Thanks to all the parents and carers who have started emailing photos of their children's achievements at home. We love to see the variety of books they are reading, the things they say, make, draw or write and special events and experiences they have enjoyed. They help us to make sure we are capturing all of your child's talents, developing skills and competences! (As well as being fun to share.)
Email receptionnews@shireoak.leeds.sch.uk with anything you would like to share!

Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Week in Reception Class

We had a great time during Shire Oak’s STEM week and the children were able to experience some science experiments first hand. They were great at asking questions about what might happen and why and then could talk about what they had seen. The week began with our milk and washing up liquid experiment. We filled a tray with milk and then added drops of food colouring. Once we had done this we added a drop of washing up liquid in the centre of the tray and watched as the colours moved away from the middle. We saw the most beautiful patterns. Try it at home and see for yourself!

We also looked at solids and liquids while making chocolate crispy cakes and how vinegar reacts with bicarbonate of soda to make our own erupting volcanoes.

The visit from Zoo Lab last Wednesday was super and so many children held or stroked some of the animals that came to visit including giant cockroaches and a millipede. They all listened extremely well to our visitor as she told them about the animals and I was very proud of them.

In addition to this the children have thoroughly enjoyed learning ‘Dem Bones’ which they will be singing in our assembly this week. It is a treat not to be missed.

Space and other learning

What a busy half term it has been in Reception! The boys and girls have got stuck into our Space topic over the last few weeks and have been working hard.

We thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Whatever Next’ by Jill Murphy. After this we went on our own ‘moon walk’ outside and created some wonderful transient art with the space sticks and moon rocks we found outside! Then we all sat down to a picnic on the moon just like Baby Bear in the story.

Lots of the children loved trying the real space ice cream and thought it tasted like, “marshmallows”, “chocolate mousse” and “cream”.

One of the most exciting things to happen to us was finding Zap the alien who had crash landed in our outdoor area. No one quite knows where he has come from but we have all decided to take good care of him while he is on planet Earth. The children will take it in turns to bring him home and to ensure that everyone is able to do this, he will stay with each child from Monday until Friday or Friday until Monday. I have been assured that he is fully house trained and makes a wonderful guest!

The children have been exploring texture and colours and have created some fantastic moons and planets which you will see in assembly this Friday.

In addition to this the children have been learning about money and everyone had the chance to be a real shop keeper last Friday during our bun sale! This week the children will be able to go shopping in Reception Bargain City (a one off pop up shop!) and spend the money they are given in their lucky envelopes. We are very excited about this.

I am also so pleased with how hard the boys and girls are working during phonics sessions and lots of them are practising their skills by reading their school books at home with you. Keep up the good work everyone! 

Technology

We had a very interesting morning, exploring how things work! We looked at torches, CD players, cameras, a lap-top and even a fax machine. We thought carefully about what powered them and how. We were then given chance to look at each piece of equipment in further detail, opening them up and taking them apart (with adult help, in case of sharp parts!).

Treading the Boards

Not a dry eye was left in the room following our Reception Nativity production. We were so proud of the children for such enthusiastic singing and loud hall voices!

Fairies Found at Shire Oak!!

Much excitement ensued in Reception yesterday morning when we found a trail of fairy dust in our outside area! Carefully following the trail (so as not to disturb any magical creatures), we discovered that it led to a door...

We had all sorts of questions for the fairies living at the bottom of the garden... What do they eat? When do they come out? Why do they live here? Do they know the Tooth Fairy?

We wrote down our questions, drew pictures and made presents for the fairies. We then thought about how best to get them to the fairies... If we left them outside, they might get damp or blow away!

We thought about how we get post through our letter box. The children decided that the best option would be to post the letters and gifts to the fairies in a post box. So, today, armed with envelopes and stamps, we took our very special post to the post box. We all have our fingers crossed that they make it to the fairies. And who knows...we may even get a reply....

The Skin I'm In

The children had some really thoughtful ideas when we were discussing skin colour this week. This led into us spending some time considering what makes our skin the colour it is and why it is different for everybody.

We realised that it is not as simple as black or white! When we looked closely at our hands, we spotted shades of peach, pink, golden-brown, chestnut, yellow, and even blue and purple where our veins were. We discussed what we call different skin colours, and why this is.