Reception Class Week Beginning 16.11.20

/1 Comment/in , /by

The whole school focus this week has centered around National Anti-Bullying Week and in Reception, the children have been thinking a lot about what makes a good friend.

The class started off the week by listening to the story ‘The Rainbow Fish, a book well known for it’s message of selfishness, friendship and sharing. The children discussed what it feels like when you feel included, cared for and respected by others. They also discussed what to do if you are feeling left out, upset by someone’s behaviour towards you, or if you are ever physically hurt by someone. Reception also learnt about how to keep safe online and cyber-bullying.

The theme of how to be a good friend continued all week long.  Amongst many other things, the children made friendship bracelets for one another, decorated hearts and gave them out, made cards with messages of friendship inside and wrote about who their special friends are and why.

This week, the children got to choose their parts for the class Nativity; rehearsals will begin next week!

You will not need to provide any costumes, as we have our own, thank you.

Have a wonderful weekend,

The Reception Team

Reception Week Beginning 9.11.20

/0 Comments/in , /by

Reception Class have been very busy learning about Remembrance Day this week. The children made some beautiful poppies to wear, created poppy paintings, wreaths and medals and held a two minutes silence with the rest of the school on Wednesday, as part of the virtual Remembrance Day assembly.

 

On Wednesday, the children were taught Karate in the big hall. This is to be a new weekly session right up until Christmas!

Reception have a new imaginary role play area- a church! They have filled it with lots of religious artefacts made in class, including Bibles, stained glass windows and tabernacles, to name a few.

In Maths this week, the children have been learning about sorting objects into groups and have had lots of hands-on fun when doing so!

The children have now been taught all of the Phase 2 Letters and Sounds and tricky words. We will now be revising all sounds and words daily and will  continue to focus on applying them in reading and writing. Please continue to practise all sounds taught whenever possible. Thank you !

This week, we also welcomed Caitlin, a student from Oaklands College. Caitlin will be working with Reception every Monday and Friday, from now until the end of the academic year. She is really looking forward to getting to know all of the children.

Have a lovely weekend,

The Reception Team

Reception Week Beginning 2.11.20

/1 Comment/in , /by

Despite the shorter week, Reception have managed to squeeze in a lot of learning!

This week, the children have been learning all about Diwali- the Hindu Festival of Lights. They listened to the story of Rama and Sita and learnt about how Hindu families prepare and celebrate this special celebration.

Over the course of the week, the children had the opportunity to make their own diva lamps from clay, they have made Mendhi hand prints, created Rama and Sita shadow puppets and have produced Rangoli patterns.

 

Yesterday, the class learnt all about Guy Fawkes Day, the failed Gunpowder Plot and how King James I wanted everybody to celebrate this day annually. The children discussed how to keep everyone safe on Bonfire Night and made some posters. They also thought about what would be needed to host their own fireworks celebration.

During November, we especially remember our loved ones who have died and so on Tuesday, Reception participated in a very special whole class Act of Worship, where they offered up prayers for their own families and friends that have passed away.

By now, you should have all received your activation email for Tapestry, the online learning journal platform. Please check your junk folders if you haven’t. A huge well done and thank you to the parents who have already added some observations/ photos of their own. These are hugely helpful to us, as they give us a more rounded picture of your child’s capabilities and interests!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend,

The Reception Team

Reception Week Beginning 19.10.20

/1 Comment/in , /by

This week, Reception joined the rest of the school in celebrating One World Week. Sadly, we couldn’t visit Italy, our chosen country, so we brought Italy to us!

The children learnt that Italy is actually shaped like a boot and that Rome is the capital city. They also found out about Pope Francis and St Peter’s Basilica. They learnt about the Colosseum and the water ways of Venice and even constructed their own gondolas from different materials.  They also made The Leaning Tower of Pisa from clay. The most popular activity by far however, was making props for the Italian restaurant and using them in imaginary role play. The service and food in the restaurant was fantastic!

Today, Reception participated in a special class Harvest Festival act of worship. Thank you for your generous donations.

Wishing you all a well deserved break,

The Reception Team

Reception Week Beginning 12/10/20

/0 Comments/in , /by

Dear Parents,

It was lovely to speak with you all this week at the parent consultations. Thank you so much for your positive responses and ongoing support.

This week, Reception have been very busy thinking about how much they have grown, from the day that they were born until now. They have enjoyed sharing their baby photos and talking about the things that they can do now, that they couldn’t do when they were babies. They have also been thinking about birthdays and how we all become a year older every time we celebrate one. The children went on to make birthday cards, invitations, banners and presents which were used in the new birthday party role play area. This area has proven to be so popular, that the children have had to sign themselves up, just to take a turn in the room!

   

In RE this week, the children have been thinking about how they can be stewards of the earth and look after God’s world. The teachers were so impressed with their knowledge about recycling, saving water and energy and preventing pollution!

In Maths, Reception have had fun exploring everything there is to know about the number 3. Amongst other things, they have learnt how to play noughts and crosses, how to make 3 by adding objects together,  how to write the number 3 and they have enjoyed playing with and exploring the properties of triangles. Today the children thought about all of the words that start with ‘tri’, the Latin word for three. Surprisingly, they came up with: tripod, tricycle, triceratops, triathlon and of course, triangle!

Thank you so much for sending in baby photos this week.

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

The Reception Team

Reception Week Beginning 5.10.20

/1 Comment/in , /by

It has been another really busy week in Reception!

On Monday, the children talked about who was in their family and what makes their family unique. The children then created family portraits, which will be displayed in the classroom.

On Tuesday, Reception had a very special visitor to the classroom- Father Shaun. He came to bless the children’s new prayer books and to say hello to the class. He was very impressed when the children said the school Mission Prayer with him. We hope the children have enjoyed using these very special books at home.

On Wednesday, Reception were invited to have a one off karate experience in the big hall. The children absolutely loved it and their behaviour was outstanding!

This week saw the start of Reception’s new phonics program. Thank you for supporting your child with their phonics home learning. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we are unable to mark this learning this year and the books must stay at home. Please continue to stick each new sheet in their book and encourage your child to revisit previously learnt sounds. Thank you!

This week in Maths, we have exploring everything there is to know about the number 2, including repeated patterns, pairs, ordinal numbers, dot patterns, money and even doubles! The children are also developing an understanding of it’s permanent position on a number line.

Next week, Reception will be thinking about growing up. Please send in a baby photograph of your child to be used in their learning. Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend,

The Reception Team

Reception Class Week Beginning 28.9.20

/0 Comments/in , /by

What another busy week Reception have had!

The class started off the week by reading this week’s book, Stick Man by Julia Donaldson. Inspired by the story,  Reception then went for a walk, exploring the grounds in the search for Stick Man and his family. Sadly, they didn’t find him, but they did manage to collect lots of natural material to use in their learning back in the classroom. The children particularly loved the Peace Garden and took a moment to sit and just listen to the birds and all of the other sounds around them. Back in the classroom, the children enjoyed using their new natural resources to create their own stick people. They also had fun thinking up lots of different uses for Stick Man.

In RE, the children learnt about the Creation Story, and showed their understanding through role play and art.

This week has been  ‘Healthy Eating Week’ and Reception have played their part by promoting the ‘Drink Plenty’ aspect. They made a class collage, now framed and displayed in the dining hall and took part in an activity where they tried different flavoured water made from lemons, lime and mint. Lime infused water seemed to be the most popular, with many of the class asking for more!

Next week, Reception are starting the phonics program ‘Letters and Sounds’. Please look out for their phonics home learning book in book bags on Monday. This needs to be kept at home this year. We will be sending home a new phonics sheet every day except Friday. This will need to be stuck into their phonics book and completed daily, in order to reinforce the day’s new letter sound. Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend,

The Reception Team

Week Beginning 21.9.20

/3 Comments/in , /by

The children have completed their first full week of school and it’s safe to say that we had some very tired children by hometime today!

It has been a wonderful week of learning. The children have been very busy focussing on the story ‘Owl Babies’ by Martin Waddel. This lovely tale is about three baby owls who are missing their mummy- a perfect story for the children during this time of transition!

Over the course of the week, the children have made nests from lots of different materials, owl masks, puppets, drawings and paintings. They have also learnt lots of facts about owls and other nocturnal animals.

The children have also had lots of fun playing active maths games and exploring the other activities on offer, both in the inside and outdoor learning environments.

Reception have been participating in a Special Prayer Time every morning and we are already so impressed with their reverence! The children are also trying very hard to learn the school Mission Prayer-

We believe that we are all God’s work of art. We strive to respect and care for each other and to use our talents to do our best. By doing this, we are ‘Learning in the Light of Christ’

Reading books will be sent home over the course of next week. Information about your child’s reading day will be inside the front cover of the reading record.

Wishing you all a restful weekend,

The Early Years Team

Welcome to Reception

/6 Comments/in , /by

Welcome to Reception. It’s been a long time coming, but we are all finally together!

The children have had a fantastic first week at Pope Paul School and have enjoyed exploring their new learning environment, learning new routines, getting to know staff and making new friends. The staff have been amazed at how well they all listen and how fantastic they all are at following instructions. They are set to be a group of brilliant learners!

Here are a small selection of photos taken over the week.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

The Reception Team

 

   

 

Week Beginning 13.7.20 Reception Learning Overview

/0 Comments/in , /by

Dear Children, Parents and Carers,

It’s hard to believe that we are entering into our final week in Reception. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your amazing hard work and support over the year. It has been a pleasure to get to know you and I will miss you all.

Wishing you all a safe and happy summer,

Mrs Theo

 

Message from Mrs Carey, Year 1 teacher- Due to space and storage constraints, we do not have room for big, bulky school bags. Instead, please continue to use the book bag from Reception. Thank you.

Our final story focus is ‘Elmer’ by David McKee

Choose one or two things from each area to do over the week.

If you do not have a copy of the story, you can watch the author, David McKee, reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrD18XLmlM

 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

  • Discuss why Elmer didn’t want to be different.
  • Why is it OK to be different from other people?
  • How can we celebrate our differences like the elephants do on Elmer Day?
  • An old elephant says to Elmer “It didn’t take you long to show your true colours.” Discuss what this expression means with your family.

Communication and Language 

Things to discuss with your family:

  • In what ways are all the elephants in the herd the same?
  • In what ways are the elephants in the herd different?
  • Elmer is a different colour to the other elephants but is he the same as the other elephants in any way?
  • Is Elmer different to the other elephants in ways other than his colour?
  • Why do you think Elmer is tired of being different? How can being different make you tired?
  • Do you think that Elmer is happy when he is elephant coloured? Does it help Elmer to pretend to be something that he is not?
  • When Elmer comes back to the herd he feels that something is wrong but when he looks around everything is the same? What is different that is making Elmer feel strange?
  • Is it important to celebrate the differences between us, as well as the similarities?
  • What do you think the world would be like if we were all exactly the same? 

Physical Development

  • Make a jungle-With the help of an adult, fill a large tray/ bucket with damp soil, and collect plants leaves, grasses and twigs to place in it. If you have plastic toy animals you could place them in the tray. Perhaps you could add colour sticky squares or dots to a plastic elephant to be Elmer. Tell the story of Elmer or make up your own stories.
  • Create an elephant wash! Use some small-world elephants, some mud and some soapy water. Clean the muddy elephants! Use sponges, scrubbing brushes and pump soap dispensers.
  • Create a jungle from construction or junk modelling materials.

Maths

Count how many….

  • Berries are on the bush?
  • The coloured patches on Elmer?
  • How many elephants are in the herd?
  • How many other animals are in the jungle?

 

  • Look at the shapes and patterns on the decorated elephants. Do any of them have repeating patterns, symmetry, or tessellation?
  • Make repeated patterns using different square designs.
  • Go on a square hunt around your home. 

Literacy

  • Write a message to Elmer from the other elephants. Talk about what they might want to say to him. For example that they like him just the way he is or that they find him really funny.
  • Read more books by David McKee.Other Elmer books include:Elmer’s Colours, Elmer’s Friends, Elmer’s Day, Elmer and the Rainbow

David McKee has also written and illustrated many other popular books; titles include:* Not Now Bernard, Two Monsters, King Rollo, Mr Benn

  • Write an invitation for an Elmer’s Day celebration.
  • Write about why you are one of a kind.

 

Phonics- It is highly important that your child practises their letter sounds and tricky words and applies them through a reading and writing activity daily. Reading will help improve their vocabulary and a child’s academic success depends upon the ability to read and write and so this should be a priority.

Please continue to practise all letters sound and tricky words taught to date. They need to be able to recognise and write all phase 2 and 3 sounds in order to get off to a really good start in Year 1. If you download a sheet such as this https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-l-1972-phase-3-phonics-letters-and-assessment-sheets then you can assess your child to see which sounds your child knows securely, and which sounds need revising.

Understanding the World 

  • What is a jungle? What lives there?
  • Use an atlas or a globe to look at places around the world where there are jungles and where elephants live in the wild.
  • Find out about different types of elephants. 

Expressive Art and Design

  •  Look at different photos of elephants and draw your own.
  • How many different colours can you think of? Explore mixing colours to make new ones.
  • Make a patchwork picture inspired by the artist Kadinsky. Cut out coloured squares from a magazine, arrange the coloured squares in a patchwork design and stick on a sheet of paper.

  • Decorate an elephant like the ones joining in the Elmer parade. If you make several you could cut them out and hang them on a string suspended across a wall or ceiling to create a line of elephants on parade.
  • Make some Elmer ears or a trunk.

  • Make an Elmer lantern from a plastic milk bottle and tissue paper.
  • Bake and decorate some Elmer biscuits.

RE

To show that RE is a special learning time, we always light a candle to mark the beginning of lesson and ask ‘Who is with us when we light the candle?’ and ‘Who do we learn about in our RE lesson?’

We then say the school’s Mission Prayer together.

Please see the separate RE blog for the whole school learning focus and complete the activity. Thank you!