Library Legends
This afternoon, Year 1 and 2 visited Wetherby Library.
Whilst there, we enjoyed a talk and a story from Madeline, who works at Wetherby Library. We learned about how to look for books, where the books are in the library and how to use the machine to withdraw books. 
Have you seen…
…the new areas and displays in our classroom?
We have a new ‘Garden Centre’ role play area and discovery areas linked to our growing theme.
We also have a new ‘Star Writers’ board, featuring extra special pieces of writing that demonstrate great effort and achievement. The children receive a special reward if their writing is chosen. Be sure to check whether your little star has made it onto the rocket!
We love it when parents are able to stay a little while in the mornings to take a look at our learning on the walls and in the classroom, so please remember that you are always welcome to do so. The children’s learning journey folders are also available to access at any time and are now located right next to the signing in / self-registration area.
- What work can your child show you in the classroom that they have recently created?
- Can they take you to an area they enjoy using this week?
Christian value: Peace and reflection
This half-term, our Christian Value is peace. In our classroom we have a dedicated reflection area where the children can choose to go to when they need to. They may choose to go here when they feel angry or upset or simply just to have a moment of peace.
It’s been really great to see how the children have contributed to developing this area with a prayer tree, fiddly objects, peace doves and their own hand-written prayers.
To add to our work on peace, we also learnt about the story of Jelly Babies and how they were originally called ‘Peace Babies’ when they were first produced to celebrate the end of World War One. We considered how they chose babies to represent a new start and new beginnings after the end of the war.
Year 6 Revision
Year 6, please use this PowerPoint to revise colons (:) and semi-colons (;) this week.
Library Visit
Today, we visited Wetherby Library. Madeleine, the librarian, showed us how to find books in the library and how books are organised. We have all chosen two books each to borrow for a few weeks.
Power
Our new mini-topic is ‘Power’ and – you guessed it – our main focus will be the subject of electricity and all its uses and dangers. We began our topic by getting very hands-on. Not only did we look at objects that used electricity, we also got to take them apart – safely, of course- to look at their inner workings.
We especially enjoyed looking at the inside of a plug and using screwdrivers – again safely, of course – to get inside them.
As the topic continues, we’ll build circuits containing various components, investigate electrical conductors and insulators and always bear in mind how to stay safe around electricity at home, outdoors and at school.
Telephone inventors
This term, our topic is Inventions that changed our world.
Throughout the topic, we’ll look at different inventions, the history behind them and have a go at making some of them ourselves.
This week, we’ve been looking at the telephone, invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. We attempted to make our own telephones using only string and paper cups.
We learned that the sound of our voice travels in waves down the string and the cup acts as an amplifier for the sound at the other end. We tested this theory with a long string telephone.
Year 6 SATs Revision
It’s not long now until SATs week. Over the next few weeks, we will be revising so we’re fully prepared for the tests.
Here are some links so you can revise at home, too.
Sunshine, Sizes and Stories!
Our first beautifully sunny week back in Foundation has been packed full of learning fun!
We’ve been reading the story of Jack and the Beanstalk. F2 have been writing their favourite parts of the story and using their imaginations, sharing ideas of what they would like to find at the top of the beanstalk.
Can you spot the beanstalk that has grown in our classroom from all of our ideas?
We’ve been planting beans in cups so that we can observe the roots develop. Have a look in our ‘growing area’ to see how they are coming along!
This week we will continue the ‘growing’ theme, planting some carrots and radish in the Foundation garden area. Thank you to all of the parents/carers who brought seeds into school. We’ll be planting them all over the next few weeks.
The theme has been perfect for working on size and measurement in mathematics (F2). We have been comparing and ordering objects by size and measuring using smaller objects.
Ask your child:
- What the important things to remember when measuring?
- Where do we start?
- How should our measurement line look?
We’ve been outside enjoying the wonderful weather: learning in our outdoor area, having PE outside and going onto the field to play parachute games. We’ve been talking about how to stay safe in the sun and making sure we wear our hats and sun lotion outside.
Thank you to the parents who were able to attend our ‘Parent Partners’ drop in sessions on Thursday, to look at learning journey folders and talk about your child’s learning. We’ve created a new board in the classroom to display the children’s achievements from home. Please remember that you can come to us at any time to let us know about these and fill in one of the special stars to add to the board!
Parent Partners
Welcome back, Foundation! We hope you’ve had a brilliant half term and have come back excited and ready for all of the lovely learning we’ll enjoy over the Summer term!
This Thursday our Parent Partners drop in sessions are taking place. Please join us at either 8.30-9.30am or 3.20-4.00pm to discuss your child’s learning, take a look at their journey folders and ask any questions you may have about your child’s learning and development.
We really value the partnership we have with parents and carers and this is a great opportunity to discuss achievements both at school and at home. We look forward to seeing you all then.