Headteacher: Anna Moss

0121 445 1622

Nursery

12th January 2024

Forest School Activity

Ice Shapes

Mrs Allen has enjoyed hiding objects in ice this week and you have enjoyed working out how to get them out!  You also enjoyed rubbing chalks together into an ice tray, waiting for them to freeze and then using for mark making around the Forest School.  The change in weather also made Forest School fun as you enjoyed trying to dig the ice sand!

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

We can do anything

A revisited song with a twist.  Now we have our Write Dance songs practised, we move on to dancing them on the tables.  Not with your feet mind, with your hands!  Write Dance is all about making “movement drawings to music”.  The children stand behind a chair, listen to each part of the song and make the matching marks.  We began this week with soap and water on the tables as the children created handprints, vertical lines, horizontal lines and squiggles to match each action in the song.  It does get messy, be prepared!

Computing

Battery Toys

The children have loved bringing in their battery toys, explaining how they work and then having time to share with friends.  As we are a non-technology nursery, this is a great way to cover part of our computing curriculum about how toys work.  We talked about the role of the battery, switches/buttons and decided whether the toy moves, lights up or makes a noise! In Lily’s case, all three, every single day!

Maths

Snowmen Arrangements and Counting Sounds

This week, we have enjoyed revisiting a game of sorting our snowmen bodies showing different arrangements.  Once we were all settled, we played a game as a whole class and then with our friends by closing our eyes and counting the beads dropping in to the bucket.  We soon discovered it was easier to place the number on our fingers every time we heard it to be more accurate.  Hearing and counting sounds will help us with our syllable clapping.

Communication and Language

The Storm Whale in Winter, Benji Davies

As we move into our Winter topic, Mrs Allen has enjoyed sharing her winter photos of all things cold with you!  You enjoyed making a boat from wooden blocks to match the one in the story and listening and talking about the story of Noi and a storm whale.  Please do have a hunt this weekend in your book selection and bring in any winter stories you have.  Look for signs on the front cover – snow, ice and naked trees!

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Spinning Around, Kylie Minogue

Thank you Jess for choosing a song from an artist from a new country for us to talk about – Australia.  We have enjoyed chatting about Kylie and laughing at the photo of her with a funny hat on.  Can you remember why it is so funny?  We have been spinning the dough in circles and pinching it (mostly to warm up those fingers after an afternoon in the cold)

A message for parents – many thanks for sending the children in this week prepared for our first cold snap this Winter.  The temperature is set to drop even further next week and yes, we do still go out for a “play and explore” twice a day.  Please ensure they are doubled up on layers, warm coats, hats and gloves.  Please please send in with mittens if they cannot put their own gloves on.

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

22nd December 2023

Forest School Activity

Stick Rudolph

Combining sticks and string and adding ribbon, eyes and a red nose was very effective as you all had the opportunity to create your very own Rudolph for home.  We are keeping everything crossed that these survive the Christmas boxes in the years to come!

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

I wish it could be Christmas every day, Wizzard

We all enjoyed a Christmas boogie this week, but Mrs Allen more than the rest of us, as we listened to a song from when she was a little girl – “I wish it could be Christmas every day”, Wizzard.  We hope you are all singing this at home.  It is a really infectious Christmas song that everyone needs storing in their memory.

Listening Game

Musical Sitting, Statues and Teams of two

We had to put all our listening skills together this week as we danced to the above song and kept our eye on the sign, action that was shown to you when the music stopped.  The sign for sit, the STOP paddle and Numicon Two changed so many times, it was tricky to keep up.

Phonics

The net sound /n/

Poor Neave! Trapped in a box with some very sharp objects – nails, needles and knives!  Luckily there was a nurse in there to help her out.  We have six sounds under our belt (s-a-t-p-i-n) and we are hoping we can still remember and say them when we return after the Christmas break.  There are so many more to get through next year alongside learning about rhyming and fine tuning our syllable clapping.

Maths

Sorting

Snowmen arrangements

We were NOT impressed this week as Holly and Jolly, our naughty Nursery elves, kept creating havoc every morning when we came in from Forest School.  They found it funny at the mess they created and even funnier that their hands weren’t able to pick things up.  We did well though as we worked as small teams to tidy up – “teamwork makes the dream work”.  After all this tidying we had an opportunity to show off our Maths learning this term as we fixed our Snowmen by matching different arrangements.

Communication and Language

The Night before Christmas

Lots of talk this week about the night before Christmas and what it is called.  Children have enjoyed sharing what they each do and leave out for Father Christmas and his reindeers.  Thanks to Mrs Allen’s story and our Rudolph show song, we have also learnt some of the names of Rudolph’s “friends”. 

Art

Rudolph Hats

We all enjoyed making our very own Christmas lunch party hats this week.  Choosing Rudolph’s eyes and creating his nose wasn’t quite as fun as drawing around hands for the antlers!  The children all enjoyed wearing these on Wednesday and we hope they have made it home in one piece and the wind didn’t take them away!

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Merry Christmas Everyone, Shakin Stevens

A Mrs Mander choice this week from a singer who she used to adore when she was a little girl – Shakin Stevens.  We had to listen out for “Shakin” telling us the actions with the key words of snow, party, swaying.   Our Christmas dough disco sessions are officially over for another year as we get back on track with our choice of tunes in the new year.  Evie W, Jess and Effy have been waiting a while for their choice and others are still “deciding”.

A message for parents – a huge thankyou to you all for your cards, gifts and Christmas wishes.  It has been a long term but I am sure you would agree that the children have made so much progress since those early September days.  We look forward to more fun planned for 2024 (and the return of some warm weather)!

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

15th December 2023

 

Forest School Activity

Sleighs

Father Christmas and his elves have made an appearance in Forest School this week as you enjoyed making the sleigh with the crates.  The pipes made excellent reigns for the reindeers and the santa hat finished off the look!  Mrs Allen also opened a new resources – the fairy and princess chest.

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Merry Xmas Everybody, Slade

A Christmas classic!  We have enjoyed getting into the spirit with this song every morning as we have been creating rainbow arcs high in the air and singing along at the top of our voices.  The most fun was creating one huge oval around the tables as we tried to make it travel as a team in the same direction whilst side-stepping whilst wearing slippers!

Listening Game

Name the “Festive” Sound

Staying Quiet so as to “listen with increased attention to sounds” is one of our nursery targets.  And what a challenge it was as we played our first tuning in to sounds game - “Guess the Christmas Sound”.  Have a go this weekend and see if you can score any higher!  Guess the Christmas Sound Game | 24 Festive Sounds Quiz - YouTube

Phonics

The iguana sound /i/

We spent a few more days on our /i/ sound as it is always a tricky sound to fill a sound box with and ensure we are saying /i/ instead of /e/.  For those parents keen to support at home, please watch this Little Wandle link which allows you to hear how we make our pure sounds and shows the order we are teaching them in.  For parents | Letters and Sounds (littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk)

Maths

In front, behind

We began by taking it in turns to sit in the middle of the circle and name who was sitting in front of us.  We then used a mirror to see who was sitting behind us.  See if you can find a small mirror this weekend and use around the house to spot and name who/what is behind you!  For a challenge, can you look left and right and say who/what is next to you?  Understanding position through words is a Nursery Maths targets.

Communication and Language

Nativity

A gentle and simple introduction to the story of Christmas and the events that happen around this special time.  Mrs Allen enjoyed sharing her Christmas story sock puppets with you so you could have a go at role playing the story with your friends.  This story has helped you understand the idea behind the Red class part of the show next week too.

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

We have all enjoyed singing along to the popular Christmas tune whilst balling the dough and taking it “around the world”.  We used our bodies as the globe and our arms to make it travel around us  just like Rudolph does with Father Christmas.

A message for parents – our Early Year show is on Monday morning at 9.30am.  Please send the children in (again) wearing Christmas jumpers or dresses.  If your little one does not usually attend on a Monday and you would like them to be part of the show, please send them in at normal time and they can come with you once the show is over or stay with us until 11.30am or 12.00pm.  Please do let us know over the weekend or at drop off on Monday which time you plan on taking them so we can ensure they have what they need with them.    

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

15th December 2023

 

Forest School Activity

Sleighs

Father Christmas and his elves have made an appearance in Forest School this week as you enjoyed making the sleigh with the crates.  The pipes made excellent reigns for the reindeers and the santa hat finished off the look!  Mrs Allen also opened a new resources – the fairy and princess chest.

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Merry Xmas Everybody, Slade

A Christmas classic!  We have enjoyed getting into the spirit with this song every morning as we have been creating rainbow arcs high in the air and singing along at the top of our voices.  The most fun was creating one huge oval around the tables as we tried to make it travel as a team in the same direction whilst side-stepping whilst wearing slippers!

Listening Game

Name the “Festive” Sound

Staying Quiet so as to “listen with increased attention to sounds” is one of our nursery targets.  And what a challenge it was as we played our first tuning in to sounds game - “Guess the Christmas Sound”.  Have a go this weekend and see if you can score any higher!  Guess the Christmas Sound Game | 24 Festive Sounds Quiz - YouTube

Phonics

The iguana sound /i/

We spent a few more days on our /i/ sound as it is always a tricky sound to fill a sound box with and ensure we are saying /i/ instead of /e/.  For those parents keen to support at home, please watch this Little Wandle link which allows you to hear how we make our pure sounds and shows the order we are teaching them in.  For parents | Letters and Sounds (littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk)

Maths

In front, behind

We began by taking it in turns to sit in the middle of the circle and name who was sitting in front of us.  We then used a mirror to see who was sitting behind us.  See if you can find a small mirror this weekend and use around the house to spot and name who/what is behind you!  For a challenge, can you look left and right and say who/what is next to you?  Understanding position through words is a Nursery Maths targets.

Communication and Language

Nativity

A gentle and simple introduction to the story of Christmas and the events that happen around this special time.  Mrs Allen enjoyed sharing her Christmas story sock puppets with you so you could have a go at role playing the story with your friends.  This story has helped you understand the idea behind the Red class part of the show next week too.

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

We have all enjoyed singing along to the popular Christmas tune whilst balling the dough and taking it “around the world”.  We used our bodies as the globe and our arms to make it travel around us  just like Rudolph does with Father Christmas.

A message for parents – our Early Year show is on Monday morning at 9.30am.  Please send the children in (again) wearing Christmas jumpers or dresses.  If your little one does not usually attend on a Monday and you would like them to be part of the show, please send them in at normal time and they can come with you once the show is over or stay with us until 11.30am or 12.00pm.  Please do let us know over the weekend or at drop off on Monday which time you plan on taking them so we can ensure they have what they need with them.    

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

8th December 2023

 

Forest School Activity

Decorating and a Fire Circle game

Mrs Allen has got herself (and you) in to the Christmas spirit following a hugely successful story night on Monday with her Christmas decorations.  You have enjoyed weaving tinsel in and out of the sand netting and creating Christmas stars with sticks.  You have also enjoying an alternate “duck duck goose” game around the fire circle with “holly holly tinsel” where you had to change the word when tapping a chosen friend who then chased you whilst you stole their log.

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Santa Shark

Baby Shark is always such a huge hit and so is Santa Shark.  It is amazing how well the children can move those arms and work on those Gross Motor skills with talk of sharks and swimming!  Please play this weekend and the children will teach you all the actions.

Santa Shark | Christmas Song for Kids | ft. Finny The Shark - YouTube

Listening Game

Musical Chairs

Always a great game to practise those sitting on a chair skills.  We created a huge oval around the cabin with our chairs and enjoyed dancing in front of and around them, waiting for Slade to sing to us!  Keep it up this weekend – check those feet are low, bottoms shuffled back and arms in front of you when sitting at the table to eat or drink.

Phonics

The iguana sound /i/

Isri has had a very busy week as not only did she choose the dough disco song but she also made an appearance in the sound box this week! We were a little worried about her being covered in ink or freezing in the toy igloo but all was well as Iggle Piggle had his red blanket to keep her clean and warm!  Our final sound next week for this year – I wonder what will be in the box for /n/? Do you have any ideas?  Recognising words with the same initial sound is something we are all working on!

Maths

Shapes

Five in a Row

Mrs Mander had trouble with her ink this week in the printer as it would only print half of the Christmas pictures!  You helped me though with mirrors as you used them to work out what the final picture was with the mirror image.  We also enjoyed learning about one less as the Gingerbread Men kept on running away from our five frame!  With us being a “no technology” nursery, the children will not have seen this clip and I know you will enjoy and sing along this weekend.

5 Gingerbread Men Lyric Video - The Kiboomers Preschool Songs & Nursery Rhymes for Christmas - YouTube

Communication and Language

Countdown to Christmas

As we all begin our Countdown to Christmas, Mrs Allen shared her first Christmas story about some animal friends all doing the same thing.  You enjoyed creating paper chains to decorate the Quiet area. 

Art

Name Writing

For some of us with a consistent tripod grip, we have been enjoying our handwriting sessions this week as we have been practising writing our name.  Developing a consistent tripod grip and writing some or all of our name is just one of our “school ready” targets.

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

All I want for Christmas, Mariah Carey

We had to do it – we had to choose Isri’s (and her daddy I hear!) favourite disco song for our show song next week.  We won’t be sharing the dough actions just yet as we want it to be a surprise when you come along.  The pink ticket to admit two people to our show on Monday 18th December will have now come home.

A message for parents – a huge thank you to you all for your messages of support for a challenging week.  The children did you proud.  We now move on to enjoying our Christmas topic.  Filming for the Early Years show takes place on Monday morning - please send the children in wearing Christmas jumpers or dresses.  If your little one does not usually attend on a Monday and you would like them to be in the whole school film, please send them in for the morning with an 11.30am or 12.00pm pick up. 

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

1st December 2023

Forest School Activity

Caves

Mrs Allen showed you this week a completely different way to use the crates and tarpaulin as you created a cave to match the story with your friends.  Pegs are already challenging but with gloves on hands thanks to our first cold spell, this was almost impossible.  Resilience is a key competency at Blackwell and we certainly had to dig deep this week!

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Coming Round the Mountain

A catchy tune this week which lots of you already knew.  We have been travelling around the mountain on a train, plane and bus using arm power only.  We added in those arms up high for rainbow arcs with an “aye yay yippee yippee yay”.

Listening Game

Follow the Sound

Being able to listen to unseen sounds is already tricky but this week you had to follow them with your finger whilst blindfolded too!  This week we passed around Mrs Allen’s big bunch of keys whilst our blindfolded friend in the middle followed the sound with their finger.  When the sound stopped, they had to say who was hiding them. 

Phonics

The sound /p/

There was a lot of wriggling in the sound box this week as we discovered thirteen puppies in there!!!  What fun they were having with the pig, Mr Potato and a plum.  This sound is one that needed a little work as we needed to ensure it was a quiet one.  Put your lips together and push out the air quietly.  Next week we move on to the /i/ sound.

Maths

Fingers Five

Showing finger numbers 1-5 is one of nursery targets.  Showing numbers using our own marks is another.  This week we combined the two as we had a go at drawing around our family of five and choosing how they were feeling with a different bouche (mouth) for all.  For those of us who are ready, the next part of our maths journey will be showing numbers backwards so we can see how many fingers we are holding down – this will be the start of our work in seeing how numbers to five are made up e.g. 3 and 2 makes 5.   

Communication and Language

The Cave

You enjoyed sharing the story of The Cave and discovering who was hiding in there.  You enjoyed talking about what treats you would use to encourage someone out of a cave and you then had a go at making them using playdough. 

Art

Calendars

We have continued to talk about and look at the work of Joan Miro as we added the finishing touches to our own abstract art.  I am sure you are going to enjoy seeing these pieces of art on your fridge at home all year round. 

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Tiger Feet, Mud

What a song Freya!  It has taken Mrs Franklin back to her youth!  We have enjoyed balling and passing the dough and rocking out with our arms and shoulders this week 70’s style.  We have also talked about the United Kingdom flag and good luck to you all bumping into the band members this weekend.  

A message for parents – we move into our favourite topic next week – Christmas!!  We start it with a bang and our Christmas story night is on Monday night at 5.30pm-7.00pm.  We look forward to seeing lots of you there in your PJ’s and cuddly toys!

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

24th November 2023

 

Forest School Activity

Bears

This week, Mrs Allen has been showing you how you can role play a story with just sticks.  You collected three sticks of different sizes and used these as your story characters of Daddy, Mummy and Baby Bear.  All that was left to do was to find a Goldilocks!  It was lovely to see the mud kitchen being used as the kitchen in your story – not sure who is cleaning the bowls though?

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

House of the Bears

Role play through dance!  We “played” the role of Goldilocks as we have swayed through the forest and into the house to spot and stir three bowls of porridge.  We had to switch part way through the song to be the bears as we used our “swimming” arms to claw and scare her away.

Listening Game

Chinese Whispers

Listening to the words is the trickiest listening rule to follow when you are three and four so this game was fun!  Mrs Mander chose a friend from the pack and whispered the name around the oval.  We had to work as a team to listen and share with our next-door neighbour.

Phonics

The sound /t/

A packed box with a whole range of objects coming out.  We had a turtle on the toilet.  A (squashed) tomato sitting on a tissue on the table.  And Mrs Mander and Mrs Allen’s favourite – some tea and toast.  Can you make your own /t/ box this weekend and find things that begin with /t/?

Maths

Three in a Row and Teddy Dance

We took our pattern of three in a row and enjoyed the Three in a Row song.  We were learning that whether they are in a row or moving around – it is still 3!  You giggled as you made three in a row with your friends and kept adding one more.  We also made sure our positional language was understood as we had to make our teddy dance in all sorts of strange places – “above our head, on our knee, between our feet”.   

Communication and Language

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Mrs Allen has enjoyed sharing lots of versions of the story (there are many!) and thank you to those of you who brought in your own.  You enjoyed tasting some hot, cold and “just right” porridge to make your story come alive and considered which instruments would be best for each “character”.

Art

Christmas Cards and Calendars

As we completed our Christmas card design this week ready to take the orders, we moved on to our yearly calendars.  Every class in school has an artist to learn about – ours is Joan Miro.  He uses lots of shapes and lines and colour to create some abstract art.  We have done the same – they are very abstract! 

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

High Hopes, Panic! At the (Dough) Disco

Sausage rolling our dough to make drumsticks so we could “disco” to this American pop rock band was very different to Lily’s Disney song!  We enjoyed it though and as we are improving every week at keeping to the beat of the music, it is actually starting to look in sync ready for a Christmas show.  Thank you Harvey for choosing!

A message for parents – nursery doors will be open next Friday 1st December from 2-3pm.  The children are looking forward to sharing their “BEST” book with you – a book all about them.  You are then welcome to take them with you to have a look at the other book activities happening in the main school before heading home.

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

17th December 2023

Forest School Activity

Poppies and Bear Prints

In our first week back, you all enjoyed using the crates on the patio to create a poppy shop.  You finger painted the pieces of bark with red and black and sold them to your friends.  This week, Mrs Allen has been laying down paw prints for you to follow to go on a bear hunt.  You then enjoyed using sticks and chalks to replace the paw prints with arrows – have a go this weekend at making an arrow route for your family to follow.

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Grand Old Duke and Over the Mountain

We all enjoyed role playing the Grand Old Duke and you took it in turns to wear the tall hat – we had some excellent Grand Old Dukes of Blackwell and Grand Old Duchesses of Burcot as we marched, stretched and crouched to keep up with the Write Dance song.  This week, we have discovered our inner bears as the claws have come out and we have been using them to climb up the mountain and jump into the river.

Listening Game

Stop/Go Tunnel and Quiet Feet

Our STOP/GO paddle is a huge hit with you all and so we enjoyed using it in one of our games as we had to look at the sign and wait for GO before crawling through the tunnel.  If there is one thing on your list to Father Christmas this year, it has to be the paddle.  This week we have been working on not only keeping our voices but also our feet quiet as we move around the cabin.  You did a super job allowing Mrs Mander and Mrs Allen to have a morning snooze and not waking us up!  Thank you!

Phonics

The Letter s and the letter a

Our Phonics journey has begun as we are now playing our daily game of “What’s in the Box”.  Every week we learn a new sound, learn the picture to match and discover things in the box beginning with this sound.  In our first week back, we had fun as out crawled a spider from the stethoscope!  This week, we have had some friend’s faces in the box – Amelia, Adelenna and Mrs Allen as they have been munching on the apple and the avacodo in the box.  Can you remember the flag in there?

Maths

Subitising, Bing Bong Zong, The Number 3

We kept going with our subitising skills as you saw and named up to 3 wooden cookies as you joined from Forest School in different arrangements.  You enjoyed playing your first partner game with “Bing Bong Zong”.  It was fun trying to match a friend’s fingers with the same number and spotting who has more.  This week we have enjoyed exploring the number 3 as we played musical 3’s and began creating arrangements with 3 cups – Numicon 3, 3 in a row and Magic 3.   

Communication and Language

Poppy Day and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

The beautifully illustrated story of Poppy Day is a perfect way to introduce the idea behind poppies in a child friendly way.  You enjoyed putting your own poppies together in your session with Mrs Allen and listening to two special tunes – Last Post and Reveille. This week, our Best Books topic began with bear stories.  You have enjoyed retelling the Bear Hunt story with the story spoons.

Art

Poppies and Christmas Cards

It is our biggest crafting time of the year as we created artwork based on Mrs Allen’s story, Poppy Day.  You used your fine motor skills to collage your own poppy which are proudly up on our classroom display.  This week, you have become little elves as you enjoyed creating your very own Christmas cards.  Order forms for each Christmas card will be coming out in bags very soon. 

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys and You’re Welcome, Maui

Thank you Francesca, for our first disco song back after half term.  It was in keeping with Bonfire Night as we enjoyed folding the dough and creating fire shapes with our arms.  This week, Maui (from the film Moana) has joined us thanks to Jack.  We have been talking about the country of Hawaii, looking at its flag and learning the Hawaii action for wind.  Have you showed it off at home?

A message for parents – we hope you all had the chance to read our half termly Newsletter last week which will have come out on parentapp.  There are lots of key dates for Christmas on there for you to pop into your diaries.  It gets busy at this time of year with so much going on!

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X

17th November 2023

Forest School Activity

Poppies and Bear Prints

In our first week back, you all enjoyed using the crates on the patio to create a poppy shop.  You finger painted the pieces of bark with red and black and sold them to your friends.  This week, Mrs Allen has been laying down paw prints for you to follow to go on a bear hunt.  You then enjoyed using sticks and chalks to replace the paw prints with arrows – have a go this weekend at making an arrow route for your family to follow.

Write Dance

(Gross Motor)

Grand Old Duke and Over the Mountain

We all enjoyed role playing the Grand Old Duke and you took it in turns to wear the tall hat – we had some excellent Grand Old Dukes of Blackwell and Grand Old Duchesses of Burcot as we marched, stretched and crouched to keep up with the Write Dance song.  This week, we have discovered our inner bears as the claws have come out and we have been using them to climb up the mountain and jump into the river.

Listening Game

Stop/Go Tunnel and Quiet Feet

Our STOP/GO paddle is a huge hit with you all and so we enjoyed using it in one of our games as we had to look at the sign and wait for GO before crawling through the tunnel.  If there is one thing on your list to Father Christmas this year, it has to be the paddle.  This week we have been working on not only keeping our voices but also our feet quiet as we move around the cabin.  You did a super job allowing Mrs Mander and Mrs Allen to have a morning snooze and not waking us up!  Thank you!

Phonics

The Letter s and the letter a

Our Phonics journey has begun as we are now playing our daily game of “What’s in the Box”.  Every week we learn a new sound, learn the picture to match and discover things in the box beginning with this sound.  In our first week back, we had fun as out crawled a spider from the stethoscope!  This week, we have had some friend’s faces in the box – Amelia, Adelenna and Mrs Allen as they have been munching on the apple and the avacodo in the box.  Can you remember the flag in there?

Maths

Subitising, Bing Bong Zong, The Number 3

We kept going with our subitising skills as you saw and named up to 3 wooden cookies as you joined from Forest School in different arrangements.  You enjoyed playing your first partner game with “Bing Bong Zong”.  It was fun trying to match a friend’s fingers with the same number and spotting who has more.  This week we have enjoyed exploring the number 3 as we played musical 3’s and began creating arrangements with 3 cups – Numicon 3, 3 in a row and Magic 3.   

Communication and Language

Poppy Day and We’re Going on a Bear Hunt

The beautifully illustrated story of Poppy Day is a perfect way to introduce the idea behind poppies in a child friendly way.  You enjoyed putting your own poppies together in your session with Mrs Allen and listening to two special tunes – Last Post and Reveille. This week, our Best Books topic began with bear stories.  You have enjoyed retelling the Bear Hunt story with the story spoons.

Art

Poppies and Christmas Cards

It is our biggest crafting time of the year as we created artwork based on Mrs Allen’s story, Poppy Day.  You used your fine motor skills to collage your own poppy which are proudly up on our classroom display.  This week, you have become little elves as you enjoyed creating your very own Christmas cards.  Order forms for each Christmas card will be coming out in bags very soon. 

Dough Disco

(Fine Motor)

Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys and You’re Welcome, Maui

Thank you Francesca, for our first disco song back after half term.  It was in keeping with Bonfire Night as we enjoyed folding the dough and creating fire shapes with our arms.  This week, Maui (from the film Moana) has joined us thanks to Jack.  We have been talking about the country of Hawaii, looking at its flag and learning the Hawaii action for wind.  Have you showed it off at home?

A message for parents – we hope you all had the chance to read our half termly Newsletter last week which will have come out on parentapp.  There are lots of key dates for Christmas on there for you to pop into your diaries.  It gets busy at this time of year with so much going on!

Mrs Mander, Mrs Allen and Mrs Franklin X