Week 5

Sam Plants a Sunflower

Reception enjoyed looking through this book by Axel Scheffler and the National Trust.  Sam loves big, yellow sunflowers and decides to plant his own seeds. We watched the seeds grow and loved the big sunflower pop-up surprise at the end.  Reception used the helpful tips to plant their own seeds and write instructions.

Number Tracks

This week in Maths Reception have been comparing numbers and exploring where they belong on a number track. Through games, dice and races the children practised careful counting and talked about which numbers are bigger, smaller, before or after. They enjoyed spotting mistakes, finding missing numbers and building their own 'mental number lines'.

Week 4

Handa's Surprise 

This week we have been reading the story "Handa's Surprise" set in Kenya.  The children tasted tropical fruits and developed their descriptive language.  Many of us were adventurous and tried the tangy passionfruit!  We wrote a riddle and described what our chosen fruit looks, tastes and feels like. 

Number Bonds to 10

This week in maths the children explored how numbers 6 to 10 are made using the idea of 5 and a bit. They used dice frames, ten frames and finger patterns to see different ways to make 10. The children enjoyed games like 'Dont Burn the Sausages' which helped them practise saying what each number needs to make 10. They are becoming more confident with number bonds to 10.

Week 3

Peepo!

We have been looking at the story "Peepo!" by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.  A story set in the 1940's which looks at what a baby can see as they look around their family home.  We enjoyed comparing some of the rooms in the story, to what our houses and rooms look like now.  We saw a kettle, an iron and toilets that were very different from what we are used to!  

Five Little Kittens

The children explored the composition of 5 through the rhyme "Five Little Kittens".  Using their fingers to show how many kittens were on and off the bed helped them see that 5 can be made in different ways, and they practised working out the hidden amount when some kittens were 'under' the bed.

Week 2

The Zig Zags

We had a lovely morning in Early Years welcoming author Naomi Barley to West Denton Primary School.  She shared her story "The Zig Zags" about the Spots, the Stripes and the Zig Zags on planet Zorkk.  The children enjoyed making crafts linked to the book.  

 The Planets

Reception listened to the opposing music compositions Mars and Venus from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”.  We moved and drew shapes in response to the angry and then relaxing music.  

Doubles

The children have been learning their double facts by filling ten frames in twos.  They enjoyed seeing how each pair built the total and were quick to spot when a frame showed a double. Their confidence with doubles is really starting to grow.

Week 1

 Whatever Next!

Reception have enjoyed a space themed week inspired by the Jill Murphy story “Whatever Next!”.  The children used props to act out the story.  We have been practising how to use a capital letter, finger spaces and a full stop when writing sentences.

Counting 

The children practised counting bigger collections by moving objects or marking them off one by one, helping them see how systematic counting makes it easier to know ‘how many altogether’.