Reception Class News 14/07/23

Another week in Reception Class has flown by, and it's hard to believe we're now down to our last four days together before the end of the school year. Time truly flies when we're having fun!

On Monday, we experienced a bittersweet moment as we released our butterflies into the garden. We carefully thought of kind messages to send them on their way, hoping they'll return one day to lay eggs on the leaves in our garden, allowing us to witness the captivating lifecycle once again.

During our observation, we were delighted to spot a green butterfly resting by the water tap, and we even captured a picture to identify it later. Our research suggests that it may be a rare emerald butterfly, a thrilling discovery indeed!

Throughout the week, we dedicated ourselves to completing the final pages of our study workbooks, documenting the remarkable butterfly lifecycle and showcasing our creative RE project on the creation story and the responsibility to care for God's world. We are immensely proud of all the hard work we've accomplished over the year and eagerly look forward to sharing our masterpieces with our families next week.

In our literacy development, we continued our daily accounts of the butterflies' transformation and their release into the garden. We enhanced our writing skills by including interesting butterfly facts, rehearsing our sentences orally, counting the words in each sentence, and utilizing Fred fingers to conquer any challenging words. Of course, we made sure to incorporate proper capital letters and full stops, showcasing our growing understanding of sentence structure.

During our Heartsmart session, we delved into the renowned children's book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. We explored the emotional journey of the caterpillar's transformation, discussing how it might have felt while in the cocoon--wondering, worried, or curious. We also contemplated the overwhelming emotions the caterpillar experienced when it emerged as a beautiful butterfly for the first time, such as excitement, freedom, and happiness. Drawing parallels to our own lives, we connected this metamorphosis to our transition from Reception to Year 1. We openly shared our thoughts and feelings about moving to Year 1, identifying both the changes and the constants we expect to encounter.

Boris, our wise friend, reminded us that change is necessary for growth, empowering us to embrace the upcoming transition. We eagerly anticipate our fourth transition session with Mr. Dale on Tuesday morning next week.

In line with Health and Relationship Week, we explored the significance of friendships and their impact on our happiness. Inspired by the story of Barney and Heckle, we brainstormed ways to make new friends feel welcome and valued. We emphasized the importance of kindness as an essential aspect of being a good friend, recognizing the significance of apologizing and forgiveness during conflicts or disagreements. Additionally, we celebrated the diversity of families and the invaluable support they provide. "The Family Book" by Todd Parr captivated us with its heart-warming message, prompting us to create beautiful drawings of our own families.

In our music session, we embarked on a captivating journey of listening and appraising. Our focus was on "Fantasia on a Theme" composed by Thomas Tallis. Through attentive listening, we discovered to the contrast between the pleasing sounds produced by the long bow strings and the plucked (pizzicato) notes of the short strings.

Building on our appreciation for musical textures, we also explored "Frogs Legs and Dragons Teeth," where we had the opportunity to distinguish the individual sounds of different instruments in the piece of music. This experience broadened our understanding of the diverse timbres that each instrument contributes to the overall orchestral composition.

In our physical development we thoroughly enjoyed 'The very Hungry Caterpillar' cosmic yoga adventure beginning like the story, in the light of the full moon!

As we approach the end of the school year, let us cherish these remaining days together and continue to embrace the joy of learning and growing as a class family.

Mrs. Ward and the Reception Class Team