31st Jan - 4th Feb

This week we were learning the story of 'The Gingerbread Man'. We decided that it would be fun to make our own gingerbread men biscuits, so on Monday we were busy writing shopping lists of all the ingredients we would need. On Tuesday we made our gingerbread men and they were absolutely delicious!!! After we made our (very yummy) gingerbread men we thought about why it was important to use a recipe and then see if we could sequence the gingerbread recipe in the correct order.

For the last 2 weeks we have been busy preparing for and learning about Chinese New Year. So on Thursday we were able to celebrate the start of Chinese New Year by having a Chinese New Year party! We paraded our Chinese dragons that we had made around the playground and played music, it was so much fun! After we were able to try out some Chinese cuisine, which was very yummy indeed!

Mrs Hickey and Bellamina!

Last week we had a visit from Mrs Hickey and her new baby Bellamina. We were all very excited to meet Bellamina and we all thought she was adorable! She was very quiet however, and slept the entire time she was in school! Hopefully they will come and visit us again soon!

24th - 28th January

Wow it has been another very busy and exciting week! On Monday we learnt all about road safety. The children learnt how important it is to hold a grown-ups hand when walking near roads and how to cross a road safely. They also found out how to stay safe when walking at night and they even had the chance to try on some high visibility vests.

The green cross code

1. First find the safest place to cross

2. Stop just before you get to the kerb

3. Look all around for traffic and listen

4. If traffic is coming, let it pass

5. When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run     

 On Tuesday we visited Warwick Castle for our first school trip and everyone had a wonderful time! Have a look below at some of the photos taken on our trip.

Reception class posing on the drawbridge

Warwick Castle

Dressing up fun in the princess tower

Brave knights!

James is in the stocks!

Oh dear... and Harry too!

Dressing up fun in our own class fairy tale castle

10th - 14th January 2011

Well it has been a busy and exciting first full week back at school! We have started our new topic 'Fairy tales'. The children have helped me and Mrs B turn our role-play area into a castle. They have painted all the brick work for the outside of the castle and will be making shields and flags next week, but as you can see it is already looking fab!

In literacy we have been learning the stories of 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Cinderella' and the children have enjoyed pretending to be fairy tale characters in the role-play area. The children have also made beautiful skirts for Cinderella, using tissue and coloured dye. Have a look below!

Pretty patterns!

Maria has made a beautiful skirt for her princess!

Cinderella wearing a beautiful tie-dye skirt!

Some of the boys decided to dress up as princesses too!

Welcome back!

Welcome back! I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and a well deserved rest! This week the children have been learning circus skills from the help of Steve and Jacqui. As some of you might have seen today, the children have put on a performance showing all the new skills they have learnt in the last few days. I have to say they all did absolutely brilliantly, so a big well done to reception class!

This term our topic is 'Fairy tales' and we will be reading lots of different fairy tales and doing topic related activities. Also, as you already know, later on in the month we will be going on a school trip to Warwick Castle. This term we will also be starting Phase 3 of Letters and Sounds in our phonics sessions. This means that the children will be taking new sound cards and tricky words home with them again. Please go through your child's sound cards and tricky words with them regularly. I would also like to remind you to listen to your child read every night. I know that this can be difficult with the busy lifestyles we all lead, but including it as part of your daily routine might make it easier.

Have a brilliant weekend,

Miss Houlihan x

Circus skills

Amelia balancing her feather

Macy having a go on the tightrope

Max on the pedal racers

James is plate spinning

Gracie can do some special tricks using the spinning plates

Lawrence dressed up as a clown

Annabel the Ringmaster

Don't they all look fantastic in their costumes?!

 

 

13th - 17th December

Last week we were busy getting ready for Christmas! Our role-play area was turned into Santa's Grotto and we had our own class Christmas tree that we could take turns to decorate everyday. We also baked some yummy mince pies, made Christmas cards and even did some sewing!

Have a look at what we have been up to!

Dressing up fun!

Sam M and Ben playing in Santa's Grotto

Harry E and Olivia

Charlie H

Harry L and Harry E decorating the salt dough Christmas tree decorations

Max is carefully sewing

The beautiful salt dough Christmas tree decorations

Mrs B with her table at the Christmas lunch

My table enjoying Christmas lunch!

I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! I hope you have lots of yummy food and beautiful presents!

Kind wishes,

Miss Houlihan x