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In the playground, we have been practicing our scissor skills by weaving 'gingerbread' houses out of recycled brown paper. The children experimented with different patterns and finessed their creations using paint pens. This activity was designed to complement our themes of Traditional Tales and Houses and Homes.
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Dear Parents
Half term has come around again, and I hope that you and your children are taking pleasure in the first day of the half term holidays! Here at school today, the staff, (having savoured a lie in) are having an extremely productive day. These INSET days provide the teaching staff with invaluable time to reflect and to meet with one another without the time pressure of children returning from playtime or a specialist lesson. There is much tidying, sorting and shredding happening, alongside meaningful data discussions that assess progress and inform planning for the next half term.
As I walk through the school, hearing snippets of conversation and observing activity, I feel very proud of the collaborative community of staff that we have here at The Children’s House. Not only is everyone extremely supportive of one another, always looking to share skills and expertise, but there is a communal spirit of and openness to continuous learning and improvement. This has been particularly evident this half term, as teachers have been engaged in peer observations at both sites. See Taiba’s piece below to hear about the Nursery. At the Upper School, teachers have been observing good practice in another year group, or by a subject specialist. Reflective discussions following these observations have been rich and valuable, both amongst peers and in the staff meeting that followed. As a teacher, one never stops learning alongside the children, and this has always been one of the biggest attractions, for me, to this career. There is always more to learn about pedagogy, new ways to think about old topics, and creative approaches and activities to try out.
This creativity was certainly visible at Open Morning this week in the classroom displays and the children’s books. As always, it was delightful to hear the children enthuse over their work, eager to show off their classrooms and their learning once again. One could see how proud they were and the classrooms looked fabulous, inspiring bounteous awe and wonder. Thank you to all those parents who made it and to the children and staff for their enthusiasm and efforts.
Mental Health, whilst always on our minds, has been front and centre this week as we have been marking Children’s Mental Health Week. Thank you for your donations for Place2be – totalling £118! I so enjoyed the Express Yourself dress up day; what a range of outfits we had, from pyjamas and a dressing gown to fluffy onesies and a witches costume. Individuality shone through. We all know that good mental health and physical health are closely connected and as a Healthy School, we promote both. On this point, please may I remind you to pack healthy treats, with complex, slower releasing sugars, in your child’s lunchbox. Please avoid chocolate bars and sweets, and choose food that promote sustained energy through the afternoon.
Wishing you all an enjoyable week and for those celebrating, a prosperous new year,
Ellie
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Dear Parents
Over the past week, I've been observing the staff and children as they extend their learning. During our peer-to-peer observations, it's been great to see everyone embracing the opportunity to observe one another and learn collaboratively. These interactions have allowed for constructive feedback and collaboration among all staff, while also nurturing professional development and a culture of continuous improvement within the team. Much like the children, we've all enjoyed learning from each other's strengths, building trust, and feeling supported in our growth. This approach not only enhances individual skills but also bolsters the overall effectiveness of the team, ultimately benefiting both staff and the children.
Joining the children at the Almorah garden was a treat—I found myself fully engaged in their learning experiences and wanting to participate in all activities ranging from digging up worms to bean bag throwing and tyre rolling! The planned activities and child-led play, supported by our attentive team created a symphony of joyous giggles intertwined with the focused hum of engaged minds. To further enrich their outdoor learning experiences, we are planning to incorporate even more problem-solving activities after half term. I look forward to updating you on our progress and the impact on the children's learning.
The children have also been actively participating in yoga and mindfulness activities, and they've been exploring various emotions with increasing interest. It's great to see their positive interactions and the development of their communication and language skills, particularly among our youngest members. Even during imaginative play, they are now demonstrating a remarkable ability to share and engage with one another.
Enjoy reading about the children's achievements through a variety of activities that sparked their curiosity.
Have a fantastic half-term break!
Taiba
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Nursery School Dates
Thursday 7th March
World Book Week World Book Day Children are invited to dress up as a favourite character from a book or nursery rhyme.
W/C Monday 11th March
Recycling Week Includes Saul and the Junk Orchestra Performance and workshop for children.
Wednesday 13th March
Open Morning 8.15-9.00 am for Mihaela’s Class Class parents invited to come in to see their child’s work.
HALF-TERM
Friday 9th February – Friday 17th February
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Upper School Dates
w/c 26th February
Empathy Week No special arrangements, more info to follow
Thursday 7th March
World Book Day Dress up as your favourite book character
W/c 11th March
Recycling Week Includes Saul and the Junk Orchestra Performance and workshop for children.
HALF-TERM
Friday 9th February – Friday 17th February
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Spring Term Important Dates and the term dates for the next academic year can be found here.
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Parent Forum and Social Media
Please click through to the parent portal to view our latest forum meeting notes.
We've taken a little longer to send out these notes as we have been reviewing our Privacy Notices and image consents in response to one of the discussion points.
Our social media handles are:
Facebook - The Children's House School
Instagram - @childrenshouseschool
We'd love it if you'd follow us. Please review our image consent form here.
The Children's House - Parent Forum Feedback (childrenshouseschool.co.uk)
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Throughout this week at The Children’s House, we've dedicated our efforts to commemorating Children’s Mental Health Week by encouraging our students to recognise the significance of using their voices. This year's theme, "My Voice Matters" aims to empower our children by furnishing them with the means to articulate themselves with confidence! When individuals feel empowered, it uplifts their wellbeing. Children who perceive that their voices carry weight and can effect change develop a stronger sense of belonging and self-worth.
In support of this cause, children have been actively participating in mindfulness sessions twice daily to cultivate a sense of tranquillity and aid self-regulation. Our students have immersed themselves in various mindful practices such as journaling, mastering breathing techniques, and engaging in open dialogues about strategies for managing emotions. Below are photos of the session I ran on Zones of Regulation with Year 2, which I hope to repeat with other year groups.
It's been an immensely rewarding week, witnessing the high level of engagement from our students and their willingness to discuss their emotions openly. I feel proud to be a part of a community that values open conversations about emotions, and we welcome you to discuss with your children why their voice matters!
I wish you all a lovely half term!
Laura
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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
It’s been a productive and busy first half of the Spring Term, with so much enthusiasm and learning taking place, and not just from the children! The staff have been at the forefront when creating opportunities that nurture children’s learning and development and are constantly embracing the latest training and research. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of our recent professional development sessions that have happened this academic year in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Staff here have attended webinars centring on the importance of cultural representation and disability awareness, and taken part in Islington’s ‘Beyond Black History month’ CPD. We are actively working on increasing our own cultural and personal self-awareness of difference and diversity, while also reflecting upon how our setting promotes respect, acceptance, tolerance and empathy towards others different from ourselves.
Ellie, Taiba and I are in the midst of an extensive EDI audit of our provision and our yearly curriculum audits help enhance our curriculum further, ensuring an even greater representation of the diverse society that we live in. Empathy week, coming up next half term will revisit these topics as well.
It is never too early to talk to children about acceptance and equality to introduce diversity into their lives. To help start these conversations, please see below a couple of resources you may find helpful and useful.
Reading:
www.empathylab.uk -offers a diverse selection of children’s books aimed to develop empathy (EYFS, KS1&KS2)
How to talk to toddlers and young children about race, racism & religion – BBC Tiny Happy People
Watch and listen for adults:
Nova Reid: Not all superheroes wear capes – how you have the power to change the world?TED Talk by Nova Reid looking at how early experiences and micro aggression impact on our children.
Have a wonderful half term break.
Jess
EAL and Equalities Coordinator
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Navigating the Digital World Together: Online Safety Week 2024
This year's Online Safety Week is a fantastic opportunity to connect with your children and explore the internet as a responsible, positive, and safe space together. Remember, open communication is key! Here are some tips to get the conversation started:
Let them lead the way:
- Ask about their online favorites: What websites do they visit? What games do they play? Show genuine interest and explore their digital world together.
- Encourage their expertise: Have they learned any online safety tips? Ask them to share their knowledge and where they learned it.
Empower safe choices:
- Discuss online boundaries: Explore what's okay and not okay to share online, using real-life examples they can understand.
- Teach them how to seek help: Guide them on how to find safety resources, adjust privacy settings, and report or block any concerns on platforms they use.
Make it a family affair:
- Discover online activities together: Find family-friendly games, educational resources, or creative projects like Minecraft or Scratch that you can enjoy online together
- Reflect on your own digital habits: Discuss responsible online behavior as a family and set positive examples for each other.
Remember, you're not alone:
- Seek expert guidance: Our school has an open-door policy! Don't hesitate to ask David or any staff member for help and advice on online safety.
- Explore trusted resources: Websites like Safer Internet Day https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers offer valuable information and resources for parents and children.
Let's make Online Safety Week a springboard for ongoing conversations and create a safe and enriching online experience for everyone. Remember, by working together, we can empower our children to navigate the digital world confidently and responsibly!
DAvid.
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PE & Games
The past few weeks in our Physical Education program at The Children's House have been dynamic and filled with thrilling sports events and engaging physical activities!
To kick things off, our Year 2 students participated in a Multiskills Festival, where they encountered a variety of challenges testing their balance, coordination, and agility. Demonstrating remarkable control over the skills acquired in the first term, they exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and impeccable behavior.
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Following that, our Year 3 and Year 4 students enthusiastically took part in a Dodgeball Tournament with Rosemary Works School. Their mastery of skills, coupled with a keen understanding of the strategic elements taught in our lessons, made for an impressive display. The tournament proved to be a fantastic experience for everyone involved.
Lastly, our Year 1 and Year 2 students engaged in their inaugural fixture, again with Rosemary Works School. The event was filled with excitement as they showcased promising skills and embraced teamwork with exceptional sportsmanship, so much so that we are proud to share that not one, but two winning teams emerged victorious in both Year 1 and Year 2 categories. It was truly a delightful experience for all.
In our early childhood programme, our Nursery students have been joyfully enhancing their balance skills while exploring various ways to transport a variety of equipment. Their teamwork and enthusiasm have shone through in engaging activities such as "The Builders" and "Tidy Up the Messy Room."
Meanwhile, our Reception class has been twirling and swirling, embracing entertaining and interactive games like "Turning in the Mud" and obstacle races. These activities have allowed them to apply the skills they've acquired throughout the term.
In Year 1, our students have dazzled us with gymnastic performances featuring shapes, rolls, jumps, and turns. Acting as mini-teachers, they've guided their peers in refining these skills and orchestrating sequences to their chosen music. Take a peek at this snapshot capturing the teams in action.
Year 2 recently concluded their dodgeball journey with exciting fixtures. Progressing significantly in their throwing, dodging techniques, ball blocking, and catching abilities, they've not only honed these skills through practice but also applied them in dynamic and enjoyable games such as "Protect the King."
Lastly, in Year 3 and Year 4, our students have mastered dodgeball skills, seamlessly integrating them into gameplay. They showcase strategic thinking by determining the optimal moments to employ each skill, communicate effectively with teammates, and devise attack and defense strategies based on their team's ball possession and the opposing team's player layout. Observing them play at this advanced level is truly a delight.
As we approach half term, we wish you all a splendid break. Stay active and healthy!
Warm regards,
Pablo
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Art Club
These past weeks Art Club have been doing Tie dye - such enjoyable messy play! Wrapping it with elastic bands proved tricky for most children, nevertheless they persevered and helped each other. The fun really began when they chose their colours and had a great time. They loved the outcome and proudly wore their t-shirts for the final art club fun session where they created scratch card pictures and played with soap foam and slime.
Art in the Curriculum
Year 1
We concluded our study of internal and external repeating patterns inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis house by going out into the playground and sketching three repeating patterns.
In the classroom children created and sketched brick wall patterns using wooden blocks. Some walls collapsed and some were sturdy.
This week the children also commenced a study of British birds. They were asked to draw two pictures and use colour pencils to render their design. As you can see the level of accuracy in some of the drawings were very encouraging for our little artists. We all gathered to look at each other’s work and discuss our findings.
Year 2
Year two started their study of movement by drawing the mannequin using a pencil. The following week they used paint. Some of the drawings were very small so I decided to use charcoal. The brief required them to select a part of the mannequin demonstrating light and shade.
Year 2 also commenced a study of British birds. This project will continue with the artist choosing their best picture then rendering it with a different medium.
Year 3
The volcano Mount Vesuvius was the focus of our study. One team of three was responsible for the wall display. The second team of four created a 3D model. They referred to their information gathered in preparing to make the model and we can all agree it was a great success. Well done to you all, Year 3.
Year 4
Year 4 laid the foundations for the making of the trojan horse. The side profile along with a grid is now complete. Everyone is happy with this so far. The team must now face the challenge of transferring this image onto a large piece of card using a 1:5 ratio.
I was impressed with the discussions and how they used resources to work this out. They applied analytical thinking and worked out the measurements for the card. The grid is now complete.
I am very encouraged with the creative progress of the whole school. They have demonstrated their ability to work in teams and collaborate in a very mature way.
Well done to all the CHS artists.
Rose
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Hola a todos!
En nuestra clase de español…
We are excited to celebrate the success of completing our first Spring term with joy!
In Nursery, our little ones have achieved a wonderful milestone by learning to count from 1 to 10. Additionally, through games, songs, and activities, they have explored and mastered 10 different colours in Spanish. Well done, little explorers!
In Reception Class, they have already learned 7 modes of transport (nouns and definite articles), such as a car, a train, a bus, a plane, a truck, a motorcycle, and a boat. They have also delighted in drawing these and writing their respective names to be displayed in the Spanish exhibit.
In Year 1, the children have demonstrated excellence in saying and writing the names of some places we can find in a town, such as a cinema, a park, a school, a bakery, a skating rink, and a pool.
Meanwhile, in Year 2, the children have enjoyed crosswords, games, and activities to learn to spell and write 10 colours with their corresponding articles , as well as numbers from 1 to 20. Through songs, they have added the days of the week in Spanish to their repertoire.
In Year 3, we have delved into the fascinating world of vegetables, recognizing, and learning about 10 different types of vegetables in their plural form with their definite articles. They also learnt basic transactional language required to take part in a role-play activity based on buying different quantities of vegetables from a market stall.
In Year 4, we have started learning orally and in writing what they have and don't have in their pencil cases and/or school bags. It is incredibly exciting to witness how children effortlessly and enjoyably learn a new language.
We want to express our gratitude for the continuous support you provide through the timely submission of the children's homework. Remember that children can practice Spanish at home through songs and games found in the Language Angel application.
Enjoy the well-deserved half-term break!
Martha
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Tech for good.
Another exciting half term draws to a close, and your children have been busy conquering new challenges in their IT lessons! Let's explore the latest developments:
Reception: Our youngest tech explorers are steadily building their foundation in responsible online use. They're familiar with crucial internet safety measures and continue to navigate the digital world with growing awareness and caution. Through engaging activities, they're laying the groundwork to become responsible digital citizens from their very first steps.
Year 1: Get ready for some data detectives! These inquisitive minds are immersed in the world of data analysis and interpretation. Armed with tools like pictograms and surveys, they're learning to decipher information and extract meaning, while simultaneously honing their keyboard skills with dedicated home row typing practice. Watch out, world, these future data whizzes are in the making!
Year 2: Data detectives go global! Joining the Year 1 team, our Year 2 tech enthusiasts are also exploring data analysis and interpretation. They're learning to extract meaning from information using engaging tools like pictograms and surveys, and spreadsheets to further develop their understanding of the digital world.
Year 3: Cybersecurity champions in the making! In Year 3, online safety remains a top priority. Students are exploring the interconnectedness of websites and webpages, different browsers, and safe searching techniques. To solidify their learning, they even created their own "spoof websites" to identify potential online dangers.
Year 4: Critical thinking meets online vigilance! Our Year 4 tech superstars are developing essential skills to navigate the online world with confidence and discernment. They're learning to identify phishing scams, deceptive websites, flyadd, and understand the permanence of their digital footprint and plagiarism. With their newly acquired skills, they're empowered to explore the digital landscape with confidence, critical thinking, and an awareness of ethical online behavior.
Remember, technology is a powerful tool for learning and exploration. We encourage you to stay involved in your child's digital journey. Parental controls like Google Family Link, Apple ScreenTime, and Microsoft Family Safety can work hand-in-hand with our classroom learning to ensure a safe and enriching online experience for your children.
By working together, we can empower our children to become responsible and safe digital citizens, ready to utilize technology for positive impact and lifelong learning.
Have a lovely half term break.
David
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Year 4
I can’t believe it’s half term already!
We have had a wonderful few weeks together and have achieved so much.
In maths the children have been working hard to master the formal written methods of multiplication and division. They can now apply these skills when working with larger numbers. The effort the children have been putting into learning their times tables has really started to pay off.
Our visit to the British Museum was an excellent opportunity for the children to see friezes from the Parthenon in real life. We used augmented reality technology to explore the sculptures and see what they would have looked like when they were part of the original temple. Back in the classroom, the children wrote impassioned arguments for their return to Greece or for them to remain in London. Our children certainly have strong feelings about this contentious topic!
In science we have continued to investigate sound and how we hear. We have studied the structure of the ear, frequency, pitch and volume and can now plot sound waves on a graph. The children particularly enjoyed our practical demonstration of how sound energy travels through the particles of a solid.
In history we continue to learn all about the Ancient Greeks and have written amazing fact files about Alexander the Great. The children have learned about the Battle of Marathon and had a go at being a hoplite in a phalanx formation. A formidable bunch indeed!
In English we have written more diary entries from the perspective of the great Pheidippides, the runner who saved the Athenians by running from Marathon to Athens. The children should be very proud of how much their writing has improved this term. I can’t wait to see what they will produce after a well-deserved rest!
Rest, read and relax, Year 4!
Sinead
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Year 3
The Year 3 students have exhibited exceptional dedication and effort over the past few weeks, filling our classroom with their boundless creativity and knowledge. With unwavering resilience, they completed their own story titled "Escaping Pompeii." In their narratives, the children showcased the wonderful skills they've acquired this half-term, surprising themselves with both the quantity and quality of their paragraphs.
They adeptly demonstrated the art of elongating sentences with phrases and clauses, enriching their writing with new and vibrant vocabulary to vividly bring their adventures to life. Furthermore, they seamlessly integrated knowledge from their topic lessons, crafting characters and plots grounded in a deep understanding of life in the Roman army, slavery, and the daily struggles of Roman workers.
Our talented artists took on the challenge of constructing paper-mâché volcanoes, simultaneously delving into the 'anatomy' of these geological wonders. This hands-on activity not only fostered creativity but also imparted valuable knowledge about the structure and function of volcanoes. Additionally, the students explored the dual nature of volcanoes as both destructive forces and essential components of life on Earth, learning about their crucial role in supporting numerous creatures and ecosystems.
In mathematics, the focus was on measures. The students learned how to convert between centimetres and millimetres, as well as meters and centimetres, while tackling challenging word problems. Their determination shone through as they navigated through multi-step problems with grit and perseverance. By contextualizing mathematical concepts within real-life scenarios, the topic became relatable and meaningful, empowering students to apply their newfound skills beyond the classroom—whether it's assisting with home renovations or solving everyday measurement challenges.
Overall, the Year 3 class has demonstrated remarkable progress and enthusiasm across various subjects, embodying the spirit of lifelong learning and resilience.
Kim
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Year 2
Year 2 have had a magnificent three weeks, and we flew towards the half term break with such energy (although I know everyone is rather tired now!).
We visited the Estorick Collection in Islington as part of our “Movement in Art” unit. Our school has a long history with the Estorick and it is the only gallery in London to house only Italian artists. The collection is home to many incredible paintings, and we had the opportunity to see some art from Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni and Gino Severini who all show movement in their masterpieces. All these artists used different techniques to demonstrate movement.
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During the workshop, the children had a challenge and were asked to sketch their favourite picture from a selection of around 20 paintings and then add in something in to show movement. The children either sketched on some lines (like Keith Haring) or added in some transport. The children also looked at how a Zoetrope was used to show movement (pre-animation days!) and had a chance to create their own flip book. Our host at the Estorick commented on the how she was blow away with the children’s enthusiasm, participation and politeness on our visit.
Back in class we looked at several murals created by the amazing Keith Haring. The children were split into two groups and had to agree upon a theme or title. Next the children had to draw characters in the style of Keith Haring (no facial expressions!) and then they collaged them to a large piece of paper! Parents enjoyed these at Open Morning.
In our literacy lessons, we have also worked in pairs to come up with our own instructions to be added to the amazing book ‘Instructions’ by Neil Gaiman. The children had to look at a random page from the book and write their own instruction (including imperative verbs). Once they had completed one page, the could then rotate to another page and write something new there. By the end of the lesson each page had a brand-new group of instructions! The children have now moved onto learning all about things Paddington (the bear and the station)! We are using this text to learn about expanded noun phrases and how to use the past tense.
In numeracy we have started looking at identifying equal and unequal groups and making sure that, when a group is equal, we can identify the mathematical equation. We have also looked at travel and transport timelines and had a great discussion about how technology has fuelled the incredible progression in how we now travel. We also looked at the life of the incredible Wright Brothers in guided reading.
Year 2 have been very sporty over the last two weeks with a multi-skills festival in Hackney and a dodgeball tournament with Rosemary Works school. I have been astounded by the level of energy and enthusiasm at both events. The children all gave 100% and competed so well. It was also amazing to see how they all congratulated each other at the end of each game.
I’m extremely proud of everyone in Year 2! Bravo!
James
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Year 1
Year One have had a busy end to the half term. I am sure you all saw the amazing progress they have all made during the term at the open morning. Well done, Year One, for working so hard!
In Literacy, the class read the story of ‘Here Comes Mr Postmouse’ and predicted what sort of things Mr Postmouse would be delivering (some very lucky cats got lots of balls of yarn) and what houses he would be going to. They used the story as inspiration for writing a letter to Mr Dragon, who received lots of invites to many birthday parties inviting him to try yummy jelly, see a funny clown and play on bouncy castles.
To celebrate Lunar New Year, Adeline’s mum came in to read the children a story about the Chinese New Year and tell them all about traditions celebrated in the Lunar New Year (thank you, for your story and gifts. The children loved it!). On the back of this the children created paper lanterns and then used imperative verbs and time connectives to write their own set of instructions to create a paper lantern. Their paper lanterns were amazing and their instructions were very clear, well-done Year 1!
In Maths the children have been learning more about addition and subtraction. They refreshed their knowledge on how to use a number line to count forwards and backwards. They then looked at how number bonds could be used to solve more complex problems and explored the difference between two numbers on a number line.
In Science, the class continued exploring everyday materials by looking at which objects were magnetic and what made them magnetic. There was lots of great scientific thinking and observation. Children discovered that not all metal was magnetic and that some things were too heavy to be held by a magnet. Some questioned that because we had iron in our bodies, could we be magnetic?
Continuing their Geography topic of exploring the local area, the children looked at a map of the local area and began to create their own with a key to explain their map and what was on it. The kids understanding of the local area and their map drawing skills were impressive!
Once again, I have been really happy seeing the progress made by the children this half term and hope they (and you) all have a restful break. After half term, the children will be learning about the Great Fire of London in History, starting on volume and mass in Maths and exploring more material properties in Science. Have an enjoyable half term!
Eliot
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Reception.
Last week Reception continued their exploration of traditional tales by looking at the story ‘Peter Pan.’ We used our phonics to write whether we would like to stay a child and why. The class collected data on their preferences using tally marks and used the data to form a bar chart. The children used mixed media to create an enchanting portrait of a pirate ship. We also looked at the story ‘The Night Pirates’ and discussed the way the story deviates from gender stereotypes often seen within traditional tales. We retold the story using the characteristics of a narrative. Reception created fairies and discussed how fairies are often depicted in similar ways within traditional tales. We created ours to depict a range of ethnicities and made little homes for them.
Last week we looked closely at Little Red Riding Hood and used the features of a narrative to retell the story. The class created an abstract portrait of The Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood and used real wood rings to draw an illustration of the story. We were also treated to an imaginative and immersive trip to The Discover Children’s Centre. It was a wonderful opportunity to develop the children’s love of storytelling and get their imaginations blooming. The class behaved impeccably and made us all incredibly proud.
This week we have been celebrating The Lunar New Year. The children explored 3D shapes and their properties. The children identified and counted the edges, faces and vertices on each 3D shape. They created dragons using junk modelling and created scales and teeth by drawing around the faces of 3D shapes. The children used real twigs and drawings to create their own cherry blossoms and explored Chinese artwork to create a matching vase. We were lucky enough to have Lina’s mum and Theodore’s mum come in to talk to us about The Lunar New Year and how they will celebrate this exciting occasion.
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Pre-Reception News
Last week, Pre-Reception welcomed a very special visitor, an alien called Paxi who, being so excited about his trip to planet Earth and keen to meet us all, left in a hurry and forgot his bags at home, on Planet Ally-O. The children were encouraged to work together to make a list of things needed for a successful trip, then went on a hunt around the classroom to collect the items. They were full of brilliant ideas (‘Paxi needs pens to draw pictures’, ‘It needs a scarf as it’s cold outside’) and enthusiastically filled every bag and suitcase found with various objects. Sorting the items was great fun, too and gave them an opportunity to apply their problem-solving skills, as they were challenged to find bumpy/stretchy things, things that could roll or things with 3 corners.
Making pizzas for our Moon picnic was one of the highlights of this half term. The children’s excitement for choosing toppings and working independently, not only put a smile on our faces but also illustrated how much progress they have made with their self-confidence and decision-making skills. Inspired by intergalactic tunes, the children fully embraced their space mission and after overcoming gravity difficulties, safely landed on the Moon. It was a very successful trip and some children even said that this pizza was the best they ever had!
The impromptu arrival of a letter from the leader of another planet got the children thinking about what it means to be a person and whether there is such a thing as a ‘perfect person’. This big question not only aimed to enhance children’s thinking and communication skills but also helped boost their confidence and self-esteem and encouraged them to become more thoughtful, reflective and reasonable. They went on to create a variety of ‘people’ for a new planet using playdough and had lots of thought-provoking ideas.
“My person has one big ear and one small. He can’t hear very well in the small ear but that’s okay. He can use his hands to talk.” Felix
“My person is kind and has blue skin – everyone has different skin. She has a stick to help her walk.” Eliza
“These are the wheels to help her move because she can’t use her legs. Some people on Earth can walk and some can’t. That’s okay. She has a big arm and a small arm too.” Leonie
“My person has walking sticks to help him walk because he hurt his knees.” Henry
“I think that people are perfect because they make perfect things- we help plants grow. Perfect means great!” Luna
Red, gold and drumming filled our classrooms this week, as we celebrated the Lunar New Year. It was lovely to kick start the week with Jo, who kindly came in to give us an insight into her and Beanie’s cultural background. We loved listening to a Chinese New Year story and learning about the tradition of giving and receiving lucky red envelopes and clementines – the symbol of protection.
Wishing you all a wonderful half-term break,
Mihaela and Jess
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The Downstairs Team
Last week, the children loved listening to classic stories, such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs. They enjoyed role playing with stick puppets from story characters and creating houses for the 3 Little Pigs. During our carpet session, the children were encouraged to recall events in the story and share them with their peers. Kit said, ‘The pigs were scared because the big bad wolf was coming to eat them’.
During the past week we celebrated the Lunar New Year and International Children’s Mental Health Week. We decorated the Nursery with beautiful lanterns and patterned textiles and learnt about the Great Race of the Chinese Zodiac. The children enjoyed role-playing with animal masks and decorating their own lanterns. We also focused on the children’s health and wellbeing. We explored emotions and different ways of helping ourselves cheer up and calm down.
What a fun time we had at the Nursery!
The Downstairs Team
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