- Thank you so much to all the parent helpers who made our pirate workshop so successful.
- Please could we have some more junk for the creative area- small boxes, yogurt pots, tubes etc. We would be grateful if any one has any tube pasta we can have for making necklaces next week. If you have any dried herbs and spices (not powder or anything very hot) that the children can use to make pirate medicines we would be very grateful for any donations. If you have any old jewelry /beads/coins that can be used as treasure that you are willing to donate that would also be great.
- It is really important that the children have a coat and hat and gloves with them everyday.
- Important date for your diary: Reception Assembly is on February 8th.
- World Book Day-7th March.
- Reception Fair trade Cafe: Tuesday 12th March. You are invited to come along and sit with your child and buy some fair trade food and drink from our cafe.
- The children need a t-shirt and shorts in their PE kit and that is all. Anything extra is just likely to get lost. The children will have their lessons in the hall. It is important that these items as well as all uniform is named. Please can you help your child to practise undoing and doing up buttons and turning their clothes the right way when inside out.
- Please check your child's book bag regularly as they can become very full.
- Things to do...
- Listen to your child read everyday. Morning time is best! Don't forget to read to your child, this helps them understand the importance of expression and they learn new vocabulary.
- Play maths games.
- This week the children have continued phonics focusing on individual letter sounds. They have learnt the sounds 'l' and the greedy sounds 'll'. See if your child can sound out and blend back the CVC words below.
- Please continue to bring in your child's magic moments as they happen. They make a super addition to your child's learning journal.
The children had the most fantastic day on Tuesday. We loved all their costumes. Thank you so much to all our super parent helpers. We would not be able to have these wonderful workshops without your support.
During the morning they moved around different work stations. They had the opportunity to make maps first making their own ink, make eye patches out of leather, tie knots to be used on board. The pirates designed and made their own pirate flags and had to visit the ship's surgeon and assistants where many had amputations but it was OK because they were given medicine to make it better! They made necklaces with lucky doubloons, special pockets to keep their booty safe and made dice out of clay so that they could play liar dice when the seas are quiet or just before bed time! (some children made 'cheaty' dice with repeated high numbers!). They made ship's biscuits from salt dough.
Between working at the different parts of the ship there were also many chores to do such as:
- swabbing the decks
- keeping watch
- steering the ship
- canon drill
- preparing to attack!!
At the end of the morning the ship arrived in Madagascar and the children went outside to search for treasure. In the treasure chest were pearls, rubies and sapphires but we learnt that the most precious treasure were the spices and peppercorns.
It was a very busy morning!During the afternoon there was a pirate boot camp. The children played team games which included:
- crossing the swap without falling into the sea to get the rat
- skittles
- loading a cannon and firing
- singing sea shanties.
The children continued with pirate activities during ChIL this week. They have been making necklaces, doublons, treasure maps and playing pirates in the role play area.
In literacy the children were split into 4 groups and each group planned a collaborative story. We drew the story out in pictures- it was divided into sections. These are:
·
Where? – setting
·
What? –
character
·
What? –
problem/want/need/dilemma
·
Obstacle
·
Setback
·
Helper
(or other new character)
·
Solution,
resolution of main problem
·
Ending
·
Learning
The children then learnt their story. They started by using the pictures to tell the story to their partner. They step the story across the classroom. With every step they say what happens in the next box. We stood in a circle and acted out the story. Some of the children should be able to tell you the story from looking at the pictures. The story boards are below. Your child will only recognise one of these! See if they can tell you the story. Next week the children will have a go at writing part of their group's story.
In maths this week the children have been adding two numbers. They had strips of squares in two colours and had to write the matching number sentence.
They also used the double sided counters. They took a handful of counters and threw them on the table and then recorded pictorially or using a number sentence.
In woodland learning the last group of children used the ipads for photographing signs of winter and they then drew pictures of winter trees.
The children have had a fine motor focused ChIL this week.
In phonics the children have learnt the phonemes 'l' and greedy 'll'.
l:lips, leg, lid, lick, log, lock
ll: fell, hill, mill, well, bell
Have a wonderful weekend!
The Year R Team
