Maple
Maple Term 6 – ‘‘Splash’’
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Dear Parents and Carers,
We hope you’ve had an enjoyable half term and are ready for the last term in Reception, before moving to Year 1!
This term, we are going to enjoy a water filled fun learning journey. We will be enjoying finding out about how essential water is and where it comes from and what we need it for and how we can look after our water sources. Our journey will begin with some pirate fun including a pirate day!
Our key texts this term will be:
Areas of Learning
Literacy
We will be continuing to focus on using high frequency words in our writing as well as spelling words with more than one syllable. Also we will be writing our own stories based on the texts we are reading, as well as looking closely at the characters, settings and events of the stories we are sharing. Another skill we will develop is giving opinions and views about stories we have shared.
Maths
In Maths, we will be solving problems that apply all of the skills we have learnt so far. As well as this, we will be continuing to develop our knowledge of number, practising doubling and halving as well as recognising and ordering 2 digit numbers and learning about money and time, comparing and estimating. We will begin thinking about multiples and using 2’s, 5’s and 10’s through money.
In other areas of the EYFS, we will be making links with our water theme, such as learning about things that float and sink and why this happens. Our Personal, Social and Emotional Development will begin to focus on our transition to Year 1 and we will be taking part in lots of activities which make us more familiar with the children in the class already, as well as exploring our new surroundings and routines, ready for September. The key to a successful transition to Year 1 is when children feel that this will be a positive experience and we aim to fully support them in this process. Reception will be spending Monday afternoons throughout the term in Cherry class. If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to ask.
Home Learning
We would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks, including reading with your children.
| Reading -Letters and Sounds | Please read with your child regularly, even if it is a home or library book. At this stage it is really helpful to discuss the stories that you read and use story language such as, character, setting, beginning, middle and end. Also, encourage your child to predict the ending of the story and give their opinion of the texts that they read. Please record their ideas either in their reading record or their home learning books. |
| Writing | We have our home learning books which the children can use to complete the home learning challenges. In addition to this they can practice their writing skills by writing their own pirate or sea character themed stories.
Thanks to all of you who have encouraged your children with this. Keep it up! |
Splashing Home Challenges!
If you want to further your learning at home, you might like to try one or more of these challenges:
- Paint a picture or make a collage of an under the sea image. What can you see under the sea?
- Design your own pirate ship or pirate flag.
- Create your own amazing lunch and design a menu for your family. Take photos of your meal to share with your friends.
- Use Lego or another construction kit to build an amazing ship or boat.
- With an adult’s help, find some objects around your house and test to see whether they float or sink when you put them in water. See if you can predict first what you think will happen and then see if you were right!
Trips and Events
During this term we are planning a visit to a seaside location with our friends from Chiddingly and East Hoathly. We will also be having a Pirate day, where we dress up and take part in fun activities. More details to follow very shortly.
Websites and Links
- ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for Literacy and Maths games.
- phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 3, 4 and 5 games, blending sounds and words.
- mymaths.co.uk – Maths Games
- If you wish to make learning games to have fun at home, you can print from twinkl.co.uk and browse the EYFS Reception section.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bag each day.
- Our PE days are Monday and Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
- Sunhats are essential in the warmer weather when we are outside for longer periods of time. We are not permitted to apply sun cream to any child, so children must have it applied before they come to school.
We hope you all have a lovely final term supporting the children in their Early Years learning. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.
Thank you for your support,
Miss Munn and Miss Bews
Challenge!
To help your child win 5 extra house points, write the names of as many different boats as you can and bring these in to share with your friends. Here are a few examples to help you!
Good Luck!
Learning Map
Maple Term 5 – ‘‘It’s a Bug’s Life!’’
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Areas of Learning
Literacy
Our focus in literacy this term is using our phonic knowledge to write stories using narrative language, adjectives, nouns and verbs. In reading, our phonics knowledge, high frequency and tricky words will develop further; we will be talking about the events in the books we read and predicting what will happen next.
Maths
In maths, we are going to secure our knowledge of addition and subtraction with the support of objects. We will be using insects to help us learn more about doubles and halves.
We are going to be exploring 3D shapes through junk modelling and linking this to our music sessions. In addition to this, we will be beginning to estimate and count in 2s, 5s and 10s. Alongside this, we will be exploring shapes and measures around the school.
Understanding the World
The children will also be making lots of observations and predictions about mini beasts. We will be taking a trip to the Briar’s Field Centre on Wednesday 1st May to look at natural habitats of different mini beasts, pond dipping and visiting Pooh Bridge
Home Learning
We would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children.
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Reading |
Please read with your child regularly, even if it is a home or library book. At this stage, it is really helpful to discuss the stories that you read and use story language such as, character, setting, beginning, middle and end. The more experiences that children have of sharing books at home, the quicker they progress in all areas of the curriculum as it develops their creativity, vocabulary and imagination, as well as furthering their reading and writing skills. |
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Letters and Sounds |
Please read your child’s homework letter every week, which will contain the weekly phonics and tricky words we have covered in class. Please can they practice writing these in sentences and finding them in their reading and story books at home. |
Home Challenges!
Please choose one or more of the following activities to enjoy at home and bring in before the end of term; these can be recorded in your home learning book:
- Make a mini beast out of junk modelling and share with your class.
- Take a camera around your garden or the park and take photos of any mini beasts you can find.
- Write a list of mini beasts that you find in your garden.
- Paint or draw a picture of an imaginary mini beast!
Websites and Links
- ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for literacy and maths games.
- phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 3, 4 and 5 games, blending sounds and words.
- bbc.co.uk/cbeebies for literacy and math’s activities and games
- If you wish to make learning games to have fun at home, you can print from twinkl.co.uk and browse the EYFS Reception section.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle, hat and their book bag each day.
- If you would like your child to wear sun cream, they need to be able to apply it themselves and bring in a named individual bottle.
- Our PE days are Monday and Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
We hope you all have a lovely term supporting the children in their learning. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.
Thank you for your support,
Mrs Sanders and Miss Bews
Challenge!
To help your child win 5 extra house points, find out the names of these creatures and bring them into your teacher!
Maple Term 4 Newsletter – ‘Dinosaurs’
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Key Texts
Areas of Learning
Literacy
Our focus in literacy this term is to secure our phase 3 phonic knowledge to write sentences, instructions and stories through talk for writing. In reading, our phonics knowledge, high frequency and tricky words will develop further from our reading of key texts and sharing and discussing new stories together. We would like to continue to have parent readers in on a Tuesday afternoon and we are making time to have pride in our developing reading of our own and our friends writing. We will continue to use the library and learn about non- fiction and information books.
Maths
In maths we will be exploring measure and size. Becoming more confident in the language of weight, height, length, capacity, time and money. We will be continuing to secure our number skills to 20 and then exploring addition and subtraction with games and activities. We will continue to develop our mathematical vocabulary about positions and directions.
Parent Readers and Learning Journeys
If you have the time, on a Tuesday afternoon which you can come and read a story to the class. We would love readers from 2.55-3.15pm, so please feel free to pop in on any week. ( if you jot down a date at the bottom of your child’s weekly homework to let us know when you can make it)
As explained when the children began school, you are welcome to bring in any photos or contributions for the learning journey books. We have sent more ‘wow’ stars home for you to record any fantastic things they have been doing at home.
Home Learning
Thanks to constant practise, the children’s reading is developing well. Thank you to all of you who support this at home. It really does make a difference.
| Reading | Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for a few minutes. Now that the children are using their sounds to blend new words, it is important that they begin to discuss each book and understand words such as ‘character’, ‘title’, ‘setting’, ‘beginning’, ‘middle’, ‘end’. |
| Letters and Sounds | The weekly homework letter will continue to come home with the sounds that we have been learning. We are moving on to phase 4 phonics, which consolidates and practises the understanding of phase 2 and 3 phonics. We learn how to try to read two syllable words and blend consonants in words such as ‘tree’ or ‘black’. Please keep looking through your phonics and tricky word books with your child. New words to blend and learn are highlighted each week. Little and often is best. |
Super Home Challenges!
You might like to choose one of the following activities to try with your child at home. You record these in your home learning book and can bring these into school whenever they are finished to share with the class.
- Bring in a dinosaur related book, toy or game to share with the class and maybe help us create our own ‘DINOSAUR MUSEUM’
- Find out about a dinosaur that you are really interested in and take photos of you reading and researching it at home
- Make a model of a dinosaur
Maple Class Assembly
We would like to invite you in on Thursday 14th March to come and find out about what we have been learning. We will have a short assembly to share our topic work with you from 2.45-3pm.
Trip to Drusilla’s
We are planning a trip to Drusilla’s with Willow Class on Wednesday 27th March. A letter with details will give you more information nearer the time.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bags each day.
- Our PE days are Monday and Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
- Please can all children have a spare set of underwear and socks in their PE bag in case of any accidents. It is much more comforting for children to have their own change of clothes to put on if the need arises.
- Library time- We are changing our library day to Tuesday, so if your child wishes to borrow a book, they must return it on a Tuesday before borrowing another one.
Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to come and see me if you have any questions of comments.
Mrs Sanders and Miss Bews
Learning Map
Maple Term 3 Newsletter – ‘Off We Go!’
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Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back and we hope you all had a lovely Christmas holiday.
Our topic is ‘Off We Go!’ where we will be learning about different types of transport and the journeys that they can take us on. We will also be looking at how transport such as cars, buses and planes have changed since they were first invented. Through this we will be exploring some non-fiction books and how we can find out information. We will also be looking at maps to see where different countries and cities are and how we might get there. We will learn a little bit about space and space explorations also!
Key Texts
Areas of Learning
Literacy
Our focus in literacy this term is to secure our phonic knowledge to write sentences, instructions and stories through talk for writing. In reading, our phonics knowledge, high frequency and tricky words will develop further from our reading of key texts and sharing and discussing new stories together. We will continue to use the library and learn about non- fiction and information books.
Maths
In maths we will be becoming more familiar with naming and describing 2D and 3D shapes. We will be continuing to secure our number skills to 20 and then exploring addition and subtraction with games and activities. We will continue to develop our mathematical vocabulary about positions and directions.
Parent Readers and Learning Journeys
We would love to have different adults to come and read to the children every week. If you have the time, could you write down in your child’s homework book- a Tuesday afternoon which you can come and read a story to the class, or a small group of children. We would love readers from 2.55-3.15pm. It is also a chance to look through your child’s learning journey at school, so please feel free to pop in on any week.
As explained when the children began school, you are welcome to bring in any photos or contributions for the learning journey books. We have sent more ‘wow’ stars home for you to record any fantastic things they have been doing at home.
Bike and Scooter Week
During the second week of term (Monday 14th January), we would like to ask you to bring in a child’s scooter, trike or bike from home for the week. We will keep these outside our classroom and use them to practise our gross motor skills, make our own roads and bike tracks on the playground, make signs and inspire our learning from our own interests and ideas. Please bring them to the Playground on Monday morning and then collect them on Friday afternoon.
Home Learning
Thanks to constant practise, the children’s reading is developing well. Thank you to all of you who support this at home. It really does make a difference.
| Reading | Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for a few minutes. Now that the children are using their sounds to blend new words, it is important that they begin to discuss each book and understand words such as ‘character’, ‘title’, ‘setting’, ‘beginning’, ‘middle’, ‘end’. |
| Letters & Sounds | The weekly homework letter will continue to come home with the sounds that we have been learning. We have now moved on to learning ‘digraphs’ and ‘trigraphs’ (two or three letters to make one sound). Please keep looking through your phonics and tricky word books with your child. Little and often is best. |
Super Home Challenges!
You might like to choose one of the following activities to try with your child at home. You record these in your home learning book and can bring these into school whenever they are finished to share with the class.
- Go on a journey and take photos of how you got there and tell us about how long it took.
- Make a model of a new vehicle and give it a name! Be as creative as you can!
- Write a story about one of your vehicles at home.
Websites and Links
- www.ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for Literacy and Maths games.
- www.phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 2,3 and 4 games, blending sounds and words.
- If you wish to make learning games to have fun at home, you can print from www.twinkl.co.uk and browse the EYFS Reception section.
- All information for the term is also on the school website.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bags each day.
- Can the children please always have a coat in school particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
- Our PE days are Monday and Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
- Please can all children have a spare set of underwear and socks in their PE bag in case of any accidents. It is much more comforting for children to have their own change of clothes to put on if the need arises.
- Library time- We are changing our library day to Tuesday, so if your child wishes to borrow a book, they must return it on a Tuesday before borrowing another one.
Transport Trips
We are planning a trip on a bus and along the old railway line and as part this terms learning. Letters with further information, will be sent out soon.
PLEASE HELP!
If you have any unusual vehicles such as an old bicycle, a tractor or a vintage car that you would be able to bring in and talk to us about, please let me know. Also if you have any models of unusual transport then we would love to see them.
Also we will be continuing our junk modelling skills, with large scale modelling to help us build inventions for space- so any LARGE boxes would be particularly useful and gratefully received.
Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to come and see me if you have any questions of comments.
Mrs Sanders and Miss Bews
Learning Map
Maple Term 2 Newsletter – Noisy Nightlife!
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Dear Parents,
Welcome back, I hope you all had a lovely half term.
Our topic this term is ‘Noisy Nightlife’. We will be spending time learning about nocturnal animals and winter celebrations such as Bonfire Night, Remembrance and Christmas.
This week we will be learning about Diwali to develop our cultural awareness.
Our second week of school will be ‘Armistice week’, where we will reflect on the end of the First World War as a school and include some appropriate learning for the children at their level during the week.
As part of this topic, we will begin to look at ‘Light and Dark’, non-fiction books and will be writing letters, lists and invitations.
Some of the texts we will be looking at are:
Home Learning
I would like to thank you all for your effort with last terms home learning tasks including reading with your children. The children have already made great progress with learning sounds and every read will help this to become more secure. The homework will continue as last term.
| Reading | Please read with your child regularly, even if it is just for 5 minutes.
It is really important that the children bring their book bags, yellow reading record and their reading book into school every day. When reading with your child please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by |
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| Letters & Sounds | Please can you continue to look through your child’s phonics and tricky word booklet with them. We will continue to highlight any of the sounds your child has learned at school. Please practise writing the sounds, finding pictures of objects that begin with these sounds, drawing, and writing short words that you can think of.
Please feel free to bring in small, named objects that begin with these sounds too! |
Key questions to ask your child at home:
- Which animals come out at night?
- Why does the world get dark?
- Who works at night time?
- What sounds can you hear at night time?
Useful Websites
- www.ictgames.co.uk and www.topmarks.co.uk for Literacy and Maths games.
- www.phonicsplay.co.uk Phase 2 and 3 games, blending sounds and words.
Friday Morning Learning Journey Sharing
Every other Friday morning, beginning on Friday 12th November, we will be opening our doors a little early for parents to come in and share their child’s learning journey with them. Please feel free to come in whenever you choose. There is no expectation for parents to come every fortnight as some weeks we have more to share than others but it would be lovely to see as many of you as possible over the coming weeks. We will be asking any visitors to add a small speech bubble to the learning journey to comment on a beautiful piece of work or an achievement that you are proud of. Please come to the office at 3pm and then you can come down to the classroom until the end of the day.
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bags every day.
- Can the children please always have a coat in school particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
- It is going to get wet and windy, but we will continue our learning outside. If you have waterproof and wellies spare to bring and leave at school, that would be great- please can you make sure they are named. If not- we’ve got spares.
- Our PE days are Monday & Friday but PE kits should be in all week.
We hope you all have lovely second term supporting the children in their learning and can see how much they have learnt already. Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if necessary.
Thank you for your support,
Mrs Sanders and Miss Bews
Outdoor Club
Whilst the Autumn sun was shining, we decided to play with the water outside. Lots of exploring different sized containers and how is the best way to transfer large volumes of water from one place to the other without getting too wet in the process!
We picked and ate some more raspberries and tomatoes, which are continuing to grow and had a go at trimming our willow tunnel. It now looks fantastically tidy. Well done outdoor club”
Term 1 Update
Just a quick note to say how brilliantly the children have started their year in Maple Class. They have been enthusiastic in their exploring and willing to have a go at all the new activities and adapted to the busy routines of school life superbly.
We have explored shapes and numbers, discussing sizes and counting as we play.
We have explored with our senses, using our fine motor and gross motor control to help us to learn and explore, inside and out.
I keep getting told how fantastic they are at playtime, lunchtime, assemblies by other adults around the school, so they should be proud and be congratulated by all! Welcome to St Mary’s Maple Class!
Mrs Sanders.
Maple Term 1 Newsletter – ‘Once Upon a Time’
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Dear Parents,
Firstly, we would like to say how impressed we have been with the children since they have started with us. They have all settled into school life amazingly!
Our topic for this first term is ‘Once Upon a Time’. We will be spending time exploring some familiar stories such as ‘The 3 little pigs’ and ‘Little Red Riding hood’. Alongside this, we will be working on number recognition and formation. We will also be developing our foundation understanding of letters and sounds.
Our key stories this term are ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and ‘Little Red Riding Hood’
Home Learning
We encourage children to continue their learning at home which will enhance their progress at school. There will be a meeting on Wednesday 19th September 2.45pm in the Hall, to discuss home learning, reading and phonics. We have sent home a picture book home for you to enjoy together, we will then send home phonic reading books following the meeting.
Phonics – If you are supporting you child with their phonics at home please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ksblMiliA8 to ensure you are teaching the pronunciation of the sounds in the same way. There is also a link to the jolly phonic songs below.
As the year progresses and children’s understanding develops, home learning tasks will adapt and increase appropriately.
| Reading |
Please read with your child regularly. At this stage it is really helpful to encourage the children to use the pictures to tell stories. We change the children’s Home Reading books regularly. Their books and book bags will however be needed in school every day for 1:1 reading. You may like to add a positive or helpful comment in the reading diary but please acknowledge the fact that the book has been read by signing and dating in the comments book. More information about our reading strategies will be given at the meeting. |
| Letters & Sounds |
Every week the children will bring home their phonics booklet with the highlighted sounds and tricky words they have been working on in the week. In their homework book, the children can practice these sounds by writing them, finding words that start with them and cutting pictures out of catalogues. It would be really useful to support the children in identifying these sounds when reading with them. Also to connect our learning in school with home, could you please find something small from home that starts with one of our sounds, for example P – pirate or S – Snake and bring it into school on Monday (ensuring it is named). This is so we can create a ‘Sound Table’ which the children can use. |
Quick Reminders
- Please can you make sure your child brings in a water bottle and their book bag each day.
- Can the children please always bring a coat particularly as the British weather is unpredictable.
- Our regular PE day is Friday but PE kits should be in all week as we fit in other sessions where possible.
Forest School
We are planning to start taking the children to the woods for Forest School sessions throughout the year. These will be on a rotational basis with the other classes in the school.
Our first two sessions will be on Thursday 4th October and Thursday 8th November.
Your child will need waterproof trousers and jacket, a pair of wellies, a small rucksack instead of their book bag, which they can carry independently to hold their shoes, a water bottle and a snack
Useful websites
- www.phonicsplay.co.uk – Phase 2 – phonics games and activities.
- www.topmarks.co.uk – Early Years maths and phonics games.
- www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs – Games and activities for all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
We hope you all have a lovely first term supporting the children in their learning and please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if you have any questions.
Thank you for your support.
Mrs Sanders and Miss Bews
