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:
Performing Poetry
This week, we’ve been exploring a poem titled Girl Footballer by Jackie Kay.
Jackie Kay is a remarkable poet, known for writing both playful poems and serious ones that address issues like discrimination and equality.
Today, we performed the poem in pairs! We received some helpful advice from Michael Rosen and came up with a few R2s to enhance our performances:
- Varying tone
- Varying pace
- Varying volume
- Incorporating engaging actions
Help at Home: by reading some poems together!
2C Living and Learning fun!
This week in our living and learning lesson we were talking about resilience, which is one of our ‘Eight R’s’ in school. We know that resilience means not giving up, and trying even if at first we don’t succeed. We always try our best in our learning!
During circle time we each discussed something we are not good at, or have struggled with in the past.
One child said ‘I wasn’t very good at riding a bike when I was younger. But I kept on practising and now I can ride a bike without stabilisers.
The children know it isn’t possible to be good at every skill straight away, but with resilience we can overcome challenges.
During the second part of the session, we worked as a team to build a tower. The children had 8 minutes to work in a team and build the tallest tower. They were not allowed to use sellotape or glue but could use materials in the classroom to build.
See how they got on below!
The team that won took their time to find strong materials.
SK: ‘I realised the heavy things couldn’t go on top so I moved them to the bottom and then the tower was strong.’
Help at home: by discussing resilience regularly and that as long as we try our best, that’s the most important thing!
Computing Creations
Our topic for this half term is Computing. We’ve been using Scratch to help with our learning.
So far, we’ve learnt…
- what a computer is
- what inputs and outputs are
- what a sprite is
- what a program is
- what logical reasoning is
…and we’ll continue our learning by using sequencing, decomposition and logical reasoning to create programs on Scratch.
Help at home: See which of our vocabulary (below) for this topic your child can remember.
Growing and changing
Our beanstalks are growing! The children have been fascinated over the last few weeks as they have watched and waited for their seeds to grow. We’ve talked about the shoot and roots as they have appeared.
This week we have explored vegetables and herbs. In the creative area, we did some observational drawing of different vegetables and looked at the shape and colours as we drew. The sensory area had lots of herbs to explore, we smelt, looked closely and touched thyme, basil, mint, rosemary and coriander.
We got busy in the Nursery garden too, tidying the planters ready for planting some of our own seeds in the coming weeks.
We have been completing our Spring checklists too, so far we have spotted daffodils, birds, blossom, green leaves, buds and snow drops.
What signs of Spring can you spot when you are out and about?
The children have been practising their counting skills and have been trying to make sure that they count carefully, saying one number for each item as they touch it or point.
Help at home: Practise counting different objects during play and in everyday life. Make sure children say one number for each item; it often helps to move each item as you count or line them up so that children only count each object once. Can they remember how many they had in total without counting again?
1,2,3 there are 3
Next week
Nursery rhyme of the week – Hickory Dickory Dock
Sound of the week Bb for bear.
We hope that you have a happy and healthy weekend and thankyou for your continued support.
Living and Learning – Friends and Family
Celebrating friendships and family in Year 3/4
This week, we’ve been focusing on the Living and Learning statement: “I recognise that friends and family are important.” We’ve had thoughtful discussions about what makes friendships special and why family support is so valuable.
Through discussion, we have shared examples of times when our friends and family have helped us and talked about ways we can do the same for others.
It has been wonderful to see the children reflect on the positive relationships in their lives and think about how they can continue to build strong friendships.
Help at home: Ask your child what is a happy and healthy relationship.