It’s Summer 2!
Welcome to Summer 2
Welcome back to our very final half term of the school year!
Our fluffy chick friends have gone to their home on the farm but word has spread about how good Foundation are at looking after creatures and helping them grow! When we came in on Monday we noticed that we have 
some new visitors – our very own caterpillars! We look forward to observing how they grow and change over the next three weeks.
We will be looking at more weird and wonderful minibeasts over the next few weeks as F2 build up to our exciting trip to Tropical World.
To introduce the children to the life cycle of butterflies, our focus story is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have been writing lists of foods, recording the life cycle of a butterfly and creating food diaries linked to our new story.
In maths, F2 have continued working on teen numbers; representing them on tens frames, making our own number lines, ordering and saying one more and one less.
Outside, we have taken inspiration from the children’s interests and have some pirate themed activities- buried treasure, sorting word coins, map making and more!
Home-Link Challenge
Can you find a minibeast fact to share with the class?
Use a search engine on a computer, tablet or ipad or use a non-fiction book to find your information. You can pick any minibeast you like!
Parent Reminders
We are having a lot of issues with lost items in class again- particularly cardigans. This is a frequent reminder- we cannot stress enough how important it is to name all school uniform. It is a very difficult task to locate lost items with no name. Thank you to those who have named their uniform.
Letters have gone out this week for our school trip on 26th June. Please return forms and payments as soon as possible and by 14th June at the latest.
If your child is in F1 and will be moving into F2 (Reception year) in September, there is a parents meeting in The Hub next Wednesday 12th June at 3.00pm.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Craft Club- Jewellery
This week in Craft Club, we looked at jewellery artists and their work before creating our own gold and silver threaded masterpieces!
We created necklaces, bracelets and even a fancy modern ring. Some of us even found time to create a jewellery box at the end.
We are pleased to announce that Craft Club will return next half term. Watch this space for more creations!
Art that POPS!
In craft club this week, we have been looking at Pop art. Our favourite art was by Roy Litchtenstein who used dots to create a cartoon look. Take look at our superb creations.
Welcome to the world…
The long wait is over… this morning our first fluffy friend was born, followed by another after school (A nice surprise for the morning- we will keep our fingers crossed for even more!)
Foundation were in awe of our first little chick, making some lovely observations and watching it closely.
We have been talking about what the chicks will need to help them grow and took votes on what we should name them….
Introducing Chickee and Shimmer 🙂
Craft Club- Self Portraits
This week in Craft Club, we looked at the self-portraits of Pablo Picasso. We compared his earlier realistic self-portraits with the later abstract images.
The crafters then chose how they wanted to represent their own self-portraits. We selected from felt tips, colouring pencils and oil pastels. We used mirrors to make sure we captured all of our features.
When we had finished, we turned the self portraits into stick puppets!
We then presented our self-portraits in a mini puppet show; telling the audience whether we had chosen a realistic or abstract style. We also shared something that we like or enjoy.
Next week, Miss Pyart will continue our self-portrait work, with a focus on Pop-Art.
Well done Crafters 🙂
Craft Club- Art in Nature!
This week in Craft Club, we have continued our Andy Goldsworthy inspired art in nature.
We made our own ‘paintbrushes’ using natural objects we collected outside. We then used our paintbrushes to paint some self-portraits using mud as our paint!
Afterwards, the children worked together in a team to create a picture using natural objects- they decided on a ‘sea’ scene and had some fab ideas to include. We had starfish, mermaids, clams with pearls, seaweed, fish and coral! Great work crafters! 🙂
Funky Phonics!
Thank you to the parents who attended our second ‘Funky Phonics’ session of the year this evening.
I had a lovely time catching up with each of you individually, to talk about your child’s reading and writing.
We really appreciate our parent partners here at St. James’. Thank you for encouraging your children in their learning, by enjoying time in the classroom with them 🙂
The weekly update- An EGG-citing arrival!
On Tuesday, we had a super EGG-citing delivery. We have eight new eggs in our incubator! The children are already fascinated and having some great discussions. We have been taking care of our eggs and talking about how we need to be very careful around our incubator (we even have signs written by the children to remind us!)
The children watch the adults carefully turn the eggs twice a day, just like the mummy chicken would do. This time of year is so lovely, as the children get to explore more of their ‘understanding of the world’, of growth and of changes.
In literacy, we have been using our story actions to retell the story of ‘The Little Red Hen’ We will continue to explore the story next week.
F2 have been problem solving in maths this week, as we learn how to double. We have been focusing on the language of adding the same and making our added amount equal to our original number.
F1 have been such busy learners too! From painting, to exploring our counters in the maths areas, constructing and making water tracks using ramps and guttering outside, Our new children continue to thrive in Foundation and we are really proud of how they are following their new routines.
Home-Link Challenge- F1 and F2
As we are thinking about the growth and changes of our little egg friends, we would like to open discussions with the children about their growth and changes. To support with this learning, please send in a baby photo of your child (a copy we can use in their learning) or email your photo to:
stjameseyfs@spherefederation.org
Funky Phonics
You are invited to our second ‘Funky Phonics’ workshop on Wednesday 1st May, 3.15-3.45 in the Foundation classroom. This is for F2 parents/carers to share in learning with your child and gain insight to what is ‘expected’ by the end of foundation stage, in children’s writing.
After School Club Places
Mrs Walton has four spaces available for the Thursday after school Lego Club, that she would like to make available to our Foundation 2 children. Please book on to the club through the office.
Art within nature
This week in craft club we have been looking at the natural beauty that is all around us. Andy Goldsworthy makes amazing creation in nature and we have tried to mimic his work. We used bright vibrant colours in our natural pictures to bring life to them. Take a look at what we have been doing.
Easter Stay and Decorate
This week, we are learning about The Easter Story and celebrating this important time in the Christian calendar.
We had a egg-cellent time in Foundation this morning; as parents, grandparents and brothers joined us for our Easter Stay and Decorate!
We enjoyed lots of crafts and making yummy chocolate-nest treats.
It was so lovely to welcome so many of you! A fantastic turn-out made for a truly egg-citing session!
Thank you
