Fairy Tales

Our new topic this term is 'Fairy Tales' and this week we have been learning the story 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. We have been busy sequencing the story and retelling the story using props in our small world and role-play areas.We have also been learning about bridges and building our own bridges for the Billy Goats to cross. We used lots of different resources to build our bridges and after we built them we tested them to see if they were strong enough to hold the Billy Goats.

Retelling the story in the small world area

Working together to build a bridge using duplo

This bridge was strong enough to hold 4 goats!

A beautiful drawing of London Bridge

The boys have made London Bridge

Pirate and Mermaid themed day

The children have filled up the marble jar and for their marble treat they decided that they wanted to have a pirate and mermaid themed day. So today everyone has been dressed up as a mermaid or pirate and we have had a fantastic day doing pirate themed activities. We even performed our pirate dance in the hall that we have learnt in dance lessons and watched 'The Little Mermaid'. It has been a fantastic end to our 'Pirate and Mermaid' topic!

Pirate Ships

This week we have been designing and making pirate ships. Firstly we investigated which materials are waterproof, so that we knew which materials would be good to use for our ships. We tested tissue paper, cellophane, silver foil and felt. We made predictions about which materials would/wouldn't be waterproof and then tested to see if our predictions were right. After our investigation we looked at pictures of ships and boats and talked about the different parts of a ship. We then drew a picture of what we wanted our pirate ship to look like and wrote down the different materials and tools we would need to make it. Once we had designed our ships we started making them. Take a look below at our finished pirate ships!

Investigating which objects float/sink

Do you  think these pirate ships will be waterproof?

p.s Just to let you know that Sedgebear has been safely returned to us!

Has anyone seen a missing teddy bear?

Today has been a very exciting day indeed! We arrived at school this morning and Sedgebear wasn't sat in his chair and he wasn't anywhere to be found in the classroom. After assembly Mrs Milum looked outside for Sedgebear and she found a message in a bottle in the play house. She brought it inside and Miss Houlihan read the letter for us. The message was from Captain Pug Wash and he wrote that he had taken Sedgebear and would only give him back if we could write him a reply. So this morning we were very busy writing letters and looking for clues. Sedgebear hasn't been returned to us yet, but hopefully naughty Captain Pug Wash will bring him back tomorrow.

Missing Sedgebear : (

Writing letters to Captain Pug Wash

Some of the children decided to make a trap using the construction  blocks

Treasure Maps

This week the children have been creating their own treasure maps. They worked  together in their groups to draw different geographical features on a map and then write a label next to each picture. Take a look at the photos below, I think you'll agree with me that they all look fantastic!

By the Apples

By the Oranges

By the Strawberries

By the Grapes

Snow and Ice

In Reception we have been investigating snow and ice after all the cold weather we've been having. Take a look below at what we have been up to!

Investigating ice

Making snowflakes

What a beautiful snowflake!

Playing weather games on the interactive whiteboard 

Happy New Year!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and are well rested for the term ahead! Thank you so much for the lovely Christmas gifts, they were very much appreciated!

This term we will be starting our new topic 'Pirates and Mermaids'. The children are very excited about our new topic and have been very busy converting our role-play area into a Pirate Ship and Mermaid Cove. We have lots of fun and interesting activities ahead of us and we will keep you in touch about what we have been learning.