Headteacher: Anna Moss

Forest School

Happy and Healthy – planting seeds

A walk around the Forest School looking for signs of life inspired us all to get planting our own seeds this week.  You have all had the chance to plant your seed in soil – the hard part is the next part where we have to find ways to make them grow!

Music

Old King Glory

Following on from the special celebrations last Saturday, it seemed the right time to introduce this song.  We have enjoyed choosing a King or Queen to lead the trail around the circle and choose some friends to “follow me”! 

Dough Disco

The Excavator Song, Blippi

Johan, you have surprised us all with this choice – thank you!  After some classic artists, we didn’t think Blippi would get us moving as much as he did!  We love this song.  Making the excavator shape with our arms and using our wrists to scoop the mud has certainly given us an upper body workout!

Listening Game

Spring Bingo with a twist

We played the game again but this time you really had to help Mrs Mander when her words kept getting all jumbled.  She couldn’t work out what the pictures were – was it plossom, flossom or blossom that grows on the trees???

Phonics

The elephant sound, e

Those naughty elves have made a return!!!  We couldn’t believe it!!!  We found Lucas’ face turned upside down and today, they had snipped all the pictures off our names so now we have to recognise and read our name without picture clues – grrrrr.  Our friends Eric, Elsie and Effy didn’t do the best job at keeping them out of mischief!!!

Maths

Reading dice 1-6

Making dice patterns

As we joined from Forest School, we did a little revisit to check we can read our dice numbers to 6.  Seeing number patterns like dice, numicon, in a row is something we have been working towards all year and you have almost got it.  To put this learning into practice, you worked with a friend to show the dice pattern using bottle lids. 

Communication and Language

Oliver’s Vegetables,

Vivian French

Mrs Allen made the story this week come to life as she raided her fridge and brought along her own vegetables for you to explore with your senses.  She also taught you how you can print with them!

Physical

The Trim Trail

This week we have mostly enjoyed running around in circles on the grass.  This is excellent practice for our upcoming Sporting afternoon.  It is going to be quite a challenge now to teach you running and staying in lines.  

Forest School

Go Global - Coronation

Mrs Allen has enjoyed teaching you how to make outdoor bunting using the pattern from the tree.  You have enjoyed rubbing red and blue crayons and cutting the patterns into triangles. Red and blue crates were also used to make a throne for our King and Queen of the Early Years.

Music

Whole World in his Hands

In preparation for the whole school singing event this afternoon, we have been listening to and singing along to this catchy tune. The actions were added and you showed it all off brilliantly today. 

Dough Disco

Havana, Camilla Cabello

Thank you Olena for a much slower tune to dance to.  We talked about the singer Camilla and where Havana was.  We have been squashing the dough flat and drawing with it on the ceilings with a two armed circle move. – it looks good when the body is added.

Listening Game

Spring Bingo

With Spring in full swing (that rhymes!) we have been talking about the pictures on our Spring bingo boards and used our looking skills to spot when it was called out.  We have started spotting butterflies and bees in Forest School, the warm weather is definitely around the corner!

Phonics

The cat sound, c

In keeping with the Coronation theme, we have been pulling out kings, crowns and cakes from the box this week.  We have begun practising our “sound-talking” as well – c-ow, c-oi-n, c-a-t.

Maths

Five frame patterns

The Number 6

We continued our five frame pattern work as you had to make the same pattern on the five frame that was on the picture card.  We have also been learning about the pattern of the number 6 and trying to roll as many as we can on the dice.  Seeing numbers and spotting familiar patterns are both key as we approach the end of the nursery year and you move into BIG school.

Communication and Language

My World, Your World

Melanie Walsh

A beautiful story to embed your understanding that there are different places in the world. This book explores how different these places look compared to our world.  Finding on the globe was fun too!  We will be sad to see this topic go – it has been a big hit for this year’s children.

Physical

The Trim Trail

The wobbly bridge was the challenge this week.  Climbing up, travelling across and climbing down from this equipment was tricky but we almost all have it!

Art

Coronation Crowns

To become a King or Queen, you need a crown.  It took us three attempts to complete – paint/dry, paint/dry, cut and bend.  They looked good at the show though – we hope they survive to the end of the weekend!

Forest School

Go Global

Mrs Allen has been showing you how to use the crates to make vehicles to travel the world.  Boats (bateau) and planes (avion) were the most popular.  This week, it has been all about maps as you followed the Forest School map to find the hiding squirrel.

Music

Jump Jim Joe

In the final term, our music session happens outdoors as we move into “how can we move with action whilst singing”.  We have learnt our first song called ‘Jump Jim Joe’ where we are following actions and switching to a new partner every time. 

Dough Disco

Planet Earth, Duran Duran

21 Reasons, Ella Henderson

To ensure all access this final push to get those hands, wrists and arms ready for handwriting, our dough disco now takes part in the mornings.  We have been moving the dough to Planet Earth, Duran Duran thanks to Mrs Allen and this week, 21 Reasons by Ella Henderson thanks to Maya.  We are getting ready to share a favourite with you next for our cabin celebration.

Listening Game

Kim’s Game

We have been exploring the objects with the same sound, placing in a line and seeing if we can spot the one that is missing when our eyes are closed.  You can play this game at home!

Phonics

The octopus sound, o

The box was full of a /o/ objects including some very wriggly octopi.  We were lucky to have the octanauts and our friend Oryx in there to keep them all from swimming away.

Maths

Shape sort and stack

Five frame numbers

As you joined the session, we enjoyed sorting the shapes into ones that were the same size but not the same colour.  We talked about the best stackers, the ones with more than one “flat-bottom”.  We also worked with a pair to show numbers to five on our five frames.

Communication and Language

The Snail and the Whale

The Train Ride, June Crebbin

A story about a snail by Julia Donaldson who wanted to leave his rock to travel the world and so used the back of his friend, the whale.  This week, a train journey through different places.  You enjoyed sharing you train journey stories with Mrs Allen.

Physical

The Trim Trail

As part of our transition, we are all enjoying the play and explore on the trim trail. Running, climbing and balancing on the equipment is developing all those physical skills.

Art

Go Global

Alongside the whole school, we are learning about our planet earth.  We have enjoyed making our own planet earth plates by “pushing” blue and green paint around the plate. 

Forest School

Easter Egg Hunt

To link to our story of the week, you enjoyed going on your own Easter Egg hunt in the Forest School in the rain!!!  Hiding and finding and collecting on a soggy ten frame was fun.

Music

Easter songs

We hope you all enjoyed the “sing-song” on the steps on Tuesday morning.  I am sure you would agree how they did a wonderful job – all those faces watching and they still sang and joined in confidently. 

Write Dance

Baby Shark Easter

Another themed dance this week as we have been revisiting a favourite song with an Easter twist.  See if they can remember every action! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODaID0n3Jo

Computing

Battery Toys

A final week of term must be a reason for a toy week! Thank you for bringing in and sharing all your battery toys.  Being able to “explore how thing work” is always fun through toys.

Maths

Subitise to 3

Fingers numbers to 5

We warmed up with an Easter egg game of throwing eggs into cups and subitising how many you could see.  Saying and seeing numbers (not counting) is a key early years skill.  Matching a numeral to finger numbers was fun with a friend.  Having some “thinking” time before “showing” time helped you work out which fingers you were going to show too!

Communication and Language

We’re Going on an Easter Egg Hunt, Martha Mumford

A gorgeous story with lots of flaps to lift – always fun, whatever age you are!  You enjoyed spotting and counting the eggs throughout the story with the bunny.

Art

Easter cards

The Spring Chicken Easter cards will have now come to you (in a brown envelope) – a card that will be a reminder of a song that sticks in a loop in your head. 

Dough Disco

Jungle Boogie. Kool and the Gang

Thank you Freya – what a song and chosen by a group that we have had before!  We have been “getting down” with the dough and discoing our arms too. 

Forest School

Bunnies and Weaving

Hopping bunnies was hilarious to watch – I have never seen bunnies in wellies!  Most definitely not the easiest thing to bounce in.  Mrs Allen has been showing you how to weave with sticks to teach you how to create nests.

Music

Easter songs

We have been joining Red class for a daily “sing-song” as we have practised some fun Spring songs.  We look forward to sharing with you next Tuesday on the steps at 8.45am.  Tea and Toast will be open!

Write Dance

We’re going on an Easter Egg Hunt

A themed dance this week as we have been retelling a familiar story with a twist.  Pushing our way through the long grass and stomping through the river was fun!

Listening Game

Looking

You enjoyed going on a cabin egg hunt and collecting them for the Mother Hen who sat on them as they all hatched.  A song through role-play is always a good way to understand and remember words!

Phonics

The goat sound, g

That gruffalo squashed everything in the /g/ box this week! The highlight had to be a visit from some real life /g/ animals when Miss Kuriger brought over Gordon and Fluff for a cuddle

Maths

Doubles to 5

To make our learning stick, we have used a doubles song.  I would highly recommend you take the time this weekend to share with the children – it is a good one that they (and me) love! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CX-jFsVtR4

Communication and Language

The Odd Egg, Emily Gravett

A beautiful story about a cracking egg.  You enjoyed decorating your own egg and matching with a friend. Always fun to have a pre story game!

Art

Easter cards

We have been “crafting” our very own Spring chickens for our Easter cards.  The children have become quite attached to them as they look adorable! 

Dough Disco

We will rock you, Queen

Thank you Mia – great choice!  We have enjoyed following the rhythm pattern by slapping that dough flat but mostly enjoyed singing into the microphone! 

Forest School

Tools

A week of learning those building skills with Mrs Allen - hammers and screwdrivers and how to use them safely has been fun in the Forest this week!

Music

Beat and Rhythm

Mr Beat and Mr Rhythm are our sock puppets that help us feel the difference between these two skills.  Mr Beat is always working hard as he stays the same through all the songs.  Mr Rhythm on the other hand a little lazier as he only moves when we sing the words.

Write Dance

Horsey Horsey

A revisited song with the mark-making element – we have been bending and straightening our arms to create vertical chalk marks on the board.  We added onto this the circle marks for the cartwheels and for a challenge, found a new horse to ride every time the song played.

Listening Game

Listening to the Words

We continued our game of Simon Says with a bit of a change to help you play.  You had to “listen to the words” of Simon Squirrel and not “listen to the words” of Mrs Mander - tricky!

Phonics

The duck sound, d

Some very worrying /d/ animals joined us in nursery this week but we were glad they were only toy ones! I am not sure dinosaurs and dragons should be anywhere near our cabin!

Maths

Matching flag patterns

Doubles to 5

We continued matching our flags on arrival from Forest School with a game of matching pairs.  Once all joined us, we explored what happens when we put two numbers the same together – we call this a “double”.  A fun transition song to follow next week to make that learning stick!

Communication and Language

My Mum, Anthony Browne

With a special day coming on Sunday, Mrs Allen has been sharing a book all about the jobs Mums do on a daily basis.  You have enjoyed sharing your Mum photos with each other too and talking lots about them.

Art

Special cards

We have enjoyed printing Spring flowers with our paint tools to create a special card for some special people.  Keep them safe and hidden until Sunday!

Dough Disco

Happy, Pharrell Williams

Thank you Lucas – what a song!  Always one to finish our day on a happy note as we have sausaged, clapped and poked the dough to the beat.

Forest School

Spring

A Spring walk looking for signs of Spring is always a good start to our new topic.  Mrs Allen has then been showing us how to create spring flowers with chalks, with paint and a fork and with wool on a peg frame.  Planting seeds in the troughs was also fun!

Music

Tappers and Shakers

As we move into exploring sounds our instruments can make, we enjoyed sorting them into ones that we can shake and tap so we can match with body actions.

Write Dance

Round the Mountain

Up into the Sky

We have been creating rainbow shapes in soap and the cross shape (from our flags) with paintbrushes dipped in different coloured paint.

Listening Game

Sitting still

Listening to the Words

Being able to position your body so you are showing good sitting and are able to look at the person talking was fun with our blindfold game.  We then had fun playing Simon Says where we had to listen to all of Simon Squirrel’s words and none of Mrs Mander’s!

Phonics

Name labels

The mouse sound, m

As part of our morning routine, we played a game of reading our name to our sound picture.  This week we have been shaking the objects in the m box and giving them migraines – oops!  Can you remember who was complaining about their head? 

Maths

Capacity

Tally to 5

Spotting pattern

Singing a song about a cup being empty, part full or full to the top has been on repeat in all of our heads but an excellent way to introduce capacity.  Making tally marks to 5 was tricky when we had to remember to shut that gate.  Matching flags by patterns was fun as you were able to name the pattern, the colours and for some, the country!

Communication and Language

One Springy Day

Don’t wake the Bear Hare

You have enjoyed sharing with Mrs Allen a beautiful Nick Butterworth story about Spring and a Spring story about animals wanting a Spring party but without the bear.  Making your own picnic was the most popular activity pre story as we now see this a lot during our Indoor play.

Playground Game

Throwing/Catching

Being able to throw and catch a ball is tricky!  Being able to throw and catch a scarf isn’t!  We had fun playing the game with ourselves (especially on the windy day) and then with a friend. 

Dough Disco

Gummy Bear

Celebration

Thank you Elsie for the first choice – we did enjoy being bears moving our dough but we were happy to say goodbye to this song and hello to Mrs Franklin’s Cool and the Gang choice.  We now have our very own disco routine with the spin, punch and wave.  Share it this weekend!

Forest School

Lifecycles - Human

Mirrors in the outdoors is always fun.  You have enjoyed looking at your own faces now compared to when you were a baby and drawing them up on the balcony in charcoal.  Helping Mrs Allen to make salt dough to create a 3D face was fun too!

Music

High and Low

Using the chime bars, we had fun talking to each other in a high and low note.  Taking our voices for a walk is always fun and we look forward to the instrument topic next half term when we will all get a chance to make high and low sounds on our own chime bars!

Write Dance

Get Ready Get Set Go

A new interactive song where we have been marching, galloping, tiptoeing and skipping around the cabin.  We had fun making marks to these actions using paintbrushes/paint.

Listening Game

Staying Quiet

A twist on a fun game of “Who is hiding under the blanket?” as you had to listen to the voice of the person hiding and name them – even Mrs Allen found it tricky!

Phonics

The net sound, n

A box full of nnnnnnnn – necklace, nail (ouch!) and knickers!  Taking it in turn to blend the sounds is beginning to work as we can hear the words we are making e.g. n-o-t repeated will make the word knot to match our object. 

Maths

The Number 5

As we move into Maths from morning Forest School we always play a game whilst we wait for all to join – this week Maths bingo to consolidate that numeral learning.  We then learnt about number five and how it can look so different – numicon, in a row, on fingers.  Using a ten frame (egg box) to show five was fun as we turned them into boats and sailed with Rod.

Communication and Language

When I grow up, Lennie Goodings/Jenny Jones

A story about a bear called Zachary who talks to his mummy about what he wants to be when he grows up.  Some lovely language from you all about what you want to be….

Playground Game

Collecting Balls

A fun start to the skill of throwing balls as Mrs Mander released the balls and you had to collect 1 or 2 and choose a crate to throw in to.  Comparing which had more with just our eyes linked our Maths learning from last week in beautifully. 

Non-Dough Disco

I see love, Joe Jonas

A fun song perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day chosen by George.  We enjoyed drumming, signing (I see love) and creating waves with our hands for the river.  Another American singer with hair of blue (cheveux bleus for our French friends).