This week we have been learning about recycling. On Wednesday we came in from play to find our classroom covered in rubbish! The children helped sort it into recyclable and non-recyclable materials. We then read the story ‘There’s a Rang-tan in my bedroom’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ha6xUVqezQ) and the children decided that they wanted to help save our world. So much so that the children made signs and spent their lunch time chanting “save the orangutans!”.
I am so incredibly proud of them and their enthusiasm to make the world a better place. Thank you for encouraging this attitude at home!
This week we have been learning all about ladybirds and worms. The children have taken parts in bug hunts and then used books and the internet to identify their creatures – our favourite being a Rosemary beetle. They have all been so enthused by the topic and we have been amazed by how careful they have been with the minibeasts! Our wormery is flourishing and we can now see several tunnels appearing. On Tuesday, we introduced Wendy the worry monster to the children. The children have all been writing down their worries for Wendy to magically eat over night We read the book ‘Ruby’s Worry’ and discussed the importance of talking about our worries to help them disappear. Our outdoor area was also transformed into a fairy garden where the children made lots of decorations to attract the fairies. We also had an Early Years Quality Standards Silver Award inspection on Thursday where our two visitors commented on the amazing relationship between staff and children and the exceptional behaviour in Reception! The children (and team) treated themselves to an ice pop to celebrate on Thursday afternoon! Next week we will be continuing our learning about our wonderful world by looking at plants – especially the amazing life cycle of the dandelion.
Reception class have been so excited to start our new topic of a wonderful world. Last week we explored the life cycle of a caterpillar through the story of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. The children were excited to find out that the author Eric Carle had actually made a mistake as butterflies come out of a chrysalis not a cocoon! We made our very own wormery with worms named: Heart, Wiggle, Squiggly, Farmer, Elsa and my personal favourite…Kevin! The children have been excited to share their snacks with our new pets but always remember to check our poster to see if the worms are allowed it first. Next week we will continue to learn about minibeasts by looking at worms and ladybirds. Thank you for all the minibeast themed books you have been bringing in for show and tell!
Reception class have soared back into school this week with our topic of Space. They have been learning about the planets and have been looking at “The Way Back Home” by Oliver Jeffers. It has been so lovely to have a full class again and the children have absolutely loved being back with their friends. This week has been ‘Science’ week in Reception. The children have taken part in two whole class experiments each day as well as trying out a lots of different science activities in our learning environment. Our brand new woodwork area has also opened where the children have been learning about how to use tools safely. This week we have looked at using a hammer and nails as well as how to saw wood with a clamp!
Christmas in Reception.
We started our week learning about ‘Stick Man’ by Julia Donaldson. The children acted out the story and made their own stick men in the woods! We then acted out the story again with our own stick men! On Wednesday we had hat day, Christmas Lunch and we watched the pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk (which will be our first story after the holidays). We finished the week by learning about the true meaning of Christmas through ‘How the Grinch stole Christmas’ by Dr Seuss which in the words of Subashree teaches us that “Christmas isn’t all about presents, it’s about family.” Merry Christmas from everyone in Reception! See you in January where our topic will be fairy tales!
This week Reception class have been learning about the post office. They explored this in many ways such as using scooters and baskets to deliver letters, writing cards to their friends and helping to sort post office shapes and numbers! We finished our week with a trip to the post box where the children all posted a letter to themselves! We are wondering whose letter will arrive first and if it will be Gracie- Mae’s Mummy who delivers it! Our winter area was also open with colour changing sensory lights and lots of cosy Christmas stories.
Last week in Reception the children learnt all about vets and lollipop people. We learnt about road safety and practised crossing the road (in our classroom!). Our Christmas grotto opened for the children to dress up as Father Christmas and his elves and wrap presents. There is also a secret jingle bells room that the children need to crawl through a tunnel to find! We also learnt all about shapes and finished our week with a shape hunt around the school! We have two new librarians this week who were promoted for an extra week because we were so impressed with how responsible they both were. This week we will be finishing our topic on People Who Help Us by learning about post officers and the children will be walking to the local postbox on Friday morning to send a letter to themselves!
This week Reception class have been learning about doctors and dentists. We have enjoyed acting out a day in the life of a doctor (there were a lot of bandages needed!) and have learnt about keeping our teeth clean and healthy. Our amazing new book corner also opened this week with two children being given the responsibility of being a librarian. A big thank you to Mrs Darling, Mrs Sheeky and Mrs Day for their hard work, the children certainly have a new love of reading because of it! We have also recorded our dance to “This is me” from The Greatest Showman. The children choreographed this themselves using ideas from watching some professional dancers! You can watch our video by clicking the following link.
Last week was a very busy week in Reception class. We learnt all about the police and how they help us, we investigated fingerprints and patrolled our classroom for any teddies breaking the law! We’ve started to learn about weight, length and height – why not have a go measuring and weighing some items at home? We also made Miss Hacking’s dream come true as she taught us a song on the piano (which she learnt to do in lockdown) for our Christmas play. We have started work on our computing exhibition and are learning to take pictures ourselves. This week we will be learning about doctors and dentists! Please continue to bring in your super subitising pictures! We are enjoying seeing what the children are doing at home!
This week Reception class have learnt about fire safety through the story “No dragons for tea”. We learnt to stop, drop and roll and we learnt that if there is a fire “don’t ever go back – that just will not do. We can get a new bear, but we cant replace you.” We have been making fire engines and continuing to enjoy acting out being fire fighters ourselves! Next week we will be learning all about the police.
Reception class have been learning all about Remembrance Day and why people wear poppies. We watched the cbeebies video “poppies” and spoke about how the poppies grew on the battlefield. Reception class then made a poppy wreath and their own poppies to wear to remember the soldiers who have died at war.
The children have been so enthusiastic about our new topic ‘People Who Help Us’. We have been learning all about fire fighters and the children have been acting out lots of rescue missions! We have been exploring fire in many ways such as through our fire station role play area, making fire marble paintings and fire thread board pictures. The children have been continuing to develop their subitising skills (looking at an amount and knowing its value such as on a dice or domino). We have also been learning about the upcoming Hindu festival of Diwali. The children have been dressing up in Indian clothing and dancing to Indian music. We have also learnt the story of Rama and Sita and have had our own go at creating rangoli using lentils, beans and salt!
Today, Reception class have had a lovely day together celebrating the end of our first topic “All about me” by learning about growing up and birthdays. They have worked hard all week making presents, wrapping presents, writing birthday cards, writing invitations and making birthday decorations! Today we have played party games, decorated birthday biscuits and helped George open his presents! The children have been lovely and have all been great sports when we have been playing games! What a lovely end to our topic!
Miss Hacking
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This half term our topic has been all about me. The children have settled into school life brilliantly and have explored their families, houses, bodies and senses during this topic. They have all immersed themselves in our learning environment and have been learning to make lots of new friends. It has been a very busy but very fun start to their school journey and we cannot wait for the next half term learning about ‘People who help us’.
Please take a moment to look at the link https://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/blog/lets-talk-about-play which is all about play.
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