SPACE

Update from Bluebells (Reception) classroom in Croscombe, from Julie Chadi, teacher.

Our overarching theme for this term - Space!

We introduced our overarching Space theme this term with our core text 'Whatever Next' by Jill Murphy.
The children used story boxes and set up space picnics, developing their social skills whilst sharing the picnic food and taking turns with the teapot. We engaged our imagination to introduce relevant languageto our play that we had learnt from the story, "I think that was a comet in the distance!", "A shooting star just zoomed past". "Watch out, aliens!" The children applied their maths learning by subitising items on plates (See it, and say it) and comparing how many fruits and cakes were on the plates. Some super maths language was used, e.g. equal to, same, most, more, fewest. The children will use this text as inspiration to write lists of what they would choose to take to space if going on a journey.

Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM)

The children were set an activity to construct a moon buggy from Lego - all linked to our Space theme. We explored pictures of the moon buggies in our non-fiction books, and made a class list of what they would need to include. We talked about difficulties that arose during the building process and linked this to one of the Gem Powers (Behaviours we are seeking to engender) Emerald Power 'having a go'. All of the children had a go and persevered to achieve their desired outcome. Well done, Bluebells!

Outdoor play

The children enjoyed the sensory tuff spot trays with water beads and shaving foam - referring to the water beads were alien food, and the shaving foam was 'like ice-cream' to feed to the aliens. This evolved into an alien cafe, and the children made menus of the foods available for the aliens to order. We have also been building our Topaz Gem power by building obstacles courses to overcome in the playground as a team. We have talked about and modelled transporting equipment safely and working together as a class to make an obstacle course suitable for all children. This is something we would like to do regularly for team building, as well as developing important balance and co-ordination skills.

National Nursery Rhyme Week

As part of Nursery Rhyme week, we set up an outdoor stage for children to perform the rhymes they know, using props. Thank you to the parents who brought in props to support this learning . Miss Polly had a Dolly, Five little Speckled Frogs and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have been firm favourites so far! We have learnt some new rhymes, including Wiggly Woo, Round and round the garden and Pussy cat, pussy cat. We will continue to sing nursery rhymes every morning to support language development.

The children have been following instructions to make Moon rock cakes. Listening to instructions helps our pupils develop important listening as well as social skills, such as waiting their turn. We emphasize 'bossy' verbs used in the instructions, such as put, get, mix, stir, and this will help the children for their own instructional writing later on in the year and as they progress through the school.

As usual our 'Wonderful writing' board is full of writing during the children's play. They have made names for the new baby arrivals, as well as notes for the doctors as to why their babies are sick. (Inspired by Miss Polly and our Nativity practices!).

As Early Years teachers , we can never predict where the play may take them and what learning we may be involved in from week to week. What a great job we have!