As we reached the end of term, the excitement of Christmas filled the classroom while we continued our learning journey with plenty of engaging and festive activities.

Phonics
This week, we learnt the tricky words put and of and focused on the sounds ss and s (as in pigs). The children practised writing these on their whiteboards, and they were encouraged to use the sounds in simple words and sentences.

Maths
In maths, we continued matching arrangements of 3, 4, and 5 dots to numerals, helping the children develop their understanding of numbers. We also began recognising die patterns up to 6, encouraging subitising and number fluency. The children enjoyed games involving dice, where they rolled the dice and moved characters along a number line, combining fun and learning.

Choosing Time
During choosing time, the children explored a variety of activities:

• Continuing our yoga sessions to practice mindfulness and movement.
• Exploring maths books, sparking curiosity about numbers and shapes.
• Practising writing their names and other words on whiteboards, helping to develop fine motor skills and letter formation.
• Using our outdoor rekenrek to practice counting and visualising numbers in a hands-on way.

PE
In PE, the focus was on cooperation and teamwork. The children worked with partners to roll and bounce balls to one another, developing their communication and coordination. We also explored an "Into the Woods" adventure, where the children imagined travelling through a forest and explored creative ways to move around obstacles.

RE
In RE, we explored why Christians perform nativity plays at Christmas. The children reflected on their costumes and the roles they played, connecting them to the story of Jesus’s birth. We discussed how Christmas traditions relate to birthdays and how some families celebrate Christmas as Jesus’s birthday. The children shared their favourite family traditions, bringing a lovely sense of community to our discussions.

Festive Fun
We celebrated the festive season with plenty of Christmas-themed activities:

• Christmas Cookies: The children decorated cookies, adding icing and sprinkles with great care and creativity.
• Christmas Cards: Each child created a thoughtful Christmas card to take home for their family.
• Christmas Jumpers and Lunch: Everyone wore their festive jumpers and enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch together.
• Christmas Party: The week wouldn’t be complete without a party filled with music, games, and laughter!

On the last day, we ended the term with a cosy Christmas film and a fun-filled Christmas quiz, rounding off a wonderful week of learning and celebration.

Star of the week: Congratulations to Grayson, who is our star of the week, for always giving amazing answers in Phonics and Maths. Grayson will be taking home his certificate and Wilfred the Elephant to write in the book all about his time spent with Wilfred over the Christmas holidays and will bring him back the first Thursday in Term 3.

If you are reading with your child, please remember to record it in the reading record. We will only change your child's book if you have read with them 2 or more times in that week! Please remember to have the library book in your children's book bag on Thursday to be changed. 

Any issues or concerns we need to know about, please speak to the Acorn team before and after school or email at: acorn@st-barnabas.kent.sch.uk

Thank you for all your support this term. We hope you have a joyful and restful Christmas break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year! 🎄✨