Author: Mrs Wood

Another busy week in Foundation!

 

In maths our focus number is number 6. F2 children used the Numicon to make 6 in different ways. We have also been making up number stories using the polar animals. We are going to continue this learning next week.

 

We try to make phonics fun and active for the children. This week we played Musical Blending. The children dance around and when the music stops they jump on a CVC word and blend it. This is a simple game you can play at home!

One of the challenges this week was to paint an icy picture using their fingers. The children mixed white and blue to make different shades of blue.

Fun, fun and more fun in Foundation!

Community Week

As part of Identity week in school, Foundation have been thinking about our school community and the people who work here. On Wednesday, all Foundation children went out in groups to help  Mr Atkins and talk about the work he does in school and how he keeps us safe.

Mrs Walshaw is visiting Foundation tomorrow to discuss her role in school and what she does to help us.

Fantastic Learning!

This week, Foundation have all shown an interest in books. They have enjoyed reading with adults, on their own and in groups which is marvellous to see. Encourage your child to read a range of things at home. This can be non-fiction, fiction, labels and magazines.

In the construction area, a group of children worked together to create an amazing model! They showed great enthusiasm when sharing and listening to ideas.

The F2 children went on a phonics hunt. This involved the children working together to find pictures around the classroom and match them with the CVC words. The children did some fantastic segmenting and blending!

The F1 children have had a great week exploring the movement area. A group of children used the musical instruments to play games and sing songs. In their key worker time, they have played counting games, tuned into different sounds and listened to stories.

Have you seen the new area in the classroom?

The role play area has turned into Santa’s Workshop – a popular area this week! The children have loved wrapping presents and writing labels to help Santa.

Christmas Production – this isn’t one to miss!

Foundation have been very busy practising the Christmas production. The children are very excited to perform on stage and show off their amazing singing!

Home-Link Challenge

It’s December on Sunday – Christmas is nearly here!
Visiting Santa in the next few weeks?
Bring in or send us a photo.

F2
Write a letter to Santa with your child. Encourage them to do this independently and use their amazing phonic knowledge.
F1
Draw a picture for Santa.
What will you draw for him?

This week in Foundation…

Our first week back in Foundation has been packed full of learning! It’s great to see that the children have come back ready to learn with fantastic attitudes. The children have loved exploring the new role play baskets in the home corner. We’ve seen hairdressers, doctors, vets and firemen!

This week our focus story has been Dear Zoo.

All the children in Foundation are able to retell the story using our amazing ‘Talk for Writing’ actions! F2 children changed some of the animals to create their own versions. Some children even changed the title to ‘Dear Farm.’ Take a look in their writing books to see their fabulous story maps!

F2 children have now learnt all Phase 2 phonics sounds and are moving on to Phase 3. It’s really important that children pronounce ‘pure sounds’ when practising and using their phonics in reading and writing.

PE
This week the children did so well at getting changed for PE -independently!
All children in Foundation need a PE kit in school for PE on Mondays.

Don’t forget!
Fiddly Fingers stay and play at 3:15pm on Wednesday 13 November.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Home-Link Challenge

Remembrance Sunday

On Monday, during carpet time we will be talking about the importance of this day.
Talk to your child about Remembrance Sunday.
You could even draw a picture or make a poppy for us to display in the classroom.

Living and Learning

This weeks Living and Learning statement is I can take part in democratic decisions. In our circle time this week, we discussed the word democracy and why it is important to make our own decisions. Linking to the statement, we have set up a voting station in the classroom. Encourage your child to vote for the book they would like at story time.

 

Fabulous Foundation

Movement Monday!

Monday was our first movement PE session for all Foundation children. We had such a good time travelling around the hall in a range of ways, such as slithering, crawling, walking, running, jumping, skipping, sliding and hopping. The children particularly enjoyed throwing and catching chiffon scarves. This is a simple activity to try at home. Take a look at their fantastic concentration faces.

A little reminder that ALL Foundation children will need their PE kit, with all items named and in school, by Monday 04 November.

Worm Wednesday!

The children collected 14 different worms from around the outdoor area. They compared lengths, counted them, showed fascination and used magnifying glasses to look closely. This led into discussions on environments they like to live in and how we should treat them.

In maths, we have started to use stem sentences to support understanding and reasoning.

Home-Link Challenge

As we come to the end of our first half term, ask your child what their favourite thing has been so far at school. Ask them to draw a picture of this and grown-ups record what they say about their picture in your child’s own words.

This week in Foundation…

This week, we have been reading ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. The children have enjoyed acting out the story. They were able to use different vocal expressions especially when being the bad, ugly Troll.  In the construction area, the children have been architects and designed their own bridges. We watched a video on how bridges are made. They then independently chose the resources to build their bridges. Finally, the children used the goats to test their bridges.
“Trip, trap, trip, trap.”
“Mine must be strong because it didn’t fall down.”
“Mine stayed up!”
“My bridge is made out of bricks.”
“Oh no! My bridge has fallen down and now the troll is awake!”

In maths, our focus number is 2. The children have helped Little Red Riding Hood pair up her socks on the washing line. They have been on a number 2 hunt around the classroom and recorded their findings.
We had a good discussion about number 2.
“What does 2 make you think of?” Miss Marsden asked.
“2 footballs”
“2 spiders”
“2 snakes”
This lead onto talking about pairs.
“a pair of eyes”
“a pair of legs”
“a pair of feet”
It was great to see the children thinking carefully, speaking clearly and listening attentively.

In phonics, F2 children have completed the first set of phase 2 phonemes.
s– Weave hand in an s shape, like a snake, and say ssssss.
a – Wiggle fingers above elbow as if ants crawling on you, saying a, a, a.
 t – Turn head from side to side as if watching tennis and say t, t, t, t.
 i – Pretend to be a mouse by wriggling fingers at end of noise and squeak i, i, i.

p – Pretend to puff out candles and say p, p, p.
n – Hold arms out at side, as if a plane, and say nnnnnnnnnn.
We have started the second set!

F1 children using the large paint brushes to make marks. 

Some of the F1 children were determined to pick up the pom poms!

 

Challenges have been introduced this week. The children are eager to complete a challenge and get a coloured lollipop stick to make their rainbow.

 Home- Link Challenge

The children will be able to share what they found during carpet time. 

It’s been another fab week in Foundation!

To introduce traditional tales, our focus story is The Three Little Pigs. We have worked hard to become story-tellers, with everyone in F2 showing they can re-tell the story.

In maths, we completed our work on the focus number 1. We have been on   number hunts and explored different representations of the number. Next week we will be moving on to number 2.

F1 have enjoyed their key worker time. They have been listening to stories, counting, constructing and sharing their thoughts, feelings and ideas.

"Come and read this book with me.""We are making a train!"

Home-Link Challenge

Next week our focus story is The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Find a picture of a bridge. It could be a photograph or a picture from the internet.
stjameseyfs@spherefederation.org
We will use your pictures in the construction area next week!

The Everywhere Bear

   Monday 16 September
This week, our focus story is The Everywhere Bear. The children have enjoyed talking about journeys. “I went on a plane and it went really high.” “I went on a bus to Wetherby.”

The children created their own story maps – we have some super writers!
At home, talk to your child about the story.

Tuesday 17 September
The children took Sammy St James on a journey around school.

Come and have a look at our book in the reading corner.

Wednesday 19 September 

The children used their imaginations to plan their own stories.
They came up with some great ideas!
We had stories about aliens, butterflies and even snowmen!

Home-Link Challenge

Can you spot a shape together in the environment?- it could be a circle shaped clock or a rectangle shaped TV for example. Send us a photo to:

stjameseyfs@spherefederation.org

We will use your pictures in next week’s learning!