Good morning everyone,
Here are my suggestions for today.
Communication and Language
We are all different
If you were able to talk about yesterday’s activity, ‘what makes you special?’ your child can now start to think about other people and how we are all unique in our own special way.
- Begin by talking about family members and draw your child’s attention to similarities. For example, hair or eye colour, likes and dislikes, where you live.
- This discussion will probably naturally reveal some differences within the family. The discussion itself will be a nice way to help your child think about similarities and differences.
If you wish, you could conduct a survey with your child. Pick something nice and easy eg. ‘What do you like for breakfast?’, ‘What is your favourite pet?’ or ‘What is your favourite colour?’ – list a few common cereals, pets or colours and ask your child to question each family member/extended family members which one they would choose. Total up the results to explore a bit of maths as well.
Letters and Sounds
What’s the sound Mr Wolf?
This is a fun game we’ve played often in class.
You will need:
- Your child’s word bag.
- Lots of space – outside is best.
What to do:
Take out tricky words (star shapes) from the word bag.
You will only need the other high frequency words for the game (words that can be sounded out)
- Stand your child several large paces away from ‘The Wolf’ (parent).
- Pull from the word bag a word and ask your child to sound it out.
- Your child will then say the sounds loudly as they take strides forward.
- Make sure your child takes just one stride per sound.
- Choose another word and repeat.
- Once your child is close enough to the wolf shout ‘dinner time!’
- The wolf chases your child who runs back ‘home’ and start again. Agree where ‘home’ will be prior to starting the game.
I normally stand with my back to the children and turn round each time I say a word.
You can also swap places with your child who becomes the wolf and reads the words out to you.
For support
- Check the sounds with your child by clapping them first as you say them together.
- Show your child how to take one step per sound for each word before he or she begins taking their strides.
Maths
Using books to count
Whilst looking at the story of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, many maths opportunities came to mind. How many coloured patches on Elmer? How many bunches of berries on the tree? How many elephants in the herd? How many animals in the jungle?
I appreciate many of you will not have this particular book to hand. However, books are an ideal focus for maths conversations. Ask your child to count characters or animals. Books that include a picnic or party can inspire a discussion about sharing. Other maths concepts you could explore are patterns, size, or weight.
A great way to begin an open ended conversation, rather than direct questioning, is to say “I wonder …….” or “I think …… is that right?”
Religious Education
Below is a lovely story which introduces Pentecost.
Wishing you all a fun weekend.
Nicola Palmer