This week we have two Wow Wizard Writers who have written great stories using the storymakers boards. Well done Oliver and Reva.
This week we started our topic on Space. Miss Jones has set up a space rocket with a moon for the children to roleplay in. They have been dressing up as astronauts and flying their rocket to the moon and then looking for moon rocks.
Children have been making their own rockets on the creation station.
We have read the story ‘Aliens love underpants’ about aliens that like to fly to earth and get up to mischief with earthlings underpants! As part of the discovery time activities children have been designing their own aliens, making patterns on underpants and playing a phonics game called Obb and Bob on the IWB.
The aliens also sent us a letter asking for our help. They have dropped some magnetic parts from their space ship and need them back, so the children have been sorting magnetic and nonmagnetic items on the tuft spot at the investigation station.
This week during our Muddy Monday session children worked in pairs to find a numeral, the matching number word and then collect the correct amount of sticks or other natural items to match the numeral they had.
During our Muddy Monday session this week we were very busy. Firstly the children looked at the 1p, 5p and 10p coins and discussed the colour, shape and the pictures on them. Then each child took a coin and had to find something in nature to match the value of the coin they had. Most children went to collect sticks to match the value of their coin.
Then we played a game linked to our maths lessons this week. We split the class into their colour groups and they had to race the other groups to be the first to finish. This required them to work together cooperatively which links to PSED.
We placed three hoops on the ground for each team. This represented our part, part, whole model. Then a number of children from 2 to 5 were chosen to stand in the whole circle. When Ms Andrews blew the whistle the children had to separate themselves into the two part circles. Once the children were split we said a number sentence to match. For example; there were 5 children in the whole circle and they split so there were 2 children in one part circle and 3 in the other part circle. Their number sentence was 3 add 2 more makes 5. The children had fun racing each other!
In our Language for thinking sessions this week we have been discussing old toys and games and comparing them to new toys. We looked at 3 hobby horses that were all different. We talked about their differences and were able to put them in chronological order based on their appearance.
Children have had the opportunity to play some games during our discovery time sessions such as tiddly winks, air hockey and a fishing game. Children were encouraged to mark down their scores and keep track.
During the week children have also played in the toy shop, bathed the babies, made a wooden spoon doll or boat to float in the water tray and sorted and classified pictures of toys into those that were old or new or indoor or outdoor toys. They have also had a go at making a lego marble run.
Children have settled back into school well and are now in new coloured family groups. One of the things we do in our family group is snack time. Children help to put out the table cloth that we sit around, share out the milk and water pouring independently from the jug into the cups and then sharing out the fruit. During snack time we take the opportunity to talk and share our news or other relevant topics of conversation.
This week our theme has been all about toys. We discussed the new toys the children had received and other toys that were their favourites. Children were encouraged to write about their toy.
We have also painted pictures of toys which we are hoping to display in the corridor. These included a teddy bear, a toy soldier and a baby doll.
Other activities children have been involved in are looking to see how some toys work, using language such as push, pull, twist, turn, spin.
Making toys at the creation station such as toy cars, robots and puppets.
We have set up a mini shop where children were exploring money as they bought toys that were for sale. We intend to improve on this and have a shop running throughout the year selling different things linked to our themes.
Children have also made split pin teddies, played games on the ipad, organised the numbered toys into sequential order and looked to see which toys floated or sank in the water tray.