Handwriting – a helpful video
The Year 1s we have started learning how to write letters using a lead-in line. We have practised ‘c’ and ‘o’ so far. Next week, we will be practising ‘a’. In year two, children are encouraged to join letters. A copy of the handwriting guide can be found here. Try watching this at home to support your child’s learning. (This is a YouTube link. Top tip for watching YouTube with your child: go to the settings cog along the play bar and turn off autoplay – this avoids an inappropriate clip coming up automatically, and helps to discourage your child from passively watching clip after clip.)
Children In Need
It’s Children In Need this Friday and we are celebrating it by having a non-uniform day – the first one for Foundation!
Children can come to school in their own clothes.
Please remember that we enjoy getting messy in Foundation so make sure your child still comes to school in suitable clothing and footwear.
What’s that coming over the hill…
This week in our writing, we have been learning to use adjectives (gives more information about a noun) and expanded noun phrases ( adds more detail to the noun by adding one or more adjectives). The children have been using these to describe their greek mythical creatures. Have a look at a few of our descriptions (copied exactly from their books – how fantastic are our writers!):
Over the hill came a monster…It was a three-eyed, prickly faced monster. Its face was as stripy as a zebra! It has two ears on each side of its head and a patch of freckles on its nose. It had a four-armed, purple body like a purple, slimy alien. It was as small as a mouse and you would barely see it coming! Its footsteps were so quiet adventurers can’t even catch one! It has six legs. On one side it has three spikey feet and on the other it has three human feet. The finger nails were as sharp as a knife. It had a ripped, beautiful butterfly shirt and one eye closed at one side of its face. It kind of had the nose of a lion. After hours, it finally ran away silently. (Leah)
Over the hill came a monster… Its head looked like a tiger. Its enormous eyes would surely be able to see everything but the scariest part is that it has venomous, purple prickles on its back! There’s more about this monster, it has dark spots and black stripes on his arms. The legs are like a human, feet even with shoes on! It has ears like a polar bear, pretty good to hear with. The last and smallest part is the really sharp teeth. Some even as sharp as a shark! So now you know it’s scary if you see it run! (Jacob)
Over the hill came a monster… with its smelly and venomous spots. Its eyes as big as boulders could catch anything at the corner of his eyes! They glistened around the gloomy, eerie forest. The ears would point out like razor, sharp knives scaring the other animals. Feet as small as cute as little bunny paws. Its neck was as wavy as an aliens’ arm. The legs were as long as the alphabet and were as bendy as a sheet of paper. It makes sounds which are as noisy as a monkey and it chomped on its food hungrily. It also has lived for over 100 years. (Siana)
Art – a type of therapy as well as a lesson?
We have being doing lots of art since we returned to school in September. It has been proven to help us relax, is enjoyable, gives us time to talk to each other and helps us express ourselves.
Living and Learning: I can show perseverance
This week, our living and learning statement is “I can show perseverance”.
The children were able to describe that perseverance was “keeping on going when things get difficult” and “not giving up”. We talked about the different ways we could show perseverance in school and at home.
During our living and learning session, we practised perseverance. In pairs, we had some tangrams to complete.
“We had to persevere to make the different shapes because it wasn’t easy and we couldn’t do it the first time we tried.”
The children have been fantastic at showing perseverance in school this week especially during their maths learning.
Hunter-gatherers
This week, we’ve been enjoying our history topic all about the Stone, Bronze and Iron Age. One of the words we’re learning from our history vocabulary list is hunter-gatherer. We found out that hunter-gatherers were pre-historic nomadic groups who would move around searching for food for basic survival.
Hunter-gatherers would rely on hunting and fishing animals and gathering for wild vegetation and other nutrients like honey, for food.
The early hunter-gatherers used simple tools. During the Stone Age, sharpened stones were used for cutting in order to hunt and gather.
So, we decided to become hunter-gatherers in our school grounds but focused on the gathering of plants!
We found out that there were lots of plants that hunter-gatherers would eat/drink that are not as popular today. Some of these include dandelions, beechnuts, acorns, nettles and hawthorns.
Celebration certificates
It was great to see (nearly) everyone back this week. Lockdown will not get us down!
As we can’t have our usual celebration assembly on a Friday at the moment, I will be posting the certificate winners on here each week.
For great learning…
Murielle: for great learning in writing this week – using adjectives in your sentences about the Great Fire of London.
For living and learning…
Aubree: for showing perseverance in your first week at St James’. You are a brilliant role model.
Our First Week Back
Foundation have had a great first week back!
Thank you to everyone who sent in photos of their half-term activities and adventures. It was lovely to see what you got up to! Please continue to send in home learning moments – they are really useful.
Literacy
This week, we’ve been reading The Three Little Pigs. The children have enjoyed acting out the story in every area of the classroom! They used different vocal expressions especially when being the big bad wolf. In the construction area, the children built new houses for the pigs. We talked about the different materials the pigs used and why the stick and straw house blew over straight away. 
On Thursday morning, the children found footprints near the writing area. We used magnifying glasses to look closer. Throughout the day, they found other clues.
“Look Miss Marsden! There’s scratches on the ceiling.”
“There’s a hole – the wolf must have done it.”
“There’s another scratch here. Wolves have really sharp claws.”
After spending the morning investigating, we all came to a conclusion and agreed that the footprints belonged to the big bad wolf. The children made wanted posters to stick up around the classroom.
Bonfire Night
We had lots of fun making and creating things to help celebrate Bonfire Night. We made fireworks in the playdough area, rockets at the creative table, moved like fireworks in PE and printed fireworks using bubble wrap.
Lunchtime
The lunch menu has changed and the children are loving the new choices!
Maths
This week, we have finalised our learning on number two. The children know what 2 is and what it looks like in the everyday environment.
On Thursday, we made number two stories.
Here’s an example…
First, there was one frog sat on a log.
Then, another frog joined him on the log.
Now, there are two frogs sat on the log.
We also went on a number one and two hunt. The children compared the pictures and explained why it was one or two.
On Friday, the children played hide and seek with Sammy St James to help them understand prepositional language.
“Sammy is hiding behind the shed.”
“Sammy is hiding under the table.”
“Sammy is next to the Miss Marsden.”
Phonics
F2 have started to write captions in phonics. When we are writing we….
1. Think of a caption or sentence.
2. Say it out loud.
3. Count the words.
4. Segment the words.
5. Write the caption or sentence.
6. CHECK!
F1 Group Time
Every morning the F1 children have their group time. This is what they’ve been up to this week…
On Monday, they had a talk time session all about Bonfire Night. The children loved drawing what they might see and hear.
Careful counting on Thursday.
Home-Link Challenge
Have a lovely weekend!
Nursery Rhyme Week
16th – 20th November 2020
World Nursery Rhyme Week is fast approaching and we are delighted to confirm we will be taking part. The initiative, which was launched in 2013, promotes the importance of nursery rhymes in early childhood development and education with a particular focus on how nursery rhymes boost early language and literacy skills.
We have a number of activities planned throughout the week including: making a cup of tea using little teapots, building a wall for Humpty Dumpty, hopping like the Five Little Speckled Frogs and helping Incy Wincy Spider. We will be doing lots more activities linked to other nursery rhymes!
Singing nursery rhymes is a wonderful activity you can enjoy doing together at home and all of the resources are available for you to download. You can access all of the free resources at: www.worldnurseryrhymeweek.com
Thank you!
Miss Marsden
History topic – The Great Fire of London
We have started a new history topic. Lots of our learning will be linked to The Great Fire of London. We are reading this book to support our learning:
You could search for a video of it on You Tube or there is a slideshow of the story here that you can read with your child at home.
We will be learning about where and how the fire started, why it ended up being so ‘great’ and what happened afterwards. We will also be learning about fire safety.
Help at home by asking your child about what they have learnt about The Great Fire of London so far.