It’s Christmas
Christmas spirit has definitively been in full swing this week!
In Literacy, we have been reading the Christmas story. This has deepened our knowledge of how people celebrate traditions and special times.
The wise men followed the star.
Baby Jesus was born.
There were shepherds. They look after the sheep.
In Maths, we have used part, whole models to partition numbers up to five. We created number stories and represented them in a part whole model.
In Phonics, we have focused on reading words.
We have all enjoyed the Christmas themed areas. There has been dressing up, playing in fake snow, creating candy canes and many more. Just take a look…
We had a special visit from Professor Myers. She had a very special Christmas investigation for us.
How strong is a candy cane?
First, we made predictions. Then, we tested them out using lots of objects around the classroom.
We had an exciting video to watch. It was Santa! He had been in our classroom whilst we were all at home. Santa left a sack full of presents for us to share.
Our last day has been full of dancing and fun (and a little bit of sugar).
Have a wonderful Christmas break. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year.
We have sent home your child’s change of clothes to check and restock for next half term.
Festive Fun!
It has been fabulously festive this week!
Show time!…
We’ve recorded our Very First Christmas Play! The children all looked amazing in their costumes. Thank you to parents/carers for providing costumes and to those who helped their child/ren to learn their lines. We really hope you enjoy it!
The journey of a letter…
This week, we read The Jolly Christmas Postman by Allan and Janet Ahlberg. We’ve been learning what happens to our post after we put it in the letterbox and what we need to do to our letters, to make sure they get to their destination. We may have even created our own special post to be delivered to our homes (shhh!) Let us know if you receive anything special in the post!
Would your child like to watch The Journey of a Letter again? Click here to be taken to the video.
Christmas dinner…
On Thursday, Reception had their special Christmas dinner and got to visit a very magical Christmas wonderland in our school hall:
Maths…
In maths this week, we’ve been learning about the parts that make a whole. We started by thinking about the parts that go together to make a whole toy and the parts of us that make our whole body. Later in the week, we thought about the parts that make a whole number (the numbers within numbers) We will continue this learning into next week.
More festive fun…
Here are some more snapshots of our learning this week:
Next week, we will be learning why Christians celebrate Christmas, through the story of The Nativity.
Home-Link Challenge…
We’ve been learning about how some other countries around the world celebrate Christmas. See what your child can remember from our learning, by asking the following questions:
-Which country that we looked at, use paper lanterns as decorations at Christmas time?
-In Denmark, why is it so great if you find the almond in the rice pudding dessert? What does it mean?
-Which country have the legend of ‘La Befana’, the old, kind witch who helped the Three Wise Men on the way to find the baby Jesus?
-In Australia, what does Santa wear and what pulls his sleigh instead of the Reindeers?
Diary dates…
Monday 13 December- Links to Nursery & Reception’s production emailed.
Friday 17 December- Non-uniform and Reception Christmas party day.
Christmas fun in the hall
A massive thank you to Mrs Pennock and all the lunchtime staff who created a fabulous atmosphere for Christmas dinner day today. The children and staff had a lovely time!
Wake Up Shake Up (WUSU) Club
WUSU Club have had a successful series of sessions after school this half term. They have made two new dances for you to enjoy and learn:
Dance Monkey and and Christmas Special, One More Sleep
WUSU club will be continuing after Christmas. Keep an eye out for letters about after school clubs so you can decide if you’d like to join in with any.
Toys, toys and more toys.
Our interactive workshop with Abbey House Museum on Tuesday was very educational. We learned about how different toys work. Some push, pull, use gravity, or need squeezing. Identifying the differences between old and new toys was a new skill that we used too. Old toys are often made from different materials to our new toys. Can your child remember some of the differences between the two? The toys workshop was very inspiring and our children really enjoyed writing about the toys that they had seen.
In our learning environment, Santa’s workshop has been in full swing. Our elves have been building and wrapping toys. There have been many letters written to Santa this week too.
Our focus in Maths has been on ‘one more’ and ‘one less’ from 0-5. The children are so impressive! We are really proud of their learning.
A little flutter of snow and ice made for great learning about the seasons. What does your child notice when you go outside?
Home Link.
Can your child show you ‘one more and ‘one less’ with items in your home?
Reminders:
Please ensure your child has their Christmas play costume in school by Monday 06.12.21. We are having our dress rehearsal and filming early on in the week.
Our Christmas party day is Friday 17.12.21 Children are allowed to come to school in non-uniform. Please ensure that your child wears something that is appropriate for them to be comfortable in all day. (See school uniform policy if needed). Your child can also bring a few party type snacks to eat on the day. We kindly ask that all snacks are nut free. Children will still eat their usual school meal.
The Night Box
This week we have continued to explore light and dark, by learning about animals that are more active at night.
The children loved learning new vocabulary – nocturnal and diurnal.
We have read the story – The Night Box.
These were some of our predications based on the front cover.
I think the boy will go into the box into the realm of night. Stanley
I think the boy will jump in the treasure chest. Leo
In the areas, we have explored nocturnal animals.
In maths we have deepened our knowledge and understanding of the number five.
Check out our other learning too!
Tuesday 30 November- Toys from the past day…
On Tuesday 30 November, Reception Classes will take part in a virtual workshop with Abbey House Museum on Christmas Toys and Games. We will be comparing toys and games from the past, with those we enjoy now.
On this day, children are welcome to bring in a toy from home that does not require any electricity or batteries. Please ensure the toy has your child’s name clearly labelled, so that they can be safely returned at the end of the day.
Thank you.
Fundraising
A massive thank you to everyone who donated to our recent fundraising events – you were all unbelievably generous. We managed to raise £126.25 for our school charity – Leeds Autism Services. This was following our Odd Sock Day at the start of anti-bullying week. Last Friday we raised money for Children in Need and managed to raise £410.30.
Thank you all so much.
Each Peach Pear Plum
Our book ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ has helped us to focus on many different nursery rhymes.
We have had nursery rhyme stations set up throughout our classrooms and it has been brilliant watching and listening to the children’s interactions with the resources. Can you spot the nursery rhymes?
Anti-Bullying Week
‘Odd Socks Monday’ was a great opportunity to think about and discuss the brilliant ways that we are different from each other. We have been thinking about being kind and celebrating the many ways that we can do ‘One Kind Thing’. (The theme for this year’s Anti-Bullying Week). ‘One Kind Thing’ can make the difference to someone’s day, week, year or life!
Children In Need
Today we have learnt about the charity Children In Need. The children were empathetic and had many questions. We spent time making Pudsey Bear necklaces, ears and pictures. Thankyou so much for your donations!
Home-Link
Can you recreate a nursery rhyme with your toys at home? Please send your photographs to our usual email address. We enjoy showing them to all of the children.
Remembrance
Remembrance…
This week we’ve been learning about Remembrance Day. Our focus story was Flo of the Somme by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey.
The story, which has repeating lines in poetry verse, follows a rescue dog during a WWI. It features child-friendly depictions of events in which animals were needed. For example, Flo finds injured pilots and carries a medical kit, a donkey walks alongside a soldier carrying equipment and a messenger pigeon gets hurt on duty. The children learnt about why we wear both red and purple poppies- purple to remember the animals that served during wars.
The children used their phonics skills to write words or captions about the story.
On 11.11 at 11am we held a two minute silence. The children were asked what they thought about during the silence:
The soliders in the war- Eti
Flo and the animals- Mahli
We’ve been making our own poppies in different ways. Our beautiful poppy wreath is now on display in the classroom.
Light and Dark…
The dark tent has been out in Rainbow room this week. We’ve been exploring shadows using our light frame and models we have made.
Marvellous Maths…
We’ve been revisiting our subitising skills (when you are able to look at a group of objects and know how many there are, without counting) and representing numbers 3 and 4.
Our Magnificent Marching Band!…
In music sessions this week, Reception became marching bands. They used the skills they had learnt over the past few weeks when playing percussion instruments, to put on a magnificent march!
What else have we been up to?…
Home-link challenges…
- Next week, we will be celebrating World Nursery Rhyme Week 2021 Have fun singing nursery rhymes with your child at home. Ask them what their favourite nursery rhyme is- they may be lucky enough to see it around the classroom next week!
- On Friday 19 November, we will be taking part in Children in Need. Talk to your child about charities and the work Children in Need do. You could visit the Children in Need website. We will of course be doing this in class too but it is lovely for the children to be able to share what they already know with their friends.
Diary Dates…
Monday 15 November- Odd Socks Day 2021
Children can come to school wearing odd socks with their PE kit, in support of Anti-Bullying week.
Friday 19 November – Children in Need Non-Uniform Day (Donations welcome)
Friday 19 November, 3.30-4.00- Classroom Drop-in, Sunshine Class.
Friday 26 November, 3.30-4.00- Classroom Drop-in, Rainbow Class. (rescheduled from 12 November)
Tuesday 30 November- Toys from the past day…
On Friday 30 November, Reception Classes will take part in a virtual workshop with Abbey House Museum on Christmas Toys and Games. We will be comparing toys and games from the past, with those we enjoy now.
On this day, children are welcome to bring in a toy from home that does not require any electricity or batteries. Please ensure the toy has your child’s name clearly labelled, so that they can be safely returned at the end of the day.
Thank you.
Happy Diwali! The Festival of Light
We’ve been celebrating Diwali! The Festival of Light was a joyful and perfect start to our topic- Light and Dark.
We listened to stories of children who were celebrating Diwali at home with their families, including one of our friends in Sunshine class!
We made our own Diya lamps and fireworks using playdough…
We worked together to make colourful Rangoli patterns on the floor. We used rice, powder paints and flowers…
We designed and then carefully painted Mehndi patterns. We used brown face paint to represent the henna dye. Mrs Myers was so lucky to have many beautiful designs painted onto her hands!
In PE, we followed a YouTube tutorial for a special Diwali dance. Each movement in the dance represented a decoration or activity that happens during Diwali.
Click here to try the Diwali dance at home!
We noticed that Diwali shares some traditions with other celebrations we know. We made links to our experiences …
My Nanna decorates the house but at Christmas time- William
We light a candle at a birthday party, on the cake- Sophia
We see fireworks on Bonfire Night- Penelope
At the end of the week, we learnt about Bonfire Night and why it is celebrated. We discussed ways to keep safe at bonfire parties and made posters to remind us of some important rules.
Home-Link Challenge…
Will you be celebrating at a Diwali or Bonfire Night event this weekend?
We’d love to see your pictures and hear the children talk about their experience. To support them with this, please help them to focus on their senses in discussions at home. What can they see, hear, smell, feel and taste? Can they remember those safety rules?
This type of discussion supports children to develop their descriptive language. ‘In the moment’ discussions also develop children’s understanding of the world around them, nature and their environment.
Thank you to the parents who have already been sending in lots of fantastic learning from home.
Diary Dates…
Tuesday 9 November- Maths in Early Years (Zoom)
The session will start at 6 pm and last around 20-25 minutes, plus there will be a question and answer session at the end of around 5-10 minutes.
The link to this zoom session will be emailed to all parents and carers after the half term break. If you do not receive a link, please contact the school office before Tuesday 09 November.
Friday 12 November, 3.30-4.00- Classroom Drop-in, Rainbow Class.
Friday 19 November, 3.30-4.00- Classroom Drop-in, Sunshine Class.