We have had a wonderful week back in Cherry class. This week we have been settling back into the rules and routines of school. The children shared what they did over the half term holidays with their class and some children shared what they found on Autumn walks from over half term. 

This week we have been learning about fireworks night. The children have been creating firework art by painting, printing and using chalks. Lots of the children linked what they learnt to their own experiences of seeing fireworks. Some of the children have been writing a list for a firework party and have been describing fireworks and writing simple words such as 'pop' and 'crash'. 

We have also been learning about how Hindu's celebrate Diwali festival. The children have been looking at pictures, exploring traditional clothes, exploring rangoli patterns and looking at divas lamps. The children have been creating their own creations, including rangoli patterns.

In phonics the children have been learning the digraphs ss, ll and ff. They have been sounding out and blending to read words such as bell, tell, puff and hiss. Our tricky words have been put, pull and full this week. 

In Maths we have been learning about the numbers within 10. The children have been recognising, making and ordering the numbers. 

Our role play has turned into a campsite this week. The children have enjoyed acting in role and going on camping trips. 

This week we have learnt all about the changing seasons and Autumn. The children enjoyed going on Autumn spotting walks. In the woodland this week, the children took a check list and bag to spot and collect Autumn items, including pine cones, leaves and twigs. See if you can spot the signs of Autumn on a walk this weekend. 

The children read the story 'It was a cold, dark night'. We retold the story and used role play to help us. The children then created story maps for the story, drawing the different dens the animals lived in. Some children labelled the animals, applying the phonics they have learnt. The book is all about a hedgehog hibernating, so we look forward to finding out more about hibernation from our visitor at Brent Lodge on Wednesday next week. If you have any donations for Brent lodge, please bring them to school. 

In Maths we have been learning all about patterns. The children have been creating 2-step patterns during lessons and in provision. They have used a range of resources. Why not see if you can make an Autumn pattern at home this weekend. 

In phonics the children have been learning the sounds h,b,f,l. They have been reading simple 3 letter words such as - log, bat, hop. Support them by reading their phonics book 5x a week. 

We have created a school role play area, after some of the children were interested in playing 'schools' in the classroom. They have been making great teachers and students! They have been teaching each other phonics and reading stories to one another. 

Brighton and Hove football coaches came in for a taster session on Thursday. The children loved it! If you are interested in the football club, speak to the school office. 

This week in Cherry class we have been learning about the Harvest festival. The children have been singing Harvest and Autumn songs, ready to perform at our Harvest worship on Monday 14th October to parents/carers. 

We have been reading lots of stories including, the little red hen, the squirrels who squabled and pumpkin soup. The children have enjoyed retelling the story of the little red hen through role play and small world tuff trays. 

They have learnt about what Harvest means and the fruits and vegetables that the farmers have ready to pick at this time of year. The children have painted, washed and scooped out the seeds inside pumpkins. They have printed with vegetables and have used observational drawings of vegetables. Cherry class have particularly enjoyed the sensory and messy farm tuff trays, which have sparked imagination for play and sensory discussions. 

Cherry class have enjoyed the addition of a farm shop role play area. They have been acting in role as the shop keepers and shoppers. They have been exploring the fruits, vegetables and breads and 'paying for the items'. Some children have created lists and used already made lists to check off what they need. 

Some children have begun to apply the phonics they have learnt to label initial sounds, write lists and write CVC words. 

In phonics we have now learnt the following sounds:

s, a, t, p, i, n, m, d, g, o, c, k

The children have been reading simple three letter words containing these sounds. Segmenting and blending the words to read them. They have been sorting items into which sound they begin with, listening carefully as they sound out the words. They have been practising the letter shapes by writing, tracing, drawing in sand/glitter. 

In Maths the children have been securing their number knowledge in numbers 1-5, recognising, making and exploring different representations and resources. We have been ordering numbers in numeric and resource form. We have been finding one more than different numbers within 5. Next week we will be learning about finding one less than numbers within 5. 

Cherry class enjoyed their trip to the woodland on Thursday with Mrs Sheppard and their weekly visit to the school library. 

The children in cherry class have settled in so well to their new school! We have had a fantastic week getting to know new friends and playing with each other. We have had lots of circle time games where the children have shared their names and their favourite toys. They have been learning about the rules and routines of the school day.

This week we had our first trip to the woodland! The children loved exploring the new environment! They got themselves changed and into their wellies ready to dig in the mud, find bugs and learn about how to look after the woodland space when they are there. 

The children have been doing lots of singing, learning rhymes and counting songs. Cherry class definitely love a dance! We have been having lots of movement breaks throughout the day. 

The children have been enjoying the small words and large construction outside. 

Next week we will begin phase 2 phonics lessons, where the children will begin learning the initial sounds. Practice blending words at home through sound talking words during play or instructions. Can you pass me the f-or-k? Do you want to make a c-a-k-e? 
This will help the children when they come to blending words for reading. 
Practice recognising the initial sounds in words. What sound does dog start with? yes, 'd'. What else starts with the sound 'd'?

Next week we will be learning all about ourselves and our families. Please bring in a photo or upload a photo to Tapestry of your child and their family, ready for them to share with the class.  

Reminders:

-Please bring in wellies and waterproofs for Thursdays woodland sessions 
-Please label all uniform, including shoes!
-Reading phonics books will be changed on Mondays 
-Please fill in reading records every time you read with your child 
-We will be visiting the school library to change our library books (Day TBC)