Welcome to Firecrests & Goldcrests Class!

Week beginning Monday 13th March 2023

'Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick!...'

This last week we learnt the nursery rhyme 'Jack Be Nimble', and this led us to explore fire safety, recapping what we do if the fire alarm goes off, and using our team work to build a hose to put out a roleplay fire! We took turns jumping, hopping, stepping and running around candle sticks made of lego, and we got stuck into exploring lots of fire sensory play, including some very satisfying red glittery slime. 

This week, we will be learning the nursery rhyme 'Incy Wincy Spider' with the movements. We will take part in themed activities, including lots of science for Newtown's Science Week! You can support your child's learning at home by singing this nursery rhyme with them. In addition to this, our Goldcrests will be continuing to explore patterns this week as part of our maths learning and you can support them at home by pointing out to them, and creating with them, simple patterns i.e. red sock, blue sock, red sock, blue sock... etc.

Thank you- Miss Hunt :) 

We love getting creative in our Pre-School classes!

'Creativity plays a significant role in thinking and understanding across all seven areas of learning. If children’s thoughts and feelings are sought and valued and they are encouraged to decide for themselves how best to represent their ideas, explore possibilities, make new connections and solve problems, they are developing the skills for life-long learning and confidence in themselves, both as thinkers and as learners.’ 

https://earlyyears.buckscc.gov.uk/learning-and-development/expressive-arts-and-design/ 

Week beginning 6th February 2023

This week in Pre-School, we will be identifying big feelings, and learning how to express our feelings with our words. We will be talking about love, just in time for Valentine's Day next week, and the children will recap that not all families look like their family, and that everyone loves differently.

We will be taking part in some themed activities in Pre-School, including some baking, writing love letters to our families and decorating love bugs! You can support your child at home by talking about Valentine's day, and talking about love... and other big feelings! How do you look after yourself when you are cross or sad? What makes you feel happy? These are all good things to share with your child.

Thank you- Miss Hunt :) 

Week beginning 31st January 2023

This week in Pre-School, we have been learning about everyone being different, and everyone being special just the way they are! We have been especially thinking about differences we can see, such as hair, skin colour and eye colour. You can support your child at home through talking to them about being unique! Here is a great video as a conversation starter...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIC2hHECZ6Y 

We have also been working on hand washing at Pre-School recently, especially because their have been so many viruses around this year. You can support your child at home through encouraging them to wash their hands independently, and guiding them with instructions (get some soup, make some bubbles, scrub them with some warm water etc).

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning 23rd January 2023

Happy Chinese New Year! I wish you all health and fortune in this upcoming year.

This week in Pre-School, we are continuing to learn about why the world is blue. As part of this, we will be exploring different coastlines with our Goldcrests, reading 'The Snail & The Whale' and singing about the continents of the world. With our Firecrests, we will be exploring coastlines and types of travel!

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 16th January 2023

This week, we are learning more about the world around us and asking the question; why is the world blue?

We will be taking part in some underwater themed activities, looking at maps of the world and building our understanding by using the example of sea turtles. Sea turtles are amazing, they live in most of the worlds oceans and only come onto land occasionally, so we would be very lucky to see one! We will be sharing what we know about this wonderful animal with the children to support their understanding of what an ocean is.

Our key language this week includes ocean, blue, sea, world, Earth, planet, water, underwater, sea, sea turtle, continent, waves, land, jellyfish. You can support your child's learning by talking, reading books and singing songs with them about the ocean this week.

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 9th January 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

It has been lovely to see so many of you back at Pre-School this week, and I have been so proud at how quickly our children have settled back into their learning!

This week, our Goldcrests are going to be learning about opposites! We will be reading about Mr Topsy Turvy, and his visit to Chesham, where he makes a few things go a bit back-to-front, and well... topsy turvy! Our Firecrests will focus on starting to recognise some similarities and differences in common objects this week, reading our Elephant opposites book at Pre-School, and playing with a variety of activities which include some noticeable differences that we can explore together.

Our key vocabulary this week will include big, small, rough, smooth, tall, short, hot and cold. You can support your child at home by pointing out things relating to these words as you travel to and from school, that is a tall house etc!

Thank you- Miss Hunt :) 

Week beginning Monday 12th of December

Last week in Pre-School, we started to explore the Christmas story! This included reading the story, practicing our Nativity, building a stable for the baby Jesus out of blocks, and decorating woolly sheep for our studio!

We are entering another busy week! Mainly because there will be the Goldcrests Nativity performances with Reception. The children have been working really hard on their songs, and we cannot wait to show them to you soon. As well as this, we will be having a Pyjama, Popcorn & Pantomime Party on Wednesday, but make sure you all wrap up warm as it is going to be a cold one!

As for our learning this week, our Goldcrests will be reading 'We're Going on an Elf Chase!', and taking part in some Elf and Father Christmas themed play. Our Firecrests will be reading 'That's not my Christmas Fairy!', and taking part in some magical Christmas play.

You can support you child at home by talking about Christmas, and other celebrations that are important to your family.

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 28th of November

This week we have been led by a big interest of our children; Superheroes! We have seen them using their super abilities to challenge themselves around Pre-School, and with this in mind we want to encourage the children to take pride in more independent self-care activities this week. We thought, what better way to do this than through Superhero Self-Care? 

Our main learning this week will be...

- How and when to wash your hands.

- How and when to put your coat on without any support.

- How to get your snack in Pre-School, safely and independently!

You can support your child at home by talking about how superheroes look after themselves, and through encouraging them to do the above activities without help at home too.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 21st of November

Our children are continuing to explore their 5 senses this week! We have been particularly enjoying our feel sense, using our hands to get stuck into lots of sensory and messy play. You can support your child at home by allowing them to help you set up for dinner time, talking about how different foods feel and taste with them. You can also listen and look for fun things on the way to and from school, discussing what you use to see and hear.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 14th of November

Our children will be extending their understanding of the natural world this week through visiting a local woodland! We are very excited, and thank all the family volunteers for helping to make this possible.

In class, we will be exploring how our 5 senses can help us to access the natural world. Our key vocabulary this week includes sense, taste, touch, sight, smell, hear, tongue, nose, eyes, ears and mouth. Our key learning is to associate each sense with the right body part. You can support your child's learning by talking about and naming parts of their body with them, listening to and enjoying music together, and by helping them to try and taste new foods.

Please see the poster below for more information.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Friday 11th November 2022

This week we were visited by someone very magical; the Pom-Pom Fairy!

The Fairy flew in overnight, leaving a trail of glitter, and ate all of our pom-poms earnt from super behaviour (such as tidying up, kind play and sitting beautifully), and left us some bubbles as a special treat.

The children were very excited so I wanted to share some photos with you all.

Have a great weekend- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 7th November 2022

This week we are continuing to explore play based around our story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'! Our children will be thinking about what does and doesn't belong in a forest, including types of animals and plants.

You can support your child at home this week by continuing to read the story together, and by talking about different animals and where they live with your child.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Tuesday 1st November 2022

I hope you all have had a fun and safe half term!

We are starting an exciting new topic in Pre-School, all about exploring nature and understanding our senses. For the upcoming couple of weeks, we will be reading 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' and taking part in lots of play based on the story. Reading, and talking about, the story with your child at home will support their learning this week, but if you don't have a copy of the book then here is a fantastic reading by the author that you can watch together...   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gyI6ykDwds

I am looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 17th of October

We have been delighted with our children's creativity this week, with both Goldcrests and Firecrests making rainbows for our art wall, and lots of beautiful rainbow fish for the corridor (please do come have a look when you get a chance).

This week we will be finishing this half term by learning all about Diwali! We will be thinking and talking about Rama & Sita, making diva candles and creating some big art with powder paints in the playground. We will support our children to explore how people celebrate Diwali and why. Please talk to your child about the celebrations that are meaningful to your family this week, as this will give your child a sense of what a celebration is and how we all enjoy these special moments differently. Our key vocab this week includes the colours of the rainbow, so please continue to use lots of colour language at home to support your child's learning.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 10th of October

This week we are wondering 'What is a rainbow?' We are going to explore what causes a rainbow with our children, including some science experiments with light and water, and lots of art! Our key vocab this week includes the colours of the rainbow, so please use lots of colour language at home to support your child's learning.

Thank you so far to those of you who have started sharing WOW slips with us! We are so proud of the children's accomplishments and have already started sticking these in our shared learning book.

Please see some of our rainbow activities below.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 3rd October

This week we have reflected on our children's interests and designed activities that we hope will engage them for longer periods of time; this is a child focus week! We have out a hair dressing area, some dinosaur counting, lots of cars, and our children have been loving singing and dancing in Pre-School so we will be learning a new song and performing it for each other this week!

We will be sending home our WOW moment slips this week. Your child learns so much at home from you and we want to honour that by giving you the opportunity to share that with us and include it in our shared learning book.

Our key language this week includes; unique, special, different and same. 

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 26^th September

It is 'Family Week' in Pre-School, and we are asking the question; who lives in my house with me? 

Thank you to those of you who have already sent in photos for our class 'Family Book'- you still have time if you haven't had a chance already! Send over a picture of your child's close family to jade.hunt@newtown.education, and I will set up your page of our book so that we can explore this with your children and show them what different families look like.

Our key language this week includes; house, home, family, Daddy, Mummy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, different, and same. I encourage you to talk about your family with your child at home, naming the people who live in your house. Below is a poem that you can share with your child.

Thank you! - Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 19^th September

We recognise that this period of National mourning will be affecting our children. This week, we are adapting to this historical moment through topical play to help enrich our children's understanding of this country, Kings and Queens and family.

Some of the key language we are using with our children this week includes; family, daddy, mummy, brother, sister, different, same. We are also learning some counting songs, like 5 little ducks!

We would appreciate it if you could use this language at home as well to enhance your child's understanding.

Below are some of the activities that we will be doing relating the Royal Family.

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)

Week beginning Monday 12^th September

Welcome to, what is for many of you, your first full week in Pre-School since Summer, or ever!

Our topic over these first few weeks is 'All About Me!', and we are continuing to get to know your children this week through activities which include a mixture of group singing and dancing, stories, and lots of play! Our primary learning intention this week is for our children to settle into Pre-School, exploring the setting and building relationships with adults and children.

Some of the key language we are using with our children this week includes; same, different, head, shoulders, hands, feet, long, short, walk, jump, run, crawl and hop. We would appreciate it if you could use this language at home as well to enhance your child's understanding.

Below are some great books that you could consider reading over this term!

Thank you- Miss Hunt :)