Class News

EasyPeasy – parent feedback

We hope you enjoyed playing the first game from the EasyPeasy app ‘stepping stones’. If you did not receive a text inviting you to the play the EasyPeasy games, please let a member of staff know.

We would love to hear about when your child plays the games. You can comment on the video on the EasyPeasy app or email us. We really enjoyed hearing about one child playing ‘stepping stones’ at the weekend!

Leeds Play House workshop

As part of our class novel topic, children in year 5/6 took part in a drama workshop. Children used freeze frames and acted out their own version of a scene from Kensuke’s Kingdom. 

“It inspired me to be creative and brave. I was able to do actions that I didn’t really know I could do in front of loads of people.”

Marvellous Maths Stay and Play

Thank you to those of you who were able to attend the ‘marvellous maths’ stay and play last week. It was great to see so many of you there and the children enjoyed sharing their learning with you.

The teacher taught part of the session focused on the number 8. We focus on numbers to twenty throughout the year to get a depth of understanding of what the numbers represent. We talked about what number 8 looks like – not just the numeral but also what it looks like in our environment. For example, 7 flowers and 1 tree – that makes eight!

The activities part of the session allowed the children to apply the skills practically. There are 6 counting principles which children must know in order to be able to count well.

Thank you for all the fantastic feedback. In response, please find some links below available to download and print to support learning at home.

Number formation , first, then, now – ten frame

If you were unable to attend, your child will be bringing home an information sheet with ideas of how to support your child at home. The children also enjoy watching number blocks – a great conversation starter about numbers!

Living and Learning homework – I know how to make things better

All the year 1 and 2 classes has fantastic homework review sessions this week. There were lots of varied examples of how we can make things better at school, home and in the wider environment.

Knobbly knees, bird watching and ice

Continuing with the Gruffalo theme provided lots of opportunities to extend learning this week. There were some fantastic Gruffalo creations in the playdough area; children demonstrated great perseverance and used all the details from the story to make Gruffalo cakes with purple prickles, orange eyes and terrible teeth.

It was quite chilly outside and children spotted lots of signs of winter. We talked about the frost each morning and children were very excited to find ice in different places. After painting on the ice, children noticed that when they returned to the activity later, it had gone!

As part of the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch, children helped to make some birdfeeders to hang in the Nursery garden. We look forward to bird watching next week.

Gold Stars

Well done to our two Golden Stars! 

Kensuke’s Kingdom Kahoot

Today, in our reading lesson, we read chapter 2 of our class novel: Kensuke’s Kingdom. Help at home by asking your child to summarise what happened. We started off by reading the book as we listened along to the audio book at the same time. We really enjoyed being able to hear a professional read aloud as we followed on.

Then, we all gathered in one room for a mass game of Kahoot. We had a great time practising our reading skills (retrieval and inference). Whilst at the same time, playing a really fun, interactive, online quiz.

Check out Kahoot to see more fun, educational quizzes!

Big Garden Bird Watch Home-link Challenge

This week, the children have enjoyed bird watching and looking for other signs of winter (ice, moss, snowdrops, spiders webs) in our outdoor garden. So far, they have spotted lots of magpies. They had fun recording their findings. Below, are a few comments from the children.

• “We have to be quiet.”
• “We have to hide and then they’ll come.”
• “We need to put some food out, they will smell it and come.”
• “They like worms.”

Home-link Challenge – 3 challenge cubes

This weekend, it is the big garden birdwatch. Can your child spot any birds/other signs of winter?

Birds to look out for: Blackbird, Blue tit and Chaffinch.

This week, we have also been exploring bird cakes. Making cakes for the birds is great, sticky fun and the mix of fat, seeds and mealworms is irresistible for many garden birds!

Why not try and make a bird cake at home to attract the birds to your garden?

What you will need:

Remember to take photos and maybe a photo or drawing of the birds flocking down to eat it!

Please email photos and comments from your child so we can share your sightings next week. This will support us in our assessment by providing evidence towards the Understanding the World strand of the EYFS. 

They make observations of animals and plants and explain why some things occur, and talk about changes.

EasyPeasy! We are going live!

You should have received a letter and information booklet introducing you to the new and FREE educational app called ‘EasyPeasy’.

‘EasyPeasy’ is going live this Saturday 26th January. If you have not opted out you will receive a text message inviting you to access the many educational game ideas that you can do at home.

Each week, you will receive a text message with a new game that you can play in any location with everyday items that you’ll already have at home. EasyPeasy is designed to support learning through play!

This week the activity will be ‘lunch time’. Let us know how you get on by commenting on the game. Look out for our comment with suggestions of how to adapt the game!

We are classifying

In science, year 5 and 6 have been learning how to classify objects by their observable characteristics. Today, we classified sweets by their characteristics. Children were able to ask specific questions. At home, you might like to try classifying other objects e.g. Toys, games, food.