Let’s go on with the show…

On Friday we thought we’d take the plunge and see how the production was coming together. Little did we know that we have some budding thespians in our midst. Yes! The Christmas Production is coming along nicely. Although I do have to admit that humming the tunes to the production have resulted in me getting some very odd looks around the supermarket this weekend. You are in for a treat! I hope you costume hunting is doing okay. Please don’t leave it until the last minute as nearly all schools in Warrington will be requiring similar costumes. The costumes are due in on Monday 26th November.

TOP TIP! (Oh that makes me feel like Delia Smith!)
Costumes often get a little crumpled over the production period. Perhaps hang the costume on a hanger with your child’s name on. This will assist storage also. A labelled plastic bag is also needed on the hanger for your child’s accessories and pumps.

Even though we do spend time practising the production, we still concentrate on our exciting curriculum. This week is one of my favourites. We learn about the Hindu festival of Divali. If you are a little unsure of what Divali is all about then here are some useful websites.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/festivals/resources/The%20story%20of%20Rama%20and%20Sita.ppt - this is a very simple version of the story of Rama and Sita.
http://www.kented.org.uk/ngfl/earlyict/colour_mixer.html - have a go at creating your very own mendhi pattern.
http://www.chandrakantha.com/musicpage/index.html - the children can listen to Indian music on this site. Encourage them to talk about their likes and dislikes. What instrument do they think is used to make the sound?
www.indexo.pionexnet.co.uk/elloughton13/dday.htm - this contains information about Diwali.
www.snaithprimary.eril.net/rang.htm - paint your very own rangoli pattern

There will be many exciting activities linked to Divali that the children will work on this week. Here goes…
Diva lamps – this will be a lamp which will be modelled out of clay and so beautifully decorated that you will most definitely place it on your mantelpiece.

Divali cards – an opportunity for the children to practise the use of the high frequency words to, mum, and, dad, as well as writing their name.

Rangoli patterns – these are symmetrical patterns using shapes. The children will have 2d shapes to place in dough to create them as well as using the school playground as a canvas. Let’s hope the rain doesn’t spoil our fun!

Role-play – the children will act out the story complete with the monkey army. Mmm...casting should be easy!

Barfi sweets – Mrs Latham will be making traditional Indian sweets with the children. Yum yum!

And much more…BUT what would a week in Foundation Stage be like without FOOD? Yes, we will be introducing the children to a variety of Indian foods. Perhaps this is an opportunity not to cook and get on the phone to the local take away for tea. Last year, we only bought a little as we thought the children wouldn’t like it. How wrong were we? They ate us out of house and home.

Communication , Language and Literacy
This week we will be focusing on the letters i, m, n and d again. Some of the children already know these letters but this week, they will be required to hear them in words, read words containing them and even have a go at writing them.

By the end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to provide the sound for the letters i, m, n and d in response to seeing the letter symbol;
SHOULD be able to orally segment (sound out) the words containing the letters;
COULD be able to segment, blend and write the words containing the letters.

If you have a set of magnetic letters at home then why not have a go at spelling some of the words with them. Here are some websites your child could use to develop their letter recognition and start to develop their reading of words.
http://www.saintambrosebarlow.wigan.sch.uk/activities.htm - The children are to try to hear the initial sounds in words.
http://www.ictgames.com/phonic_fighter4.html - Look at the letter shown and then select the picture that begins with that letter.
http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/H/hoobs/activities/interactiveActivities.jsp?id=letters - This is an amazing website focusing on the initial sounds. Hours of fun why you do your ironing I think!
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/beginning.html - the children are to focus on the initial sounds of the picture shown and then identify a picture with the same initial sound.
http://www.ictgames.com/phonemeFlop_v4.html - a good website for getting the children to identify the letters of the alphabet.
www.starfall.com - this is a great all-rounder. Remember to encourage your child to use the letters they are unsure of. I will stick this information in your child’s diary this week.
http://www.ictgames.com/phonic_fighter4.html - I love this game!
http://www.channel4.com/learning/microsites/H/hoobs/activities/interactiveActivities.jsp?id=letters - activities 12 and 13 are good for helping with identifying the initial letters.

http://www.ictgames.com/soundBingo.html
http://www.ictgames.com/letterlifter.html

Mathematical Development
As time is limited we have decided to focus on number recognition and the ordering of numbers. Therefore, by the end of this week, the children:
MUST be able to recognise all the numbers to 10;
SHOULD be able to order the numbers to 10;
COULD be able to recognise and order the numbers to 20.

Here are some websites to support your child.
http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc-home/vtc-ey-home/vtc-ey-md/vtc-ey-md-number.htm - choose any of these stories to work with your child. Perhaps focus on the ones they need to work on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/numbertime/games/find_the.shtml - a good website for number recognition.
http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/rats1.htm?rats_numbers - this was my favourite (which is why it took me so long to do the blog spot!)
http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/games/game11.htm - this focuses on ordering numbers. The children must click on the next number in the number sequence.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=washindex - hang the shirts in the right order.
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=ntrack - missing number activity at different levels of difficulty.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/english/fruits/level2/l2/activity2.html - count the fruits.
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/english/fruits/level2/l3/activity3.html - count the fruits and insert the numbers.
http://www.ictgames.com/duckshoot.html
http://www.little-g.com/shockwave/jungle.html - count the objects and match the number
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/assets/resources/flash.php?&file=count-with-lecky7b - read the number and catch the balloons.
http://www.priorywoods.middlesbrough.sch.uk/kidsonly/findout/counting/bugz.htm - this is my all time favourite!
http://www.ictgames.com/caterpillar_slider.html - this is a FANTASTIC site as you get to alter the number range for your child to use when ordering numbers.

Working with a challenge!
http://www.ictgames.com/piratenumbers2.html - count the barrels and type the numbers in
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/maths/recognition_to_10/index.htm - a little on the tricky side as the children have to match the numeral to the name of the number. Try encouraging your child to look at the initial letter and then having a guess.
http://www.ictgames.com/postletter.html - listen to the number said and then post the letter through the correct numbered door.


http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/ngfl/ngfl-flash/numbers_eng/numbers_e.html - a valuable resource for number formation as stated on target sheets from parents’ evening.

REMEMBER!!!
We are still working on those matching number pairs to 10 so please continue with the number rhyme.

Parent Helpers
Any parents wishing to help out at all are very welcome to do so. Please just call in and see one of us.

I think that’s all for this week.

Have a good one!

Jayne Narraway and the Foundation Stage Team x