Another wonderful week in Oak class!
The children have had a great time this week learning about our feelings and how all our differences make us unique. Learning across both the Acorn and Oak classes, the children have been engaging with so many different activities, from making faces from playdough and box modelling to making music with Mrs Boyce and in the classroom. 

We went on a sound hunt in the forest looking for natural musical instruments - turns out there's a whole orchestra out there from "stone clackers" to scrapers with the rough bark we found in the log pile. 
We also made Smelly Playdough together after someone realised the playdough smelled like flour and we wondered if we could make it smell nicer - turns out that pink raspberry scented playdough is amazing! 
​
In phonics this week, we started to learn the next 5 sounds with i, n, p, g and o. We explored lots of different words and used our Magic Fingers to write them in the air. We also started playing our brilliant game "Teach Your Monster To Read" which the children have been accessing independently on Tablets in our new Information Station in Oak class. 

At Forest School this week we were inspired by Andy Goldsworthy to create our own natural art which we are going to showcase on here and in the classroom so that everyone can see our wonderful creations. 

Next week, we are going to be starting an exciting STEAM project. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics combining together to give us a range of challenges and problems to solve. We are starting with making and testing spinning tops so if you have any old CDs or DVDs you no longer need, feel free to send them in! 
In Forest School next week (weather permitting) we are going to be tying and trying our own zipline for the children to fly through the air on - we will ensure many photos are taken. 

Have a lovely weekend, 
Kaydee

Welcome to a wonderful year for our brand new Oak Class. It has been an amazing start to the year and it is wonderful to see all the children playing together in our amazing new environment. 
This week, we have been settling in and getting to know each other and our new space. While we have still got many new exciting additions to the building to come, including our covered veranda and new equipment, the children have enjoyed being able to play and learn in both the Acorn and Oak learning spaces and choosing their own learning during independent choosing time. We have also been able to spend so much time outside in our woodland space and also visiting the "Blue Area" as well as playing on the "Big Play ground" with the year 1s and 2s at Lunch Time- seeing the children able to play and learn together after a strange and difficult start to school with all the changes they have seen has been magical and they have certainly been enjoying the novelty and freedom they now have!

We started our Read Write Inc phonics this week in Oak class and have been refreshing our memories on all the sounds and beginning to blend some sounds together to make words. The children have all got their first reading book, picture book and sound blending books to practise at home and next week we will be sending home a set of sound cards for each child too. 

In maths, we have been learning about the numbers 1-5 and working on counting and Number Formation. Next week we will be continuing with these numbers and thinking about which numbers are bigger and smaller, thinking about "1 more" and "1 less" than them and counting things in our environment. 

While we have been outside a lot this week, next week we will officially be starting Forest School. Please make sure children have clothes and shoes in school that you are happy to get muddy and messy and also have long arms and legs to protect them from any bramble scratches. The children don't know this yet, but in our first week of Forest School, we will be starting with den building to make our own shelters in the outdoors (and maybe even making some mini dens for the creatures that share our forest space too). 

If you have any boxes/bottles/tubes etc., we are hoping to develop our making corner so that we can create lots of things with box models this term so please feel free to send the children in with anything you think is useful!

I think that's everything for now but watch this space (and Dojo) for lots more updates and pictures of our adventures in Oak Class. You should be very proud of the start the children have made and how beautifully they have settled in- I know Mrs Grant and I certainly are. 

Have a lovely weekend,

​Miss Prince