Reception Learning

Floating and Sinking

In Reception this half term, we had a visitor in to teach us all about floating and sinking. The children made balls and then boats using playdough and were surprised to discover that the boats could float but the balls couldn’t. They also tested bottles that had sand in　compared to empty bottles and found out that the empty bottles could float.

Helping the Hedgehogs

Following children’s interest in hedgehogs we invited Darren the rescued hedgehog to come and visit. This was very popular and we decided to find out more about hedgehogs and how the children could help them. They raised £75 for the Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital by making cakes to sell after the Reception assembly and this was delivered to the hospital who were grateful to the children for their care. We will be continuing to find out more about hedgehogs, what happens to them during the year and how we can help to protect them.

Three Billy Goats Gruff

This half term, children have been learning the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The children learned the story and actions. Some children also had a go at writing the whole story independently. In our workshop area, the children painted their own trolls and cut these out carefully. We also looked at bridges from around the world and the children had a ‘task of the week’ to build their own bridge for the three billy goats. Our story has also linked to spring and children have been exploring the outside area for signs of spring.

World Book Day

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 7^th March, all pupils at Queen Edith dressed up as animals! Look below at some of our lovely photos.

We all linked our English work to the book Welcome by Barroux. Reception children made their own islands inspired by those in the book. Year 1 designed a welcoming place for the monkeys from the story to stay in. Year 4 wrote inner monologues imagining that they were in that situation. Later Years pupils looked at Welcome and also Leaf, The Day War Came, The Island and The Arrival and found out about refugees around the world before writing diary entries, imagining that they were in that situation.

The Snow Queen

Children have been learning our own story of the snow queen who turns everything to ice and snow. They were very excited to find real snow and loved exploring it. We also discussed ice in the water tray and how long it would take to melt. Children went outside to find out about winter weather and use the thermometer to see if it was freezing. They made their own ice palaces for the queen and after she sent them an email they researched animals that come from cold climates. They thought of words to describe the queen’s palace and then told their parents the story in their assembly. Afterwards, children celebrated with a Snow Queen party when they ate chocolate Crispie Cakes and Apple Sorbet which they had made.

Celebrating in the Autumn Term

This term we have been celebrating family festivals with our children. They made group fireworks, shouting out the sounds that their firework made as they made paint splashes. We learnt how to dance to Indian music for Diwali, made cucumber raita, and took part in different activities in the Foundation Stage.

Children also celebrated Christmas with a concert for their parents and carers. They told the story of ‘The Gingerbread Man’ and sang some songs about getting ready for Christmas. Children made cards on the computer and prepared their own food for their Christmas party. They also joined together for a Christmas Activity Morning with Nursery.

The Gingerbread Man

This half term, Reception have been learning the story of ‘The Gingerbread Man’. We discovered some footprints and crumbs in our garden and the children decided it must have been the fox from the story! The children enjoyed re-telling the story using actions. We have taken part in a range of activities linked to our story including: making gingerbread men out of clay, making houses for our gingerbread men in the workshop, learning songs and using technology to decorate gingerbread men. We also went to the shops to buy the ingredients to bake our own gingerbread men.

The Enormous Turnip

Children helped to pull up some vegetables form our garden area. They then learnt the story of ‘The Enormous Turnip’ using storytelling actions. They cut out and ordered different sized turnips, investigated and printed with different vegetables, wrote shopping lists for turnip soup and then chopped up the vegetables to make their own. It was very popular! Children also had a kitchen in their role play areas where they pretended to cook their own soup. Each class created their own story based on The Enormous Turnip and wrote about their new vegetable.

Settling into Reception

Children have settled into Reception after visits with their parent or carers. They started in each class during the first week of the school year and either came full or part time, depending on their parent or carers choice. Activities reflected children’s interests discussed at each child’s personal visit with their new teacher. During the first few weeks, we got to know each other. Children began by learning routines and exploring the classrooms both indoors and outside. We introduced animal characters to help them begin to understand how to learn- such as ‘Concentrating Crocodiles’, ‘Go For It Gorillas’ and ‘Exploring Elephants’. These learning skills will be developed during the year.