Hi there and welcome to our penultimate week in school! It’s just so scary how time flies. We’re obviously having lots of FUN!

Mantle of the Expert
Did your child tell you about our ‘Grow Your Own Beanstalk Kit’? Well, it wasn’t what we expected. A tin opener? A can of baked beans? Glitter? Surely that could not work! Mmmm….you bet it did! By the end of Friday we had our first shoot of the beanstalk. I wonder if it has grown over the weekend…

This week, we continue our mantle based around Jack and the Beanstalk. Last week, Jack struck the beanstalk and the giant fell to the ground leaving an enormous whole in our playground. When our investigators finally got to the scene, THE GIANT HAD DISAPPEARED!!!! But wait a minute…is that a footprint? Who does it belong to? How can we find out? Where has the giant gone?

I bet you think I’ve lost the plot now!!! Believe me it can get worse and it’s contagious!

Well actually, this links into the letter they will receive via the beanstalk post. This is a letter from a giant. Is it Jack’s giant or is it another? You’ll just have to wait and see.

Communication, Language and Literacy
The development of the mantle will continue to support the children’s speaking and listening skills, as well as provide opportunities for responding to the giant’s letters in their play.

We will be continuing to complete our retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk to pass on to the Year One teachers in order to provide a sample of the children’s writing skills. We have been extremely pleased with the children’s eagerness to do their writing and hope this will continue into this week.

As always, high frequency words and phonic activities are going on in class but your support at home is crucial. Here are some good websites that may be of use to you this week:
http://www.ictgames.com/cvc_machine.html
http://www.prongo.com/drag/game.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/cvc/index.shtml
http://www.ictgames.com/lcwc.html
http://www.ictgames.com/plankgame.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/magickey/adventures/patch.shtml
www.starfall.com
http://pbjc-lib.state.ar.us/mural.htm - for lovely pictures of the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.
http://www.e-gfl.org/e-gfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/teacher/other/spark/itsagoal/itsagoal.html
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=12
http://demo.iboard.co.uk/screens/thread_home.htm?thread_id=16

Mathematical Development
By the end of this week, the children:
COULD be able to read and make half past and o’clock;
SHOULD be able to read and make o’clock;
MUST be able to read o’clock.

Due to the over planning and over enthusiastic nature of the mantle activities, our time spent on this was limited. This week WILL be different.

http://www.learningplanet.com/act/tw/index.asp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/dynamo/den/clock/index.htm
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/time/index.htm
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/maths/time_half_hour/index.htm
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/maths/time_hour/index.htm
A pug-in is needed for the above two sites. Here is the link:
http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveAuthorware&P5_Language=English

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/willy/willy.html
http://www.wmnet.org.uk/wmnet/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/503/clock.swf - this is good for moving the clock hands.

Physical Development
In PE this week, we pray for sunshine and a dry field so that we can practice for Sports day.

The domestics
Hopefully, you will have all received your child’s annual report, giving you information about their achievements whilst in the Foundation Stage. Some of the language may be difficult to understand but the parents’ evening will clarify it for you. We are dancing with joy at the level of achievement the children have attained. Another successful year!!

Within the envelope was a feedback sheet that you can complete and send back into school with any comments you wish to make. These are lovely for us to keep so please complete them. Last year we placed them in a book with photographs of the children. A lovely reminder of each year group.

You will have also been given the name of your child’s teacher when they move into Year 1. At this point can I welcome Mrs Worrall into the Key Stage One Team. I know she is looking forward to teaching the children.

Please be aware that there has been at least four weeks of careful consideration regarding the groupings of the children for Year 1. When some children are obviously the best of friends they may have not been placed in the same class for Year 1. Friendships continue beyond the boundaries of a classroom and the children will have the opportunity to play together at play times. Your child’s achievement and happiness is crucial.
And finally…

Have a great week!

Take care

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team xxx