Spring Term Week 5

Hello Hedgehog Parents,

I hope you have all had a good week. We've had a great week in Hedgehog class, particularly during Forest School where the sun shone and we managed to toast some marshmallows on a fire. Unfortunately there aren't any photos of this because I was so busy trying to keep the fire going!

The Elephant Keepers had a problem to solve on Monday when one of the elephants was extremely poorly. She was rushed to the emergency elephant vet with extreme stomach pain. A scan showed that she had eaten a lot of unsuitable foods: including hot dogs, ice cream and a burger. 

The team did some research into what an elephant should eat, especially given they are herbivores. Then they made some posters to go up around the elephant enclosure, explaining to visitors what they should and should not feed the elephants. The children also created some beautiful elephant portraits for our elephant gallery, using some brand new sketching pencils. I will endeavour to take some photographs of their work next week. 

In other learning...

Maths:

Year 1 children have been subtracting this week: by counting back, subtracting from the 1s and subtracting from the 10 (which is easier if you don't have enough 1s, for example in 14 - 9). 

To practice this, you can either do some practical subtraction (making groups of 10 to subtract from, or subtracting from the 1s) or complete this worksheet, again by finding groups of 10 (you can do the first sheet, or the second, or the third, or all if you are feeling keen). 

Reception children: have been beginning to learn about 'parts' and 'whole' in relation to number bonds, for example that 3 is made up of a 2 and a 1, or a 1 and a 2. To practice this you could play a simple game with your child: Lay 3 or 4 objects out (in a recogniseable pattern, such as a dice pattern). Ask them to close their eyes while you cover some objects up (don't take them away, just cover them). When they open their eyes ask them to work out 'what part is hidden' of the number 3 (or 4). You can also swap roles with your child so that they have to hide the part and you can discuss with them what part is hidden and how you know. 

Phonics:

Year 1 children have looked at or, aw and ore this week. The 'aw' grapheme generally (though not always) goes at the end of a word. Next week's spelling challenge list is here. 

Reception children have begun to look at digraphs (where two letters come together to make one sound):  sh   ch   th.  
You can practise these digraphs by playing  noughts and crosses. Fill a 3x3 grid with words using these digraphs. Underline the digraphs and then play noughts and crosses, where each player must read the word before they can circle/cross it. 

Suggested words:   ship   wish   fish   chip   chin   much   this   that   them  with.

I hope you have a good weekend - see you next week!

From Mrs Simpson