Reception Newsletter

In Reception we have been continuing having fun exploring and investigating minibeasts. We went into the forest to see what different species we could find, observing them closely which led to lots of discussion about similarities and differences- ‘I know this is a slug because it doesn’t have a shell’.

In Maths we have been learning to count beyond 10. We learnt to put the objects in rows or to move them so we don't get muddled up. We especially enjoyed counting at the playdough table where we had to choose a teen number and make that many playdough balls for our Ladybug spots. If the objects cannot be moved we can cross them off as we count. We had to make sure we didn’t count too fast or miss out any numbers!

As part of our creative development we have been making some fantastic playdough minibeasts and collages. In Literacy we read the story ‘Superworm’ by Julia Donaldson which is one of the teachers favourites. We also used describing words to write sentences about different minibeasts. In Understanding of the World we learnt about the Life cycle of a butterfly and the teachers were very impressed with the children's enthusiasm and knowledge in this area.

 

Year 2 Newsletter

 

Year 2 have had a very active week! 

We took Maths outside this week and practiced our half turns, quarter turns and explored going clockwise and anti-clockwise. It was great fun giving each other directions on what to do.

In RE we have been exploring Islam and looking at how Mulism's prepare for prayer and what they use when they are praying. We looked at the ritual that they do before hand and copied the different movements.

In Science, we went outside looking for mini-beasts. We couldn't believe how many slugs we found under the logs in the forest or how many ants were hiding in the grass. We discussed their different habitats too. 

In Music we have been learning our songs for the music festival. Today, we impressed our teachers with the songs that we have learnt so far. Keep up the learning at home too, it's really helping!

Year 4 Newsletter

The Year 4s have absolutely loved starting our new history and geography topic of the Vikings - Criminal Invaders or Peaceful Settlers? We learnt where the Vikings came from, when they first invaded England and who was in England at the time. Shakespeare class have even managed to use a well known tune to help them remember - which I am sure you have all heard from them already! So far, we are voting that the Vikings are criminal invaders and our favourite word to describe them is ‘savage’! Although, did you know, they would use hairbrushes and toothbrushes to stay clean! 

Last week, Rowling class had their first strings concert where they impressed their peers with their violin, cello and double bass skills!  

As the multiplication test draws closer, we are practising lots in class. Both teachers are absolutely amazed by the amount of children who are confidently scoring 25/25 every single time!! Keep up the hard work year 4, we are so so proud of you 😊

Year 3 Newsletter

 Year 3 newsletter

Science and STEM

This term, we have been lucky enough to have a day dedicated to STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). In year three, many of us have dream jobs that are heavily influenced by STEM. We spent the morning investigating different jobs and skills needed to be successful in this area.

We also participated in a variety of different activities to explore the different aspects of this such as: 

• planting a variety of seeds including pumpkins, peas, broad beans, radishes and many more!
• Exploring and identifying different plants around the school field using iPads
• Meeting and interviewing a blacksmith and inspecting the work he creates with his tools.
• Becoming experts in Mary Anning's work and removing "fossils" from ice blocks.
• Experimenting with reactions and forces using bottle rockets.

Reception Newsletter

We have had an interesting couple of weeks in Reception. The children loved last week's Science Days where they got to experience lots of different types of science. We looked at density in liquids, we went on a nature walk and enjoyed the science outside and we made our own playdough, observing what happened when we mixed different ingredients together. We were also so lucky to have a visit from The Royal Institute, who put on a very exciting show for us!

This week, we have been discussing healthy eating and talking about the Eatwell Guide and the rainbow of foods, where the children try and eat as many different colours of food as they can. We introduced the different food groups as well and encouraged the children to try and think of as many different types of carbohydrate, protein etc as they could. 

The children have really impressed us with the way they embraced learning about doubling in Maths this week! They loved using mirrors to press up against cubes and show the double amount and some children were even able to write the corresponding number sentence! We also made double patterns on  a giant butterfly with some shiny gems!

Year 1 Newsletter

 In Year 1 we have had our geographer's hats on and having been learning about coastal areas and the things you might find there.  In groups, the children labelled pictures with the different features they could see such as sand, cliffs, sea, pier, harbour, lighthouse, dunes and much more!   

                        

We had an awesome time on our whole school Science days!  We learnt all about STEM skills and thought about which of these skills we might need in jobs that we would like to do when we're grown ups. Siddhi's mum came to visit us and taught us about the skills she uses as a pharmacist.  She uses lots of different STEM skills. 

We had great fun with a waterlily investigation, making predictions and observing what happened when we put a paper waterlily with closed up petals into a tray of water.  The petals opened! 

 Then we did our own waterlily investigation in groups, changing one thing each.  Groups chose to change the material of the waterlily, the type of liquid, the depth of the liquid or the shape of the waterlilies to see if this affected the time it took for the waterlily to open. 

The children have been amazing scientists!

Continuing on our science day learning, we went outside for a minibeast hunt, looking for all sorts of beasties! We searched high and low, looking carefully on trees, under leaves and logs and in the long grass. 

With our artist's hats on, we discovered the seascapes that the wonderful Rachel Bennett creates!  In the immersion room, we shared what we liked about the paintings.  Back in class we continued our discussion and wrote our thoughts and feelings about the paintings around images on sugar paper. 

'I like this one because it makes me feel like I'm underwater.'

'I can see seaweed and waves crashing.'

'This is my favourite because it's like a beach.  There is the sky and clouds, then the sea and the sand at the bottom.'

'I like this one because of the shades of blue that she has used.'

Paintings by Rachel Bennett

Nursery Newsletter

We have been very busy in Nursery over the past couple of weeks.

In our SCARF (Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience, Friendship) sessions we have been learning about how we can look after ourselves.  The children were provided a variety of fruits and vegetables to taste test and decide which of the fruit and vegetables were their favourite.  They used words such as tasty, juicy, soft, hard, slimy, sour, sweet, etc. to descibe how the foods tasted. The children had a great time tasting the food and some were brave enough to try some they had never tasted before!

In Maths, we have been using sunflower seeds to help us understand number and amounts.  The children had 10 sunflower seeds, dropped them on a piece of paper and then looked for groups of seeds (this is called subitizing, when you know how many is in a small group without counting, e.g. the spots on a dice).  They then transferred the seeds onto 5 frames.  Some children were able to see that 5 and 5 made ten.

In our RAW lessons we have been learning through stories from around the world.  Last week we read the story ‘Bilal and the Beautiful Butterfly’ which is a Muslim story and this week we looked at the Sikh story of ‘The Crocodile and the Priest’.  Bilal and the Beautiful Butterfly was helping us to understand about things that are beautiful and special.  The Crocodile and the Priest tells us how Sikhs believe that people should not think they are better than other people but be the best person they can be.

We went for a minibeast hunt this week up at the school Forest area. We learned the Forest School rules and each of the children had their own magnifying glass so they could search for minibeasts (there was also some time to climb trees!).  We found lots of little minibeasts and a big spider on a log!