This week the children have been rehearsing for the Christmas play, they have been so patient! On Friday they tried their costumes on. Thank you for sending these in, they all look fantastic. There are a few children who still need to bring their costumes in on Monday for our dress rehearsal.
Performances
are next Tuesday at 10.45 and Thursday at 9.15. Tickets have been distributed and
sent home in book bags. We look forward
to seeing you there.
This week in maths we finished the two activities based on the number 9. These activities were explained in last week’s blog.
The children have also started learning about the number 10. All children have covered 2 out of the 4 activities described below. Each lesson the children started with ‘What Numicon is this?’ They had to identify all the numicon pieces representing the numbers to 10.
Activity 1: We looked at a Christmas Tree and worked out how many starts were on it. It had 10 stars. We then showed the children a tree with 6 stars and asked the children 'How many stars does this Christmas tree have on it? How do you know? Our number of the week is 10 so I think it should have 10 stars on it, how can we work it out?'. The children suggested that we could use fingers or counting on. They used either method to place 10 stars on. The children were then given a sheet with several Christmas trees with different numbers on. They had to count accurately the number of stars on each tree and were told each tree needed a total of 10 stars. Children worked on their own Christmas tree sheet adding stars to the trees, counting on to 10.
Activity 2: 10 green bottles. The children started by counting out 10 making sure that they were doing careful 1 – 1 counting. They then moved on to counting objects in a bottle. They had to count how many they had in the bottle and then either add or take away so that they ended up with 10 in their bottle.
We
then sang the song 10 green bottles using the bottles as shakers. We asked the children 'Are the
numbers getting more or less?'
Activity 3 – Treasure hunt.
The
children went on a Christmas treasure hunt. We explained that around the room
there were pieces of paper with different pictures on. There were stockings,
Christmas puddings, Christmas trees, Christmas presents, snowmen, baubles,
stars, angels, candy canes, gingerbread men. There was a different amount of each picture and children had to count and enter the number on the recording sheet.
Group 4 – Snowman drive
The
Children sat in a circle with two dice ( one dice is 1 – 4 only) children take
it in turns to roll the dice and say how many they have. If they land on the
following numbers they can take a piece to build their snowman.
2
– eye, 3 – eye, 4 – nose, 5 – button, 6 – button, 7 – arm, 8 – arm, 9 – button,
10 - scarf
The
children were questioned during the lesson: How many altogether? How many more?
They practised counting on from the biggest number.
In phonics this week the children have learnt the sounds
l, and the greedy sound ll. They have also practised forming these letters correctly.
Words the children have been sounding, blending and writing:
ll- well, will, hill, mill, bell, fell, pull
l- log, lips, lock, lick, lid,
Rhymes and formation:
L- Ladybirds like to land on lolly pops and give them a lick.
L-is a long ladder letter
L- start at the top, down and flick.
ChIL: The children have had lots of fun playing in the Christmas role play area. They have also enjoyed lots of Christmas Art.
Today we were lucky enough to have a visit from the librarian from Harpenden Library. She explained how the Library works and how we need to behave in the library. She read us one of her favourite books 'The Little Pirates'. It was all about counting backwards from 10 so it fitted in very well with our number of the week! She also read 'Hooray for Fish'. It was another counting book. She then read 'The Hungry caterpillar' which we helped her with. She then introduced us to a book called 'The Bumble Bear'. The children have all been given this book in a special pack to share with you at home, they will bring it home today.
Things
to do with your child:
- Count everything focusing on numbers to 10. How many ways can your child make 10?
- Talk to your child about this weeks phonemes and recap previous sounds.
- Read with your child and encourage your child to identify rhyming words when you are reading to your child.
- Help your child write their name with the correct formation.
- Over the Christmas holiday we would be grateful if you could take a Christmas photograph of your child so that they can do some writing about it when they get back to school. Please can you send this photo in on the first day back in January. Thursday 4th January.
- Over the holidays we will be sending Magic Moment sheets home. These give you the opportunity to send in a photo and some notes about your child's achievements at home. Examples include: family celebrations, riding a bike or a pony or learning an instrument or learning to tie their shoes!
Reminders
and pleas....
- 12th and 14th December- Christmas Play
- 15th December- Christmas Jumper day. The children can wear a Christmas jumper instead of their school cardigan/jumper.
- The children will have a Christmas party on the afternoon of Monday 18th December . Please can every child bring in a disposable plate of food for themselves to eat. This is in addition to lunch, not instead of lunch. This should be covered in foil or cling film or be placed in a bag with your child's name on the top. These will not be stored in a fridge. They may wish to bring a drink or they can have water from their water bottle. Please ensure there are no nuts. Your child may also bring some party clothes in a labelled bag (it would be ideal that these clothes are also labelled).
- Christmas lunch is on Tuesday 19th December
- School breaks up at 2pm on Tuesday 19th December
Have great weekend.
The Year R Team
