Week Ending 10/03/13
Date: 6th Mar 2023 @ 7:31pm
Happy Friday and hello or should I say Ahoy there from our Pirate crew! It's been a busy week of discovering our new book for this half term called 'The Pirates Are Coming'. Through the next few weeks the children will learn everything there is to know about the life of a pirate by making ships, writing messages in bottles, sailing the seven seas and the treasures there are to uncover. Our Dormice and Hedgehog children are already enjoying their first week and have found the treasure chest that was hidden deep in the grounds of the school. This has inspired so much of our choosing as the children have created their own pirates, written messages to each other on scrolls (tea-stained paper) and written lists of what treasures they would put in their own chest. This was such a lovely activity as many of the children decided to put in their mums, dads, grandparents, friends, pets and teddy bears in! We thought about important things which all hold special meaning to us.
Spring Term Dates
- Tuesday 14th/Wednesday 15th March – Parents Evening via Schoolcloud. (Please ensure your camera/microphone are working before joining the call).
- Tuesday 21stMarch- Imagine That Trip
- Wednesday 22ndMarch – Stay and Play from 2:30pm. The theme will be maths so there will be lots of number activities for you to enjoy with your child.
- Tuesday 28thMarch – Hedgehogs class assembly (9am) Dormice class assembly (9:30am). Please come to the Community Entrance and a member of staff will let you in.
Comic Relief
Next Friday (17th March) is Comic Relief and our theme for this year is the colour DRESS FOR JOY or dress up silly to put a smile on our face.
Please follow the link to our school donation page. Cash donations can also be collected on the door at drop off by a member of the EYFS team.
Talking Point – All Creatures Great and Small
This week we have been looking at Dormice, can you believe? Currently, the hazel dormouse is classed as ‘vulnerable’ but a recent report from the University of Exeter urges for hazel dormice to be reclassified as ‘endangered’ and calls for more conservation action. Our question this week is ‘Could you do more to protect your local area?’ Could you make a poster or list of things that could help/make people aware of local habitats and ensure the homes of wildlife are protected.
Little Wandle (Phonics)
Please see the downloadable attachment below to practise the sounds/words we have been learning this week. This will now be a regularly feature for you to continue to support your child and consolidate what they have been learning in school that week. If you would like to do any additional reading once you finish having fun in the snow, please use your Owford Owl login and use the online books.
Kinetic Letters
Kinetic Letters is the first thing we do each morning as the children come into school. We focus on teaching the children letter formation and aim that it becomes automatic as soon as possible. Please can you ensure that your child is in school by 8:45am so they are not missing out on this important lesson.
Dough Disco with Shonette is a firm favourite in the Early Years as it focuses on strengthening our fine motor skills making it easier for writing. Here is the link if you want to have a go at home. There’s a pirate one too! https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=spread+the+happiness+dough+disco
Maths
This week we were introduced to ‘Octoblock’ or Number 8 because he has eight blocks altogether. We have been investigating different number bonds to 8 using the numicon. We have also been looking at creating numbers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 by finding 5 and his friend (5 + 1, 5 + 2, 5 + 3, 5 + 4, 5 + 5) We learnt that we didn't need to count our five fingers as we already knew we had five! This led us to introduce the strategy of counting on. How quickly can we show 6-10 without counting fingers? This is great to consolidate understanding of subitising (knowing a number without needing to count). Ask your child can they show you number 7 quickly by using 'five an a friend'. I have linked the video below. We have noticed that 'counting on' has been a tricky concept this week. We will continue to apply this to our mental starters each day to build on the learning we have done in class. Dominoes is a great resource for this. Ask your child to pick up a domino and subitise the two numbers on it. Then count on from the bottom number to find the total. For example, if the domino showed a 3 and 4. Your child would count four more after number 4, 5, 6, 7. The last number is how many are altogether.
Numberblocks (Five and friends) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bn5dz7/numberblocks-series-3-five-and-friends
On Monday, we came into find sand and big boot prints left in the orangery with a map which including compass marks. We discussed using the phrase ‘Never Eat Shredded Wheat’ to help us remember the four compass points. We then used real compasses during our choosing time to direct each other around the classroom. We now have lots of little pirates that make up our Reception crew.
On Tuesday, we predicted what the story might be about. We used our comprehension skills from our reading practice sessions to explain how we knew using the clues from the front cover. We then discussed what we already knew about Pirates. Arrrrrrr!
On Wednesday, we had to decode some clues left by the pirates and use the map to navigate where the treasure was buried. We explored what was inside and found out that this introduced us to our new book ‘The Pirates Are Coming’. Inside were coins, jewels, boots, an eye patch, a map, some sand, shells and a pirate hat! We then thought about what was precious to us and what we would include in our chest if we were a pirate.
On Thursday, we found a message in a bottle had been 'washed up' on the shores of Tarporley. It was from the Pirates who told us they were sailing nearby. We wrote messages on scrolls to send back to them. Some children wanted them to come ashore and play with them so sent some lovely replies back, others weren't so keen! We then played in the snow at the end of the day.
On Friday, WE HAD A SNOW DAY!
Please speak to your child’s class teacher to put a date in the diary if you would like to be mystery reader. Miss Nicholas is particular needs readers and reminding if you have already put your name down.
Have a fantastic, snowy weekend!
Miss Selwyn and Miss Nicholas
