Christmas
We had such a busy week learning the songs and rehearsing for our ‘Santa’s Hat’ production. We can’t wait to share it with you on Monday and Tuesday and hope you enjoy watching.
During group time, we enjoyed drawing some decorations onto a giant tree and learning about the letter ‘n’. We could hear the ‘n’ sound at the beginning of the words nurse, nose, nut and net.
Outside, we decorated trees, used chalks to draw snowmen and we aimed red balls (noses!) at a giant rudolph on the wall to practise our throwing skills.
We also made Christmas cards for our families; children can’t wait to bring them home so please remember to check their folder on their final day in Nursery next week.
Next week:
We will consolidate the letter sounds that we have learnt so far – s, a, t, p, i and n.
Reminders:
- Our Early Years Christmas performance will take place on Monday 18 December at 1.30 – 2.15pm and on Tuesday 19 December at 9.45 – 10.30am.
- Thank you to everyone that has replied to say which ‘Stay and Decorate‘ session they would like to attend. If you haven’t returned the slip yet, please let us know if you’re able to join in with one of the sessions. They will be on Wednesday 20 December 9.00- 9.45am or 2.00 -2.45 pm and Thursday 21 December 9.00-9.45am.
- Our Nursery Party will take place on Friday 22 December from 10-11.15am. Children can attend Nursery wearing their party clothes. Please remember that we will still take part in Nursery activities (which can be messy) and we’ll also be outside so footwear needs to be sensible.
- A pot for your £1 party contribution will be available in Nursery all week. Thank you in advance for your donation towards the cost of treats for our party.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
This week, children are writing about one of the statues at Yorkshire Sculpture Park coming to life. It was such a fantastic trip that we had to share some of our best moments.
Lentil and tomato Soup
Children in year 56 have been making lentil and tomato soup this week. They have used the ‘bridge’ and ‘claw’ techniques to slice vegetables. They have discussed how to stay safe in the kitchen by washing hands, removing any loose clothing and keeping their hair up.
Help at home: Why not try making the soup as a family! Discuss the method with your child. You might want to change some of the ingredients to some family favourites.
The Jolly Christmas Postman
Literacy
This week we enjoyed the story, The Jolly Christmas Postman.
The children loved seeing the different letters, gifts and cards inside each envelope.
Inspired by the book, we wrote our own postcards with special messages. We learned about the journey of a letter from the post box to our front door and can’t wait for our own letters to be delivered!
Maths
We have looked at 2D and 3D shapes. We made shapes with lolly sticks, found shapes in our classroom, and discussed their properties.
In provision, we used shapes to create pictures. The children were able to talk about the different shapes they had used.
Music
Feeling the Christmas spirit, we listen to Michael Bublé – White Christmas.
We moved in time to the music, listened carefully to the lyrics, and the different sounds and instruments.
I can hear a trumpet. Rupert
I heard high voices. Charlotte
I heard some Christmas song. Heidi
I hear people singing. Asha
I can hear a drum and a tambourine. Sofia
It was really interesting. Finlay
Check out our other learning…
British Sign Language
This week, we had our final British Sign Language session.
Each week over the last half term, we’ve been learning how to sign lots of different things.
Some of the topics we’ve covered include: greetings, food, transport and this week… Christmas!
Here are some pictures of us in action!
Well done, 56A!
Design technology – food glorious food!
It’s that time of the term again where we get to cook again. The children have had a great time this week, working in small teams to cook tomato and lentil soup. They had to measure out all the ingredients and use their cutting and slicing skills to prepare the vegetables. The children prepared and cooked the soup and then even got to eat it after. They said it was delicious!
Help at home: Talk to your child about how their cooking went this week. Can they remember the recipe? What changes would they make if they cooked this recipe again?
Living and Learning – Mental Wellbeing
We are focusing on mental wellbeing in Living and Learning across all three classes at the moment. This week’s theme has been about knowing some simple self-care techniques we can use to help ourselves feel good. In the classroom, in circle time and in assemblies, we have discussed different strategies to help us feel calm such as breathing exercises, spending time with people we love, telling someone else how we’re feeling and getting some fresh air and exercise.
Help at home by asking your child how they can look after and calm themselves, particularly if they are feeling angry or sad.
Stick Man
Nursery is beginning to look very festive! This week, we enjoyed listening to Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and children loved the new ‘elf wrapping station’ in the Sunshine Room. We made presents and added them to Santa’s sack and then we worked together to build a sleigh in the construction area.
In the home corner, children enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree and re-creating some experiences from home.
We’ve made Christmas cards and have practised our cutting skills in the creative area as we looked through toy catalogues for toys that we might like to ask Father Christmas to bring us. We also have started to make some props for our show. Can you guess what we’re painting red?
Outside, children loved decorating the trees with baubles and tinsel and making patterns in the sand.
Next week’s learning:
We’ll continue with our Christmas themed learning and will find out about the Nativity story.
In maths, we continue to learn about length so will be using the words long, short, longer and shorter to compare different objects.
Nursery rhyme of the week – We’ll be busy learning songs for our Christmas show, ‘Santa’s Hat’ so please keep singing your favourite rhymes together at home.
Sound of the week – n for net
Reminders:
- Please send your child’s costume to Nursery by Monday 11 December. If your child is a hedgehog, we also need their headbands as soon as possible so that we can add some ears and spikes! Remember to write your child’s name on all items of their costume and the bag. Thank you for your support.
- If you haven’t already returned your reply slip for the ‘Stay and Decorate’ sessions, please do so this week.
3,4C Class News
This week, we have learned how to make leek and potato soup. The children washed, peeled and chopped the vegetables. We talked about the importance of food hygiene and eating a range of different foods. Our overall opinion was that the soup tasted delicious!
In Art, we have been inspired by Kandinsky to produce our own artwork using shape and line. We have started to experiment with pastels and brusho using a technique called wax resist.
Owl Babies
This week we’ve been reading Owl Babies by Martin Waddell.
We’ve been following a story map and rehearsing actions to retell the story from the beginning to the end.
Take a look at our story actions!
Music: Charanga
In our Wednesday afternoon music lessons, we follow a scheme called Charanga
The children are introduced to a wide variety of music, including traditional nursery rhymes. Over the past few weeks they have enjoyed Don’t go breaking my heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee , Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind and Fire and Frosty the Snowman by Ella Fitzgerald!
During lessons they move in time to the music, identify what they can hear (voices/instruments), discuss tempo and pitch and make comments about how the music makes them feel.
We love our music lessons!
Charanga music 1 Charanga music 2
Maths; counting, ordinality and cardinality
In Maths, we’ve revisited careful counting. Making sure we say our numbers in the correct sequence (ordinality) and stopping ‘at the stopping number’ (cardinality)
In provision, we’ve been using dice with both standard and irregular dot patterns on. We’ve been subitising the number we roll and then matching it by counting out and placing the correct number of objects onto a tens frame.
Twincle the Elf
Last Friday, a new friend magically appeared in Reception! He needed a name, so the children wrote their suggestions down and popped them into a special stocking. We then did a draw and the winning name was chosen- meet Twincle (named by Ryan)
As you can see, Twincle has been very busy during his first week. Playing instruments, painting masterpieces, reading and hanging up a Christmas banner.
Next week, as their independent writing challenge, the children will be recording more of Twincle’s adventures!
Phonics
Autumn 2 week has focused on words with s /s/ added at the end (hats, sits), words ending s /z/ (his) and with s /z/ added at the end (bags)
We’ve learnt the tricky words; we, me, be
Tricky words are words that should be read by sight.
In provision, we’ve been spotting and circling focus 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 called Wise Old Owl
We talk about how a poem sometimes has rhyming words and sometimes doesn’t. We also talk about how a poem can have a fast rhythm or a slow rhythm.
Click below to watch Reception recite this week’s poem!
Help at home; The Journey of a letter
Next week, we’ll be reading The Jolly Christmas Postman and learning about the journey of a letter when it has been posted.
To help with our discussions, we’d love to share some photos of your child at their local post box.
Send your photos to: scholesreception@spherefederation.org
Diary Dates
Learning Journey Drop In’s Tuesday 12 December and Thursday 14 December- An opportunity to “drop into” school and share your child’s learning journal with them. Times – 8.45 am-9.15am and 3.15pm-3.45pm
Friday 15 December 3.15-4.15 FOSP Disco
Monday 18 December 1.30pm / Tuesday 19 December 9.45am Early Years Christmas Production
Thursday 21 December Christmas Dinner
Friday 22 December Non-uniform Christmas Party Day