Good morning Reception Class,
Here are my suggestions for today’s home learning.
Communication and Language
Our story this week is Elmer the Patchwork Elephant. Unfortunately, I do not have this story at home. However, it is a story that the children have said they would like. I thought the next best thing would be for the children to hear the story read by the author, David McKee.
You may wish to take this opportunity to talk about authors and illustrators of books. In class, I like to tell the children they are authors when they write me a story – maybe some of the children in our class may actually grow up to be an author or illustrator. David McKee has also illustrated books by other authors, including some of the more recent Paddington Bear books. In addition, he has illustrated books written by his mother, Violet McKee, and by his son, Chuck McKee.
Letters and Sounds
Elmer’s Party Day – Elephant Day Invitation
Make an invitation to celebrate Elmer Day.
Encourage your child to write in the invitation. Perhaps your child could invite their family and set up a little tea party.
Below is suggested wording to include a few high frequency words. Children learn to spell ‘come, to, my, be’ – tricky words. You may find ‘party’ will be spelt ‘partee’ which is fine as we have only learnt ‘ee’ to represent this sound.
To ……
Come to my party
It will be fun.
from ……
You may also like to ask this little maths challenge: At the Elmer’s Day party, Elmer eats 8 cakes and then another 2. How many cakes does he eat altogether?
Adapt the numbers for support or to extend your child’s learning. For example, Elmer eats 2 cakes and then another 2. How many cakes does he eat? Or, Elmer eats 10 cakes and then another 3. How many cakes does he eat?
Maths
Elmer’s Counting Song
Although this is a fairly simple song, it will really challenge your child in terms of counting up and down. I have posted a copy of the song on the Memo section of Tapestry.
(Sing to the tune of ‘1,2,3,4,5 Once I Caught a Fish Alive)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, berries cover Elmer’s hide.
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, he re-joins the herd, but then…
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, is this one of Elmer’s tricks?
5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, elephants having so much fun.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, rain clouds up above arrive.
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, we see Elmer’s colour then.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, is this one of Elmer’s tricks?
5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, elephants having so much fun.
Understanding of the World
Grow a rainbow
You will need:
- Kitchen roll/paper towel
• Felt-tip pens
• Two small bowls of water
• Paperclip
• Thread
What to do:
- Cut the kitchen roll into the shape of a rainbow.
- At each end, use the felt-tip pens to colour a rainbow about 2cm up from the bottom. You may wish to order the colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
- Attach the paperclip to the top of the rainbow and tie a piece of thread to it. This will allow you to hold your rainbow.
- Add water to the two bowls.
- Hold the rainbow with both ends slightly submerged into each bowl of water and watch your rainbow grow.
Encourage your child to predict what may happen and talk about what happens to the rainbow.
Wishing you all a super learning day.
Nicola Palmer