Friday 17th July

Who is your favourite friend from school? Perhaps it's someone you like to play with every day, someone who helps you when you're feeling worried, or someone who makes you laugh. Maybe you are thinking of more than one person, and that's great too! It won't be too long until you get to see them again. Draw a picture of yourself with your school friend(s) doing what you love together. Can you label each person with their name and write a few words to say what you love about each of them?

Thursday 16th July

You have grown so much since you started school last September. Even though lots of us weren't in school for very long this year you have all learnt lots of new things.

Even though it might feel like a long time ago, think back to the times when we were all in school together. What are your best memories from being in Reception? Can you draw and/ or write these? Below is a template of a tree to record your thoughts inside, to represent all the growing you are doing.

Here are a few memories to remind you:

Trip to the library

Christmas performance

Christmas party and the visit from Santa Claus

Meeting and making new friends

Learning to read

The bubble room

Dough Disco

Making ice in the Winter

Baking gingerbread people

Wednesday 15th July

Think about all the friends you've made at school who you didn't know before starting Reception. Can you write a list of all their names and next to each one write down one thing that is special about them? Think about why you might be excited to see them in September. You could even make it into a work of art and include some pictures too! We would love to see what you make so, if you like, please do email your work to either of the class email addresses!

Tuesday 14th July

After the Summer holidays you will be starting Year 1 and you will have a new teacher! It will be very exciting getting to know each other and they can't wait to meet you!

Your new teacher will have lots to learn about you so why not write them a letter or a fact file all about yourself? Here are some ideas of information to include:

• Your name
• Who is in your family
• Who are your friends at school?
• What are you interested in?
• What do you like playing with?
• What are you looking forward to about Year 1?
• What are you worried about?
• What are you good at?
• What do you find tricky?
• Draw a picture of yourself.

Monday 13th July

This is the last week of term and your last week of being in Reception! Next you will have the long Summer holidays and then in September you'll come back to school and be in Year 1! You will have new teachers, a different classroom and maybe even mix with some different friends as well as some old friends.

We've done so much in Reception, think of all the wonderful friends you've made, activities you've taken part in, and new things you've learnt.

Changes sometimes can make us feel lots of different feelings at the same time. How you do feel about leaving Reception and moving on to Year 1? When we are talking about how you feel there is no right or wrong answer, so it's OK to be honest.

See if you can draw some faces to show how you are feeling, and write a short sentence to go with each one explaining what makes you feel that way.

For example, I feel excited when...

I feel nervous when...

If you have a printer at home you can use this template, and if not then feel free to copy it by hand or make your own.

Friday 10th July

Write your story using the story map you made yesterday to help you remember the order of events. You might like to start your story with, “Once upon a time…”

Thursday 9th July

Now that you have a story map of Whatever Next it's your turn to be an author! Have a go at changing parts of the story to make it your own. For example, you might want to change details such as what Baby Bear used for a helmet, how he built his rocket, which animal he met in the sky, what he ate for his picnic, or where he landed in space. Could he have a picnic on another planet, on a star or a spaceship? Maybe he could meet another species while he's there! Perhaps you will keep the story the same up until the end; will Baby Bear go home straight away or will he decided to stay in space for more adventures?

Once you have decide which parts to change draw a new story map to tell your version of Whatever Next and tell your story to someone at home.

Wednesday 8th July

Can you make a story map of Whatever Next? Here are a couple of story maps of Goldilocks and the Three Bears as an example to jog your memory from when we have made story maps at school. Remember to include the main events of the story and some arrows to show the order they go in. For a further challenge you can add some words and labels too. Have fun!

Tuesday 7th July

Imagine you are baby bear in space. Write a postcard home from the moon! Who will you write it to? Can you tell them about your trip into space? Think about including details such as what you see, hear, smell, feel or taste on the moon! Is it different from home? How? You may use the template attached if you like, or you can make your own.

Monday 6th July

This week we continue with our topic about space. Last week's book of the week was a non-fiction book and the key text this week is a fiction book, Whatever Next by Jill Murphy. Have a listen to it in the virtual story below. Then have a go at sequencing the attached pictures from story. They can be printed out, rearranged and stuck down, or discussed while looking at them on screen. See if you van then use the pictures to retell the story to someone at home or to your teddy bear!

Friday 3rd July

This week we learnt that Earth is the only planet where humans live. Do you think there could be life on other planets or in other solar systems? What sort of life? Do you imagine animals, plants, trees, aliens or something else? Draw, paint or collage a picture of what you imagine life on other planets to look like! Can you write a sentence to go with it to explain what you have created?

Perhaps you don't think there is life on other planets. If so, draw, paint or collage what you think it would be like to visit another planet in a space rocket and write a sentence to describe what you might see, hear, feel, smell and taste when you get there!

Thursday 2nd July

Now you know a few facts about space, try writing them down to make a page for your own non-fiction book about space! First choose one element of space (for example, the sun, the moon or space travel etc) then think of everything you know about it. Choose your best facts to write in full sentences. Draw a picture or diagram to go with it.

Top tip: to make your fact sound extra interesting to the reader you could start your sentence with Did you know... e.g. Did you know that the sun is a star?

If you like you could write more pages about different elements of space and attach them together to make a book! Use the space themed paper attached if you like, or decorate your own.

Wednesday 1st July

Now you know lots of words to do with space have a go at the labelling activity attached below. Using your phonics as best you can (you can use your phonics mat to help you too) write a label for each of the space items. If you know more words to do with space you could draw some pictures and write labels for those too! Then you will have your own space themed word mat!

Tuesday 30th June

Yesterday we used the glossary at the back of our space book to find out what some new words mean. Today we will be matching some of these words to their meanings.

Have a look at the key words on the document attached below. Which space words can you read all by yourself? With the help of an adult to read them if you need it, see if you can match the words to the definitions!

Monday 29th June

This week's new topic is space! Check back this morning to watch our virtual book of the week. It is a non-fiction book about space.

But first...

What do you already know about space? Can you tell somebody at home everything you already know? Think of all the space words you can! Then make a poster all about space! You could draw pictures on it of all the things you can think of that are in space and add some words to label them! Think about planets, stars, who travels in space and how do they get there? When you've done that watch the virtual book which will appear below very soon to learn some new information about space.

Can you check back in the video to find out the answer to that question?

Here are 2 more questions for you...

4. Can you name the planets of the solar system?

5. What can we use to look at space?

Friday 26th June

Now it's your turn to be a story teller! Look at the pictures attached below and see if you can put them in the right order to sequence the story correctly. Use these to tell the story to somebody at home. If you can, printing them out, cutting out the pictures and rearranging them will make this even more fun!

Thursday 25th June

In The Rainbow Fish there are a few different characters including the little blue fish, the octopus and the Rainbow Fish himself. Can you think of some words to describe each of them? Think about their personalities as well as how they look. Have a go at reading the sentences attached and completing them, then writing one of your own.

There is also some extra blank Rainbow Fish paper for anybody who would like to do more writing and drawing about the story.

Wednesday 24th June

Can you create a collage of a fish like the Rainbow Fish or one of its friends? You could print off one of the templates below (or ask an adult to draw an outline for you) then using small pieces of torn or cut up paper, stick them on to make it look like it has colourful scales. If you don't have any coloured or craft paper it will look great using cut up magazines or catalogues, colourful card from food packaging, or even old pieces of fabric! Here are some photos of collages to inspire you.

Tuesday 23rd June

The Rainbow Fish is special in many ways. On the outside The Rainbow Fish has special shiny scales but also deep down is really kind and generous towards others. What is your special skill? Draw a picture to show and write down some sentences.

For example, do you have a special talent? Is there something you think you are extra specially good at above all other things? Whatever it is we would love to hear about it!

Monday 22nd June

This week we are continuing our animals topic and will be learning more about sea creatures. Our story of the week is The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. Watch the animation of the story and listen to it being read aloud. There may be some words in the story that are new to you. Below is a word mat that you can discuss with somebody at home to make sure you understand any new vocabulary.

As well as being set under the sea this story is very much about about feelings. How do the different parts of the story make you feel?

Enjoy!

Friday 19th June

Happy Friday everybody! It's time for some dancing!

Your challenge today is to listen to the song all about Dear Zoo and have a good old boogie. The first time you listen just dance however the music makes you feel like dancing. After that, listen again and pay close attention to the words. Try to make up some dance moves to go with them. For example when you hear the bit about a giraffe, can you think of an action or dance move to make yourself look like a giraffe?

Remember to try your best to move to the beat of the music. Is it fast or slow?

If you like you can send in a photo or video to share your happy dancing with everybody!

Most importantly of all, have fun!

Thursday 18th June

Can you remember the adjectives (describing words) you learnt about yesterday to describe each of the animals in Dear Zoo? e.g. The snake was too scary

Using the pictures on the template attached have a go at writing a sentence to describe each of the animals, explaining why they had to be sent back to the zoo. Use your phonics as best you can to sound out your words.

There is a version with lines to write on and one without for  you to choose from. If you don't have a printer you can write them on a blank sheet of paper and even draw your own pictures to match if you like!

Wednesday 17th June

In Dear Zoo each animal is described using a different word, for example, big, tall or fierce. We call these describing words adjectives. Using the sheet attached have a go at matching the animals to their adjectives. You could draw a line from each word to the correct animal or cut them out and stick them back together. If you don't have a printer you could complete this activity through talk, or draw/ write it down on some blank paper.

Watch the story again to help you if you need a reminder!

Tuesday 16th June

How much of Dear Zoo can you remember from yesterday? Choose your favourite part of the story and write it in your own words. You could draw a picture to go with your sentence or print out the zoo paper attached below.

Monday 15th June

This week our animal topic continues and we will be learning about zoo animals! The story of the week is Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. Please watch the virtual story attached below. Your challenge is to make up an action for each animal that is featured in the text. You could even play the story more than once to practise your actions!

Friday 12th June

Watch the video entitled Farm Animals (see the link below and click on Video Vault). Can you identify which farm animals these riddles are about? Try reading them by yourself first using your phonics to help you. 

I am pink.

I have a curly tail.

I have a snout.

Who am I?

I have 2 legs.

I can peck.

I lay eggs.

Who am I?

Now try writing your own riddle. Here's how: think of a farm animal. Think of 3 clues to describe your animal and write them down as sentences. Read them to somebody at home and see if they can guess the animal!

Thursday 11th June

On your farm you should now have lots of animal pictures, each with a speech bubble to show what noise it makes. Today's challenge is to use your phonics to label each animal with its name. Sound out the animal's names as best you can all by yourself and don't worry about making mistakes, the most important part of today's challenge is that you have a go independently. Use your sounds mat to help you.

If you are up for a further challenge have a go at writing out these sentences and filling in the missing words!

"Woof!" said the _________.

"_________" said the hog.

The hen said, "_______."

The ladybird never _______  ___  ________.

Wednesday 10th June

In What The Ladybird Heard there are lots of different animal noises. Have a go at this game to see how many you can identify by listening. Log in with username: student4605 password: epcollier
 

Can you draw, or ask an adult to draw or print out some nice big speech bubble shapes? Use them to write down the different sounds each animal makes. Use your phonics sounds to do this. Can you write a speech bubble for each of the animals in the story and match them to the animal pictures you made yesterday.

Tuesday 9th June

Our book of the week is What The Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks. Watch the virtual story below. Please refer to this week's parent prompt activity sheet for some word mats to support children with the key vocabulary from the text. 

3. Ask an adult to help you draw a nice big picture of each animal and then cut out.

You will need pictures of each of the following animals:

cow

hen

goose

duck

horse

pig

dog

sheep

cat

ladybird

Monday 8th June

Today is the first day we will be working in 4 teams: blue, yellow, purple and green teams. The is to make sure everybody receives the right learning for them. You may have received a letter in the post telling you which team you are in. If you are not sure please send an email to pandas@epcollier.reading.sch.uk or giraffes@epcollier.reading.sch.uk and your teachers will be able to tell you.

Let's start the week by celebrating our teams! Can you make a special hat or banner in your team colour? You could make it any way you like and decorate it with anything you like. Be as creative as you can with things you have at home!

You might use paper, card, crayons, pencils, pens, stickers, junk materials, sticky notes, beads, feathers, pipe cleaners, pompoms, straws, buttons and many more bits and pieces.

Here are some ideas of different style of hat to inspire you! Send us a photo of what you make if you like!

Friday 5th June

At school as part of literacy and reading skills we often try unscrambling words and putting them in order to make a sentence. This is a puzzle Pandas and Giraffes are very good at, but it is always a good challenge! In the activities attached below are some sentences about pets that you can unscramble and write yourself. Each sentence also includes one tricky word for you to practise.

If you don't have a printer perhaps an adult could write the words on small pieces of paper or sticky notes for you to put in order. The activities are categorised into phonics phases but you don't have to stick to the one you're currently learning - why not try a couple of different ones?

Thursday 4th June

In The Great Pet Sale the boy discovers he has exactly the right amount of money to buy one of each animal. Warm up your brain by carefully counting some 1p coins to buy items in the toy shop.

Then if you feel like a further challenge you can try being a coin detective! Have a go at sorting the coins into the money box. Perhaps an adult has some real coins at home you could look at first to help you decide which coin is which. Remember to look at the colour, the number on the coin, and the shape for clues. Remember when we made some coin rubbings to help us learn our coins? Maybe this time you could try drawing around each coin and labelling them.

You could try sorting the real coins into two groups such as silver coins and bronze coins. What other ways can you think of to sort them?

Wednesday 3rd June

In the story of The Great Pet Sale the boy meets lots of different kinds of animals. Lots of these are actually wild animals and not pets. Are there any you haven't heard of before? Perhaps with an adult's help you could find out a bit more about them by using books or the internet to do some research?

I had never heard of a skink before so I used Google to find out some facts about it. Here's what I discovered. See if you can read the sentences I have written about skinks and then try writing some of your own about an animal of your choice.

Skinks are lizards.

They have small legs and no neck.

They like to live in grass and they have green blood!

Find some photos of your chosen animal on the internet and have a go at drawing one!

Here's a list of the animals you might like to research:

rat

terrapin

turtle

tortoise

pelican

puffin

penguin

parrot

platypus

salamander

skink

gecko

koala

anteater

komodo dragon

Tuesday 2nd June

In the story The Great Pet Sale the boy is looking for a new pet. He meets lots of different kinds of animals but not all of them are usually kept as pets!

Attached is a chart where you can record people's favourite pets. Ask the people in your home which animal on the chart they like best and colour in one square for each person's answer. e.g. for the first person who says a dog is their favourite, colour in box number 1 next to the dog picture, if another person also answers dog then you can colour in box number 2 next to the dog and so on. Don't forget to include your own answer.

If there are not many people in your home you could ask your teddies, dolls, or other people you know when you next speak to them on the phone or video call. Once you have asked lots of people see which pet was the most popular and which was the least popular.

Monday 1st June

Watch and listen to the story in the link below; The Great Pet Sale by Mick Inkpen. Can you write the letters of the alphabet down the side of a piece of paper and think of an animal whose name begins with each sound? Some letters will be easier than others! See if you can write them all down in a long list. If you think of lots of animals that begin with the same sound you can add them to your list! Which sound did you think of the most animals for?

Use the attached print out as a template if you prefer.

Monday 1st June

Time for some music and movement!

Listen to the song Walk the Beat in the link below. Starting with Step 1 help your child to do hand actions to the beat of the music as described.

Then try step 2, using feet to do the actions, following the rhythm of the music.

For Step 3 you will need some percussion instruments. If you already have some at home you can use these, or it could be a great opportunity to try making some! This could be as simple as creating a drum or cymbal from a saucepan and wooden spoon, using containers of shaky rattly ingredients in the food cupboard as maracas, OR using junk modelling materials make your own shakers and drums.

Useful items for recycling into instruments include: yoghurt pots, cereal boxes, plastic takeaway containers, elastic bands, oats, cereal, rice, dried peas.

Have fun!

Friday 22nd May 

Can you draw an enormous beanstalk like Jasper's. Make it tall and draw plenty of leaves on both sides of the stem. Then starting at the bottom write the numbers 1-20 on each of the leaves. How far can you go? Can you write the numbers beyond 20 too? 

Extension: If you write the numbers on alternate sides of the beanstalk stem you should have even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other. Can you practise counting in 2s up the stem?

Here are some worksheets to help you if you prefer to print off.

Thursday 21st May

Oracy Activity to develop speaking and listening skills:

Sit with your talking partner back to back, with a piece of paper and pencil each. The first person chooses a fruit they are familiar with and begins to draw it, giving their partner instructions as they draw (Eg. "Draw a large circle in the middle of the paper... mark a tiny star at the top edge of the circle..."). When you have finished compare drawings to see how accurately your partner listened, can they guess the fruit they have drawn? 

Children will find this hard initially but be patient and give them plenty of practice. They will find it easier to listen first, allow them to give the instructions once they are familiar with the activity and have heard your examples. Choose different subjects to draw.

Top Tips:  Encourage children to use describing words such as long/tiny/straight. Can they use familiar objects to help their descriptions (Eg. Make the line really curly like a piece of spaghetti)

Wednesday 20.5.20

In yesterday's story, Jasper waited for his bean to grow for a whole week, seven days. Can you cut out the labels for each day of the week (or make your own) and place them in the right order? Does it matter which day we start with?

-What day is it today?

-What day was it yesterday?

-What day will it be tomorrow?

Use your labels to stick up on your fridge each day, so that you know what the day is.

Use the attached sheet to make a diary. Draw a picture or write down one thing you have done each day in your diary. What else can you find around your home that has the date written on it? 

Tuesday 17th May

Listen to the story of Jasper's Beanstalk here https://www.epcollier.reading.sch.uk/virtual-storytime/ and then use the special writing paper to write about Jasper. You may like to chose your favourite part of the story, or write the whole story on several pieces of paper and make a book of your own.

Use the colouring sheet to make a front cover for your book and don't forget to write the title.

Monday 16th May

Do you know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk? Take a look at the Collins Online books and find the story (search under Red Books 2, at the bottom of the page). Have a go at reading along with the text. 

https://connect.collins.co.uk/school/Portal.aspx 

Click on the Teacher portal and enter

Username  parents@harpercollins.co.uk

Password  Parents20!

And click  Login

Better readers may like to look at this version. When you have read it once have a go at reading it yourself without the sound. https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/short-stories/jack-and-the-beanstalk https

Tell someone in your home the story of Jack and The Beanstalk. Can you remember all the events in the right order? Make sure you use a good story telling voice, with lots of expression when you re-tell it. If everyone is busy you can always tell your teddy...they love stories!

Friday 15th May

We hope you've had fun learning some maths with the very busy spider this week! It's time to have a go at day 4. Today you will learn about doubling and halving.

Before you begin the lesson, what do you already know about the words double and half? Can you think of a time when you have divided something in half?

Day 5 is all about positional language and there is a game you can learn to play, so do have a go at that if you have time!

Thursday 14th May

In today's maths lesson from White Rose learn to play Beetle Drive, a drawing and counting game. Then use your adding and taking away skills, as well as you number bonds to 10, to sing a new version of Incy Wincy Spider!

Have a go at making your own 10 frame like the one in the video to help you remember your number bonds. If you would like to challenge yourself further, try making a frame with 20 boxes and investigate number finding bonds to 20! We would love to hear about your learning and discoveries, so please email myself of Mrs Mifflin with your news.

Click on Day 3. Have fun!

Wednesday 13th May

If you managed to have a go at The Very Busy Spider maths lesson yesterday, now try day 2. In this lesson you will be doing some taking away. Can you think of any other words that mean the same as take away?

Listen carefully to the spider's stories and see if you can work out which stories are true and which are false. Can you use the web you made to teach the spider how to take away together?

After that you can take part in a Spiderman challenge!

Tuesday 12th May

Watch the animation of Eric Carle's story, The Very Busy Spider, and then join in with the maths lesson below. NB: select Day 1 for the correct lesson. Follow the instructions on how to make your own spider web and use it to catch flies! You could even make a spider to live on your web. Remember to count out your flies very carefully. Will your web have 10 or 20 flies? Will they all stick to the web or will some escape? How many will be left?

Monday 11th May

Have a go at playing Buried Treasure on the Phonics Play website (link below). Make sure to select your phonics phase before you play. Alternatively, you could ask an adult to put in words that contain sounds from your current phonics phase.

How about making your own Buried Treasure game to test your family's reading skills? You will need to make a treasure box for the real words and a rubbish bin for the pretend words. You could use some junk materials from around the home to do this, or draw pictures of these things on some paper.

Then cut out some circles of paper to make coins and write a word onto each one. How about choosing one special sound and writing as many words as you can think of that contain it. Don't forget to make up some pretend words containing your special sound to trick the other players!

For example, if you choose the digraph, or you could write words such as fork, torch, orchard, storm. Your pretend words might include words such as, borv, thorm, gorsh.

If you have a printer you could even use these colouring sheets to make characters for your game!

Happy treasure hunting!

Thursday 7th May

Look at the back of your yellow Reading Diary (Book bag) and practise all the phonic sounds on the sheet at the back. Practise writing them too when you hear someone else make the sound for you.

Can you read and spell some simple words using the sounds you know so far?

Here is a list of suggested words and captions. Only do a few at a time and remember only use the phase your child is working at. If you are unsure which is the right phase, then do email us.

Wednesday 6th May 

Today I would love you to have another look at your tomato plant. Have you remembered to water it? You may need to find a bigger pot for it now or even plant it outside so that it can grow in the warm sun. Measure it again, just like you did the last time and see if it has grown. How much has it grown?

Now take a look around your home and see if you can find 5 things that are taller than your plant and 5 things that are shorter. Can you draw them for me and label them "taller" or "shorter". I wonder if you can find anything that is the same height as your plant?

Tuesday 5th May

Use your 1-10 (or 1-20) numbers to play this game with someone from home. Place your numbers in order and ask the other player to shut their eyes whilst you take one number away. Can they guess which number is missing. Take turns to guess the missing number. 

When you have played the game, have a go at this worksheet. Remember to practise writing any numbers that you find difficult, on the back of the sheet.

Monday 4th May

If you have not already done so, take a look at the video stories of "The Hungry Caterpillar" in our Virtual Storytime section. What did  you think of the story? What is your favourite part of the story? Use one (or more) of the sheets below to write your favourite part of the story in your own words. If you cannot print it off, write the story on paper or in your yellow scrap book and draw your own illustrations. Use the sound sheets to help you to write the sounds you have forgotten.

If you prefer, you may wish to write the whole story, you could try a sheet each day.

Friday 1st May

Hopefully you've been having some fun learning to read your tricky words. Perhaps you have already spotted some around your home (see parent prompt activity).

Now try writing some using your best cursive letter formation. Can you find a tricky word you spotted at home on one of these sheets and have a go at writing it out neatly? If you don't have a printer you could copy it onto some plain paper using the screen as a guide.

At school we find the website 'Writing Repeater' (below) really useful. An adult can write a letter or a word and then play it repeatedly for children to copy. It shows the children how to form their letters correctly and in the right direction.

If you have a printer and are enjoying your tricky words here is a great Snakes and Ladders game you can print print off and play.

Thursday 30th April

Now you are all really good at counting things it's time to find some ways to make counting quicker! Usually we count in ones, touching each object or picture one by one as we count them. Have you ever thought about counting in twos?

Watch and join in with this maths lesson form Oak Learning to find out how to investigate counting in groups of 2.

Wednesday 29th April

Imagine a room in your home is a desert island and draw a map of it. Instead of drawing the furniture in the room perhaps you could draw some palm trees, caves, rocks, coconuts or sand dunes! Will there be a boat on your ocean? Use your imagination! Which things on your island will you need to draw bigger, and which will need to be drawn smaller? Don't forget to include an X to mark the spot for buried treasure! When it's finished you could give your map to somebody else to see if they could use it to find the treasure!

Tuesday 28th April

Think back to the past as far as you can remember. What is your earliest memory? Can you remember being a baby (when you were a 1 year old) or being a toddler (when you were about 2 years old)? Perhaps you can remember being 3 years old when you became a child and went to nursery.
Draw a picture of yourself at each different stage of your life so far; baby, toddler and child. Next to each picture draw something you liked to play with at that time. Have you always enjoyed playing with the same toys or has this changed? Are there things you can do now that you couldn't do when you were a baby? Perhaps you have some old photographs at home you could look at to help you find out.

Monday 27th April

Make something to measure with!

You may find that using small objects like building bricks or toy cars to measure some things takes a really long time. So, why not make your own measuring objects especially for measuring larger things, like furniture, or the length of a room!

here’s how...

You will need:

scissors

paper

pencil

Place your paper on a hard, flat area of floor. Step one foot onto the paper and press it down flat. Keeping your foot still, carefully draw around your foot (you may need someone to help you do this part)! You have drawn a footprint shape! Cut out your footprint neatly and repeat to make as many footprints as you like.

Now try using them to measure the length of your bed. You can do this by lining up your paper footprints so that they touch, heel to toe, in a straight line from one end of the bed to the other. When your line of footprints goes all the way along edge of the bed, count them and write down the total number. Are there any other beds in your home? Which ones are longer than yours? Which are shorter? How could you use your paper footprints to find out?

Friday 24th April

Can you cut out a set of 2D shapes (you may wish to use the sheet below).

Ask someone in your family to choose one shape and hide it behind their back. Ask them to give you simple clues while you guess the shape.

Try and use the following words: straight sides, corners, long/short sides, curved sides,  same/different.

Now swap over so that you have to give them clues.

https://www.epcollier.reading.sch.uk/useful-resources-1/ 

Thursday 23rd April

1. Can you make some number cards and a number track, initially from 0-10.  

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-n-269-numbers-1-10-numbertrack 

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/T-N-014-Digit-Cards-0-20

2. Watch the lesson here on one less. https://www.thenational.academy/reception/maths/finding-one-less-than-a-given-number-reception-wk1-4/

3.Use your track to help you complete the worksheet below.

https://www.epcollier.reading.sch.uk/useful-resources-1/ 

If you find this easy, extend your number track to 20 and use higher numbers to repeat the worksheet

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-n-268-numbers-1-20-numbertrack-parents

Wednesday 22nd April

If you have been growing a tomato plant how is it getting on? Have you remembered to water it? See if you can find something you can measure it with. A ruler or tape measure will be good but if not you could use your baby finger. Gently put your finger, or the ruler, at the base of the plant, on the surface of soil.

-How tall is your seedling? Is it one finger tall yet? Or maybe 2? Which seedling is the tallest/shortest?

-Draw a picture of your seedling and write down what you have found out.

-How many leaves do your seedlings have? Which seedling has more/fewer leaves?

(If you do not have a plant growing at home that you can measure, have a look at my photos. Can you count the leaves? How tall is it?)

Tuesday 21st April

Watch this lesson produced by the National Oak Academy. It fits in really well with the work on materials that we were doing before Easter.

www.thenational.academy/reception/english/materials-reception-wk1-1/

Monday 20th April

Write the word "s-p-r-i-n-g" on a piece of paper and cut up the individual letters. Move around the 6 pieces of paper, how many different words can you make? I have found 12. (Focus on 2 or 3 letter words initially). Repeat with a different word or even your name.

Friday 17th April

Next time someone in your home does some laundry can you match all the socks together to make pairs?

Thursday 16th April

Think of a sound you have learnt in phonics. For example, 'ch.' Go on a scavenger hunt around your home and spot as many things as you can that begin with that sound. Write a list of all the things you find.

Wednesday 15th April

Have a go at playing the toy shop game using the link below.

Now try making your own pretend shop!

Start by making price tag for each of the items that you will sell in your shop. Can you price each item with a difference amount from 1p up to 10p? Remember to write the letter 'p' for pence after the number.

Once your items all have price tags you can take it turns with somebody to be shopkeeper and customer. If a customer has 10p to spend, how many things could they buy? If you don't have any real pennies to play with you can use counters, or even make your own out of paper!

If you have a printer you could print some from this template and cut them out.

Tuesday 14th April

We hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend!

Can you use your knowledge of good hand washing to give one of your teddies or toys a bath and then find a good place to leave it to dry?

Thursday 9th April

Can you make some Easter chicks and decorate some egg shapes to put in your windows? Here is a guide to help you. What shape is an egg? Can you think of anything else that is this shape?

https://www.sparklebox.co.uk/1226-1230/sb1230.html

https://www.sparklebox.co.uk/previews/sb12300-how-to-draw-a-chick-instructions-sheet/

Wednesday 8th April

Can you use this Easter paper (or design your own) to write an Easter message for your family and friends. I will post your messages for your friends to see!

https://www.sparklebox.co.uk/1261-1265/sb1263.html

Tuesday 7.4.20

Eggs are often seen as a symbol of new life at Easter time. How many animals can you think of that lay eggs? Can you make a list or draw some pictures? It's not just chickens that lay eggs. Are all eggs the same size and colour? Today's story in our virtual storytime section might help you!

Learn a bit more about chickens by watching this video...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b051zjjz/my-pet-and-me-series-1-22-chickens 

Monday 6.4.20

Does anyone in your house have some coins you could look at?

Tip them out and see if you can sort them into sets. Do you know what value each one is? Can you find a 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, coin?

Place the coins in order with the lowest value first. If you have a crayon at home, place a piece of paper on each coin and try rubbing over them with the crayon. Are they the same on both sides?

Have a go at this online money game https://www.topmarks.co.uk/money/toy-shop-money

(We would expect most children in Reception to use only amounts up to 20p)

Friday 3.4.20

Try playing the animal riddle game:

Step 1: Think of an animal and draw it but don't show anybody!

Step 2: Think of 3 clues to describe your animal. Write them down if you'd like to.

Step 3: Tell somebody your 3 clues and see if they can guess your animal.

Step 4: Reveal your animal picture to show the guesser if they were correct or not.

Step 5: Choose a new animal and start again! Can you make the clues trickier this time?

Thursday 2.4.20

Think of your favourite story again. Can you draw a story map to give to somebody who doesn't know the story? If you have it in a book perhaps you could use it to help you!

Wednesday 1.4.20

What is your favourite story? Perhaps you have a favourite fairytale? Try retelling the story using your teddies and toys to play the characters! Remember to try out different voices for each character. You could practise it and even put on a play to perform for people at home! How about designing some tickets for people to use to come and watch?

Tuesday 31.3.20

Draw a picture of everyone you know! How many people can you think of? Think about people in your family, your friends from school and any clubs you usually go to...

Monday 30.3.20

Have a look at the food in your fridge. Can you sort it into healthy foods and unhealthy foods? Have a go at making a healthy sandwich for lunch today. Perhaps you could draw a picture of it and label the ingredients!

Friday 27.3.20

Get out all the cutlery (knives & forks) and cooking utensils and line them up in order of size. Which is longest/shortest? How many are the same?  Can you sort them into sets (spoons, knives etc) which set has more/less/same? Do you know what they are all for?

Remind your child not to play with any sharp objects!

Thursday 26.3.20

Have a go at making your own playdough following the recipe below (no cooking). Try doing "Dough Disco" to strengthen your hands for writing. Can you practise your letter formation afterwards?

Play Dough recipe www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/playdough-recipe

Dough Disco:   www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJQ2CaA7E50 

If you do not have the right ingredients you could have a go at salt dough. Can you make a little plate to stand your growing pot on? 

Salt Dough Recipe: www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-salt-dough-recipe

Wednesday 25.3.20

Shape Hunt: Draw or take a photo of all the circles you can find in your house (Eg. saucepan lid, clock...). Repeat for other common shapes. How did you know they were circles? 

3 minute Tidy: Set the timer on a phone and see if you can put everything back again in 3 minutes!

Tuesday 24.3.20

Lots of children are drawing pictures and painting rainbows to put in their windows. Christians see rainbows as a sign of hope and a promise of better things. Can you colour a rainbow and put it in your window for other people to see? 

Maybe you can spot a rainbow in someone else's window.

Monday 23.3.20

Find an old box or container big enough to collect cardboard junk and re-cycling. This is going to be your creation station! Can you decorate your container, perhaps with paper, pictures or wrapping? 

Try and collect any boxes, cardboard or interesting lids/tubes that your family are ready to throw away.