Maple class - Autumn 1, week 4
Date: 26th Sep 2025 @ 8:09pm
This week we have been looking at the book Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson focusing on self-awareness. We identified our different body parts and drew around Arlo in and coloured it in. In PSHE on Friday we thought about our differences and similarities.
We finished the reception baseline assessments this week. These took a bit longer than we intended due to some technical difficulties! Therefore in phonics, instead of starting Level 2, we looked at rhyming. We read lots of rhyming books including Oi Frog by Kes Gray and Jim Field, Each Peach, Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. We found things in the classroom and found words to rhyme with them. We came up with some brilliant rhyming strings. Next week we can’t wait to get going and start our Level 2 Phonics. We have also continued to work on our fine motor skills, preparing us ready for writing. We had fun in our dough disco sessions whereby the children were given an extra challenge at the end of each session. We rolled our playdough into lots of little balls to see who could make the most, and also rolled it into a long snake and then used scissors to cut it into smaller pieces.
In maths we thought about the number 5, did subitising to 5, counted up to 5 and looked at a ten frame. Subitising is the ability to see a group of objects and instantly know how many there are without counting them. Click here to find out more about subitising. We also looked at positional language, such as above, below inside, outside and besides, and children positioned jungle animals following the instructions of an adult. They all followed instructions brilliantly and were able to correctly position the animals.
In RE this week we thought about harvest and discussed what it is. We have been busy learning our harvest songs ready for our Harvest Festival in church on Tuesday 14th October.
In PE we continued with our Cricket lessons. In Friday we concentrated on throwing balls and thinking about how much force we needed to use when throwing in the air and to a friend.
We enjoyed looking at ourselves in mirrors this week and painted our own self portraits – what wonderful artists we have in Maple class. We can’t wait to display our wonderful works of art.
In Forest School, as you are probably aware, we made some amazing forest crowns which the children loved wearing home. We enjoyed looking for interesting things to put on our crowns and looked at different the shapes, sizes and colours of leaves. We thought about the signs of autumn and also spent some time listening to the sounds we could hear while in the forest school area.
Well done this week to Ollie, Ottilie, Myles and Lili for receiving Celebration Awards in our Celebration assembly. These are awarded to either demonstrating our school value this term – Respect, or for brilliant work.
Today is National Teaching Assistant day, so a special mention needs to go to our wonderful Teaching Assistant, Mrs Cordell. I think all the children would agree that we are so lucky to have her in Maple class. She works incredibly hard to ensure the children in Maple class are well supported and reach their full potential. Thank you Mrs Cordell for everything you do for us. Your hard work never goes unnoticed.
We hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Next week Mrs Duffey will be in school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and Mrs Hopkins Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
