Hello It is Friday AGAIN...Where do the weeks go!  It turned out to be a lovely sunny afternoon on Thursday. I hope that you managed to get outside after a morning of heavy rain... Did you find any snails and see their spiral shells? 

How did you manage with your spiral pictures? Forming a spiral is harder than we think because it involves the coordination of SO many skills. This simple challenge shows why letting children Scribble and Scribble onto blank paper is extremely important. Keep exploring the scribbles that you can make, each scribble is important in the development of finger, wrist, hand, arm coordination. As children’s skills develop their scribbles turn to recognisable forms without  an need for copying. I wonder how many F2 children managed controlled anti-clockwise and clockwise spirals? 

Building a Foundation for Literacy with Imagination, Role play and Story squares.

A mother once approached Albert Einstein and asked him what she might do to prepare her young son for a successful career in science. “Read him fairytales,” he replied. “And, if you want him to be very intelligent, read him more fairytales. This short statement was part of an article I was sent today as I was developing an  Early Years  course for schools,  it is from an Early Years Specialist group. I thought it linked PERFECTLY with our focus this week on told stories, imagination and story squares and it was something  to share. We all have our own favourite fairytales. Have you shared your favouite tales with your child? They will hear the excitement in your voice as you read something that you love and recall from your own childhood.   I wonder which story you will each choose? I would choose Snow White and Red Rose.

I was thrilled to bits to read some of your emails;  explaining your children’s love of engaging in role play exploration for the first time,  reading your children’s Story Squares (scribed stories) and watching your children use different mediums to express their imaginative thinking. Keep exploring story telling in as many different ways as possible, it is so valuable in the development of their language and creative thinking and children LOVE it.

Friday’s Challenge links to role play and story telling. Can you create a mask for yourself or your family? 

You are all GREAT at drawing your own masks, what ever shape or character you want to design. It could be bigger or smaller than your face but that doesn’t matter. Its the imagination and confidence to try, which is the most important part.

Your mum or dad can cut out your mask, if cutting a shape is still difficult for you. However, I know lots of you can cut shapes out without any support,  so do try. Remember how we use and hold safe scissors.

Who is behind the mask.. I wonder if you can all remember?

 

Another challenge you might like to try is………

I wonder how you can make a 3D snail out of a flat piece of paper?

F2 children looked at different ways of folding paper …Do you remember? . I wonder if you can remember how to make a snail / spiral from a thin strip of paper and a pencil?  

F1 children will need your support to start the spiral but after a few turns they could try to coordinate their fingers and thumbs to turn the spiral. See what happens. Its great to develop finger strength and manipulation.

Day Four of our Rhyme Time...Enjoy your singing session. Click here for the words Day Four

We have looked at this story with the F2 children,  I wonder if they can remember the repeated refrains in this traditional Fairy Tale?  Can you change your voice so that you sound like the three different trolls?  Enjoy and have FUN..

We love acting out The Three Billy Goats in class,  I wonder if you can act it out as a family? 

Enjoy today’s challenges and any other house hunts, cooking or walks you explore together as a family. Have a lovely weekend and I will look forward to finding out about your learning on Monday.  From Miss Butler,    Miss Breakwell and Miss Lofthouse.