Our first half term as Owls (Autumn 1)
Date: 6th Nov 2022 @ 9:53pm
Wow! What a fantastic first half term we have had. This half term has seen all of our Owls settle in amazingly. We are so proud of their enthusiasm, kindness, politeness, their sharing, exploring and learning. They have begun their school life in such a positive and admirable way, you are all superstars!
This half term, we have been super busy with our text, "The Colour Monster." The children have used this text as a basis for their work that they have taken part in, we have explored the different feelings in the book and why we may feel these ways, as well as how our body feels when we experience these feelings. We used this in our PE sessions, where we have been using a range of apparatus to travel around. We used the different feelings to move in different ways. Throughout our English, we explored other words for each of these feelings to widen our vocabulary. The children also enjoyed thinking about ways to help us calm down, so we created sensory bottles, colour wheels and a sensory area. The children have loved sitting in our sensory area, using the different resources to help them with their feelings.
In our Maths, we have been taking part in a range of different activities, learning about weight and length, repeating patterns, matching, sorting and composition of number. The children have compared lengths of measuring snakes, blocks, natural objects, weighed conkers, art resources and we even weighed ingredients against an egg in order to make cupcakes. We then used food colouring to colour them Colour Monster colours to create our own multi coloured cupcakes. Additionally, we created repeating patterns using programmes on the interactive whiteboard, peg boards, natural objects, compare bears, numicon and counters. Using coloured objects, we sorted them to the corresponding Colour Monster and sorted different natural objects into groups. We also used socks to match as well as different shapes and again, natural objects. Finally, we used a wide range of objects to explore more and less and the composition of numbers to 3.
In Phonics, we have begun learning our Phase 2 sounds and tricky words. We have used a range of online activities to support our learning, we have used spoons to scoop out ping pong balls or conkers from water or leaves. We have used a range of sound pots with objects beginning with that sound in, the children have named them and also sorted them into the correct pots. The children love using the parachute, so we have placed ducks with sounds on their bottoms on the parachute and when one fell down the hole, we had to work out which sound had fell through. We then used these ducks in our rainbow river and played hook a duck. Using our books, sand, whiteboards, lentils and more, we have practiced writing the graphemes. To support our fine motor control, we have had a wide range of activities such as picking up buttons with our pinchy fingers, popping bubble wrap, using tweezers, posting items, using playdough and developing our dough gym. This has had a positive impact on our pencil control and consequently our writing.
We have had many welly walks looking for signs of Autumn and discussing the colours, the changes to the trees and weather, the animals that we see at this time of year. We have been exploring our outside area, which we are super excited to be having completely revamped soon. We have also explored a range of balancing and climbing equipment in our field as well.
Our PSHE has been about 'Relationships,' and we have thought about ourselves, what we are good at, what makes us special, special things to us and people who are special to us. We have equally been exploring our sharing and caring skills with our new class friends.
Well done to all of our Owls, you have had a busy first half term and we can't wait for more fun in Autumn 2.
Thank you to all of our parents and carers who have been such a fantastic support.
Mrs Ings and Mrs Gillibrand
