Squirrels News - 8th November 2024
It has been lovely to welcome the Squirrels back after half term.
This week we have been learning about Diwali which was actually last week but as we were away we are celebrating it this week. The children have learnt the story of Diwali, how people prepare for it and how it is celebrated. We have also discussed that Diwali is the festival of light and so in Art we made diva’s from clay which we then painted and decorated. It was lots of fun. When they were finished it was time to place tea lights into our diva’s before lighting them and watching the flames dance, creating beautiful glowing light to chase the dark away.
Our Role Play Area was transformed into a Home Corner decorated for the Diwali celebrations and the children created Rangoli patterns as we discussed symmetry. Initially the children created rangoli patterns using shapes. We then used paint and various implements from paint brushes and toilet rolls to sponges and Duplo bricks to make different marks. We created our artwork on one side of the page before folding it in half to create a symmetrical picture.
Elsewhere in the classroom the children used cotton buds dipped in paint to create fireworks and develop their pincer grip. In Numeracy we looked at mathematical opposites from big to small and under and over. The Children had to connect the opposites together in the form of puzzle pieces which also developed their fine motor skills.
Everyone was very excited for our first Spanish session after the half term and this week we focused on learning how to say the children’s favourite animals and read a story all about a young dragon learning to fly and blow fire.
On Friday when it was time for our Outdoor Learning Day, We discussed Remembrance Day and learned why it is important as we noticed poppies walking down the high street, discussing why some were red and others purple. When we got to the common we listened in silence to 'The Last Post' and the children then created poppies using natural objects as we discussed the people we love and people who help us and keep us safe.