Summer 1: Week 4
Literacy
This week, we’ve been learning about tropical rainforests and the animals that live there. In literacy, we’ve been looking at the book Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andraea and David Wojtowycz. When reading this book, we talked about what a poem is and enjoyed listening out for rhyming words. On Wednesday and Thursday we had a go at writing a dictated sentence about a rainforest animal.
Caterpillars
On Thursday morning, we had a lovely surprise. Two butterflies had nibbled their way out of their chrysalises! We are waiting patiently for the other three.
Maths
This week, we continued to develop our understanding of the composition of numbers to 10 using different representations. To help deepen our understanding about the ‘whole’ being made up of smaller parts, we used practical experiences. We used the counting rhyme, ’10 fat sausages’ to investigate different ways to represent 10. We also used our fingers, 10-frames and Hungarian number patterns to begin to explore ‘5 and a bit’ numbers to 10.
Help at home: Using a frying pan and ten objects to represent the ’10 fat sausages’, sing the song with somebody at home. Each time a sausage goes bang, encourage your child to talk about what they can see. How many sausages are in the pan? How many sausages have gone bang? How many altogether?
Poetry Picnic
This week’s poem is A Little Shell. Click here to watch us perform the poem.
Take a look at some other wonderful learning…
Reminder!
Your child must be reading their e-books on a regular basis. Your children can read previous e-books to help with their fluency skills. When your child has read their e-books, please you write a quick message in their reading records. This allows us to see how they’re getting on at home.
I hope you have a happy and healthy weekend in the sunshine!
Summer 1: Week 3
Literacy
We’ve been reading Walking Through the Jungle by Julie Lacome.
This repeating story was great for retelling. We talked about what a verb is and looked for them in the story: walking, running, leaping, swinging, creeping and wading.
Help at home: Can you retell the story to an adult or sibling at home?
We had a go at writing our own sentences.
Phonics
This week, we focused on reading and writing longer words and compound words. We learnt 4 new tricky words: were, here, little, says.
Help at home: Go on a tricky word hunt around your house. Ask an adult to write some tricky words on scrap pieces of paper and stick them up around your house. How many tricky words can you find and read?
Maths
This week, we consolidated our understanding of the composition of 5 and practised recalling the parts of 5 when 1 part is not visible. We used our fingers on 1 hand to help with the composition of 5. We looked at how many fingers are ‘up’ and and how many are ‘folded down’. We used a rhyme about 5 kittens jumping ‘down’ from the bed to help us with this.
Help at home: Play a game the kittens game with an adult. You need 5 objects (kittens) and a piece of material or paper (bed) Take turns to hide some kittens under the bed. Use the below stem sentence to explain what you can see.
5 is made up of…
… and … makes 5
Poetry Picnic
This week the poem was the classic nursery rhyme, Sing a song of sixpence. We have been watching this video to help us remember it. Click here to watch us.
Living & Learning
Yesterday, we talked about the importance of a healthy diet. We worked with a partner to design a healthy plate. We thought of lots of different healthy foods.
Diary dates
- Monday 23 May – School closed: training day
- Monday 26 May – Friday 30 June – Half-term holiday
- Thursday 19 June – Class photos
- Summer learning journey drop in dates
Tuesday 08 July – 8.45m – 9.15am & 3.15pm-3.45pm
Thursday 10 July – 8.45m – 9.15am & 3.15pm-3.45pm
A sign up letter will be sent out nearer the time.
Summer 1: Week 2
On Monday morning, a parcel arrived at school…
WE HAVE 5 CATERPILLARS!
On Wednesday, we watched a video about the life cycle of a butterfly and talked about the different stages.
Help at home: Can your child remember the four stages? Draw a picture of the life cycle.
Literacy
This week, we’ve been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. We had lots of fun drawing story maps.
After reading and retelling the story, we used our imagination to write our own versions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We changed the main character and the food.
Maths
This week, we continued to develop our subitising skills. We used our understanding of doubles to support our subitising skills when looking at different arrangements. We created arrangements of 6 using different objects. We thought carefully about how we can arrangement the objects so it’s easier to subitise– e.g. 2 groups of 3. We then played a game called Odd One Out. We had to spot an arrangement that was not 6.
Help at home: Make arrangements of 6 using everyday objects. Get your adult to close their eyes and see if they spot if it’s changed.
DT
In the creative area, we’ve been exploring how to use hand drills to make holes in pieces of wood. On Wednesday, we used our skills to build a bug hotel for our outdoor area.
Learning outside
We’ve had a lovely week making the most of the sunny weather. The children have loved building, painting and getting wet in the water tray.
As we enter into the warmer months, please make sure your child comes to school with a hat and a water bottle. Sun cream must be applied before school.
Summer 1: Week 1
Welcome back!
We hope you had a happy and healthy break. Thank you to the parents who sent in some photos. We really enjoyed sharing these on Tuesday.
This half-term our topic is called Life on Earth. We’ve kicked off our topic by reading The Bug Collector by Alex G. Griffiths in literacy and going on bug hunts. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be learning more about life cycles. We’ll closely observe caterpillars to help us understand the different stages of a life cycle.
Phonics
This week, we’ve started Phase 4. In this phase children will use the phonemes learnt in Phase 2 and Phase 3 to read and spell words with four or more phonemes and words ending in suffixes:
–ing, –ed /t/, –ed /id/ /ed/, –est
Here are some examples:
CVCC words: tent, damp, toast
For example, in the word ‘damp’, d = consonant, a = vowel, m = consonant, p = consonant
CCVC words: swim, plum, spoon
For example, in the word ‘plum’, p = consonant, l = consonant, u = vowel, m = consonant
CCVCC words: stamp, crept, twist
For example, in the word ‘stamp’, s = consonant, t = consonant, a = vowel, m = consonant, p = consonant
CCCVC words: strap scrub strong
For example, in the word, ‘strap’, s = consonant, t = consonant, r = consonant, a = vowel, p = consonant
CCCVCC words: strand strict sprint
For example, in the word, ‘sprint’, s = consonant, p = consonant, r = consonant, i = vowel, n = consonant, t = consonant
They’ll also learn to read and write 18 new tricky words.
Help at home: Practise reading and writing this week’s tricky words.
said so have like
Maths
This week, we continued to engage in activities that draw attention to the purpose of counting – to find out ‘how many’ objects there are. We revisited the concept of cardinality – the idea that the last number in the count tells us how many things there are altogether.
A key area we have continued to develop is counting strategies for counting larger numbers of objects, including those that cannot be moved. We had lots of fun helping Gary the giraffe count the packets of raisins for our snack. We n develop their counting skills – will help to embed these key areas of understanding.
Living and Learning
On Tuesday, we talked about personal hygiene, including handwashing. We discussed how we keep ourselves clean.
Gur – We clean our face, body and brush our teeth.
Po – We have a bath and a shower.
El – If there’s still dirty stuff in your teeth, you can floss.
Sh – Wash our hands.
Th – I brush my teeth in the morning and just before bed.
We then had a go at a little experiment to see why it is important we wash our hands well with soap.
Poetry Picnic
This week’s poem was called Pitter Patter. Click here to watch us.
Some more fantastic learning…
Spring 2: Week 6
Hello! I’ve had a wonderful second week back in Reception. I’m really looking forward to supporting them in their last term in Reception.
This week, we’ve been super busy doing the new chilli challenges in the areas of provision. Lots of children have amazed me with their fantastic independent learning – well done Reception!
On Monday, the children had lots of fun looking drawing self-portraits. Check out our new gallery! Can you spot your self-portrait?
Poetry picnic
This week’s poem was called The Tiny Seed. Every week, we learn a new video. To help us remember the poem, we organise the daily sessions like this:
Session 1: Enjoyment Listen to the poem for enjoyment.
Session 2 : Vocabulary Pick out focus vocabulary and discuss definition.
Session 3: learning words and actions Practise saying the poem.
Session 4 : prosody/ rhythm/rhyme · Discuss how some poem have a rhythm.
Session 5 : Perform Perform the poem as a whole class or in groups.
Help at home: Practise reading the phase 2 and 3 tricky words.
Upcoming dates
- Monday 21 April – Easter Monday
- Monday 05 May – Bank Holiday
- Friday 23 May – School closed: training day
I hope you all have a happy and healthy half-term break. Don’t forget to email me any pictures of what you get up to in the holidays.
moortowneyfs@spherefederation.org
I look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday 22 April.
Leeds Rhinos Easter activities
On Friday 18 April, Leeds Rhinos are hosting their annual family day, where all child tickets (seating and standing) are just £5. As well as the Rhinos match against Huddersfield Giants, there are a host of activities that the whole family can enjoy – all included in the price of entry.
There is also a free open training session and meet the players event at AMT Headingley Stadium, during the Easter Holidays, on Tuesday 15 April. Children and families will have the opportunity to watch the Rhinos train, meet Ronnie the Rhino and get autographs/pictures with the players at the end of the session.
Spring 2: Week 5
Thank you so much for all of your kindness and generosity. Not only have you given such beautiful/thoughtful gifts but throughout the year you have been so supportive and engaged-thank you.
It has been such an honour and a privilege to support your child through their journey in reception. I wish them and you all the best in the future.
The children have had fun creating their own flowers this week after being inspired from seeing their own plants grow.
The children have had fun in the areas this week creating repeating patterns.
Math
The children have been worked hard on their doubles this week. They have been using counters on a butterfly to represent their doubles.
Help at home: by asking them to doubles numbers within 5 using objects.
Music
This week, the children have been exploring with sound using the glockenspiels.
Reminder: learning journey drop in
Learning Journey drop in 2 – 28.03.25 and 01.04.25 Times – 8.45 am-9.15am and 3.15pm-3.45pm
Reminder: learning journey drop in
This is an opportunity to “drop into” school and share your child’s learning journal with them. This will involve looking through your child’s learning journey book.
Learning Journey drop in 2 – 28.03.25 and 01.04.25
Times – 8.45 am-9.15am and 3.15pm-3.45pm
Spring 2: Week 4
This week’s book has been Jack and the Beanstalk. It has inspired us to plant our own seeds and observe them over time.
The children enjoyed doing this and writing some instructions for others to do the same.
We are still being inspired by the books we have read over the last few weeks-The hundred Decker Bus and The Hundred Decker Rocket.
The children enjoyed visiting our book fair and were discussing what their favourite books were.
This week we have started looking at the number 7 and the different parts it can be split into.
Help at home: by practising partitioning 7. You can do this using pasta, teddies or anything else that you can find at home that you have 7 of.
Thank you to all of those that came to the stay and learn this week.
