Pre-School-Literacy-Book Review
In Literacy this week, we have enjoyed exploring a range of books, reading together and sharing stories with our peers. The children chose their favourite book and wrote a book review, rating it to show whether they felt very happy with their chosen story or felt that it wasn’t for them. The children have really enjoyed exploring lots of different books and selecting a favourite to review.
Nursery - Music - Computing - Creating Music
This week, the children enjoyed making their own music using the 2Explore tool on Purple Mash. We focused on using the computer to find different noises and seeing how we could put them together to make a fun tune. The children thoroughly enjoyed listening to the wide variety of sounds available within the software. They practiced their navigational skills to select and trigger different instrumental notes and effects, discovering how the software combined their chosen sounds into a continuous song. This process allowed them to experiment with different noises and hear how they sounded together in a rhythmic way. There was a wonderful sense of achievement as the children listened back to their completed "songs." Many were so proud of their digital creations that they even began dancing to the beats they had produced.
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Reception- Science-Bug Hunt and More
In the vibrant world of our Reception classroom, young scientists transform into intrepid explorers as they venture outdoors equipped with magnifying glasses to uncover the secrets of the undergrowth. This hands-on "bug hunt" allowed the children to develop keen observation skills, peering through lenses to identify the intricate patterns on a beetle’s wing or the rhythmic movement of a centipede. By investigating these tiny creatures in their natural environments, students begin to understand biological habits and physical features firsthand. This curiosity seamlessly transitioned back into the classroom, where the tactile learning continued. Children consolidate their findings by sculpting their own imaginative insects and engineering detailed micro-habitats within the sand tray, bridging the gap between scientific inquiry and creative expression.
Reception- Music- Putting On A Performance
Throughout the term, our Reception children have embarked on a rhythmic journey, steadily building a foundational understanding of musical theory through play and exploration. By experimenting with a variety of percussion instruments and vocal exercises, they have mastered the ability to distinguish between high and low tones, maintain a steady consistent beat, and speed. This musical progression culminated in a vibrant "Showcase Day," where the children took the lead in their learning. Each child selected a song that resonated with them, demonstrating remarkable independence and self-expression. Performing in front of their peers, the children displayed a surge in confidence, accurately applying their knowledge of tempo and rhythm to their chosen pieces. It was a proud moment of shared celebration, highlighting not just their new technical skills, but their bravery in taking center stage.
Nursery - Maths - I Spy...
This week, the children have been developing their early mathematical skills by learning how to categorise and sort by colour. To explore this concept, the children played a game of "I Spy" using a variety of resources set out on the malleable tray. Each child selected a coloured bowl and was challenged to find items that matched that specific colour to fill their bowl. This task encouraged the children to focus on the properties of objects and use their visual discrimination skills to ignore distractions and find matching items. Throughout the activity, the children were encouraged to use colour language to describe their findings. This hands-on approach successfully introduced the concept of sorting into sets and helped the children build confidence in identifying and naming different colours within their environment.
Pre-School-Maths-Subitising
This week in Maths, we have been subitising up to 7. The children played a number of different games where they used their quick-thinking maths skills to subitise numbers and groups of objects from 1 to 7. The children loved using their quick-thinking skills and tested each other by holding up different numbers of fingers and quickly hiding them, allowing other children to subitise and give an answer.
Pre-School-Computing-Where Does Handa live?
In Computing in Preschool, we have been using Google Maps and Google Images to find out where Handa lives. The children loved using Google Maps to discover that Handa lives in Africa and to see where Africa is in the world. We used Google Images to look at villages in Africa, and the children were really engaged. They found it interesting to see how different our homes are compared to those of people living in huts in small villages in Africa.
Nursery - Music - What Instrument Did I play?
This week, the children participated in a high-focus auditory discrimination activity designed to sharpen their listening skills and musical awareness. The children were tasked with identifying instruments based on sound alone. While hidden behind a screen, one instrument was played and the children had to listen very carefully. From a varied group of instruments laid out before them, they then had to select which one they believed was being played. Once they made their choice, the children were encouraged to mimic the sound they heard by playing the instrument themselves. This was a crucial step, as it allowed for instant confirmation of their choice or a self-corrected change of mind if the sounds did not match. This activity successfully promoted critical thinking, active listening, and early performance skills as the children explored the unique sounds each instrument could produce.
Reception- R.E- Stories from the Old Testament
In our recent R.E. lesson, the Reception children have been captivated by the powerful narratives of the Old Testament, exploring the themes of courage, faith, and protection. The classroom buzzed with excitement as the children listened to the stories of Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the Giant Fish, and Daniel in the Lions' Den. To bring these ancient tales to life, the children used sensory objects—such as soft animal figures and rough wooden blocks—to interact with the plotlines as they unfolded. Following our storytelling sessions, the children channeled their creativity into hands-on activities to reinforce their learning: Engineering for Noah: Using large blocks and scrap materials, the children worked together to build a sturdy boat capable of "weathering the storm." Artistic Expression: Small hands were busy cutting out blue whales and crafting majestic lions with manes made of bright orange paper. Narrative Retelling: These handmade props became the stars of the show as the children used them to retell the stories to their peers, confidently explaining why a particular moment was their favorite. Through these interactive sessions, the children didn't just hear the stories; they stepped inside them, developing both their fine motor skills and their understanding of different faith traditions.
Reception- Phonics- Building CVC words
Building on their foundational knowledge of CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words, our Reception children have been diving into interactive phonics sessions designed to bridge the gap between sound and symbol. Using magnetic letters, the children took on the role of "word builders," carefully listening to hear the individual phonemes in words like cat, bin, and mop. With great focus, they successfully matched these sounds to the correct graphemes, physically sliding the letters together to form complete words on their boards. This tactile approach not only reinforced their segmenting and blending skills but also turned abstract sounds into something they could see, touch, and master.
Nursery - Maths - Categorising Objects By Size
Today, the children used our topic story, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, to explore size and categorization. The activity began with a "herd" of goats on the grass. The children were tasked with identifying and sorting specific sizes, focusing on big and small. To support their understanding, they used visual Widgits and hand gestures to represent the sizes they were searching for. Once a goat was found, the children placed it on the bridge, checking that their group consisted of the same size. This promoted skills in matching and comparison. For an extra challenge, some children were introduced to the 'medium' goats, practicing the tricky task of distinguishing them from the big and small ones. This successfully built their mathematical vocabulary and ability to differentiate between three distinct sizes.
Pre-School- Expressive Art And Design-Cutting Skills
At our workshop this week, we have been busy learning how to use scissors safely, practising how to hold them correctly and making snips in paper. Some of the children found this tricky at first but persevered and were able to make snips independently. The activity involved cutting out different fruits for Handa’s basket, linking to our story of the week, Handa’s Surprise.
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