Welcome to the Sandpipers Class!
Staff
Teacher: Abbie Heseltine, Carol Whitehead (Thursday)
TAs: Diane Molden, Nathan Tierney, Emily TIbbs and Sephanie Heywood
Newsletter
On The Move
The sandpipers have been very busy in the first half term of the school year! We’ve had so much fun learning through our topic, ‘On the Move’.
In English, the Sandpipers have been exploring Room on the Broom, a story by Julia Donaldson. The Sandpipers have been creating sentences about the story. The Sandpipers have been working on their inference skills: ‘What is the witch feeling?’ in the story. The Sandpipers have also jumped into the story through roleplay, playing the characters. They had their “good work” at assembly, and all presented to the whole school what animal they were. The Sandpipers are so brave and confident!
Within phonics, the Sandpipers have retrieved their knowledge of phase 2 to maintain concrete retention. The Sandpipers have also started learning our phase 3 phonics and tricky words through fun activities. We have been working hard on our reading skills during morning work, library lessons on a one-to-one with Diane! We have all enjoyed Move and Mark developing our fine and gross motor skills to improve our letter formation.
In Maths, we have been working on understanding of numbers up to 10, matching and sorting coins, and continuing simple patterns. We have been enjoying using natural autumn materials to cement this knowledge. In Science/ Understanding of the World, we have been working on forces and magnets. We explored the force needed to push and pull a car and how contact with the object is required. We explored how magnets do not need to contact each other to work. We have been experimenting with how different surfaces and forces impact a car travelling down the ramp. In Art/ Creative Development, we have been learning about Jackson Pollock and creating art inspired by him by splatter patting with spoons and forks. In Geography, we have learnt all about the seasons in England, observing the changes in nature. The Sandpipers have learned where in the globe it is hot and where it is cold and to label the world with the north and south poles and the equator. In R.E. we have been learning what makes someone special and how to care for others; we practiced this through role-playing vets and rabbits. In P.E. we have been working on gross motor skills, kicking, throwing and catching a ball. The Sandpipers have been developing the skills to play tennis using a rack and tennis ball. Lastly, we have introduced Kevin, the caring carrot, to support the Sandpipers dealing with big emotions; the Sandpipers have welcomed him with open arms.It’s been a tremendous first-half term in the Sandpipers! We are all very proud of your fantastic achievements, and we cannot wait until we are back together in November to have a Halloween party and prepare for winter celebrations. 😊🎃🎄
Signalong
At Halcyon Way we use Signalong as a part of a Total Communication Approach, we are constantly using core vocabulary with the children to support their language development and then through each of our topics we introduce new signs and language, which extends their vocabulary further. We also have two “Signs of the Week” which helps maintain and extend key knowledge and skills of everyday vocabulary.
Each half term we will be creating a short video showcasing and demonstrating signs relavent for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
Click play to watch this half terms Signalong video!
Lunchtime
If your child has a school dinner, the school menus can be accessed by clicking here. For children who bring a packed lunch, please remember to provide healthy and balanced options. We are a Healthy School and will be focusing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.
How You Can Help at Home
The following activities are suggested as support activities you can enjoy with your child and reinforce the learning the sandpipers are focusing on this half term. Our topic this half term is “Winter Wonderland”.
- Our main literature is Gruffalo’s Child and Weather poems. Please share the literature at home to support retention; they can be found on YouTube.
- Enjoy reading the child’s weekly reading book. To support decoding and blending words, ask questions; discuss what you see in the picture.
- We will explore high-frequency words, and the sounds for this term will be phase 2.
- In Science, we will be exploring everyday materials. The Sandpipers will be making scientific enquiries into the material that changes. Explore with your child; melting this can be ice in a drink or play dough that changes shape with force. To understand the material can change with time – Do they know what rotting is?
- In History, we will be focusing on castles and knights. Have a day out and take your child to a castle so they can explore the historic ruins. Alternatively, you can look at some castles on YouTube; who lives in a castle?
- In Physical Education, we will be practising how to play football. Practice this game at home or in the park. Can your child kick the ball towards a target?
- In Outdoors and Up for It, the Sandpipers will explore what you can find outside. Go on a scavenger hunt with your child. Can they find some coloured leaves? Allow your child to bring them into school so they can tell their friends about the walk and what they saw.
- We are learning mathematical language full, empty, heavy, and light. Please experiment with filling and emptying containers and comparing objects to see which is heavier.
Second parent guide of the school year, I would like to thank you for all your support and understanding. Let’s make this year successful and fun!
Sandpiper Team
