Welcome back to Term 6! We hope you all enjoyed a break from school work last week and continued to enjoy the lovely sunshine.
This term our whole school is working together on the same topic of JOURNEYS.
We will be thinking about many different types of journeys. Journeys to different places, real and imagined, and also the journeys of our lives. How we have changed as we have grown up, How our lives have changed throughout this school year and the journey we will make from Reception to year 1.
We will be using many stories to help us explore this topic. You can watch Mrs Fricker reading part 1 of the story Journey by Aaron Becker to introduce everyone to our new topic.
In reception we are going to start our topic by thinking about the well known story The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson. Please click here to watch Mrs Browne read the story.
This week we would like you to send us the following observations:
- Writing – Whale facts- find out some interesting facts about whales (more information below in ‘writing task’)
- Reading – Please send us an observation of your child reading so we can see how they are getting on with the online reading scheme
- Maths – The Snail and the Whale addition and subtraction (more details below in ‘Number tasks’)
- Another of your choice.
Phonics Tasks
Please recap all the phonemes, digraphs and trigraphs on the list in the shared folder.
How many can your child recognise? Make a note of those that they still need to work on and use Mr Thornes phonics to practise them.
Click here to go to Mr Thorne Does Phonics YouTube channel.
Watch this week’s phonics lessons from the phonics hub: You can use your whiteboards for these activities.
Phonics Suggestions
- Continue exploring the phonics blending games on the Phonics Play website. Start with Phase 3 and move onto phase 4 when you are ready.
Click here to go to the Phonics Play website.
Begin to work through this booklet a page at a time.
Reading tasks
Please recap all the blendable and tricky words on the list in the shared folder. How many can your child read or blend?
Blending is an essential skill for decoding new words but ultimately children need to be able to read the words by sight. If you think your child is blending words that they could recognise please encourage them to read it without blending or try to blend it ‘in their head’.
It is good to see that many of you are now using the new online Reading scheme. Please remember to let us know how you are getting on and if you think the level of books available to you needs adjusting.
If you have not logged on yet please do try to find time to do this. The Bug Club is one of the schemes that we use in school so using these books will really help your child to progress in their reading.
Story Time
- Click here to watch Miss Simmons reading a story.
- Click here to watch Miss Quinn reading a story.
- Click here to watch Mrs Wood reading a story.
Writing Task
This week our writing task is linked to the story ‘’The Snail and the Whale’ and to the Understanding the World area of our curriculum. We would like you to make a fact file about whales. This means that you need to find out some interesting non- fiction facts about whales and write them down in a list. You can use bullet points for each fact.
EG. Whales
- Whales are very big
- Whales live in the ocean.
Try to write at least 3 facts.
Draw a picture of a whale to go with your fact file.
Remember to use the ‘Everytime we write sheet’ in the shared folder.
This week we are especially looking for finger spaces and for each sentence to start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
The challenge this week is to write as many facts as you can!
Please show your children how to find out about whales by by using any non fiction books about animals that you may have at home or by using the internet (Google: ‘Whale facts KS1’ to find suitable information)
This is a good video to watch. WHALES – learning video for Kids – educational video for children
This website has a lot of information. Whale facts
Letter formation
- Find the letter formation activity sheet in the shared folder – this week we are practicing ch, sh, th, ng
Find more fine motor support and activities in the shared folder.
Mathematics tasks
- Daily number games on Number Gym: Please login and click ‘Early Maths’. You will need to enter your personal login. Click here to see instructions to log onto Number Gym. Continue to explore the games we have previously signposted for you.
- Daily counting to 20/Daily counting back from 20.
- Daily 1 more/1 less to 20. (E.g. 1 more than 3 is __ / 1 less than 12 is __)
- Writing numerals to 0-20.
- Count to 100 and sing along to this video. Click here.
This week we are going to be following the White Rose Maths home learning lessons. The lessons follow the theme of the story ‘The Snail and the Whale’ by Julia Donaldson. You can find the link to the page by clicking here. You will need to make sure you are on the correct pink tab – Summer Term – Week 6 (w/c 1st June). You can then watch the five videos (we suggest one a day) and follow the activities provided. You will need to pause the video at certain points for your child to answer questions and complete the activities etc. You can click on ‘Get the activity’ to see the slides without the voiceover. We have written an overview table below.
To start every session, the teacher sings the days of the week song. The children sing this in school, so should be able to join in!
| Day | Overview | Resources needed |
| 1 | Introducing the Snail and the Whale story. Looking at snail patterns and making a spiral using paper. Making spirals using tortilla wraps! You’ll then be able to eat them to practise subtracting. | Paper (or paper plate) Scissors Pencil Wraps Chocolate spread (or other spread) Knife Optional: resources to decorate the paper spiral. |
| 2 | Making a paper spiral and decorating it using a repeating pattern. Counting the different animals on the pages. 1/2/3 more animals come along, how many animals are there now? Please send us an observation of this activity – Encourage your child to record the numerals of the amount of animals and write number sentences e.g 4 + 2 = 6. | Paper Pencil A few colours of paint Optional: Cotton buds (or you could use your finger to finger paint!) |
| 3 | Looking at and counting the dangers for the snail on each page. You will need to use the book, watch Mrs Browne’s video or use this one on YouTube. Counting and recording using numerals or tallies. | Whiteboard and pen |
| 4 | Counting animals/items in the story and identifying if they are an odd or even amount. Encourage your child to record the number of animals in each place. You can use the number formation sheet in the shared drive to support with the formation of numbers if needed. | Tens frame (in the shared folder) Optional: 2 plates to share (helping to find out if there is an odd/even amount) Whiteboard and pen |
| 5 | Using the language “higher” and “lower” to talk about positions. Learning a song with positional language. Thinking about a snail trail. Making your own map of where you have been. Please encourage your child to talk about distance and position. | Paper Pencil |
Number Suggestion
- Snail and the Whale ‘Colour by numbers’ in the shared folder.
- Use the ‘Teddy sharing’ sheet to practise sharing skills. Find the sheet in the shared folder.
- Count the minibeasts in the tens frames. Find the ‘minibeast counting’ in the shared folder.
- Try some of the ‘Activity mats’ in the shared folder. There are 11 in the PDF document and they require a range of skills. They are great for keeping knowledge and understanding going in all areas of maths.
- ‘Dice doubles’ in the shared folder.
Shape, Space and Measure suggestions
- Try some of the ‘Activity mats’ in the shared folder. There are 11 in the PDF document and they require a range of skills. They are great for keeping knowledge and understanding going in all areas of maths.
Help the children work out whose drink is whose! Try the ‘In a muddle – capacity’ worksheet in the shared folder.
Understanding the World
This week we have been looking at the story ‘The Snail and the Whale’. Can you find out some interesting facts about different whales? Some things you could find out about include: What are the different types of whales? What whale is the biggest? How big/heavy are whales? What do whales eat? Where do whales live in the world?
Expressive Arts and Design
- Have a go at making your own origami Whale. Click here to find your very own step-by-step guide to show you how to make an easy origami whale.
- Can you paint a picture of your favourite whale that you found out about?
- Continue to explore Purplemash and the games and activities in the Minimash area. Click here to see instructions for parent
PSHE
- This week we are beginning to think about change and what we can do if we are worried. With your child, think about what things have changed in your lives during this coronavirus time? Make a list or a brainstorm and draw a smiley/ sad/ puzzled/ angry face beside each one. Assure your child that it’s ok to have these different feelings, and really important to talk about them. Point out and encourage the positive things. Have there been some really good things which we could keep on doing (e.g. going for a family walk or bike ride)
Many changes happen in our lives, and that’s normal and it’s ok. What makes a difference is how we react to those changes. Remembering things that have changed and noticing and being thankful for the positive things can help us to be hopeful for changes that will come.
You know your child! Each one has had a different experience of this coronavirus time. Some may be more excited about returning to school than they are worried. Judge how your child is feeling, and take care not to project your own feelings onto them. Above all, do ensure you give them time to talk about their feelings, whatever they may be!
Watch/ listen to a story about what to do if you are worried:
- Ruby’s Worry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IhhCq44ar8
- The Worrysaurus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYV_o9Uj2jc
Invite your child to tell you if there is anything they are worried about. Really listen to your child, and try one of the activities to help them deal with worries. Click here for activities.
Physical Development
- Continue with Joe Wicks daily P.E sessions daily live at 9am. These can also be accessed at any time during the day on YouTube.
- Learn a new game that you can play with the people in your household. This is a great opportunity to spend some time outside. Here is a game everyone can be involved with:
Target throwing:
Set up different target areas in your garden, each target with a different number. Can you aim and throw a beanbag/teddy/ball etc into the target and add up how many points you can get. See if you can get the most points against others in your household. You could use hoops for targets or make your own using string or tape.
Funny Running
The objective of funny running is to get from one side of the garden to the other while running like an animal. You can choose a different animal for each pass, including monkeys, snakes, horses, and kangaroos. You can also have the kids run across the garden while performing a funny dance. Put some catchy music on to add to the fun!
- Can you beat Miss Quinn in another challenge? She was able to do 7 press ups in a row- Can your child beat this? See if you can improve on this each time.
- Take part in a yoga class, using cosmic kids. Click here for one about ‘Popcorn the Dolphin’
- Listen to BBC Let’s move dance routines; you can involve other members of your household with this. Click here for ‘Flying Dragon searches for ants’