Dear Parents and Carers

Puffins and Penguins have had a very fun week. We continued our learning on the story ‘The Jolly Postman’. To support our learning, we visited the local Post Office. We have also been learning the names of 3D shapes and singing number songs to help understand the concept ‘one less’, such as 5 little ducks, 5 speckled frogs and 10 green bottles.

Post Office Trip

It is important for children to visit the local community and experience the world around them. In small groups we visited Broadpark Post Office. The children purchased a stamp and posted their invitation. It was such a delight to take the children on this trip as there was so much learning taking place.

The children had the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of staying safe when walking near the roads. They were talking about everything they observed and even used some of the new language regarding 3D shapes. In the Post Office we talked about where in the world you could send letters and parcels and where on the invitation the stamp must be placed and why. We used the weighing scales to weigh a parcel and talked about money and the difference between a first and second class stamp. The children noticed the Queen on the stamp. Thank you to the staff at Broadpark Post Office. Where will our learning take us next?    

PE Skills

In PE, Puffins and Penguins have been exploring ways to travel along the bench. Sliding, bunny hopping, crawling and balancing are some of the movements they used. They also demonstrated how to jump off the end safely.

Vocabulary

Here are some of the key words we will be using. Please support your child by talking about these words at home.

More, less, fewer, represent, sphere, cube, cuboid, pyramid, cylinder, cone, post, letter, stamp, postcard, invitation, sack, letter box, envelope, parcel, address, uniform and post code.

Suggested reading to support counting

• One Mole Digging a Hole by Julia Donaldson
• One Gorilla by Anthony Browne
• Ten Little Fishes by Audrey Wood
• Handa’s Surprise by Eileen Browne
• Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Maths

In Maths we continue to represent numbers. We use Mathematical representation to help show the concept being taught.

For example, if we are learning the composition of number seven (understanding that one number can be made up from [composed from] two or more smaller numbers) we may represent the number seven with counters of the same colour. However, using two coloured counters helps the children to identify the two smaller numbers within seven. We are encouraging the children to make their own marks and use objects to represent numbers. This helps us understand their Mathematical thinking and how we can support them. It also prepares them for their transition into year one where they will continue to represent their answers and Mathematical problems.

Messages:

Share a Story Event - After the success of the last event we would like to invite you in to school on Thursday 23^rd January at 2.45pm to share a story with your child. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum and want to give you the opportunity to spend quality time enjoying stories with your child. The event will be held in the school hall, please enter school via the office.

Pop-Up Café - Our Pop-Up café will continue to open every Friday at the end of the school day. Teachers will take it in turns to bring children to serve drinks and snacks. There will be hot chocolate with cream and mini-marshmallows. We will also have biscuits and sausage rolls cooked by our kitchen team. Please support us in this endeavour.

Teddy Bear Hospital - On Wednesday 22^nd January, some student doctors will be visiting our class. We will be taking part in some workshops about health and the human body. They will also be running a ‘Teddy Bear Hospital’. Please can your child bring in a teddy on that day? The doctors will ask the children what’s wrong with their teddy (broken leg, headache, cold, etc.) so you might want to talk to your child beforehand so that they already have an idea of what to say to the doctor.  

Home Learning

• Send a picture or letter to someone in your family or even to us at school
• Bring in a 3D shape from home or take a photo and stick it in your red home learning book.
• Compare numbers at home using objects and use the language; more, less, fewer.
• Practise forming your letters correctly

Dates to remember

Share a Story event – Thursday 23^rd January 2.45pm

Parents Evening – Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th February – booking details to follow

From Mrs Bastin, Mrs Clague and the Foundation Stage Team