New SEAL theme – Getting on
The SEAL theme Getting On covers four main aspects:
- developing the social skills of friendship
- working well together in a group
- managing anger
- resolving conflict
Group work takes place across all lessons and even at lunchtime and playtimes. Some questions for children to consider are:
- Did everyone take turns?
- Did everyone listen to what other people thought?
- Did each person have chance to tell the group what they thought?
- If people had different ideas could the group reach a compromise?
The key areas of learning throughout this theme are empathy, managing feelings and social skills.
Within this theme is Antibullying Week, 19 November – 23 November.
Hobby Half Day
What a great way to finish a very long half term. All the children from Year 1 to Year 6 were mixed up into new groups and they went off to do one of many activities for the afternoon on Friday. There were all sorts going on: iJamming, drumming, candle making and glass painting to name just a few. As I went round, there was a great atmosphere and all the children were chatting and learning together. Thanks to Mrs Maver for organising it and thanks to all the staff who led a workshop.
Have a great half term!
Class assembly
Well done Year 1! I was very proud of you. Thank you to all the parents and visitors who attended today’s performance.
We loved hearing your views; here are a few: ‘Lovely production’, ‘Enjoyed the class telling the story’ and ‘Wonderful to watch.’
Roll up! Roll up!
What has your child learnt in our Big Topic so far?
Assembly
It is our class assembly on Thursday 18 October. It starts at 2:40. The children are looking forward to sharing their learning.
See you there!
Circus Skills
On Thursday, Arran from Splats came to teach the Year 1 and Year 2 children some circus skills.
Children were given the opportunity to try a variety of skills from juggling to balancing plates. Here are some pictures:
PE links with Allerton Grange
We work closely with Allerton Grange to arrange PE activities for each class.
Throughout the year, Year 1 to Year 6 will be taking part in sessions led by the Sports and Dance leaders at Allerton Grange.
The visits take place during the school day and teachers will inform their class nearer to the time.
A day to remember
On Friday, Year 1 did lots of activities on developing memory skills and strategies.
We looked at:
- Visualising – using pictures
- An introduction to mnemonics eg said – Sally Ann is dancing
- Using stories – this was a popular memory strategy
- Making mind maps
- Using songs / chants
We played a version of Kim’s game where the children had to memorise lots of different small objects on a tray and then once an item was removed from the tray remember what was missing.
We also looked at some online memory games. Here is the website link if you want to have a go at home:
Did you watch Nina and the Neurons?
Over the weekend there was a very topical subject explained on the cbeebies programme, Nina and the Neurons. It was all about why people need sleep and that when people sleep the brain sorts out all the information taken in by your senses throughout the day.
If you missed it why not watch it on BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/cbeebies/episode/b01554dc/Nina_and_the_Neurons_Nina_and_the_Neurons_Brilliant_Bodies_Sleep/
There is also another episode you could watch about memory.
Hopefully it should help to reinforce your learning from Brain Box week.
Breakfast, lunch and water to fuel your brain
This week we’ve found out how a healthy, balanced diet and good hydration provides us with the energy our brain needs to function throughout the day.
Nutritionists believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day but what children eat can be just as crucial. Breakfast cereals and foods rich in whole grains, fibre and protein and low in added sugar may boost attention span, concentration and memory and prevent children having a mid morning energy drop. http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_center/healthy_eating/breakfast.html
Fruit at playtime, provided free for Reception and Key Stage 1 and the only snack allowed at Key Stage 2 playtime, can provide an energy boost for the rest of the morning. Remember the weekly fruit tuckshop on Tuesdays is available to Key Stage 2 costing 20p per item.
A healthy, balanced lunch is also crucial to refuel the brain for the afternoon’s learning and this week children, who bring a packed lunch to school, have been given a copy of our Guide for Healthy Packed Lunches (https://www.moortown.leeds.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/packed-lunch-guidance.pdf). The guide was launched in September 2010 but may not have been seen by children new to the school or children who may have previously had school dinners.
The importance of hydration for the brain, to maximise learning, has been another focus of our Brain Box week. Children need to have a water bottle to keep in their classroom to allow regular water breaks throughout the day. This should be taken home weekly to be cleaned. Water is also provided at lunchtime for packed lunches and school dinners.
As well as regular exercise and opportunities for relaxation these factors all contribute to a healthy brain!