Reception - Class 1 and 2Spring Term 1 Learning journey
It’s was a cold and icy start to our Spring half term and we had lots of opportunities to explore the ice and enjoy the rain and snow, which linked to our new text map and finding out about cold climates.
We found lots of ice in the playground, some of the children wanted to sweep it up and make slushy puppies, then added blue paint.
There was ice on lots of our outdoor equipment, so we thought of different ways to break the ice.
We then had a discussion about where the ice would melt quicker on the floor or in the cup. The children put a hoop around the ice so they could watch it melt.
Which will melt quicker?
We introduced a range of vocabulary including freezing point, melting, solid and liquid.
Careful observations
Team work
Jax decided that we should add hot water to the ice to melt it quickly on the bench.
Let's wait and see what happens.
We even brought a sheet of ice into the classroom, the children said it felt slippery, wet and was dripping because it was melting.
Our first Text map of 2022
Lost And found
A boy, a penguin, a suitcase and a boat arrived in our classroom , to hook their children into our new story.
A boat arrived
Our text map
The children enjoyed retelling the story using the props. We used new vocabulary from the book including disappointment, lost property and South Pole.
We showed just how much our fine motor skills developed with some very detailed drawings of the characters in the book.
We made our own text maps to help us retell the story.
Our Focus this half term has been applying our phonic knowledge in our reading of words and writing. We made books to retell the story.
Using tricky words, phonic knowledge capital letters and full stops.
Our Second text map
When we celebrated Chinese New Year, we enjoyed finding out about the story of the names for each New Year.
We developed our speaking skills whilst we retold together story in our very own puppet show.
Take a look at our amazing writing linked to our text map- Chinese New Year.
We added the names of the animals the sequenced them in order, using our text map to help.
We used our phonic knowledge to write the names of the animals in the race.
In the environment we did our own text maps.
What’s happening in the picture?
Our third text map
We enjoyed creating Chinese lanterns to celebrate Chinese New Year.
We followed the instructions using the texts maps to make our own lanterns in the environment. .
Our final text map
We celebrated the love we have for our families.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day we made clay hearts by following our instructions.
We used clay to make our hearts.
We ordered the instructions, added command words and captions.
Exploring maths
Using numicon to explore ordering of numbers and number bonds,
Exploring number rods
Exploring 2D and 3D shapes, using magnetic shapes.
We introduced the vocabulary linked to shapes.
Exploring shades of blue
We introduced watercolours into the environment and looked at creating waves linked to the book Lost and found when the boat was at sea.
We listened to feedback and improved our work to reach the final goal and we were all very impressed with the quality of our art work.
Joining materials
We looked at different ways to join a range of materials.
We used a flange cardboard as a base then added a cylinder using a flange joint.
Making models
We experimented with different glue to see which was stronger to attach pieces of wood to make a model.
Super concentration.
Super resilience shown when it fell to pieces.
The PVA glue was much stronger. We were really patient.
Using glue carefully.
It will be dry soon.
Making bridges
We set up a challenge to see if we could help the animals cross the frozen bridge.
We used rope, tape and glue.
Team work.
We used a range of materials
Resillience
We worked as a team.
We crossed the bridge on a chair which we had to fix to the zip wire.
Problem solving
Using tools
We used our stubby claw hammers safely to hammer the nails into the wood.
We remembered the safety rules so everyone was safe.
We always have to wear our safety goggles.
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Drawing and making dragons.
We watched dragon dances, then we made our own dragon masks, lanterns and played instruments in our parade.
Building temples.
We ate Chinese noodles, different sauces and prawn crackers and used our fine motor skills to eat with chopsticks.
Making a Chinese restaurant.
What will we be learning next half term?
Thank you so much for all your support this half term, you should be so proud of your children and the amazing learning which they are doing.
