Algorithms vs a jam sandwich

9th October 2025Ruth Shields

We have moved on to our next computing unit which is understanding an algorithm. An algorithm is a clear set of instructions that we give to a computer to fulfil a task that we need it to do. Unfortunately, if the instructions aren’t clear then the computer will become confused. To help with their understanding, the children had to help Miss Shields make a jam sandwich but unfortunately this didn’t go to plan. The instructions Miss Shields received resulted in questionable jam sandwiches.

First, she was told to spread the butter on the bread then spread the jam on the bread. So children were quite surprised when this happened.

Another set of instructions was to get out the bread, get out the butter and get out the jam but children weren’t happy when I plopped these on the table and not the actual bread.

After a couple of failed attempts, children refined their instructions, however, they forgot to tell Miss Shields to use a knife so they were quite surprised when she spread the butter and jam with her hand. They then remembered to tell me that I needed to use a knife.

By following the unclear instructions, children were able to start understanding that an algorithm has to be clear instructions so that a computer knows exactly what to do and doesn’t get confused.

Crew Invention

7th October 2025Ruth Shields

Building on from our last computing lesson, Crew Barber created an invention all together. We discussed the type of invention that we’d like and how we could modify it to suit everyone. We worked through and discussed the shapes we could use and how we would like the machine to work.

Our invention was a food and drinks machine at would allow you to order anything you wanted. You would type in what you wanted and the machine would make it automatically. The crew decided that this invention would be best suited in their bedroom so they could have food whenever they wanted. The winning requests were chicken nuggets, cupcakes or chips.

What do some Hindu people believe about Creation?

7th October 2025Ruth Shields

In Re, Year 1 have been learning about creation. Last week, we learned about what Christian people believe about creation and how God created the world. To start our lesson, children recapped what God created each day before we started looking at what some Hindu people believe. We watched a video about Hindu people’s beliefs and then discussed the similarities and differences to the Christian creation story.

Expert Visit!

29th September 2025Betty Ramsay

Crew Ramsay and Crew Barber had a very special visit from our local Firefighters today! We learned about their Firetruck and even had a go sitting in the cabin! This was a lovely ending to our first case study about Firefighters!

Being Artists

22nd September 2025Lauren Marsh

We have loved being artists just like Dennis Creffield, we have been using charcoal to start creating our artwork. We firstly practiced by drawing the school using lines and shapes.

We then applied this to our final artwork, creating mood from the tissue paper for the fire and drawing 19th century houses with charcoal.

Creation – How do Christians and Jews believe the world was created?

12th September 2025Ruth Shields

In RE, year 1 have been learning about how the world began. Last week, we investigated things around the world to help us understand that lots of things occur naturally on the Earth such as trees, sunsets, mountains and animals. This week, we have learned about what Christians believe and their belief is that God created the world. We watched a video that explained how God created the world in 7 days and created an anchor chart.

Inputs – How do we control a computer?

12th September 2025Ruth Shields

In year 1, we have been learning about how to control a computer and that we usually do this by pressing buttons. Before we started our new learning, we recapped our learning from last week. We recapped our actions to help us remember monitor, mouse, keyboard and printer before using an interactive game to place the labels in the correct place.

The children were really excited to learn that Miss Shields had a remote control that allowed her to control the actions of the children. When she pressed the blue button, the children had to jump up and wave their arms. When she pressed the red button, they had to tap their knees. Then when she pressed the green button, they had to lie down and pretend their were sleeping. This was great fun which helped us understand that buttons result in actions.

We then worked together to design a robot that we thought would help Mrs Barber. The children suggested help with RWI and all the things she needs to remember.