Friday 15th November 2024
This week we have been very busy learning about Remembrance Day, Autumn and Children in need.
We began the week with Remembrance Day. We had a class discussion to help the children understand the concepts of peace, respect, and the importance of remembering those who have served in wars. The children had the opportunity to make their own poppy and create poppy artwork. We observed a moment of silence at 11 O’clock and the children were very respectful. In addition to the poppy artwork the children had the opportunity to dress as soldiers in our role-play area and carried out all kinds of peace keeping activities and adventures. We had lots of camping around the classroom and snacks prepared in the battlefield.
Throughout the week, the children explored the season of Autumn through a variety of hands-on activities that sparked their curiosity and creativity. They began by listening to the story *Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn*, which introduced them to the changes that happen in nature as the seasons shift. This helped them understand the transition from warm summer days to cooler, colourful autumn months. The children then engaged in imaginative play with a small world autumn scene, where they created their own autumn stories using miniature trees, animals, and fallen leaves. Finally, they had the opportunity to paint their own autumn trees, using rich colours like red, orange, and yellow to capture the beauty of the season. These activities not only deepened their understanding of autumn but also encouraged them to appreciate the natural world around them.
In our Message Centre lessons this week the children had a visit from the ‘Min Pins’. The ‘Min Pins’ live in the magical woods and can visit out classroom through a special fairy door. They left us a message to let the children know they were in the classroom but it was just symbols. The children needed to interpret the message to work out what the 'Min Pins' wanted us to know. It was amazing to listen to the children’s interpretations of the message and in the end, we agreed that they were telling us where they lived and that they would like us to write back to them. The children were keen to write messages back and excited to see if they had a response the following day which they did!
We have been explorers of four in our Maths sessions this week. The children have made collections of four and discussed what is four or not four. They had the opportunity to watch the ‘Stampolines’ episode of Numberblocks which showed the different shapes the numbers could make. The children focused on four and experimented with all the different shapes that four could make using the unifix cubes. We also looked at all the numbers that hide in four to support them to recognise their number bonds to four.
We ended the week in a sea of colour as the children spent a cosy and caring day in pyjamas to raise money for Children in Need. We supported the children to understand where the money raised would be spent and how it would help those less fortunate. The children learned about the importance of kindness, sharing, and how even small actions can make a big difference in the lives of others.
Don’t forget to check out our RWI blog to support your child’s reading development. Some children will come home with a book/Ditty Sheet this week as well as a reading diary. Inside the reading diary, will be a sticker with a login to Oxford owl which is a site we subscribe to and you can access to support your child’s learning. Please remember to send your child’s book and reading diary back into school every Friday. Some children are still working on their sound knowledge so please continue to use the cards to develop their fluency. Children will only come home with a book when they can blend sounds to read words.
https://www.westbury-inf.wilts.sch.uk/RWI-Blog/
Next week we have our visit to Moors Valley – Please remember to send your child with a bag and come to school in their own clothes and footwear suitable for climbing and walking in the woods.
18th November – last day for ordering Christmas cards (orders to be made online)
19th November – reception trip to Moors Valley (4pm return) Children wear their own clothes and shoes appropriate for climbing/woodland.
26th November – Bag2school collection
27th November – whole school flu vaccination
2nd-19th December - Christmas Raffle tickets on sale
5th December - Decorate a Christmas Jar entries to be in school
6th December - Christmas Story Telling
6th December - Non uniform day - tombola prize donation
17th December - Reception Christmas Nativity @9.30
18th December - Christmas Dinner - Wear a Christmas jumper
19th December - Reception Christmas Nativity @14.00 followed by the Christmas Fayre.
