This week we have been learning about Queen Elizabeth II and how she has been Queen for 60 years. We have been taking part in lots of activities based around our Queen’s “Diamond Jubilee.” We have made crowns, built Buckingham Palace, carefully drawn the queen, read some non-fictions books, looked at stamps and coins with the Queens head on and completed coin rubbings! We have also been practising our dance for “The Diamond Jubilee” picnic which is taking place Thursday 31st May from 4.30-7.00, don’t miss out!

Last Friday, RS visitied the local library choosing their own books to read and taking part in a story telling session. Thank you very much to all the parents who came along and supported their child … we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Last Thursday we invited parents/guardians of RD to join us on a visit to the local library (Thimblemill Library) where the children chose books to read with their adult and took part in a story telling session. Adults were also given the opportunity to become a member of the local library. We would like to thank all adults for your continued support.

This week we have been reading “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.”  We began by seeing goats on the farm.  We got to stroke them and even feed a baby kid!  This week we have been looking at the text, paying particular attention to the language used.  We have been retelling the story, using props to support us.

Next week, we shall be reading “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” Watch this video with your child discussing the language used, who the main characters are and the sequence of events asking them to retell the story to you.

Last week we visited Ash End House Farm where we had lots of fun learning about all the farm animals, first feeding the goats and giving their babies (kids) milk to drink. We then saw the sheep with their baby lambs and sang “Baa Baa Black Sheep” to them! We were lucky enough to see lots of newly hatched chicks and ducklings that were only a few days old. After lunch we thoroughly enjoyed watching the show “The Little Red Hen” and some of the children even performed in the show! What a lovely day!

This Friday (4th May 2012) we are all going to Ash End House Farm.  We shall be looking at the animals, talking about what they look/sound like, having a story in the barn and learning all about how animals change and grow.  We are all looking forward to this exciting trip! 

Please dress your child in warm/waterproof clothes and provide your child with a packed lunch for the day.  All children must be at school on time in order for the coach to depart on time, and we shall be back to school by 3.10pm.

Using farm animals we have been encouraging the children to indepedently write their own number sentences where they have been counting how many animals are in each group then adding them together to find the total (e.g. 3+4=7). You can help your child to practise writing simple addition sums using various objects from around the house.

Our Topic this half term is “Growing” so as a class we discussed different vegetables that grow from the ground, linking it into the importance of healthy eating. We then used a variety of vegetables to print with, it was lots of fun!

This week we are looking at different artists who all portray plants and flowers in their pictures.  Today we were learning about Claude Monet, who is a famous artist and lived in France approx. 150 years ago.  We looked at a range of pictures that he painted, all based on plants and flowers.  We tried to recreate his picture: “The Water Lillies” using finger painting techniques.