Foundation Stage 2
The Gruffalo
One on our focused stories this term was The Gruffalo. The children love this story. We read the story, told the story using a story map, acted out the story in the woods and also had 'Oreo and Friends' bring some of their exotic animals to inspire children to create their own characters for their stories.
Oliver's Vegetables
This term we started by looking at what we need to he healthy. We discussed the importance to exercise and healthy choices of food. Children then had to create a healthy plate. We also planted beans.
Planting our beanstalks!
Our half-termly library visit
All children really enjoy the library visit. We can definitely see the impact it is having in our children. They were fully engaged in the books! It is a wonderful opportunities where children share their ideas and understanding with their peers through telling and reading stories, developing their language skills by exploring and extending their vocabulary.
Our half-termly library visit
Easter celebrations
As part of our learning abut the Christian celebration, Easter, we retold the story of Easter and what eggs symbolises. Ask your child about Easter? We also told the story of the Easter Bunny and how everyone help the bunny on the day and we talked about what we are good at and how we could help each other. We also did a lot of creative activities, including, potato printing, baking,Easter cards, egg hunt and not forgetting an Easter party!
Easter Celebration
The Fire Service Visit
As part of our topic 'People who help us' we invited the fire service to school. It was a very exciting day and the children couldn't stop smiling and giggling! They were taken on a tour of the fire engine and some had the opportunity to hold the heavy equipment. Georgelee and Alaina got to try on the outfits "They are too heavy ... I can't even walk!" explained Alaina who was full of giggle. We also had a talk about fire safety and the children had lots of questions about the the fire service. At the end Georgelee came up and said "When I grow up, I want to be a fireman."
The Fire Service visit
In maths, in the first two weeks, we we have been exploring numbers to 20. Counting them forward and then backwards. We then looked at 'what is one less then a given number?' We used 'The Change Concept' to explore this. For example:
Peter has 3 marbles. Peter gives away 1 marble to John. How many marbles does Peter have now?
We can first give the child concrete objects, like 3 marbles, and let the child display the 3 marbles first and decrease the total of the group by taking away 1 marble from the group to find the new value after the decrease of 1 marble.
Then we looked at number sentences and used number lines to count back from the original number. For example:
11 - 5 =
The children looked for the original number on the number line (11) then they counted back 5 jumps for find the difference.
Our favorite visit, the library!
We always look forward to going down to the library, listen to stories; sing songs; play games; and reading and choosing books :)
Langold Library visit
Take One Picture
'The Roman Triumph' inspired us to parade as different creatures all coming together to perform. We were a hive of creativity!
Take One Picture
Chinese New Year
We had a fantastic time celebrating Chinese New Year. We learnt the story of the Chinese New Year when the animals has a race. We watched a how Chines celebrate their New Year and watched the dragon dance. We made out own dragon and played instruments and danced the Dragon Dance. After the dance we were all very hungry so we had some Chines rice.
Chinese New Year
Once Upon a time....
FS2 went to Perlethorpe. It was truly a magical day for our children. There were tractors, fields, The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats and the Troll, and not forgetting the princess at the castle! We also played obstacle games and made homes for different creatures in the woods. It was a fun, exciting and hands-on day, no wonder some children were fast asleep on our way back to school.
Trip to Perlethorpe
Authors in making!
In the last two weeks we have been learning the story of 'Goldilocks and The three Bears'. We started by reading the story, then telling the story, then drawing a story map and sequencing the story, emphasising on the story structure (beginning, middle and end). This week we looked at how we can use our phonics knowledge to segment to write words that can be built into sentences and then stories. We did a lot of shared writing and children had lots of oppertunities to practise writing stories. Look at our AMAZING WRITERS!!!
Writing stories
Writing stories
First week of Spring 1 term
In FS2 we are always working hard and already, in literacy, we are labelling and writing sentences, inspired by Take One Picture Painting 'The Roman Triumph'. We make learning fun by incorporate it in play and in every opportunity, such as during snack time! In maths we have been learning to name and describe 'fat' 3D shapes. We have two role play areas and last term, the children decided to have 'Jake and he beanstalk' castle and 'Goldilocks and the three bears' cottage. We decided what we wanted in them and we all contributed in creating resources to go in them. After a long wait, FS2 has now got its own paint easel and it has been very popular with the children. We have been using power paint to explore different shades and creating different colours by combining prime colours.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Baking Christmas buiscits
Making Reindeer Dust bags
Treasure hunt
The Christingle Service
Our children made us proud again! They really enjoyed making and talking about the Christingle and they were very sensible in the service.
Christingle celebrations are named after the Christingles that are lit during the service. Christingles are made from an orange decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle. Find out more about the meaning of each element of the Christingle below.
Our Little Nativity
Alongside all the learning in maths and literacy, children have been extra busy learning the songs and lines for our nativity show. They were brilliant in their performance, remembering their actions , lines and their beautiful singing. It was amazing!
Place Value in FS2
In Maths, in the last two weeks we have been working on out teen numbers. We have used unifix cube, numicon and part whole model to explore and develop good understand of the Tens and Ones in the the teen numbers. We have found this challenging but we have persevere and we are beginning to understand it a little bit more.
It would be very helpful if you could support your child with this aspect of learning. Allow them to handle coins and teach them recognition and value of them. Starting with small quantities up to five and moving on when they have grasped the concept. In practical activities they could play ‘shops’ or perhaps you could accompany them to the shop and support them to buy items.
FS2 Reading and Phonics workshop
A big thank you to all parents who attended the reading and phonics workshop!
So why is reading important?
Reading is vital for your child’s development as a reader, a speaker, a listener and a thinker. The more print children are exposed to, the more quickly they are likely to learn to read. Children whose parents frequently read with them in their first year of school are still showing the benefit when they are 15. Spending quality talking time with your child is also a significant factor in supporting their future reading attainment.
So how useful was it?
At the end 79% scored the workshop 10 out of 10; and 21% scored it, between 8 to 9 out of 10.
