Topic: We are computer programmers!
In computing this week, we have been developing a pedometer. Pedometers are devices that track the number of steps you take. They contain an internal mechanism or arm that moves up and down in response to the motion of your hips. With each step, your body tilts to one side and your leg swings forward. As your body shifts the other way, your other leg moves forward as well. Each tilt of your hips, along with the forward swing of your legs, is counted as a step.
In our first lesson, we developed our code – the children needed to fix a few problems with their initial algorithms. We had to use decomposition to help us debug it. In the next lesson, we downloaded our pedometer code to our micro:bits and they worked! Following some success testing them in the classroom, we took them for a spin outside and had lots of fun along the way.
Help at home: Why not have a go at creating a program on Makecode?
Living and learning
Our living and learning statement this week is ‘I can give and receive compliments‘. As a class, we talked about what a compliment was and how it made us feel. We discussed that compliments should be less about what people look like physically and more about other aspects of our lives such as our personalities, our strengths and our learning behaviour. We spent some time moving around the classroom and writing compliments on each others compliment cards and at the end we shared our favourite comments. Everyone had a smile on their face at the end of the lesson as it made us feel good about ourselves.
Art Skills
In our art skills lesson, year 56 have been learning how to mix primary watercolours to create secondary and tertiary colours.
Living and Learning and Science visitors in KS1
This half term we have been very fortunate to welcome some visitors into school.
A Living and Learning visitor
A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of hosting Lindsey from Diversity Role Models. She came to deliver a workshop on how important diversity is in all of our lives.
She read the story Odd Dog Out (which we all loved!) and then handed out coloured stickers. We needed to make groups by finding all the people who had the same colour as us before creating long ‘sausage dogs’ by linking together.
In each class, the teachers had been left in a group all on their own. They described how that made them feel.
It was so lovely how the children instantly offered for them to join their groups and we all decided that it was far better to create a rainbow dog where everyone could join in and be included.
Science visitor
Today we welcomed James from Solar For Schools into our classes. Firstly, he talked to us about what electricity is and how it can travel. We saw how, when we are connected, a circuit is created and electricity can travel through us. When we let go of a hand, the circuit broke and the electricity didn’t work.
He gave us wires, mini solar panels, mini lights, mini motors and mini buzzers. He showed us how to make a circuit to make them all work and we learned that if we covered up the solar panel, the circuit wouldn’t have any power and therefore, it wouldn’t work.
What fun we’ve had… And the half term isn’t even over yet!
Help at home: by talking to your child about differences and how people’s differences make our world an interesting and diverse place. You could also talk to your child about all the things that use electricity in your home. What are the things that use electricity? How do they work?
Oliver’s vegetables
We continued to read “Oliver’s Vegetables” and ” Oliver’s Fruit Salad” during story time this week. We talked about our favourite fruit and vegetables and those that we might like to try.
In the play dough area, we rolled tiny balls of dough to make peas and counted out the correct number to go into each pod.
You might have noticed that a pizza shop opened in Sunshine Room this week. The children have been busy taking orders, making a variety of pizzas, adding toppings and herbs. They looked delicious!
We enjoyed peeling different vegetables in the sensory area this week, the sprouts were really tricky. We also mashed our own potatoes, we had to use our muscles and press really hard. We talked about all of the different ways that we could eat potatoes.
The sun shone in the outside area this week, but it was still chilly. We warmed up by building our own obstacle course. The children used tyres, hoops, balance beams and see- saw steps. We talked about how we needed to be safe, so decided only one person could be on the see-saw step at a time. It was lots of fun balancing and jumping.
Help at home – talk about the fruit and vegetables that your child enjoys eating.
Next week
Nursery Rhyme of the week – 1,2 Buckle my shoe
Sound of the week Ff for flamingo
Reminders
Parent Teacher Consultations for our Nursery 2 children ( the children who started Nursery in September 2024) will take place next week. Please attend your appointment via the main school entrance.
We hope that you have a happy and healthy weekend and thankyou for your continued support.
Jack and the Beanstalk
It has been another fun-filled week in reception!
Jack and the Beanstalk
This week, we’ve been reading the traditional story ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.
We discussed how this story has been retold many times and some versions of the story are different. Just by looking at two front covers, we could spot similarities and differences.
In my book, Jack had a magical harp.
It has a beanstalk on the front.
The giant is in that one but not the other one.
This week, our word of the week was gigantic.
Observational drawing
This week, we have focused on drawing daffodils.
Planting a (magic) bean
After listening to the story, the children all agreed that we should plant our own bean.
We then wrote instructions to explain to others how they could plant a bean too!
Maths
In Maths, we’ve been exploring the composition of numbers by investigating the numbers within 6 and 7 e.g. seeing that 7 can be made of 5 and 2.
On Tuesday, we were joined by adults for a stay and learn session. We engaged in different activities based on composing 6, 7 and 8.
Phonics
This week, we have continued to read longer words with the chunking method.
We have also begun to read root words that make up compound words and discussing how the two root words create a new word with a new meaning.
Can your child show you the chunking method to read these words?
fantastic helmet zooming winking
Read these root words, then combine to make a compound word.
roof top farm yard car park
In provision, we’ve been making beanstalks by reading tricky words!
Poetry Picnic
Each week, we will be learning a new poem. We will recite this poem each day. By saying the poem out loud, we can focus on the sounds and rhythm of each word or line. We talk to the children about how this can help us become better readers. This week’s poem is Spring Wind.
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. Can your child tell you the rhyming words in this week’s poem? We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm.
Phase 3,4 Reading records
Well done to everyone today who has remembered their reading record.
Here are some excellent examples of the reading record activities that have been completed at home.
Help at home by reading with your child regularly and encouraging them to complete the weekly reading challenge.
This week it is: Predict the Future.
Living and learning: solving problems
This week in our Living and Learning lessons, we have been talking about solving problems (like when we fall out with friends) and also about being resilient (not giving up and keeping on trying).
We watched this song about not quitting.
PE and outdoor maths in 1,2B
We have enjoyed a bit of nice weather this week and taken some of our maths learning outside – counting in 5s.
Our PE lessons this half term are also going well. We have been playing ‘lions and hyenas’, first a whole class game and now mini-games. We can really feel the difference in our bodies when we exercise – increased heart rate, breathing harder and feeling warm!
Help at home by ensuring your child gets at least 60 minutes exercise per day (we do at least 30 mins in school each day).
We are writers!
In writing, we are going to be poets! We are linking our love of writing with our love of sport. We have used some videos of children who have been inspired by their love and passion for a sport. They talked about their determination and resilience when playing a sport, how it has made them grow as a person and how it has improved their lives. The children will create their own poems based on a sport or another interest that they are passionate about. They will also include some figurative language. This is something we’ve been working on recently. Ask your child about their poem at home.
Here are a couple of the videos that have inspired us: