This week the children discovered some Dinosaur eggs with a note from the mother dinosaur asking us to take care of them. The children were really excited and asked lots of curious questions. Through our topic, we listened to dinosaur-themed texts and used our imagination to talk about what the world was like long, long ago before people were alive. Some of the children were facinated to learn that dinosaurs actually existed!The reception children discussed key ideas from their learning, thinking carefully about what was the same and what was different from our world today.

As Readers and writers, the children in Reception practised the Read Write Inc Set 1 sounds and some children also practised the special friend sounds. They applied their CVC blending and segmenting skills when writing words, captions and sentences. We were particularly impressed by letters the children wrote to the mother dinosaur about her eggs this afternoon! The children also drew and labelled dinosaurs, carefully sounding out words to label features such as claws, tail, teeth and spikes.

AsPoets, we performed “I’m a T-Rex” from our poetry basket, using actions and expression to bring the words to life.

As Orators, we developed our Oracy skills by asking thoughtful questions about the past, including wondering why there were no people in prehistoric times and what dinosaurs ate.

As Historians, we explored how the world was different in prehistoric times and talked about things that lived long ago.

As Scientists, we learned that dinosaurs are extinct and discovered how fossils are formed over many, many years when plants and animals turn to stone. The children became Palaeontologists, and  took part in a hands-on fossil dig, carefully brushing away sand to uncover hidden bones and using magnifying glasses to look closely at their discoveries. They looked for clues in fossils and discussed what they might have belonged to and how they knew.

As Mathematicians, the reception children continued building our understanding of numbers 6, 7 and 8 through practical activities and structured sessions and identifying odd and even numbers. Whilst Pre-school have been focusing on patterns and recreating patterns of different colours and size. 

As Artists, we moulded and shaped clay to create our own dinosaurs, developing our fine motor control and creativity.

As Citizens, we reflected on “The Big 3 + Me” and discussed what it means to be ready and make positive choices in our classroom community. We have been trying hard to follow all the Golden rules so that our classroom is a calm, happy and safe place to learn and play in. The children were rewarded with a Dinosaur Stomp Disco this afternoon with disco lights! 

We are incredibly proud of how confidently the children have engaged with our new “Long Ago” topic and how enthusiastically they have asked questions about the prehistoric world.

Next week we will be thinking about, Kings, Queens, Kniights, Dragons and Castles. Our Focus story will be Zog. 

Reminders: A gentle reminder to all significant females of Reception children that you should now have received your Mother’s Day Tea invitation, which the children brought home this week.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to our special Mother’s Day Tea Party, where the children will be sharing songs and celebrating with you.

Please remember to RSVP as soon as possible so that we can finalise arrangements for refreshments and seating.

If you have not yet returned your reply slip, please do so at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your support, we can’t wait to celebrate together!

World Book day is on Thursday 5th. Children can come dressed as a book character or wear their pyjamas. We would like children to bring in their favourite story from home to share in class, if possible we would like to keep the books safely in class for a couple of weeks so there is time for us to share all the stories. 

Homework: Reception children have handwriting sheets to complete, please support them to form the letters correctly. 

Have a lovely weekend
The Barrier Reef Team