We have completed the penultimate week of term 5, and what a week it has been. We would like to thank you all for your time this week, we have loved talking to you about your child during our parent teacher consultations.

Phonics

Children are working so incredibly hard in RWI sessions. They are recalling sounds they are learning with increased speed and accuracy. Reading at home provides children with extra practise to reinforce this learning, so we thank you for continuing to support with this. We hope after your parent teacher consultations, you know what your child’s next steps in reading are. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask your class teacher.

 

Maths

This week we have been learning to compare indirectly. We did this by comparing mass using other objects to compare. We used words such as lighter than and heavier than when comparing. The rest of the week we spent practising our teen numbers. We practised recognising 10 without having to count it (we could see ten on the full tens frame). Using this we could count on into the teen numbers. We discussed the trickier numbers such as 11, 12, 13 and 15 and how they do not follow a pattern in how they are spoken. After this, we practised writing teen numbers, understanding the 1 represents one ten and then the additional ones written after. Once we were confident with identifying teen numbers, we practised ordering them using our knowledge of ten and x ones is …

Next week we will be recalling our number bonds.

Thematic Curriculum

Our thematic learning this week introduced the Hindu festival Holi. Children enjoyed learning about the festival of colour and the story behind it.

There was an evil king called Hiranyakashipu. He had special powers that made him invincible, so he wanted everyone to worship him like a god. However, his son Prahlad disagreed with this and continued to worship the Hindu god Vishnu instead. Angry that Prahlad was not obeying him, the king plotted with his sister Holika.

Holika had a cloak which protected her from fire, so she tricked Prahlad to sit with her in the bonfire. When the fire was lit, however, the cloak flew off Holika and on to Prahlad. This represents good triumphing over evil.

We listened to music played during the Holi festival, and created art using paints, chalks and crayons. We also learnt Hindus celebrate Holi with dancing. We watched a dance made using actions from the story and learnt some of the dance moves. We performed in front of the class in our house groups. Finally we celebrated with our own bonfire, eating snacks and throwing chickpeas into the fire.

Next week we will be exploring the Christian celebration of Easter.

Home learning

We will be sending home love to learn books this week to give you a head start before the Easter holidays. Please see details below.

Next term our topic will be ‘Growth’.  For your child’s love to learn challenge, we would like you and your child to plant a seed of your choice.  Please could you detail the changes that happen to the seed/plant as it grows. Also note what you need to do to the seed/plant in order to help it grow.  You could do this by taking photos or asking your child to draw a picture of the seed/plant at various stages of growth.  We ask that you return your child’s love to learn book by Wednesday 17^th April. We understand your seed may not be fully grown by then but hopefully the children will have seen some changes. They are welcome to bring in their plant to show if they wish.   

Many Thanks 

From the Foundation Stage Team 

Key Messages

• If you have not already done so, please email a photo of your child as a baby, or from when they were younger, to your child’s class teacher by Thursday 28^th March.

• PE kits need to be worn in to school each Friday please.

• Please ensure that children have a named water bottle which is already filled with water at the start of each day.

• All clothing to be named please!

• Please complete the WOW moment sheets regularly so that we can add these to the children’s learning journey books.

 

Key dates

Monday 25^th March – Come Dine With Me for Reception & Year 6

BLUE VIKINGS won the house point challenge and will have a non school uniform day on Thursday 28^th March.

Thursday 28^th March – Easter Egg Hunts

Thursday 28^th March – Easter Bonnet Parade 10:30 for Reception, Year 1&2 (parents invited)

Thursday 28^th March – Term 4 ends (normal time @3:10)

Friday 29^th March – Good Friday

Monday 15^th March - Term 5 begins

e-mail addresses

nicki.cotton@chiltonprimary.co.uk

emma.dudley-smith@chiltonprimary.co.uk

kirby.walker@chiltonprimary.co.uk

 

Many thanks for all your continued support,

EYFS team