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…
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
How to Catch a Star
Literacy
This week our focus story was How to Catch a Star.
In the writing area, the challenge was to think, draw and write ways we might catch a star.
We had lots of amazing ideas.
I would go in a helicopter.
I would jump on a kangaroo.
I’d go on a rollercoaster.
Maths
This week, we have built on our understanding of the composition of numbers by investigating the composition of 3, 4 and 5.
We composed and de-composed numbers by investigating the part, part, whole relations, e.g. seeing that 3 can be composed of 1 and 2.
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 Mice.
Click here to watch Reception recite this week’s poem
Art
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been inspired by Monet’s series of paintings, Houses of Parliament.
We created our own art work by using blocks to print shapes and make a building silhouette.
Then, we explored using water colours to create the sky. We thought carefully about how different colours can change the feeling of a painting and represent the sky during different weathers or times of the day.
Mine is bright ’cause it’s sunny.
I’m going to make mine look foggy.
I’m using dark blue for a stormy sky.
Help at Home
Spot some signs of winter.
You may choose to take photos, draw pictures or talk about what to find.
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
Day and Night
This week in our light and dark topic, we’ve been learning about day and night.
Night Monkey, Day Monkey
We’ve been reading Night Monkey, Day Monkey by Julia Donaldson.
The story follows two monkeys who find themselves awake at their opposite times of day. They are very confused by what they see and need help understanding everything! Our word of the week is: nocturnal. We know that nocturnal means “active at night”
We’ve been writing about nocturnal animals and features of day/night.
Science: shadows
We’ve been making further investigations into shadows, by spotting them outside and by using our dark tent. We know that to make a shadow, we need a source of light. When that source of light is blocked, it casts a shadow. We explored using mirrors to reflect lights differently and used colour paddles to change the colour being projected onto the tent wall.
Outside, the sun is light- Albie S
The shadow is made ’cause I put my hand there- Reggie
When the torch is closer to my hand it’s bigger (the shadow) … it’s smaller far away- Dawson
Look- yellow (colour paddle) makes it look like the sun!- Heidi
Maths; part-whole
In Maths, we’ve been looking at the ‘parts’ that make the whole of something. For example, the parts of us that make our whole body. Our head, eyes, legs etc. are the parts, our body is the whole.
This leads on to understanding the composition of number; the parts that can be added together to make a whole number.
The children were introduced to a part-part-whole model and how objects can be used with it, to explore the parts of a number.
PE; Gymnastics
This half term, Friday PE sessions are gymnastics. We are exploring movement and balance, developing fundamental skills and learning how to demonstrate our skills to others.
Living and learning; e-safety
This week’s living and learning statement is: I know how important it is to make careful choices when online
The key message in Reception is to tell a trusted adult when something happens online that feels unsafe or unusual. Also, that internet use should be monitored by an adult. We also spoke about why we should limit screen time, for our health.
We watched and listened to the story of Smartie the Penguin
The story gives examples of different scenarios that could happen online and has a song that runs throughout, that reminds children what to do:
Before you tap and click,
You need to stop and think,
and TELL SOMEONE!
Phonics
Autumn 2 week 3 has focused on the single letter phoneme z and digraphs zz, qu, ch
We’ve learnt the tricky words; go, no, to, into
Tricky words are words that should be read by sight.
In provision, we’ve been playing what’s in the box and writing the words to match pictures we find.
In the reading area, we’ve been tricky word detectives. We’ve been finding a ‘tricky word of the day’ in books and taking a picture of them with an iPad.
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 Shoes
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; Stars
Next week, we’ll be looking to the skies again! We are learning about the night sky and stars.
We know this is a topic of interest for many children in Reception. If you have any books or resources to share that are linked to this topic, we would love to see them.
Christmas production
We’ve had a few questions about our upcoming Christmas production. The dates of which can be found on the school calendar (homepage).
This week, the children have chosen the part they would like to play. There are some speaking and some non-speaking roles. Children had the option to choose from either of these.
We will shortly be sending home the parts they have chosen, costume suggestions and lines to learn (for those who have them)
Let the festivities begin!!!
Children in Need
A huge thank you to everyone that donated money last Friday for Children in Need. The Junior Leadership Team were out in the playground with collection buckets before and after school – they did a great job! We managed to raise a whopping £436.98 in total. Thank you so much!
Each Peach Pear Plum
Nursery Rhyme Week
In literacy, we read the story Each Peach Pear Plum.
It was a very engaging book and the children loved spotting the different characters on each page.
Check out our super writing!
We also explored household objects from the past. Asking questions to learn about objects we had never seen before. We were then able to compare these to objects we might have at home.
Home Link
What objects from the past can you spot in the picture?
Compare these objects with the ones in your home.
Odd Socks
On Monday, we all wore our odd socks. This was to celebrate our differences and share the message that we are all different in some way.
Stay and Learn
On Wednesday, we had a wonderful morning exploring maths with our adults.
Thank you to all the adults that were able to join us and join in with lots of maths activities.
It was great to receive your valuable feedback.
Very helpful to know how to help at home.
Wonderful to come to school and get involved in the learning with my child.
Great learning how we can help with their maths.
It was very informative and helpful.
Music
This week in music, the children listened and danced to Boogie Wonderland.
After, they were asked…
How did you feel?
Happy!
It feels like a disco.
I was proud.
I felt like I was in the song.
Excited!
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 A Basket of Apples.
Other learning
This week we have explored lots of nursery rhyme themed activities in our classroom.
Dates for your diary
Swimming
Penny Trail – Cancer Research collection
Thank you to everyone who donated to
last week’s penny trail in aid of Cancer Research.
In total, we raised
£99.32!
An amazing amount made from mainly 1p and 2p coins.
Thank you!
Maths stay and learn- 15.11.23
Who’s ready for our second stay and learn session? We are!
Join us at 9am tomorrow morning (going through the school office after drop-off)
You will be watching a short lesson, enjoying some maths activities with your child and finishing with a short presentation by the class teachers.
See you there!
Festivals of light
Welcome to Autumn 2! This half term, our theme is light and dark.
We’ve covered lots of important events and topics this week…
Bonfire Night
We’ve been learning about why we celebrate Bonfire Night, with an introduction to The Gunpowder Plot. The children enjoyed sharing their experiences of Bonfire Night and how they celebrated at home or out and about.
In the construction area, we’ve been building replicas of The Houses of Parliament. We explored casting shadows of our models with torches and used colour paddles to make the shadows look like fire!
Diwali
We found out about the Hindu festival of lights, that will be celebrated this weekend- Diwali.
Our focus book was Binny’s Diwali by Thrity Umrigar
We also found out about the festival through sharing non-fiction texts and watching cbeebies- My first festivals
Take a look at some of the activities we explored, when learning about Diwali.
Our word of the week is: festival
Remembrance Day
We discussed when and why we have Remembrance Day. We learnt about the meaning behind different coloured poppies. Lots of children wore a poppy to school and could speak about its meaning. We made poppies in class and poppy art using small parts outside.
Me and my money week
For Me and my money week, Reception were introduced to coins by paying for snack at the market stall! Each item cost 1p and the children had to decide whether they needed 1p or 2p. They could also decide to pay for 2 items using a 2p coin or 2x 1p coins. We counted the amount each day to say how many ‘pence’ the market stall had made.
On Friday, we used all of your kind donations (thank you!) to create our charity penny trail. Can you see what we made using the coins?
During philosphy Friday, we asked the children What would you do with your last £1?
Keep it, otherwise I’d have no money!- Reggie
Take it to charity- Liezah
Get it on an amazing toy- Finlay
Keep my money because I want £20. Then I can buy things for Mummy, Ellie and me!- Albie T
Get a real duck!- Ryan
Maths; identifying and composing 5
In Maths, we’ve been using our fingers to identify 5. We ‘grew our fingers’ using the peas in a pod song-
Five little peas in a pea pod pressed,
One grew, two grew, so did all the rest,
They grew and they grew and they did not stop,
Until one day the pod went pop!
Later in the week, we used 5 frames and 5-die frames to explore the different ways to compose 5.
Phonics
Autumn 2 week 1 has focused on the new digraphs ff, ll, ss and the single letter phoneme j
We’ve also learnt the tricky word; as
Tricky words are words that should be read by sight. We start by identifying which part of the word is ‘tricky’. In as, the ‘s’ is tricky because it makes the /z/ sound.
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 A Cup of Tea
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; World Nursery Rhyme Week
Next week, we’ll be celebrating World Nursery Rhyme Week
If your child would like to, we’d love to share a recording of them telling their favourite nursery rhyme in class. Please send your videos to the email address below.
Dates for your diary
Odd Socks Day- 13.11.23 To support anti-bullying week, please send your child to school wearing a pair of odd socks (Monday only)
Maths Stay and Learn – 15.11.23 – 09.00 – 10.00 Please join us in the classroom to watch a short maths session and enjoy some maths activities with your child.
Swimming
THANK YOU – charity collection coin trail
Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 created this amazing coin trail with all the coins you kindly donated. Counting is still in progress and we’ll let you know how much we raise for Cancer Research when we have finished counting all the coins.
THANK YOU!
