Cygnus - Reflect and Review

Dear Reception families

This week we learned about living in space. What is it like to stay on the International Space Station? How do you eat, drink and sleep in space? The children watched Chris Hadfield clean his teeth in space and then investigated putting just enough water on their toothbrushes to allow them to clean their teeth. They had to decide whether yogurt or biscuits were more suitable space food and why, and they tried some ‘Space food’ in the form of freeze dried fruit, made using the same process that is used for preparing food for the space station. We also practiced getting into a sleeping bag upright, since astronauts sleep strapped to the wall!

Maths this week has focused on composition. How do you make five? We used the rhyme ‘five little speckled frogs’ to explore what happens when we take some from a whole and move them to another place. This work helps the children learn their number bonds to five.

In Music, we continued learning the song 'Little brother dance with me' from the Hansel and Gretel Opera.

In Big3 and Me this week we talked about following rules’. The children learned the British sign language signs for brave, confused and cross. We had stories from the Big3 and Me animals about each of the feelings and we matched an ‘inside weather’ sign to each feeling. We talked about things that make us happy and the Big 3 and Me challenge this week was to try and follow our class rules so we can all enjoy each day. 

This week our Drawing Club book was ‘Aliens love underpants!’. The children drew some fantastic aliens and spaceships and had to design some pants that the aliens would love. Each day we said and learned the poem ‘Flying saucer’ from the poetry basket. On friday we flew our own ‘flying saucer’ in the form of a movement controlled mini drone and the children made clay aliens of their own design.

Thought of the day continues to be a very engaging process and the children enjoy talking about each others thoughts. Please do encourage the children to bring or talk about something special or meaningful to them rather than a show and tell item. 

Next week at a glance

Our Big 3 and Me focus will be on relationship building skills: caring about making up

Dates for your diary: 

29th January - HSA Cake Sale after school (Delphinus and Pegasus Class)

5th February - Cygnus class visit to St. Lawrence church

10th February - Safer Internet Day

13th February - HSA Mufti Day and last day of term 3

23rd February - Start of Term 4

25th February - Parents Evening

5th March - World Book Day 

11th March - Parents Evening 

12th March - HSA Cake Sale

26th March - Easter Service at SS Peter and Paul's Church 10am start leaving school 9:15am

27th March - End of Term 1pm 

Notices:

Could the children please bring a toilet roll and a yogurt pot (or similar small container) to school by the end of next week? We need them for 2 projects. Thank you!

If your child is going home with someone else, please make sure you email the school office to advise us of the change: office@nhps.org.uk 

Please can all children bring a book bag daily to allow us to send written work and books home when needed? Small rucksacks are too small to accommodate A4 paper and library books.  

Please make sure the children have a waterproof coat every day. We have outdoor play as often as possible and we need to be ready for changes in the weather. Please also bring a hat, scarf and gloves for the colder weather.

Children also need a pair of indoor shoes/plimsoles to change into to come into the classroom and a spare set of clothes, including pants and socks, for any accidents.

Best wishes

The Reception Team