We love to learn in Mrs Willis's Class! Our children are very creative! They like to make and do, build and create. They also love to explore, to find out new information and to solve puzzles. Of course, there is a time for more formal learning, but where possible we like to do this as actively as possible.
Have a look at some of the things we have been up to in class.
Creative Development
Linked to our work on penguins, we used our new found knowledge to design and make our own penguin sock puppet. We thought about the features of a penguin and added these to our design. We used an old sock plus pieces of fabric, feathers and googly eyes to complete our projects.
Understanding the World - Frozen Planet
What an amazing world we live in! We have been so eager to find out all about our frozen planet and were very interested in learning about penguins. We carried out lots of research using non-fiction books to help us learn more about these birds. We particularly enjoyed watching penguins live via the Edinburgh Zoo streaming facility.
Understanding the World - People who help us in our community.
What a humbling afternoon the EYFS children spent with Carole and Heather at the Salvation Army in Penrith. We delivered all of your wonderful Foodbank donations from our Harvest celebration and even helped to make up a food parcel ready to be collected by a young gentleman tomorrow. The children loved finding the items on the shelves and deciding which biscuits, drinks and tinned food he might like to eat.
Understanding the World - Finding out about people who help us
We have all enjoyed finding out about people who help us. We started off by looking at the people in our homes help us and how we can help them. Following this, we looked around our school to identify people who help us here. We have also been finding out how people in our community can help us - including the emergency services.
Mathematical Development
We have been focusing on addition and subtraction this half term. We have used a range of methods to practise these skills and have been learning how to write simple number sentences.
Writing
The story of 'Handa's Surprise' by Eileen Browne has been the inspiration for our writing. We have been learning how to retell stories orally, created story maps and retold the story in our own words. We even had a go at innovating the story together to make a new version.
Physical Development
We have been enjoying the sunny weather and using our outdoor classroom to practise our balancing, skipping, bike riding and scootering skills. The children have also enjoyed learning how to hula-hoop!
Physical Development/PE
In PE we have been learning how to play cricket and develop our throwing, catching and hitting skills as well as learning the rules of a team game as batters and fielders.
Creative Development
In art, our focus has been colour mixing. We have been finding out about art and culture from other countries and particularly enjoyed making these African sunsets.
Music
In class we have been following 'Charanga - Big Bear Funk' unit. We have appraised a range of songs from James Brown, Incognito and Earth, Wind and Fire, taken time to explore and create music using our own voices and percussion instruments as well as learning new songs which we have then performed.
Outdoor Learning - Welly Wednesday
We love to get out into the forest each week. Here we are practising some yoga and team games with our friends.
Links to useful website for children in Pre-school and Reception
Phonics
Phonics Play - www.phonicsplay.co.uk
Teach your monster to read - www.teachyourmonstertoread.com
BBC Bitesize Phonics Phase 2 & 3 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zcqqtfr
Alphablocks - https://www.learningblocks.tv/alphablocks/home
English
Small Town Superheroes - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zd63xyc/articles/zncgvk7
Maths
Numberblocks - https://www.learningblocks.tv/numberblocks/home
