This week we have been Autumn Nature Detectives!
On Monday morning we all went for a walk around the village and the park. On our way we: identified different trees by their leaves, looked at fruits and seeds, and collected lots of things that had fallen from trees. Using the bits that we’d collected, we made rafts in small groups. We tied twigs together with raffia to create a sturdy frame then added other sticks, leaves and seeds to finish them off. It was fun seeing which rafts floated and stayed in in piece. Thanks very much to Harvey and Oliver E’s grandparents and India’s mum for their help tying sticks together that afternoon!
In Maths, we have been learning about the seasons of the year. Ask us what the weather is like and what happens in each season. We have also been trying to remember the months of the year in order and which season they are part of. In some of our maths sessions, we used our Autumn bits and bobs to carry out some practical maths activities. We compared the weights of objects, measured and compared the length of leaves and twigs, and created repeating patterns by printing with leaves. If the children want to investigate further they can try answering questions like: how many leaves weigh the same as 1 pine cone or conker?
As part of our work on seasonal change, we have studied a particular tree on our school field to see what it is like at this time of year. We will look at it again each season to see how it changes. Ask us about the tree and what we have noticed.
In Art we have created Autumn artwork using our collection of things that fell from trees.
In Literacy we read some Autumn poems and created some lovely ones of our own. The children also learned a song about Autumn (to the tune of London Bridge is falling down):
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
Autumn leaves are falling down,
From the trees
Red and orange, yellow and brown
Yellow and brown, yellow and brown,
Red and orange, yellow and brown
Autumn leaves
The children created their own verse about Winter:
Fluffy snow is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
Fluffy snow is falling down,
From the sky.
White and cold and blanketty soft,
Blanketty soft, blanketty soft,
White and cold and blanketty soft,
Winter snow.
Task: Who can make up a verse about Spring and/or Summer?
Thank you to all the grandparents who joined us this week – it was lovely to meet you all and we hope you enjoyed your visit.
After half-term our topic will be ‘Out of this World’ so if the children want find their favourite book that is set in another (fantasy) world then they can bring them in after the break.
Have a lovely half term!
