A Week of Firsts…..

This past week of full time learning in Garnet class has been a very busy one, the children have settled very quickly and are enjoying catching up with old friends from nursery whilst also learning to work alongside and work cooperatively with a larger group of people. We are exploring lots of new experiences and are learning the rules and routines very quickly.

The grown ups in class are so proud of all the children because they have Growth Mindset, they persevere when they find tasks tricky and are eager and enthusiastic in their learning. Here are a few examples of our learning so far……

We hang our coats up and take care of our own belongings…….

We self register…..

We order and enjoy eating lunch in the main hall……

We have our snack……

We look at books independently ……

• 

• 

We go to the toilet independently ……..

We have been on our first visit to the secret garden……..

We are beginning to be able to concentrate for longer periods of time during carpet learning……..

We have harvested and eaten last years crops from the Bio Dome…..

We are learning to put on our coats and tabards with a friends help and independently……..

We are learning to write our name…..

• 

• 

• 

We are enjoying all the learning opportunities both inside and outside…….

This week we have been learning about emotions…..

We learned some new labels, talked about what makes us happy, sad, angry, scared, frustrated, worried, excited etc. and learned how to identify how we feel by the effects on our bodies. Each day we will be completing an emotion chart which will help the grown ups in class to know if we need some extra support on that day.

We have begun our home/school reading challenge; please record the books you have read with your child in their reading record (sent home in the yellow bags) and return to school on a Tuesday so that we can monitor and change the books read. Any child reading their book more than 5 times per week and returning their reading record to school each week will receive a certificate and will be placed in a draw for a prize at the end of each term.

Space

The children in Garnet class became very interested in Space when they found lots of different shaped and size stones in the outdoor area at lunchtimes. They thought they might be meteorites from Space and so we decided that we would like to learn more.

We read lots of fantastic stories about characters who travel through Space and were introduced to a fabulous book by Mina called Toys in Space. It was quite an unusual book in its layout because it looked like a comic book, some children found this a little confusing to read because they weren’t quite sure which text to read first.

We learned all about speech bubbles and graphics, some children decided that they thought the characters would say different things during different parts of the story and so decided to write their own speech bubbles.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Later we decided to find out some more information about Space, we had some resident experts who brought in their books from home to share with that class and we held lots of discussions about what we already know.

We then decided to think about what we didn’t know and wrote some questions about what we would like to find out.

• 

We decided to look more closely at the Sun found the answers to our questions through exploring different media.

We watched live footage of Astronauts in Space, we read non fiction books, we listened to rap songs and watched animations.

Finally we decided to make a class fact file to share with other people.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Musical Stories 2

A while ago the children in Garnet class had the opportunity to be involved in a music project where we learned the story ‘Norman’ and joined in with the retelling of it joined by Polly and Anna. This week the children in Garnet class have been practicing for a performance of a musical story ‘MIXED’ by Arree Chung.

After we read and discussed the story we began learning the songs. Polly from Concerteenies helped us to learn the songs for reds, yellows and blues.

Can you remember any of the songs?

“We are the best! We are the best! We are the best!”

“All the colours…live in harmony!”

“Yellow and blue decided to mix, together they made a new colour…and they named her green.”

We also learnt about the instrument that was used to play the music. It was a harp, you pluck the strings with your fingers. Can you try?

Did you like the story?

Can you remember what happened?

Were the colours happier when they lived separately or when they mixed?

When we looked around us, at all our friends we realised that we are all different shades and tints and that we can all play and learn together as friends.

Some children decided to use our powder paints to paint characters of different colours and enjoyed the colour mixing.

What new colours can be made by mixing the primary colours together?

The story reminded us of how some children in class think that boys are better than girls or girls are better than boys. After lots of discussions about how we are all different and unique with different abilities, strengths and knowledge we now know that we are all EQUALLY as good and important as each other!

University Challenge – Treasure Hunt

Here’s a really fun activity that you can create yourself, no matter where you are!
Can you show your leadership skills by planning and arranging a treasure hunt and then helping others to take
part and have fun too?
You don’t need anything special for this challenge either – whatever you can find laying around will do, although
if your team are very good at finding things, you could always make the clues a little harder to solve?

You will need:

• Your ideas
• Paper and pencil
• Random objects

Step 1: As the leader of the group, it’s probably a good idea for you to come up with the objects for the first
round of your ‘At Home Treasure Hunt’. Ask an adult to help you. Think about who will be taking part so you can
make the clues as easy or more difficult to suit them. Remember, you want everyone to have fun, but you want
them to be successful too.

Step 2: Think about the clues – will you direct them to search room-by-room, or maybe you could have a theme
for them to work through such as colours of the rainbow, or different senses. You might want to create a tick-list
for them to follow on their trail – will they need a pencil too? We’ve included once we found online on the next
page to help if you need it. Once you’re ready, set them off and see how they get on.

Step 3: Was it too hard? Too easy? Just right?
Be sure to listen to what they say about your At Home Treasure Hunt. Feedback is really important as this is how you can make things better. Once you’ve got used to playing the game, why not take it in turns to set an At Home Treasure Hunt for each other to follow.

Maybe have a go in a different place? A garden or yard if you have one? If restrictions allow, why not try creating an At
Home Treasure Hunt in a family or friend’s house? Or you could even create a Treasure Hunt around your classroom at school.

University Challenge- Beat your name

Here’s a challenge which introduces musical beats, notes and rhythms in a really simple and fun way! You’ll need to use some really good listening skills and you’ll soon be able to name the notes and work out which ones you would need to use to sound out your name, your friend’s or family name and everything else! Finish by creating your own rhythms at home. Ready? Let’s go!

Step 1: Ask an adult to help you watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XXmBlTadys Musician Myleene Klass with the help of her daughters, describes the difference between different notes and what they’re called.

Step 2: Have a go at deciding which notes you’d need to use to tap out the beats of your name. Start with your first name then why not add in your last name? Do you have a middle name you could add in too? Once you’ve mastered that, why not have a go at your friend’s name or a famous person’s name? Perhaps the name of your favourite TV programme or place to visit?

Step 3: Ask an adult if you can find some household items to create some rhythms on – pots and pans, mugs, cups, anything really. Have a go at creating some sounds.

Step 4: Have a go at writing the names you practised earlier, and then draw the musical notes underneath. Once you’ve mastered matching the notes to the syllables (beats) in a word, why not have a go at creating some musical artwork using your name? Write your name in large letters across a piece of paper (you could even decorate or colour the letters in), then above your name, draw the right musical notes to match the rhythm. You could even decorate your musical name using musical notes or other patterns or pictures that you feel reflects your favourite style of music.

Beat The Street

The children were so excited this week when they were told about a new, free initiative to help the whole of Sheffield to become fitter and healthier.

They were given a fob and a card from school.

The aim of the game is to walk, cycle, run, scoot and roll around Sheffield looking for beat the street boxes on lampposts.

Then, they will need to hover their card or fob over the beat box to get points.

If the children and their families want to explore further afield, in unfamiliar places they can use the map included in their pack to see where more beat boxes are.

There are chances to win prizes throughout the game which will run from 16th June to 28th July. Every touch helps to increase our total and prizes can be won on an individual or whole school basis.

Lets hope that some of our children will be successful!

Global Citizenship 2

We have been learning about Global Citizenship and how our actions impact on the Earth.

During discussions we found that the children are very concerned over litter and how it is disposed of, we learned about how different materials are recycled, how we could use less plastic and the impact throwing rubbish on the floor can have on animals and the environment.

The children told each other that they had seen lots of rubbish around school and decided they would like to clean it up.
We talked about safety and why we shouldn’t pick up something we see with our bare hands and then we set off.

We remembered about recycling and took 2 bags out so that we could put the rubbish in the correct bin. Every time we found an item of rubbish we thought about what it was made of and put it in the correct bag.

Once we had finished out litter pick we took the rubbish straight to the bins, we read the signs and made sure that we put the plastic in the plastic bin and the card/ paper in the paper bin.

We would like to say a HUGE well done to everyone because the school is looking very tidy now.

We learned that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for the Earth and decided that we want to spread the word about how to keep the Earth safe and healthy. First we shared our ideas on what we wanted to tell other people, we then thought about items we could make and what we could do to share our information.

Some children pretended to be TV reporters and made an information video, others made items which use solar energy, others made clothes out of plastic and organised a fashion show for the whole class.

• 

Global Citizenship

This week was Global Citizenship Week and we have been learning about our responsibility for keeping the Earth habitable.

We based our learning on the film Wall-E.

Can you remember what happened to Earth in the story?

Can you remember why it happened?

We learned about what we need to sustain life on Earth and how we all have a responsibility to play our part. We had a discussion about what we could do to repair the damage already caused and stop us causing more problems.

Amelia~ We can plant more trees for oxygen.

Amber~ We can make more houses for bees because the bees make flowers grow.

Eli ~ We need to put the rubbish in the bin.

Keaton ~ We got to clean up all the mess on the floor, it keeps going into the ocean and killing all the animals.

Princess ~ We can use our bottles and our boxes again, like we do in the workshop.

Evie ~ We can recycle and use the recycle bin, just look for the sign on the boxes.

Some children painted and drew pictures of what the Earth might look like if we don’t start taking care of it, some children planted some seeds and we all recycled some rubbish to make our very own Wall-E.

• 

• 

• 

What have we been learning?
That it is EVERYONES responsibility to look after our environment.
That what we do impacts on other people and animals around the World.
That we can ALL make a difference if we work together.

Ramadan

Some of our community in Garnet class and the wider school are Muslims and spoke about how and why they celebrate Ramadan and Eid. The children in Garnet class wanted to learn more.

We asked one of our adults in class to tell us about her celebrations,

Can you remember what she told us?
Can you remember why Muslims fast?

We learned that during Ramadan which lasts for 28 days, Muslims do not eat whilst the sun is in the sky. We learned that they spend the time during Ramadan reflecting on their lives, thinking of ways to be better people and being thankful for all they have.

We learned that Muslims have a feast and a party to celebrate the end of their fasting. They cook delicious foods, wear new clothes, go to Mosque, give to people in need, give gifts to family and friends and meet up with family and friends.

When we learned about Eid, one of our children demonstrated how he and his family pray in the home and told us that when he prays he thinks about all the different ways he can help people.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In class we decided to spend our time thinking about how we can be better friends, some children made cards or gifts, others were extra kind and helpful. We decided to make some friendship people for our wall, we worked together to write down all the ways we would like to be a good friend and then after we had all written our names on it we placed it where everyone could see.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The children decided that they would like to have a party in class to help our Muslim friends to celebrate Ramadan.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

What have we been learning?

That not all people have the same Faith.
How Muslims celebrate Ramadan and Eid.
To be tolerant of, accept and celebrate the diversity of our school community.

University Challenge – Blooms of Colour

Flowers come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colours, but here’s a challenge that will get you thinking about how we can change a flower’s colour. Find more details here:

Painted Daisies: Simple Science Experiment for Kids

You will need: White flowersWatercolour paint or food colouringWaterSmall jars or glasses

Have a think about how you could do this – maybe you could paint the petals (but they’d probably end up in a yucky mess!) Can you think of a way to help the flower change its own colour? Here’s a hint: think about how a flower drinks water… Got your problem-solving skills at the ready? Let’s go…

Step 1: Ask an adult to help you find a white flower (you might be able to find a daisy or another white flower growing wild). Make sure you don’t pick a flower without permission. You could even buy some white flowers from a shop. One flower will be OK but the more flowers, the more fun you can have!

Step 2: Put each flower in a separate glass or vase with a small amount of water.

Step 3: In each jar or vase, add a different colour watercolour paint or food colouring. You’ll need to add quite a lot of paint or food colouring to make this work.

Step 4: Now sit back, watch, and wait…estimate how long you think it will take before the flower starts to change colour? An hour? 3 hours? A full day? A few days? Why not take some photos every 30 mins to compare?

Step 5: Enjoy seeing the flowers change colour. They’re doing this as they drink the water – they’re taking in the paint or food colouring too which is changing their petal colours.

Step 6: Why not have a go at repeating the experiment? Why not try mixing colours and see if you can make a rainbow of flowers? Talk to an adult about what you expect will happen. Ask an adult to help you to carefully split the flower’s stem into two. Put one half of the stem in one colour and the other in another colour. What do you think will happen?