Space is such an interesting theme topic that we will be carrying it over two weeks. The Squad spoke about the different planets and we we’ve learnt the distance from the sun to each planet by saying this: My (Mercury) Very (Venus) Energetic (Earth) Mother (Mars) Jumped (Jupiter) Straight (Saturn) Under (Uranus) Nine (Neptune) Planets (Pluto – Dwarf Planet). 

IB Principle: Critical Thinkers – the squad spoke about how we can expand our thinking so that we are able to ask those difficult questions. Incorporating both left and right hemispheres so that we are able to be logical and creative. We need to process the negative so that we can enjoy the positive. We taught this by explaining that there are good and bad decisions, and it is okay to make mistakes, but it is how we learn from them and build from those experiences. 

Writing and Phonics: The next four sight words “come”, “we”, “of” and “see” – we also went through the sight words to date. Last week we also focused on our next word family which was the “an” family. We write sentences using these words and it was so wonderful to see how the Squad are able to form their own sentences together as a team such as “the man has a pan and a fan”! This week we introduced the “am” family such as “ham, dam, jam, ram”. Their use of finger spacing is improving. Congratulations Smart Squad. We are so proud of you.  

Mathematics: Last week we taught the squad how to tally and this week we expanded on this by incorporating a graph and then using a tally to express these digits. We are pleased with how well they were able to retain the information taught last week and use that to complete the worksheet. We also completed some subtraction to 10 sums – we really are pleased with how quickly they grasped this concept. 

Creative Art: We painted patterns this week but first worked on our placement and proportion on a blank page. We also expressed different patterns building 2 or more using shapes, lines and drawings. We are using these to make a wonderfully large slithering space snake that will be displayed at Art Expo. We also created a rocket ship using toilet rolls and paper cones. So cute!  

Music: We are in full swing of practicing for our annual concert – the children are singing their hearts out. Keep it up.  

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. 

Our Precious Stars!

Moral conscious theme: Giving – This week we focused our discussion on the gift of giving. We explained to the Squad that it is such a special feeling when we know that we have helped someone in need whether it be by giving our time or giving them an item that they need. We also discussed the less fortunate and how we should be grateful for the things that we have.

The Squad made sleeping bags out of newspaper and plastic this week for Nelson Mandela Day. They really enjoyed this so much.

Writing and Phonics: Last week we focused on recapping our sight words and letter sounds. We discussed the term ‘blending’ and went through our blending sounds such as ‘th’ and ‘sh’ and ‘ch’. The Squad are really getting the hand of reading independently. We then completed a worksheet where they needed to read the sentences and then rewrite them using the cat method. This week we looked through magazines and looked for sight words by circling them. We also played a game on the board where the sight word was written, and the children were asked one by one to go and spot that word. We were pleased with their progress.

Our sight words to date are as follows: dog, me, is, big, I, and, am, an , it, see, to, come, yes, not, get, on, the, can, dad, go, here, so, do, he, up, she, we, at, mom, has, no, a, in, look, but, cat, of, my, DAY (new sight word)

Mathematics: Last week we went over counting to 30 and back. We also focused on counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. This is a tricky concept for the Squad, so we incorporate showing the children visually and by singing it out by rote method. This concept can be introduced at home by writing it on a piece of paper and placing it in a location your child sees every day.

This week we played a game of bingo and the children had to circle if they had the number. They loved this! We also had two worksheets to complete which was an addition and subtraction worksheet whereby the children had to fill in the number sentence and provide the answer. Well done!

Creative Art: The Squad completed three art activities over the two weeks. The first one was to decorate their own planet – name it and then create their own alien. The second was to make their very own rocket which was made using an empty toilet roll, sewing reels and paper. The last was to decorate a moon face. All of which came out so beautifully we are only sending one home and keeping the other two for art expo.

Music and Cooking: For cooking we made space cake balls. The Squad mixed condensed milk, coconut shavings, milo, milk and crushed Marie biscuits. The result was delicious! For music we were practicing our concert songs.

We would like to thank you all for attending our annual school concert it was a blast and the children really did a spectacular job! We were so proud of them!

FunFit Sports: The children completed an obstacle course whereby they jumped, dribbled a climbed through different equipment. They had so much fun. Photos are in the blog.

We Love Our Squad To The Moon and Back!