gingerbread people

During Multicultural Week, the children in Reception made gingerbread people. They worked in groups with an adult to follow the visual instructions to mix the ingredients and make the dough. They used the cutters to cut out a gingerbread person and put them in the oven to bake. The next day, the children used icing and decorations to create a gingerbread person that looked like them! The children showed resilience and lots of teamwork! 

forest school

Last week the children had their first Forest School session with Isobel. The children were very excited and loved exploring the Forest School area. They began the session by sitting in Base Camp and listening to Isobel talk about the different coloured leaves they could see. The children recognised that the current season is Autumn and discussed how the weather is changing. They then participated in a range of activities to help them explore the Autumn leaves, Halloween and the surrounding area. The children made pumpkin prints, leaf wands and chalk potions in the mud kitchen. They also hunted for bugs using magnifying glasses and found some woodland animal toys. 

kindness and teamwork

Over the last two weeks, the children in Reception have been focusing on Kindness and how to make good choices. In class, the children were listening to the story ‘Hugasaurus’ and identifying the kind choices the dinosaurs made. They sorted the kind and unkind choices and used the visuals throughout the week to help remind them of kind choices they could make. At the end of the week, the children used Circle Time to share the ways they had been kind this week and earned their “it’s cool to be kind” stickers. In the provision outside, the children participated in activities that encouraged them to take turns with other children. They planted seeds in flower pots and made sparkly happiness potions. In the Construction Area, they worked in teams to create zoos for the dinosaurs from the story.

new beginnings

Over the last two weeks, the children in Reception have demonstrated the values of Kindness, Courage and Teamwork as they have settled into their new routines and classes. They have spent lots of time exploring the indoor and outdoor environments and learning how to use the resources with their new friends.

During carpet time, the children were listening to the story "The Colour Monster Goes to School". They identified the good and not-so-good choices the Colour Monster made in the story and used these ideas to create a Class Charter, which will help remind them of the positive choices they need to make every day.

The children also started their Phonics learning this week and have been working hard to recall the s, a, t and p phonemes. They have particularly enjoyed the different blending games introduced in each lesson and have practised writing the corresponding letters in flour, mud, glitter and shaving foam. What a fantastic start to their first year at Hazelwood!