organise and sort everything you have learnt’… One of the messages in the Good-night guide for children, published by The Sleep Council, sent home today, at the end of Brain Box week.
Research carried out by The Sleep Council revealed that lack of sleep among primary school children was having a devastating effect in schools with nine out of 10 teachers (92%) complaining that pupils were so tired they were unable to pay attention in class. More than a third (38%) said lack of sleep among youngsters is a daily problem for them.
This week, classes have been looking at The Sleep Council’s Better Brains with More Sleep initiative where children are encouraged to learn tips on getting their full sleep quota and the factors that can affect it.
Our Big Topics begin…
We’ve had a busy few weeks with mini-topics and our themed week but our Big Topics will begin next week!
Our topics for this school year are:
Year 1 and 2
- Roll up! Roll up! Learning about the origins of the circus and how they have changed over time
- Treasure A new topic for 2012-2013, ‘Treasure’ will include lots of map-reading and adventure
- Ee Ie Ee Ie O! Learning about different types of farms and animals
Year 3 and 4
- All aboard! Learning about transport through the ages
- To infinity and beyond! A popular topic delving deep into space
- Food, glorious food! Another new topic for 2012-2013, ‘Food, glorious food’ will look at popular food in different cultures
Year 5 and 6
- Rich and poor Thinking about differences in lifestyle between rich and poor over time
- Theme parks Another new topic for this school year, ‘Theme parks’ is a roller-coaster ride which links all the key literacy learning the children have done in the past, from reports to recounts
- Chocolate A popular topic looking at aspects such as fair trade and how chocolate is made
Learning about the brain
Year One have enjoyed a week of exciting activities. These activities helped them to understand and learn about their amazing brains. This is what they said:
- “Our brains help us think!”
- “My brain needs water.”
- “My brain has 3 parts.”
Water Aid Assembly
We’ve a sponsored walk on Friday – Gary from Water Aid tells the school about what happens with our donations.
Our amazing brains – Brain Box week!
This week is dedicated to developing an awareness of learning and how the brain works.
The importance of exercise, healthy food, sleep, hydration and emotional health, for a healthy brain, will be covered throughout the week alongside a main focus for each day:
Monday
Understanding your brain, brain cells and how to help your brain to learn.
Tuesday
How your brain learns best and learning styles.
Key Stage 2 classes will also have a visit from d:Side. As part of our drug education in school, representatives from d:Side, a drug and health programme, will be looking, in particular, at the effects of various drugs on the brain.
Staff from d:Side will be available after school, in the dining room, for parents / carers to ask any questions about these sessions.
Wednesday
Developing the understanding of multiple intelligences and that everyone has gifts and talents.
Dr Dave Lewis, Senior Lecturer of Neuroscience, from the University of Leeds will be visiting Key Stage 2 classes.
Thursday
Thinking about thinking and problem solving.
Friday
A day to remember – exploring a range of memory strategies.
The whole school Water Aid sponsored walk will take place during Friday.
Please check the website for further information and links to websites throughout the week.
Mini-topic
For the first few weeks of term we have learnt about ‘Ourselves’. We’ve looked at our bodies, families and the five senses. These photographs are of us learning about faces.
We had great fun making faces on biscuits.
SEAL statement 07 September
This week we begin our new SEAL theme, New Beginnings, and the weekly statement is ‘I can make someone feel welcome.‘
Over this half term, as the children are experiencing new beginnings, each class will be looking at how they can all contribute to establishing a welcoming and safe environment for learning.
A new school year
Welcome to Year 1!
We’ve had a great first week and I’m pleased with the efforts and behaviour of all of the children.
Just a few notes about the term ahead:
PE – this will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Children should bring their PE kits to school and leave in school until half term. If they get dirty they will be sent home for washing.
Reading – we aim to hear your child read on a weekly basis within school, once by a teacher and once by the teaching assistant. Please make time to read with your child and encourage them to discuss the text. It would be helpful if you make a comment of any reading done in your child’s reading record book.
Homework – children in Year 1 will receive homework on a Friday and it’s due back on Wednesday the following week. See the front of the homework book for more details.
Spelling – this will be set home on a Monday and a spelling test will take place on the Friday.
Class bear – Year 1 is home to Ralph Bear! A child will be rewarded each week by bringing Ralph home for the weekend. He will bring with him his suitcase and diary. Please encourage your child to write in his diary about his weekend. Photos are also welcome.
A warm welcome to Abigail, who has joined our class. She has fitted in beautifully and I am sure she will be very happy at Moortown Primary.
If you have any questions about the term ahead, please do not hesitate to ask.
Goodbye Year 1!
Where has this year gone? It has been an amazing year and each and every child has flourished, matured and made our year a very successful one. There have been many highlights including Emre coming to school as Bob Dylan and Malique thinking that I was alive in 1935! The class has many characters, all with different strengths, but they are one of the most co-operative classes that Mrs Maver or I have ever taught.
There have been so many successes I could sit here all night listing them; here are a few:
- Sarah has become so independent
- Mia has become a whizz at maths and is so much more confident
- Dominic has matured and has made amazing progress in his writing
- Haider is much more sure of himself
- Luke has shown brilliant positive behaviour
A big thank you to Mrs Strange and Mrs Maqbool who have supported the children all year in their learning and a big thank you to you, the parents / carers, for your ongoing support – it makes our lives much easier.
We look forward to seeing all the children in Year 2. They can’t get away from us as we will be popping in next door to make sure they are showing Miss Hewson their best! Well done Year 1 – have a great summer!
