Reception Weekly Newsletter

Term: Summer 2 Date 17.06.13

This week, we are continuing with our Summer topic, ‘Buckets and Spades’. Over the next few weeks we will be focussing on books linked to the seaside and water. Our learning this week, will be based around the story of ‘The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch’. 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.
Organising new tidy up teams for this week.
In circle time, we will chatting about the importance of friends and working together. We will be reinforcing one of our 4Rs – reciprocity.

Communication and Language
We will be reading the story of ‘The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch’ and discussing the beginning, middle and ending of the story. We will be asking the children ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions.

Physical
Exploring our outside area and how to use the equipment.

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. 
Name writing using chalks, pens, paint brushes, foam etc…
Writing sentences to go with the story working on capital letters, finger spaces and full stops.
Making a list of things to put in Mr Grinling’s basket or their own lunch box.
We will be continuing our daily Read Write Inc sessions.

Maths
Reinforcing capacity in the water and sand areas.
Working out how many objects have been taken from Mr Grinling’s basket. Can the children record their findings?
Making sandwiches – working out halves, sharing equally.
The children will be solving problems, including doubling, halving and sharing and learning the ‘double’ song. 

Understanding of the World
Using purple mash on the computer, designing under the sea scenes.
Modelling how to make a circuit. To see if the children can make a circuit to make the bulb light on top of the light house.

Expressive Arts and Design 
Enjoying our daily dance warm up to the ‘5 a day’ fitness programme. 
Role play – Mr Grinling’s cottage/boat/ seaside cafe
Creating a large undersea collage outside.
To make lighthouses out of junk materials/clay. To cover with strips of sticky paper.

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.
Show and tell this week should be linked to the story of ‘The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch’.

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.
Encourage your children to use the correct pencil grip using ‘froggy fingers’.
Looking at shapes around the home: cereal boxes, tins of food, clocks, doors, windows etc…. try and discuss how many sides, corners, faces they have.
If you are feeling creative, have a go at making a lighthouse out of junk materials.

Homework this half term is ‘Summer Fun’. You might decide to make a poster about keeping safe in the sun, the importance of drinking water or the water cycle. You could make a poster about holidays you have been on or days out to the seaside or maybe a poster about now and then, comparing days out long ago to now. If you are feeling creative maybe you could do some sand art. As usual, you have until the end of term to complete your homework.

Thank you for your continued support.