Owl Class Exciting Events

Week ending: 24.11.23

This week we began exploring everyday machines and discussing how they help us. 

Phones, iPads and laptops were provided for the children to use across many areas of their classroom provision.

The children had the opportunity to:

- write CVC words on laptops

- scan QR codes to reveal an image and identifying the correct CVC word to match using blending skills

- use mobile and corded phones in the cafe roleplay area to make and receive calls through pretend play

We also began to read the text 'Mrs Armitage on Wheels' by Quentin Blake, admiring how she adapted her bike to fulfil all her needs. We explored the key events and language used in the text.

Mrs Plant

Week ending: 16.11.23

This week the children explored and delved into the festival of Diwali.

Owl class learnt that Diwali is known as 'The Festival of Lights' and found out how some people celebrate this festival through reading 'The Best Diwali Ever' by Sonali Shah and Chaaya Prabhat. 

Throughout the week the children had the opportunity to make Diwali decorations and cards (which they proudly displayed in our home corner), explore and create their own Mehndi patterns and Rangoli artwork. 

The children developed key skills for shaping clay - pushing, squeezing, rolling and carving- to make their very own Diva (or Diya) Lamps. 

Mrs Plant

Weeks ending: 03.11.23; 09.11.23

It has been a very pumpkin filled couple of weeks in Owl class!

Over the last two weeks we have spent time reading the story 'Pumpkin Soup' by Helen Cooper.

We have explored the story in detail sequencing the events and exploring language to describe the characters feelings. The children were enthused to learn what words such as 'cheerful' 'merry' 'glum' and jealous' meant. We also explored the idea that sometimes characters 'want a change' and can become 'protective' over their things. 

On using the home corner to re-enact and retell the story, the children decided that they wanted to make their very own soup! Some children explained that their families write shopping lists when they go shopping so we wrote our own shopping list of ingredients. Each child then peeled, chopped and prepared vegetables; observed it cook in a soup maker and thoroughly enjoyed tasting it afterwards! 

The children explored and created their own pumpkin soup recipes in the mud kitchen, explored light sources (making their own shadow puppets and explore how we can change light in the dark tent) and went on shape hunts around the classroom and school grounds! 

Mrs Plant

Week ending: 13.10.23

We started this week by reading the book 'What We'll Build' by Oliver Jeffers.

This book introduced the children to the idea that we can build physical things, such as bridges, towers and houses, but also friendships, family, love and the knowledge that we have. 

Our focus this week has been around bridges - what they look like (including key shapes used) and what they might be made from and why.

We have read different versions of the traditional tale 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' which the children have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and joining in with the repetitive phrases. Many of the children have also re-told the story using props and prosody, changing their voices to match each character. 

We have built bridges for bears, to develop our fine motor skills, and bridges for ourselves to cross the 'river' in our outdoor area! The children have explored familiar sounds, using the musical instruments, with many of them role-playing being at school when a fire alarm goes off! 

The children have made potions when exploring capacity. They have been successfully using language such as 'more' 'less' 'empty' 'full' 'half full' (etc) to describe liquid in containers, as well as when packing items in boxes to send in the post! 

Mrs Plant

Weeks ending: 29.09.23 and 06.10.23

What a busy two weeks we have had!

We have looked beyond our local community and explored where in the world Coton is.

We looked at maps of the United Kingdom, identifying its four countries, as well as seeing where the United Kingdom is on Earth. 

The children are working incredibly hard and making fantastic progress in Phonics, following our Little Wandle Scheme. The children have now been exposed to 16 letter phonemes and graphemes, which includes their first digraph 'ck'.

In maths the children have explored measure - particularly focusing on length and mass. They have learnt, and been using, the language of 'longer' 'shorter' 'heavier' and 'lighter' to compare objects. 

We had our harvest festival, at St Peter's Church in the village, where we celebrated everything God and the Earth provides for us. Owl class studied the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and created their own polka dot pumpkins and showcased them to their peers and parents as part of our celebrations. 

They have had great fun responding to the story 'Mr Gumpy's Outing' across all areas of their learning. They have used large construction to build boats, travel on holiday and even told Miss Jarvis she needed a life jacket (a green hoop) to join them on their journey!

Keep up the great work Owl Class!

Mrs Plant

Week Ending: 22.09.23

Owl Class have had a another fabulous week here at Coton!

This week we began exploring the theme of 'Our Local Community'.

Here are a few things that we have been up to :) 

We have...

- been introduced to four more phonemes and their associated graphemes. The children have now been exposed to s a t p i n m d. They have been working on developing their oral blending skills through varying games and lots of adult led modelling. 

- been comparing different group and amount of objects, using the language 'more' 'less' 'same as'

- explored simple maps and had a go at making their own

- looked at the work of 'Yayoi Kusama', a Japanese artist, and painted their own pumpkin pictures

Mrs Plant

Week Ending: 15.09.23

Owl class have had an incredible first full week with us at Coton 

The children have strived to demonstrate the high expectations we have set, learning the new routines and beginning to embed them into their daily life.

This week the children have focused on the theme of 'Ourselves'. 

During circle time, they have demonstrated their turn-taking and listening skills, sharing their favourite colour, food and toys, as well as discussing their families. 

Owl class have got creative and painted their own self portraits, using mirrors to identify their facial features, and selecting appropriate colours for their hair and eyes. 

Using their observational skills, the children have demonstrated and extended their knowledge around matching images and objects, as well as organising items into sets. They have become very adept at laying the table ensuring every place setting has cutlery, cups, plates and bowls!

To top off a very busy week...

Owl class also embarked on their Little Wandle Phonics journey, exploring the following phonemes (sound) and graphemes (written representation of the sound) - s a t p. 

The game 'Shuffle Time' has already become a firm favourite alongside the letter formation phrases!

(Please see our information tab for further support with phonics at home )

Mrs Plant

4th September 2023

Wow! What a fantastic start!

It was wonderful to see all of the children arrive with beaming smiles on their faces, as I welcomed them into Owl Class for the first time this academic year 

It is safe to say an enjoyable morning was had by all! The children happily explored all areas of the learning environment, demonstrating their knowledge and creativity at every turn. They proudly walked to the hall for their first collective worship of the year, and confidently sat with the rest of the school, participating with the discussions. The morning flew by and, following an incredibly tight first class vote, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell was chosen to be the first book we shared together.

I look forward to the rest of our first week together and the many adventures to come over the coming months.

Mrs Plant