This week the Swans have been focusing upon healthy food, particularly vegetables. We have read books about eating vegetables and discussed why eating vegetables is good for us.

In Discovery Time the Swans worked on lots of vegetable based activities.

On the painting table the children used the pastels to make observational drawings of a variety of different vegetables.

The children decided which food and drink pictures were healthy and then chose which healthy foods and drinks they would like in their healthy lunchbox.

In the water tray the Swans fished out the healthy food to put in their shopping baskets.

On the Workshop table the children made a heathy plate of food using a variety of resources and on the writing table they used their phonic knowledge, robot arms and blending hands to explain which vegetables they liked and which vegetables they didn’t like.

The Swans were very excited to find out they would go on a trip to Sainsbury’s on the bus with Mrs Hill. It was explained that everybody would get a chance to go but we could only take nine children at a time. This week the children bought the vegetables that they needed to make ‘Potato and Parsnip’ soup  and ‘Spicy Carrot and Potato’ soup.

On Friday the children helped prepare the vegetables and they put them in the soup maker to cook. When the soup was ready the children tasted both soups. It was decided that the Potato and Parsnip soup tasted the best!

Well done Swans! You have all worked really hard this week!

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This week the Swans, along with the rest of the school, focused lots of their circle time on Anti Bullying and online safety.

We began the week by wearing odd socks on Monday to represent how it is good to be different and how we are all unique!

The Swans put together a list of all the ways we could show kindness and respect to each other. We then decided which were the eight most important (difficult to choose from as all are so important!)

Then every time one of the teachers or children witnessed an act of kindness it was added to the list. By the end of the week all of the children were on least one list! Everyone was on the list for using their manners every day… We have a very polite set of Swans this year!

In another circle time the Swans discussed what they should do if another child said or did something they didn’t like. With their talk partner, the children discussed what they should do and we have some actions to show you!

The Swans also discussed staying safe on the internet and what they should do if any content they didn’t like appeared on their computer screen, tablet or phone screen at home or at school. Swans said they needed to inform a grown up or a teacher – well done!

During our ‘Wake and Shake’ sessions we learnt a new song which proved really popular with both the children and the adults! You can watch Andy and the Odd Socks here: Andy and the Odd Socks – One Kind Word (Official Video) – YouTube

Well done Swans. You have had a fabulous week trying so hard to be kind and respectful to each other!

Your teachers are very proud of you and so should all of your parents be!

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Last week the Swans learnt all about the festival of Diwali and Bonfire night. This week we began our new topic ‘Healthy Me!’

We began the week in our Language for Thinking lesson, discussing what foods we need to eat to stay healthy. We decided that we need a variety of different foods to do this.

We can have chocolate, sweets, chips or a fizzy drink for a treat but we certainly can’t eat just these foods all the time!

The Swans also decided we needed to do some exercise to stay heathy and in our family groups we devised an exercise routine which I’m sure the children will show you at home!

In Discovery Time the Swans could choose from a variety of activities with healthy eating as the focus! In the tuff tray this week the children had to sort the play food into a plate of healthy and unhealthy food.

On the Funky Fingers table the Swans had to choose five heathy food pictures, cut them out and stick them on the picture of a body.

On the Work shop table the children created their favourite meal using a variety of resources, sticking them onto a paper plate.

Our writing focus this week was for the Swans to draw a picture of their favourite food and colour it in carefully and use their robotic arms and blending hands to help them write about the food they had chosen.

In our Maths lessons this week we have been learning about 2 and not two, and in Discovery time the children demonstrated this with a variety of resources. They also recapped learning about 1 and not one on the Maths table.

On the Play dough table the children also practised their repeating pattern skills, choosing two shapes and making the pattern of two.

Well done Swans! Another fantastic week of showing your teachers your amazing Characteristics of Learning!

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This week the Swans started our new topic ‘Celebrations’ and we had two to choose from this week – Diwali and Bonfire night.

The children have learnt all about Diwali, a festival that Sikh and Hindu’s all over the world celebrate every November and is called ‘The festival of Lights’. Diwali is a five day celebration that began on Thursday.

The children watched a few short video clips that showed a little girl called Jessica prepare and celebrate Diwali with her family. The swans also learnt about the story of Rama and Sita which inspired the whole festival.

All our activities in Discovery Time were inspired by Diwali.

We made Diva lamps out of clay which when dry we will paint and add a tea light which they can then light at home.

The Swans made Mehndi patterns with a pencil, carefully drawing beautiful patterns and shapes.

They also made Mehndi patterns using sequins too !

Hindu and Sikhs also prepare their homes ready to celebrate Diwali by drawing and making Rangoli patterns on their door steps outside their houses. The Swans made some fantastic Rangoli patterns in various ways. On the Work shop table the children made Rangoli patterns out of beans and pulses.

The children also made Rangoli patterns with the loom bands on the Funky fingers table.

On the Maths table we made Rangoli patterns out of the Numicon and 2D shapes.

As you can see The Swans have had a fantastic time learning all about Diwali and used all the characteristics of learning to achieve this!

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This week the Swans have been focusing on eyes again but this time we have been learning about how difficult it is for people who have impaired sight or may be blind or partially sighted and need a Guide Dog to help them.

John the Guide Dog came to visit us on Thursday afternoon and he brought a helper with him called Karen! Karen told us all about John and how his training to be a guide dog began when he was just a puppy! John has visited our school before and Karen told us John became really excited when they arrived at school because John remembered that he always gets lots of cuddles from the children when he visits Bells Farm and John wasn’t disappointed! We all loved John and I think we nearly sent him to sleep with all his tickles and cuddles!

In discovery time this week the Swans decorated a paper of glasses with a variety of resources at the workshop table. We had some fantastic designs!

On the play dough table the children wore blindfolds to grasp an understanding of how difficult it can be doing simple tasks such as rolling out a piece of play dough and cutting out shapes if you are blind.

Another task the children attempted whilst wearing a blind fold was to find and pick up the bouncy eye balls in the water tray and transfer them in the washing up bowl!

We had a few mishaps when the eye balls bounced around the classroom!

The swans were fantastic Stickosaurus’ and they didn’t give up! They just picked up the eyeballs and tried again!

As you can see the children have had a lot of fun this week and worked really hard!

Have a wonderful half term break Swans and we look forward to seeing you next week ready for some more fun and showing us more fantastic behaviours for learning!