Summer 1 Week 2
Hello everyone, we have had an exciting week using our investigation skills being scientists.
This Week
We started our week talking about Spring and asking the question what is Spring. The children were able to talk about Spring being one of the 4 seasons and that it is currently spring. The children then learnt about some of the signs of Spring as we went on a Spring Walk. They used their skills of observation to discuss what they saw, heard, smelt and felt. The children brilliantly spotted new buds growing, blossom on the trees and they could hear birds tweeting in the trees.
As scientists the children conducted an experiment to see what conditions are best for plants to grow. They were shown 4 different conditions for growing:
- Water and sunlight,
- No Water and sunlight,
- Water and no sunlight,
- No water and no sunlight.
The children then made their predictions about which of the 4 conditions would be best for growth. They will now continue to observe and record any changes to the seeds over the next week and see whether their predictions were correct.
The children also enjoyed being plant detectives and tried to understand where plants grow and how they managed to grow there. To help them understand this, the children learnt about how seeds disperse.
In Maths, the children were learning about addition. By using the vocabulary first, then and now, the children were learning the addition is taking several amounts and combing them to make a new total. We used the story ‘Mr. Gumpy’s Outing’ by John Burningham as a way of introducing this concept to the children.
In Phonics, the children were learning how to read and write CVCC words. CVCC words are made up of consonants (C) and vowels (v) for example jump, help and bend. The children enjoyed listening to Miss Oh No’s Dance Class and joined in with the actions to help them with this learning. Why not ask your child if they can remember any of the actions from the dance class?
In Jigsaw, the children learnt about how to make friends and how they could stop themselves from being lonely. They were able to talk very well about why we have friends, and how we can help our friends if they are feeling lonely. Some of the ideas the children discussed included asking someone to join in their games, inviting someone to play or do an activity with them and ask an adult for help.
It was lovely to see so many of you at our book sharing/borrowing session after school on Friday. We hope you enjoyed the opportunity to share a book with your child and look forward to seeing you at 2.55 next week.
The children were very excited to meet our book buddy’s on Friday. We hope that the first set of children who took them home have enjoyed them and we look forward to welcoming them back to school on Tuesday.
We hope that your children are enjoying taking part in our reading challenge. Please upload an observation of week 1’s challenge – to read outside, as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing what the variety of reading that takes place this week as part of week 2’s challenge – read anything other than a book!
Next week
- We will be looking at story telling and story writing.
- We will enjoy the book ‘You Choose – Fairy Tales’ by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt.
- In Jigsaw, we will think of ways to solve problems and how to stay friends with one another.
- In Phonics, we will continue applying our phonics knowledge by practising blending to read and write CCVC words.
- In Maths, we will continue using the vocabulary of First, Then and Now but this time to help us understand subtraction.
Supporting your child at home
- Reading with your child at home will significantly help them to develop their understanding of letters and sounds, as well become better readers and writers. The Monster Phonics books are designed to support the children with their learning and it is important that the children read these regularly however, additional books outside of Monster Phonics books will also help. Please write comments in your child’s reading record to let us know how your child has got on with their book.
- Support your child to orally rehearse a complete sentence before writing. This will help your child to write short sentences with known sound-letter correspondences using a capital letter at the start, finger spaces between words and a full stop at the end.
- Model how you read and re-read your own writing to check it makes sense. This will encourage your child to re-read what they have written to check that it makes sense.
Any other information
- READING ACTIVITIES AFTERNOON – Friday 20th May – Please save the date for your diaries. We hope you’ll be able to join us in what will be a fun filled event for you to enjoy with your children to help promote their love of reading.
- WARM WEATHER – In warm weather children will need a named sun hat. If appropriate, please apply long lasting sun cream before they arrive at school. Please can you make sure that a named water bottle is in school every day.
We hope you have a great Bank Holiday weekend!
Mrs Fisher and Mr French
Willow and Lilac Class Teachers.
