Outdoor learning in Reception
The children spend a lot of time learning outside in Reception.
The following information about the importance of being outside is taken from the revised curriculum for the Foundation Stage:
- Being outdoors has a positive impact on children’s sense of well-being and this has an impact on all aspects of children’s development.
- Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things differently and on a different scale than when learning indoors.
- It gives children first hand contact with weather, seasons and the natural world.
- Outdoor environments offer children freedom to explore, use their senses and be physically active and exuberant.
Look at some of the things we have been doing outside.
We’ll be outside all winter, so please ensure your child has suitable clothing. Wellington boots are a good idea!
Goodbye Tanishqa
Today, we had to say goodbye to a well-loved member of our class. Tanishqa has been an asset to Moortown. She has a close group of friends who will miss her dearly. Best wishes to Tanishqa and her family in their fresh start in India.
Car craft!
This term in DT, we’ve been planning, measuring and sawing and I’m pleased to announce that there were no injuries! We wanted to make a car but first we had to come with some ideas of how we were going to do it. Once we had a sketched a design, we started writing down some measurements.
Our resources ready, we got to work measuring and sawing.
We needed to be really accurate with our measuring.
Finally, we started to piece together our car.
Mr Wilks and I also built a life-size prototype which the children were able to ride.
But not before I had a go!
Cross Country
Today, Year 3 represented Moortown Primary School as part of the Key Stage 2 cross country festival at Cardinal Heenan School, involving thirteen local primary schools.
Well done to all the children who took part in the very wet conditions, with every child completing the race and giving 100% effort.
Molly ran a fantastic race with an overall position of 11th in the Under 9 Girls race and Henry was the first boy from Moortown to finish in the Under 9 Boys race, finishing 46th.
Eight of our children took part in the longer, under 11 race with over 100 runners. Running against children from Year 5 and Year 6, the top four from Moortown – Archie (22nd), Zak, Bailey and Lennox – did exceptionally well.
All children will be rewarded with a certificate in our Good Work assembly.
Thank you, as well, to parents who helped with the visit and supported at the event.
Cross Country Festival
On Monday, Year 3 will be taking part in the Key Stage 2 cross country festival at Cardinal Heenan High School.
Please remember outdoor PE kit, including trainers, a water bottle and warm, preferably waterproof, clothing for after the race.
Fingers crossed for a dry day!
Paper plane pandemonium!
This afternoon, we’ve built and flown paper aeroplanes. Well done to Jawaad and Oliver for their winning flights!
Road Safety
This afternoon, we’ve been learning about road safety. We’ve learnt about how important it is to always wear a seatbelt – even for short journeys. We’ve learnt that children who are under 135cm tall should also use a booster seat when in a car.
All aboard for the National Railway Museum!
Year 3 and 4 had a fantastic trip on Wednesday to the National Railway Museum. We learnt about forces such as gravity and 
friction.
We saw lots of different types of trains. We even took a ride on the Chinese Bullet train!
We also did some sketching in our sketch books of our favourite trains.
Some of the wheels of the trains were taller than the children!
Astounding Artwork
Year Six have been given the challenge to produce a piece of group art with the title Rich.
I rather think they’ve succeeded!
How to read ‘tricky words’.
The children are learning their letters and sounds quickly. They are beginning to blend them together to read and segment to spell.
This week we will be introducing ‘tricky words’.
These are everyday words that have tricky spellings and can’t be read by blending. Imagine trying to read the word said or does by blending each letter! These words just have to be learned by sight and flashcard-type games are a good way to practise these. We will be sending these tricky words home to learn.
Remember to say the sounds correctly
This is really important when you are helping your child to learn their letter sounds. Just remember not to add an uh to the end of the consonant sounds – so say mmm not muh, lll not luh, etc.
Go to www.oxfordowl.co.uk to see videos of all the sounds being pronounced. This website also contains games and ideas to help your child with their reading and free eBooks to download.