Conkers, conkers, conkers!
1,2B have collected a massive 2711 conkers over the last few weeks. We have used them to count into the hundreds in ones, put them in groups of 10 to count in 10s and to represent 2 digit numbers. It was also a lovely feeling just putting your hands in the box.
Today we went on a muddy welly walk and returned them to nature on the field – for the squirrels to eat or grow into trees. We had a great time throwing them into the bushes!
Maths – counting, ordering and representing numbers
We have been spending a lot of time counting and ordering numbers. We have used 100 squares, number lines, songs, numbers tiles and cards.
Children chose number tiles and put them in order from smallest to largest and compared objects or numbers. We have also partitioned numbers into 10s and 1s, representing them in different ways.
Geography fieldwork – traffic survey
We have been learning how to collect data in our topic lessons. We did a traffic survey, counting how many different vehicles passed our school. We were surprised how many cars and vans we saw in a short space of time. We also though about what we liked and dislike about the area around our school.
It would be better if there weren’t as many cars going past.
Cars make it dangerous to cross the road near school.
The smoke coming out of the cars doesn’t smell nice.
Living and Learning – Mental Health
We have started talking about mental health this week. Using mindfulness techniques (we like some of the Go Noodle ones) and talking about our feelings, moods and emotions is important. Children need to learn how to take care of their minds as well as their bodies. We read ‘Top tips to keep a healthy mind’ in our reading fluency.
Christmas cards
We have completed our designs, sent them off and now received our sample cards. If you would like to order anything, send the money into school with the order form or using the Gateway app by FRIDAY 15 OCTOBER. Thank you!
Living and learning : strong emotions
In our Living and Learning sessions we have been talking about our feelings, and in particular, strong emotions. We all have felt angry, sad and happy at some point. We identified emotions on other people’s faces and talked about how emotions can feel overwhelming but will pass over time. Can you guess the emotions that the children below were trying to show?
Geography – looking for human or physical features on maps and aerial photographs
We have been looking at maps, keys, aerial photographs and talking about physical and human geography in our topic lessons this half term. We walked around our school grounds, marked the route we took and found the things we saw on the map and aerial photograph. We also found our school on Google Earth. Does your child know their address? Help them to learn it and find where they live on a map or Google Earth.
Maths – place value and counting
We’ve been counting forwards and backwards from different numbers. We use a 100 square, number lines and songs to help us.
We have also been using a range of models to represent numbers.
We use real life examples to demonstrate how 10s and 1s can be used. Here we have 12 pens made up of one pack of 10 and two ones.
By seeing and making a range of representations, children are able to secure a deep understanding of numbers.
Most of the following representations focus on partitioning (splitting up a number into parts) a number into tens and ones.
The middle box on the bottom row shows 12 being made by cubes. The second picture in that box is to show how the cubes can be drawn. Children find it far quicker and easier to draw a long line to represent a ten than drawing a rectangle that is divided into ten squares.
Use these at home to support your child’s learning.
Bike to School week and Let’s ride
Bike to School week and Let’s ride
Biking and scooting are one of the ways we encourage children to actively travel to and from school and next week we’ll be taking part in Bike to School Week (with Sustrans and the Bikeability Trust). We are pleased to be part of this UK-wide event, encouraging families to cycle, or scoot, to school. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate active school journeys and the positive impact it has on children’s health and wellbeing – as well as the environment.
Scooter storage facilities are available at the top of the playground near the gazebo.
Also, taking place this weekend is the free Let’s Ride session held locally at the Brownlee Centre.
This free family community event is ideal for the whole family to enjoy cycling in a safe and friendly space. At the Leeds Brownlee Centre, Bodington Playing Fields, you can ride at your own pace as many times as you like with volunteers on hand to chat all things cycling.
Sign up for the event here.
Help your child at home – phonics
Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Zoom session to help you support your child at home. You can watch the phonics session here.