Fantastic Forces!
Our new science topic is forces and magnets.
We started the topic by learning that a force is a push, pull or twist. We went out onto the play equipment and thought about which forces we were applying as we moved.
We observed how the more force we use the further and faster the movements.
Here is the vocabulary we will be improving our understanding of this half term. 
Help at home: When exercising, ask your child to consider which forces they are applying.
Spellings 21.04.23
I have been so impressed with our learning this week! Are you ready for a new week of spellings?
Our spellings this week will be words with different spelling patterns that we’ve been learning about: fraction, station, fiction, hospital, metal, camel, tunnel, apple, bottle, nice
Look at our homework sheet for our super spelling strategy!
Working Scientifically: How Much Liquid Can A Nappy Absorb?
We made predictions first. In groups, we then started our experiment. First, we felt and weighed the nappy. It was only 19g and felt very light!
We put red food colouring into the water to make it clearer to see the liquid being absorbed into the nappy.
We then started pouring 100ml of water on the nappy. We continued feel the weight of the nappy and found out that it got heavier as we increased the amount of water.
Although no liquid came through the nappy, after we had poured 1000 ml (or 1 litre) onto water, it started to sit on the top of the nappy. We decided it was no longer absorbing the water.
Following this, we weighed the nappy again; it was 763g. We couldn’t believe how much liquid a nappy can actually absorb!
We are growing potatoes!
Over the past few weeks we have been reading some fantastic focus books.
‘A superhero like you’ by Dr Ranj and Liam Darcy
The children expressed what ‘real’ superhero they wanted to be when they are older. We transformed our provision into a world of occupations from a farmer to a dentist!
‘The girl is like Mummy’- Savannah
‘They don’t wear clothes like batman’-Deacon
‘I like building with my hammer’- George
‘Oliver’s Vegetables’ by Alison Bartlett and Vivian French
The children enjoyed learning about all the vegetables that grew in Oliver’s garden. We talked about what we have grown at home before and what we would like to grow in nursery. We all decided we wanted to grow some potatoes just like Oliver so we could make our own chips!
‘I grow peppers with my Grandad’ – Ella
‘I got carrots and potatoes’ – Frankie
‘I’ve not had beetroot before, it’s purple’- Austin
‘ Daisy eat your peas’ by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt
Daisy does not like peas and there is nothing that her mum can do to get her to eat them! The children discussed their likes and dislikes around food. We then started to talk about which foods are healthy and which are not so healthy but in the end we all decided we love ice-cream!
‘Daisy didn’t want to eat her peas and then she tried to get mum to eat her brussel sprouts but she didn’t like them either’- Gracie
‘I don’t like sprouts, I like carrots’ – George
‘ I had sprouts at Christmas’- Austin
‘ I like Yorkshire pudding’- Ella
‘ I like to drink apple juice’- C
‘ Daisy is funny because she didn’t want to eat her peas’- Joshua
Notices
Thank you to those that have booked an appointment for parent consultations, I am excited to share with you your child/children’s progress this term. There are still some appointments left so the list will be displayed in the nursery window if you wish to attend.
Please keep sending in any photos you would like to share with nursery for the children to share in our circle times. The children really enjoy sharing what they have been getting up to at the weekend with their grown-ups!
Our email address is stjamesnursery@spherefederation.org
Have a lovely happy and healthy weekend!
Miss Ward
Reading Role Models!
On Friday, we enjoyed a visit to the reception children for some shared reading. Year 3 were fantastic role models for the younger children.
The half term wasn’t complete without another class shells win along with the highest attendance in the school!
Lunchtime and Breakfast Club staff required
We’re currently looking for lunchtime and breakfast club staff to supervise our children at our friendly school! Lunchtime hours are 12.00pm – 1.15pm Monday to Friday (6.25 hrs per week) and Breakfast Club hours are 7.30am – 8.45am. Please contact Mrs Quirk at stjamesfinance@spherefederation.org for further details.
We Won The Cup (again)!
We might be the smallest class, but we sure know how to make good choices around school.
Year 3 were ecstatic to win the trophy for getting the most shells this week! This is the second time we have won this.
You made me so proud Year 3! Keep it up.
Rahhh!
We have been getting our stomp on in nursery this week!
The children have been exploring out dinosaur provision. Our focus story for the next two weeks is called ‘Dinosaur Roar’ by Paul and Henrietta Stickland. Here is what we have been betting up to!
The children created their own fossils out of clay. We also compared what our feet looked like to a dinosaur using paint. The children used their listening skills to interpret and make their own dinosaur sounds, we stomped around the classroom to the music.
It’s like a dinosaur been in it but then a person has taken the dinosaur out and it’s a pattern – Gracie
Paint toes, make dinosaur feet- Frankie
Dinosaur squeak, dinosaur fast, dinosaur tiny, dinosaur strong- Austin
Have a happy and healthy weekend!
Miss Ward
It’s freezing!
This week the children explored our outdoor provision to see if they could find some ice. We talked about why and how things freeze and what would happen if the temperature would increase.
The soil is hard because it’s got water in – Austin
It’s frozen in the same shape, you can see the lines from the tyre- Gracie
Look Miss Ward, the car is stuck in the ice!- Deacon
The sun has melted the grass- Beau
We also explored Lunar New Year this week. Lunar New Year is the beginning of the lunar calendar, the months are based on moon cycles. This event is a celebration observed by many cultures around the world.
The children cooked up a storm in the kitchen, experienced using chopsticks, made rabbit sun catchers and enjoyed a traditional new year meal in school. 2023 is the year of the rabbit.
Red is a lucky colour- C
They clean their house to get rid of bad things- Sophie
A horse , a dragon and a rabbit- Frankie
I like noodles- Ella
Have a lovely weekend!
Miss Ward
St James’ goes to Magna!
Last week, we took our geography learning to Magna in Sheffield. It was a great way to kick start our Natural Disasters topic and got us all excited to find out more about the world around us.
We started by creating our very own erupting volcanos. Check out how we got on…
In the afternoon, we explored the different pavilions, water, ice and fire. We watched The Big Melt which showed us how steel is melted. Sparks were flying everywhere!
It was amazing! 
