Reception Weekly Newsletter

Term: Summer 1 Date 22.04.13

The outdoor environment proved very popular last week, judging by the beaming smiles from both the children and staff.

Our topic this term is going to be ‘Story land’. We will be focussing on fantasy stories and stories from different cultures. This week we will be basing new skills around the story, ‘Handa’s Surprise’.
Your child will be taking part in the following activities within the seven areas of development (activities are subject to change, depending on the children’s interests; however, the skills remain the same):


Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Discuss where the story ‘Handa’s Surprise’ is set. We will be locating Africa on a map. We will be encouraging the children to discuss differences between Africa and England.

Communication and Language
Sharing the story Handa’s Surprise. Where do they think the story is set? Why? Encourage children to retell the story using different props.

Physical
Exploring our new outside area and how to use the equipment
PE in the hall.

Literacy
The children need to be bringing in their reading books daily. We praise the children who regularly read at home to an adult and have a reward system in place.
Writing our names encouraging correct pencil grip.
We will be continuing our daily Read Write Inc sessions.

Maths
Exploring ‘Ten Town’ encouraging correct number formation.
Singing number songs.
Playing a data handling game and answering questions: who collected most fruit? Who has the most bananas? How many more pineapples does one child have than the other? Etc….
Weighing the different fruits to find out which is heavier or lighter?

Understanding of the World
In small groups, children to touch, smell and taste fruits. Can the children name the fruits? Discuss the shape and texture of each fruit. Which fruits have rough skin, smooth skin? Guess at what colour the fruit is inside. Can the children see any seeds? Does the fruit look different if we cut it a different way? Etc….

Expressive Arts and Design
Music express
Enjoying our daily dance warm up to the ‘5 a day’ fitness programme.
Role play – green grocers shop.
Observational drawings of fruits.
Fruit printings.
Show the children the different fruits. Can they create a representation of the fruit using different materials?Creating a large collage outside.


Messages:
Please follow Broadford on facebook (remember to press the ‘like’ button) and twitter. We update the Early Years blog regularly with photos and information.
If you have any cardboard tubes, we would be most grateful for them.
Show and tell this week will be on Friday. Children may bring in something related to Handa’s Surprise or a different country to talk about.
Our ‘Stay and Play’ session for parents and guardians will be on the 1st May. We will be having two sessions. Either come to the morning sessions at 10.30 until 11.30 or the afternoon session at 2.30 – 3.15. Younger Siblings welcome to come and join in the fun.

Ways to help at home:
Sharing books to encourage story language and imagination.
Playing letters and sounds phase 2 and phase 3 games on the computer.





Homework this half term is ‘Story Land’. Children can either produce a poster about their favourite books; this may be a favourite story or an information book. Alternatively, the children could work on producing their own story demonstrating their great writing skills and imagination. Homework will need to be returned by the end of this half term.