Hi there!
Yet another fantastic week was had by all in the Foundation Stage last week. The rockets the children made have been hung by our mystery giant, Bertie and look amazing hanging from our ceiling. What did you think of their cars? The children were thrilled with them. You wouldn’t believe the trouble I had getting them to stand upright. However, Super Hero Latham and Mrs Hughes ( a parent from last year) came to my rescue. Better stick to my forte in future and leave the experts to it next time!
So what’s in store for this week?
Well…
IT’S BOOKWEEK!!!
The book week starts with a poet coming in to school for two days. The children will have a fantastically humorous story told to them. In addition to this, I have asked that the children bring in their favourite book on Monday to share with a friend. They will write the title on a leaf and stick it on to the reading tree in the hall. Throughout the week, the children will have a competition. I will leave clues for them and they have to work out the nursery rhyme or familiar book title from the clues. The one who gets them correct will have a prize on the Tuesday of next week in the prize giving assembly. Lots of other activities celebrating the wonder of books will be completed throughout the week concluding in our annual book week dressing up day. I am absolutely full to the brim with excitement!!
The book fair will be on from Wednesday after school until the following Tuesday. All books bought enable us to receive commission to purchase resources for school. Please come along.
Talking of reading…
As a school we are aiming for all classes to have 100% response from parents in reading diaries. That is to say that we ask that every parent writes at least one comment per week after they have read with their child. The whole school is publishing their percentages each week. I am pleased to say that ours is 93%. This equates to just two diaries not being commented in each week. I’m sure we can get to a 100% by the end of this week.
PHONICS
Your child may have talked about learning ‘c’ and ‘k’ and how together they make ‘ck’. Over the past few years I have searched for some inspiring way of helping the children understand when to use ‘ck’ and this year, ‘by jove’ I think I’ve cracked it! I have told the children that the letters love each other and are very lazy because more often than not they are found at the end of words. So what are we learning this week?
By the end of the week:
MUST be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘h’, ‘b’, ‘f’, ‘ff’, ‘l’, ‘ll’ and ‘ss’.
SHOULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
COULD be able to read and write captions containing words with these letters.
Again there are double consonants here that make one sound and are often found at the end of words. These are the twins!!! They look the same and even sound the same. Plus, they are equally as lazy as ‘ck’.
NEW - http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/flags.html this is a brilliant game. Choose the vowel you want to have in the middle of the words and then put the flags on the sandcastles to make the word said by the computer.
NEW http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/teddybearPicnic_v2.html - a good website for matching lower case and upper case letters.
www.starfall.com - The children are doing amazingly well with their letter sound and name recognition so why not try out the vowels at the bottom of the page to help them use them in words.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
MATHEMATICAL DEVELOPMENT
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to add one more to a given number up to 9.
SHOULD be able to add two numbers to make a total of up to 10 by combining two sets.
COULD be able to add two numbers by counting on from the larger number.
Please continue to work on the vocabulary of addition on Mr Adder. Here are a few websites to help support your child.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ - if you start on the Kindergarten level and review the combining of sets to find the total first. When you think your child is managing this why not let them have a go at the Year 1 addition games. I’m sure you will be surprised at how they will be able to manage them by the end of the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html - find the pairs to 10 to save the whale.
http://www.ictgames.com/funkymum.html - love this one but they will have to use the counting on from the largest number method.
http://www.ictgames.com/flight_for_fuel.html - collect the fuel to make the totals on the top.
http://www.ictgames.com/safecracker.html
http://www.ictgames.com/caterpillar_slider.html - just a little taster of the work for next week on ordering numbers and it will also help with identifying the larger number.
http://www.ictgames.com/beaver.html
A game to play at home to help your child identify the larger number.
You will need:
A set of playing cards
How to play
Divide the cards between two players
Each person takes a turn to reveal their playing card.
The one with the biggest number gets to keep the two cards.
The winner is the one with the most cards at the end.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
The children will develop their understanding of transport that travels on the sea and air this week. Get the paper ready because we are actually going to teach them how to make paper aeroplanes and have a competition to see how far they can make them fly. They will also learn about floating and sinking. Perhaps during bath time you could reinforce this by adding a few objects. Keep those mobiles out of reach though as we have had at least three in the bath in our house over the past year!
Creative Development
We continue to work on the backgrounds to the amazing pictures the children did last week. The children will have to work together in a team to complete the task. We are amazed at the level of collaboration that children so young are demonstrating. The children are also going to be able to use the knowledge they gathered from making the cars on Friday to creating their own wheeled vehicle from junk materials. So…please continue sending in any boxes, tubes etc.
Other bits and bobs
Please can all museum permission slips be handed in by the end of the week. Also, we now have enough parent helpers. Thanks. A letter regarding the details of the day should go out on Monday.
We have three new additions to the team. Mrs Hibbits who is training to be a teaching assistant and will work with us evry Monday and Tuesday. Mrs Kirkham who is a trainee teacher who will work with us every Thursday, and Miss Scott, who is a student from Hope University. She will be with us every Friday until she does her block teaching practice in March. We warmly welcome them all. Mmm…how much more can I squeeze into the week now????
I am please to say that Mrs Higgins is now on the mend. She is making a speedy recovery and she should be back with us soon.
That is all for now, PHEW!!!
Have a great week!
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxxx
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
We're off, We're off, We're off in a Motor Car....
Welcome
What a fantastic week the children had last week as we developed our topic further to look at Space Travel. They particularly enjoyed the symmetrical underpants they made after reading the story ‘Aliens love Underpants’. Our rocket role play area is now ready for lift off which will make the children very happy, as well as our rocket reading corner. At the end of last week I asked the children take a vote on what they would like to learn about this week. It was a close call but the children asked if they could learn about travelling on the LAND.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Why does a car have an engine?
Why does a car have a steering wheel?
How do you make a car go?
These are three of the questions asked by the children about things that travel on the land at the start of the topic. It is my aim to answer these questions for them by the end of the week. CRIKEY!!! In order to do this, my car will be driven onto the playground for the children to see under the bonnet and how the steering wheel works. Needless to say, Health and Safety is our priority. Mmm…may need to clean my car out this weekend. the text Mr Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham will be out inspiration this week for role play and writing.
Creative Development
Unfortunately we did not have sufficient time to do our Van Gogh pictures last week so guess what’s on the agenda for this? In addition to this, the children will be developing their drawing skills. They will be drawing pictures of modes of transport that travel on the land. You may wish to have a practice with your child before Monday. They will draw them using a permanent pen onto acetate. Then use oil pastels to colour them in. Using different collage materials, the children will work in teams to create landscapes surrounding their vehicles. Yes, another chance to work as part of a team. You may begin to hear your child talk more about team work.
Phonics
By the end of the week:
MUST be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
SHOULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
COULD be able to read and write captions containing words with these letters.
NEW - http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/flags.html this is a brilliant game. Choose the vowel you want to have in the middle of the words and then put the flags on the sandcastles to make the word said by the computer.
NEW http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/flags.html
NEW http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/teddybearPicnic_v2.html - a good website for matching lower case and upper case letters.
www.starfall.com - The children are doing amazingly well with their letter sound and name recognition so why not try out the vowels at the bottom of the page to help them use them in words.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Mathematical Development
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to add one more to a given number to 10;
SHOULD be able to add two numbers to make a total of up to 6 by combining the two sets;
COULD be able to add two numbers to make a total of 10 by combining the two sets.
To make the vocabulary of addition more memorable to the children I have created a character called Mr Adder (get it? Add and Adder) Actually this was Mrs Bethell’s idea in the ‘Land of the Giants’. You should have received a copy of Mr Adder in your child’s diary this week for you to see the sort of language we aim to help the children use and understand. The acquisition of the vocabulary associated with addition is the class target for this week.
We use a mantra which goes like this:
COUNT, COUNT, TOGETHER, COUNT. The children will be able to tell you the actions to the mantra on Monday after the teaching. This is a hook on which the children can hold on to in order to facilitate their learning.
Here are some fabulous websites to help make their understanding of addition appear to be FUN!
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml
www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html - this game asks the children to select the number to add to the given number to make magic number 10. The strategy the children need to use is the counting on from the number given to 10;
www.ictgames.com/safecracker.html - the children have to choose two numbers to make the target number given.
www.ictgames.com/beaver.html - the children must select two numbers that make the magic number 10.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=8
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/add1.html - good website for rapid recall of adding one more.
Physical Development
Yes, more apparatus this week with the children looking at imaginative ways of travelling along the benches, etc using the different parts of their bodies. We now have a World Record to beat for getting changed. The children are going to be timed getting ready for PE, as apparatus work is time consuming and the longer they take to get dressed the less time they have on the equipment. So…each session they will be timed and they have to beat their record. ANY HELP you can give in this department at home will be much appreciated.
Here I Am
We continue with the RELATE part of our topic on Celebrations. This week the children will review their learning about the visit to the temple made by Jesus. They will further discuss the different artefacts found in church and learn about what they symbolise.
Museum Visit
Your child may have already told you about us visiting the museum. It has now been booked along with the coaches. We have a workshop in the planetarium with Barnaby Bear. Can’t wait!! A letter will be going out this week with further details. If you are able to accompany us on the visit please call in and see me.
Other bits and bobs
Please could you ensure that the children have a label on their water bottles as over 50% do not. Thanks.
Handwriting homework is to be handed in on Mondays to go out again on Wednesdays.
You may have noticed Mrs Higgins’ absence. Unfortunately, she is unwell. We miss her very much and I am sure you join me in wishing her a speedy recovery.
I think that’s all for this week.
Have a good one.
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx
What a fantastic week the children had last week as we developed our topic further to look at Space Travel. They particularly enjoyed the symmetrical underpants they made after reading the story ‘Aliens love Underpants’. Our rocket role play area is now ready for lift off which will make the children very happy, as well as our rocket reading corner. At the end of last week I asked the children take a vote on what they would like to learn about this week. It was a close call but the children asked if they could learn about travelling on the LAND.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Why does a car have an engine?
Why does a car have a steering wheel?
How do you make a car go?
These are three of the questions asked by the children about things that travel on the land at the start of the topic. It is my aim to answer these questions for them by the end of the week. CRIKEY!!! In order to do this, my car will be driven onto the playground for the children to see under the bonnet and how the steering wheel works. Needless to say, Health and Safety is our priority. Mmm…may need to clean my car out this weekend. the text Mr Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham will be out inspiration this week for role play and writing.
Creative Development
Unfortunately we did not have sufficient time to do our Van Gogh pictures last week so guess what’s on the agenda for this? In addition to this, the children will be developing their drawing skills. They will be drawing pictures of modes of transport that travel on the land. You may wish to have a practice with your child before Monday. They will draw them using a permanent pen onto acetate. Then use oil pastels to colour them in. Using different collage materials, the children will work in teams to create landscapes surrounding their vehicles. Yes, another chance to work as part of a team. You may begin to hear your child talk more about team work.
Phonics
By the end of the week:
MUST be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
SHOULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
COULD be able to read and write captions containing words with these letters.
NEW - http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/flags.html this is a brilliant game. Choose the vowel you want to have in the middle of the words and then put the flags on the sandcastles to make the word said by the computer.
NEW http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/flags.html
NEW http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/games/teddybearPicnic_v2.html - a good website for matching lower case and upper case letters.
www.starfall.com - The children are doing amazingly well with their letter sound and name recognition so why not try out the vowels at the bottom of the page to help them use them in words.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Mathematical Development
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to add one more to a given number to 10;
SHOULD be able to add two numbers to make a total of up to 6 by combining the two sets;
COULD be able to add two numbers to make a total of 10 by combining the two sets.
To make the vocabulary of addition more memorable to the children I have created a character called Mr Adder (get it? Add and Adder) Actually this was Mrs Bethell’s idea in the ‘Land of the Giants’. You should have received a copy of Mr Adder in your child’s diary this week for you to see the sort of language we aim to help the children use and understand. The acquisition of the vocabulary associated with addition is the class target for this week.
We use a mantra which goes like this:
COUNT, COUNT, TOGETHER, COUNT. The children will be able to tell you the actions to the mantra on Monday after the teaching. This is a hook on which the children can hold on to in order to facilitate their learning.
Here are some fabulous websites to help make their understanding of addition appear to be FUN!
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/numbers/ch1.shtml
www.ictgames.com/save_the_whale_v4.html - this game asks the children to select the number to add to the given number to make magic number 10. The strategy the children need to use is the counting on from the number given to 10;
www.ictgames.com/safecracker.html - the children have to choose two numbers to make the target number given.
www.ictgames.com/beaver.html - the children must select two numbers that make the magic number 10.
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=8
http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/maths/num%20machine/add1.html - good website for rapid recall of adding one more.
Physical Development
Yes, more apparatus this week with the children looking at imaginative ways of travelling along the benches, etc using the different parts of their bodies. We now have a World Record to beat for getting changed. The children are going to be timed getting ready for PE, as apparatus work is time consuming and the longer they take to get dressed the less time they have on the equipment. So…each session they will be timed and they have to beat their record. ANY HELP you can give in this department at home will be much appreciated.
Here I Am
We continue with the RELATE part of our topic on Celebrations. This week the children will review their learning about the visit to the temple made by Jesus. They will further discuss the different artefacts found in church and learn about what they symbolise.
Museum Visit
Your child may have already told you about us visiting the museum. It has now been booked along with the coaches. We have a workshop in the planetarium with Barnaby Bear. Can’t wait!! A letter will be going out this week with further details. If you are able to accompany us on the visit please call in and see me.
Other bits and bobs
Please could you ensure that the children have a label on their water bottles as over 50% do not. Thanks.
Handwriting homework is to be handed in on Mondays to go out again on Wednesdays.
You may have noticed Mrs Higgins’ absence. Unfortunately, she is unwell. We miss her very much and I am sure you join me in wishing her a speedy recovery.
I think that’s all for this week.
Have a good one.
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx
Sunday, January 13, 2008
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 BLAST OFF!!
Hi there!
What a fantastic start the Spring Term we had last week with the introduction of our new topic on Transport and Journeys. The children have posed some excellent questions which they would like answered by the end of the topic. The focus for teaching and learning each week will be determined by the children themselves. On Friday they had to vote on whether they wanted to learn about space travel, travelling by land, by sea or by air. The majority voted for…(drum roll please) SPACE TRAVEL.
So what will the children be learning?
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Last year Mr Narraway visited the Kennedy Space Centre in America and took some amazing photographs for me. I have been waiting patiently for an opportunity to use them. The children will have the opportunity to have a look inside a real rocket and learn about its contents. They will learn about the moon and the other planets in our solar system. They may have already told you that the role play area is being changed into a space rocket.
Mantle of the Expert
Last week the children received a visit from the Mayor of Little Town asking the problem solvers to design mode of transport for the citizens to go on holiday in. The children really got into this and worked well in their teams. However, this week there will be a twist to their designs. Yes! Another problem. The people of Little Town have heard that visits to the moon are all the rage now and would like the problem-solvers to design a rocket for them to travel into space. The children will therefore, take on the role of being designers. They will plan their designs on paper and decide on the materials they are going to use for them. Towards the latter part of the week, the children will all be making a junk model rocket big enough for five citizens from Little Town to travel into space. In order to do this though, we will need lots of plastic bottles, cardboard tubes and yoghurt pots etc. If you have any please do send them in.
Communication, Language and Literacy
The text for this week will be The Jigaree. This is a great book which helps the children practice reading their high frequency words in context. The Jigaree is an alien from outer space and when the astronaut visits the jigaree follows him everywhere. The repetitive nature of the text will hopefully feed into our writing activities this week.
Phonics
As with last week the children:
MUST be able to recognise the letters s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c and k by sound or name.
SHOULD be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
COULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
http://www.starfall.com/ - this is a great website. Perhaps make sure that your child focuses on the letters that they are working on for the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Mathematical Development
As well as continuing with their 3d shape recognition, the children will start a new topic on SYMMETRY and PATTERN.
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to create a repeating pattern
SHOULD be able to recognise symmetry
COULD be able to make a symmetrical model from a range of materials, pointing out matching pairs on each side of the middle.
Here are some great websites the children can play around on.
http://crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=butterfly - the children have to create a matching symmetrical butterfly to the one shown. The level of difficulty can be raised by the use of two colours and then the chance to create their own symmetrical butterfly.
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/symmetry/index.html - this is great. The children can create a kaleidoscope effect on the screen.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/reflection.swf - I love this one. The children can make a pattern on one side and then make its reflection on the other side. Just keep clicking on the squares to change the colours.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/symmetry.swf - a good website for helping children to understand what symmetry is.
http://www.adrianbruce.com/Symmetry/index.htm
Creative Development
Our classroom is ready to be adorned with beautiful pieces of art created by the children. The Fernand Leger and Wassily Kandinsky inspired pictures are beautiful and we can’t wait to put them up. This week, the children will look at Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. They will learn about how Van Gogh used the swirls in the picture to create the impression of the movement of the wind. Here is a picture of the art that will inspire us.
What a fantastic start the Spring Term we had last week with the introduction of our new topic on Transport and Journeys. The children have posed some excellent questions which they would like answered by the end of the topic. The focus for teaching and learning each week will be determined by the children themselves. On Friday they had to vote on whether they wanted to learn about space travel, travelling by land, by sea or by air. The majority voted for…(drum roll please) SPACE TRAVEL.
So what will the children be learning?
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Last year Mr Narraway visited the Kennedy Space Centre in America and took some amazing photographs for me. I have been waiting patiently for an opportunity to use them. The children will have the opportunity to have a look inside a real rocket and learn about its contents. They will learn about the moon and the other planets in our solar system. They may have already told you that the role play area is being changed into a space rocket.
Mantle of the Expert
Last week the children received a visit from the Mayor of Little Town asking the problem solvers to design mode of transport for the citizens to go on holiday in. The children really got into this and worked well in their teams. However, this week there will be a twist to their designs. Yes! Another problem. The people of Little Town have heard that visits to the moon are all the rage now and would like the problem-solvers to design a rocket for them to travel into space. The children will therefore, take on the role of being designers. They will plan their designs on paper and decide on the materials they are going to use for them. Towards the latter part of the week, the children will all be making a junk model rocket big enough for five citizens from Little Town to travel into space. In order to do this though, we will need lots of plastic bottles, cardboard tubes and yoghurt pots etc. If you have any please do send them in.
Communication, Language and Literacy
The text for this week will be The Jigaree. This is a great book which helps the children practice reading their high frequency words in context. The Jigaree is an alien from outer space and when the astronaut visits the jigaree follows him everywhere. The repetitive nature of the text will hopefully feed into our writing activities this week.
Phonics
As with last week the children:
MUST be able to recognise the letters s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c and k by sound or name.
SHOULD be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
COULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
http://www.starfall.com/ - this is a great website. Perhaps make sure that your child focuses on the letters that they are working on for the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Mathematical Development
As well as continuing with their 3d shape recognition, the children will start a new topic on SYMMETRY and PATTERN.
By the end of the week, the children:
MUST be able to create a repeating pattern
SHOULD be able to recognise symmetry
COULD be able to make a symmetrical model from a range of materials, pointing out matching pairs on each side of the middle.
Here are some great websites the children can play around on.
http://crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=butterfly - the children have to create a matching symmetrical butterfly to the one shown. The level of difficulty can be raised by the use of two colours and then the chance to create their own symmetrical butterfly.
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/symmetry/index.html - this is great. The children can create a kaleidoscope effect on the screen.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/reflection.swf - I love this one. The children can make a pattern on one side and then make its reflection on the other side. Just keep clicking on the squares to change the colours.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/symmetry.swf - a good website for helping children to understand what symmetry is.
http://www.adrianbruce.com/Symmetry/index.htm
Creative Development
Our classroom is ready to be adorned with beautiful pieces of art created by the children. The Fernand Leger and Wassily Kandinsky inspired pictures are beautiful and we can’t wait to put them up. This week, the children will look at Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. They will learn about how Van Gogh used the swirls in the picture to create the impression of the movement of the wind. Here is a picture of the art that will inspire us.
Did you know that the song Starry Starry Night by John Denver (I think?) was inspired by the painting by Van Gogh?
In music the children will continue to use percussion instruments to accompany the song The wheels on the Bus.
Physical Development
Your child may have come home and told you that they had been on the climbing frame last week. They were beside themselves with excitement when we got the apparatus out. This whole half term will focus on moving along, through, under and over different pieces of apparatus, and learning to make a safe landing.
Here I Am
We move onto the RELATE part of our topic on Celebrations. This week the children will learn about the visit to the temple made by Jesus. They will discuss the different artefacts found in church and learn about what they symbolise.
Finally…
If the weather is okay next week, the children will hopefully be able to go outside throughout the day to enhance their learning. Please could you ensure your child is suitably dressed in a warm coat and a hat. Thanks.
Have a great week!
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Ready, Steady, GO!!!
Hi there and welcome to the start of a new fantastic year!
The Spring Term is very short but nevertheless action packed and full of fun! So here goes with this week’s activities.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Straight away we will begin our new topic on TRANSPORT and JOURNEYS. This week we will begin by finding out what the children already know about transport and journeys they have made before moving on to their new learning. Therefore, the children will look at photographs of different modes of transport and sort them according to whether they travel on land, sea or by air. A trip to the local library would be a great idea. Why not get some books out on transport to look at and discuss.
The children will look specifically this week at wheeled vehicles and how they move. There will be particular attention paid to the axles and how a simple axle can be made using straws and bobbins.
They will also be using the larger construction equipment to make models of the different forms of transport before moving on to making models using the LEGO pieces.
Mantle of the Expert
The children will set up their business as problem-solvers this week. They receive a visit form the Mayor of Little Town. They have a problem and can the problem solvers help? Basically, the mayor explains that the people of Little Town have such short legs they are taking forever to get from one place to another. Can they help to design some kind of transport for them? The children will be given a ‘family’ to make transport for. However, some families have more in them than others, whilst some are just two or one person. The aim is also to help the children understand about traffic congestion and protecting the environment. This children will then take on the role of designers in their teams. (If you think back to the induction evening in October, you will understand that all children will have a specific role to play). Therefore, we ask that you start to collecting your empty cereal boxes, plastic bottles and tubs, bottle tops etc that can help the children create their models. Eventually, the children will make a model of their own.
Outdoor Play
The outdoor play area will be in full use this week with the children learning about road safety. A road will be created complete with zebra crossings to help the children understand the need for safety. Please ensure that your child has a warm coat, gloves and a hat everyday.
http://www.hedgehogs.gov.uk/main/main.html - This is a great website to explore the dangers of the road when travelling on foot or by car.
ICT
In the ICT suite the children will be investigating symmetry ready for next week’s mathematical development work. This is always a wonderful area of pattern to teach. We have a fantastic program in school which allows the children to paint on one side of the screen and it creates a symmetrical image on the other side. The results of their work are always excellent.
Creative Development
The children will also be sharpening up on their observational and drawing skills by making simple representations of the different modes of transport. This will then be used to produce some art work inspired by ‘The Two Cyclists, Mother and Child’ by the French Cubist Painter, Fernand Leger. Please click on this link to see the artwork for yourself. http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/exhibitionInfo/exhibition/17004
In music, the children will use their imagination to compose music to accompany the song of The Wheels on the Bus.
Communication, Language and Literacy
By the end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to recognise the letters s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c and k by sound or name.
SHOULD be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
COULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
www.starfall.com - this is a great website. Perhaps make sure that your child focuses on the letters that they are working on for the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Homework
Handwriting homework will resume this week and be given out on Wednesday as usual. We have been really pleased with the progress the children have made in this area of their physical development. Thank you for all your support at home.
Reading
Reading books will be changed on Tuesday as usual. Please ensure that you make at least one comment a week when you have read with your child. On Monday, there will be a reviewed copy of your child’s reading targets stuck into their diaries for your information.
Further Information
You will also receive an update on how your child is doing with their letter sounds/names and number recognition. All the children have made extremely good progress and we are well on our way now. Thanks again for all your support.
Mathematical Development
By then end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to describe 2d shapes using the correct mathematical vocabulary;
SHOULD be able to name some 3d shapes
COULD be able to describe 3d shapes using the correct mathematical vocabulary.
These objectives will be taught through the children’s work on transport and their art work. If you think about a lorry. It has a cuboid to carry the goods in and cylinders for wheels. Last half term we didn’t manage to get through some of the shape work and so we are continuing just for this week. The children will create a piece of artwork using 2d shapes inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. This link shows the art work we are using as our inspiration.
http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=7816
The children will explore the vocabulary associated with the shapes as well as developing their understanding of words linked to size. They will then compose their own piece of art. Yet there is a twist. They are only allowed to use a shape if they can describe two of its properties. Here are the websites we will be using in class.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/build_it/eng/Introduction/default.htm - a good website for seeing how models are make up of 3D shapes.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/simpleshapesort.swf - shape sorting activity according to properties.
http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/kidsonly/findout/shape/shapes.htm - a good website to help the children match, find, build and discover the properties of the 2D shapes.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y1shape.html - parts of a shape are shown and the children have to guess the shape.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/memory.html - this is a fantastic game to help the children develop their visual memory techniques.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/shapereveal.swf the children have to guess the shape as it is revealed. They can chose to use 2d or 3d shapes.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/MatchingPairs3Dshape.swf - 3D shape matching game.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/longshape3d.html - a good website. The children have to identify the shape that is partially hidden in sand and then click on the correct labelled picture.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/castle_shapes/eng/Introduction/default.htm - identifying 2D and 3D shapes.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y2shape.html - guess the 3D shape.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ -by clicking on the shapes label you will be able to make patterns with 2D shapes. If you also click on the space row under 3D and 2D shapes you will have to sort different shapes according to the given criteria.
Finally, may we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to you for the beautiful and generous gifts you gave us. Also, many thanks to all those parents who have helped us with the productions, walking to church etc last term. Your help is very much appreciated and valued. We may be calling on your help very soon as we are hoping to take the children to the Science and Industry Museum.
Here’s to another fantastic term.
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx
The Spring Term is very short but nevertheless action packed and full of fun! So here goes with this week’s activities.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Straight away we will begin our new topic on TRANSPORT and JOURNEYS. This week we will begin by finding out what the children already know about transport and journeys they have made before moving on to their new learning. Therefore, the children will look at photographs of different modes of transport and sort them according to whether they travel on land, sea or by air. A trip to the local library would be a great idea. Why not get some books out on transport to look at and discuss.
The children will look specifically this week at wheeled vehicles and how they move. There will be particular attention paid to the axles and how a simple axle can be made using straws and bobbins.
They will also be using the larger construction equipment to make models of the different forms of transport before moving on to making models using the LEGO pieces.
Mantle of the Expert
The children will set up their business as problem-solvers this week. They receive a visit form the Mayor of Little Town. They have a problem and can the problem solvers help? Basically, the mayor explains that the people of Little Town have such short legs they are taking forever to get from one place to another. Can they help to design some kind of transport for them? The children will be given a ‘family’ to make transport for. However, some families have more in them than others, whilst some are just two or one person. The aim is also to help the children understand about traffic congestion and protecting the environment. This children will then take on the role of designers in their teams. (If you think back to the induction evening in October, you will understand that all children will have a specific role to play). Therefore, we ask that you start to collecting your empty cereal boxes, plastic bottles and tubs, bottle tops etc that can help the children create their models. Eventually, the children will make a model of their own.
Outdoor Play
The outdoor play area will be in full use this week with the children learning about road safety. A road will be created complete with zebra crossings to help the children understand the need for safety. Please ensure that your child has a warm coat, gloves and a hat everyday.
http://www.hedgehogs.gov.uk/main/main.html - This is a great website to explore the dangers of the road when travelling on foot or by car.
ICT
In the ICT suite the children will be investigating symmetry ready for next week’s mathematical development work. This is always a wonderful area of pattern to teach. We have a fantastic program in school which allows the children to paint on one side of the screen and it creates a symmetrical image on the other side. The results of their work are always excellent.
Creative Development
The children will also be sharpening up on their observational and drawing skills by making simple representations of the different modes of transport. This will then be used to produce some art work inspired by ‘The Two Cyclists, Mother and Child’ by the French Cubist Painter, Fernand Leger. Please click on this link to see the artwork for yourself. http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/exhibitionInfo/exhibition/17004
In music, the children will use their imagination to compose music to accompany the song of The Wheels on the Bus.
Communication, Language and Literacy
By the end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to recognise the letters s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c and k by sound or name.
SHOULD be able to recognise the sound and name for ‘ck’, ‘e’, ‘u’, and ‘r’.
COULD be able to use the letters they have learned to segment and blend words when reading and writing.
www.starfall.com - this is a great website. Perhaps make sure that your child focuses on the letters that they are working on for the week.
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html - this game is great for helping your child to blend sounds together. You can select the pattern (choose those with the letters we have been working on) and then the children have to read the word and click on the tick if it is a real word.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=cvcmaker - This again is a great website for blending three letter words together.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/learn_y4/main.asp?lesson_path=year_4/word_machine_c-v-c/&lesson_file=lesson.swf&language=eng - This helps the children see how three letter words are made up of a consonant, a vowel and then a consonant.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/crank/game.shtml - If your child is experiencing difficulties listening to the middle sound then this is a great game for them.
http://www.ictgames.com/machine - a great site for blending again. Look at the picture in the machine and click on the correct word to match it.
Homework
Handwriting homework will resume this week and be given out on Wednesday as usual. We have been really pleased with the progress the children have made in this area of their physical development. Thank you for all your support at home.
Reading
Reading books will be changed on Tuesday as usual. Please ensure that you make at least one comment a week when you have read with your child. On Monday, there will be a reviewed copy of your child’s reading targets stuck into their diaries for your information.
Further Information
You will also receive an update on how your child is doing with their letter sounds/names and number recognition. All the children have made extremely good progress and we are well on our way now. Thanks again for all your support.
Mathematical Development
By then end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to describe 2d shapes using the correct mathematical vocabulary;
SHOULD be able to name some 3d shapes
COULD be able to describe 3d shapes using the correct mathematical vocabulary.
These objectives will be taught through the children’s work on transport and their art work. If you think about a lorry. It has a cuboid to carry the goods in and cylinders for wheels. Last half term we didn’t manage to get through some of the shape work and so we are continuing just for this week. The children will create a piece of artwork using 2d shapes inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. This link shows the art work we are using as our inspiration.
http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=7816
The children will explore the vocabulary associated with the shapes as well as developing their understanding of words linked to size. They will then compose their own piece of art. Yet there is a twist. They are only allowed to use a shape if they can describe two of its properties. Here are the websites we will be using in class.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/build_it/eng/Introduction/default.htm - a good website for seeing how models are make up of 3D shapes.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/simpleshapesort.swf - shape sorting activity according to properties.
http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/kidsonly/findout/shape/shapes.htm - a good website to help the children match, find, build and discover the properties of the 2D shapes.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y1shape.html - parts of a shape are shown and the children have to guess the shape.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/memory.html - this is a fantastic game to help the children develop their visual memory techniques.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/shapereveal.swf the children have to guess the shape as it is revealed. They can chose to use 2d or 3d shapes.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/MatchingPairs3Dshape.swf - 3D shape matching game.
http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/online/longshape3d.html - a good website. The children have to identify the shape that is partially hidden in sand and then click on the correct labelled picture.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/castle_shapes/eng/Introduction/default.htm - identifying 2D and 3D shapes.
http://www.ictgames.com/Y2shape.html - guess the 3D shape.
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ -by clicking on the shapes label you will be able to make patterns with 2D shapes. If you also click on the space row under 3D and 2D shapes you will have to sort different shapes according to the given criteria.
Finally, may we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to you for the beautiful and generous gifts you gave us. Also, many thanks to all those parents who have helped us with the productions, walking to church etc last term. Your help is very much appreciated and valued. We may be calling on your help very soon as we are hoping to take the children to the Science and Industry Museum.
Here’s to another fantastic term.
Best wishes
Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx
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