Take a look at what we have been doing!
Hammering the pins into the pumpkin,this helps us develop our hand-eye co-ordination and our fine motor skills
We created our own little hedgehogs made from loose parts
We have enjoyed lots of Autumn craft activities this term
We have enjoyed exploring the Autumn tuff trays this term
We went on an Autumn walk around the school grounds
We love playing and exploring in our outdoor areas
Welcome to our new room
If your child is due to start school in the Autumn term then each week they will be bringing home rhyme and activity sheets for you to share as part of the Pori Drwy Stori programme. Attached to the sheets are feedback slips, Please return to us together with the plastic wallet, so we can renew resources weekly.
On the Rhyme calendar you will see a QR code which can be scanned to allow you to watch and listen to the rhymes on the Pori Drwy Stori
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/poridrwystori/
Thank you
On the Rhyme calendar you will see a QR code which can be scanned to allow you to watch and listen to the rhymes on the Pori Drwy Stori
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/poridrwystori/
Thank you
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Take a look at the Woodland Trust blog to help the children identify them. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/kids-nature-activities-self-isolation/ When the children have finished they can go onto make junk model nests, record the birds in their own gardens and collect a set of pebbles to make some recipe stones to help others make the feeders. Those with iPads can use the app 'Book creator' to make a story about the birds that come to the feeder. |
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BookTrust Cymru HomeTime hub
BookTrust Cymru has launched a new Home Time digital hub. The hub will help children and families at home by sharing books, stories and rhymes from some of Wales’s favourite writers, illustrators and storytellers. You can access the site here: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/hometime- cymru (English) and here https://www.booktrust.org.uk/cy-gb/hometime-cymru (Cymraeg).
BookTrust Cymru HomeTime – AmserGartref BookTrust Cymru will include filmed book readings, rhyme and song sessions, interactive picture books and much more. Authors, illustrators and storytellers from across Wales are contributing their work to help children and families through this difficult time when our schools are closed and normal life is restricted.
Families can also follow the content on social media by using #BookTrustHomeTime and #AmserGartrefBookTrust. There is also a new BookTrust FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/BookTrustCymru
BookTrust Cymru has launched a new Home Time digital hub. The hub will help children and families at home by sharing books, stories and rhymes from some of Wales’s favourite writers, illustrators and storytellers. You can access the site here: https://www.booktrust.org.uk/hometime- cymru (English) and here https://www.booktrust.org.uk/cy-gb/hometime-cymru (Cymraeg).
BookTrust Cymru HomeTime – AmserGartref BookTrust Cymru will include filmed book readings, rhyme and song sessions, interactive picture books and much more. Authors, illustrators and storytellers from across Wales are contributing their work to help children and families through this difficult time when our schools are closed and normal life is restricted.
Families can also follow the content on social media by using #BookTrustHomeTime and #AmserGartrefBookTrust. There is also a new BookTrust FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/BookTrustCymru
Relax with some well-being ideas
In the current times we are having to change the way we live day to day. This time of change and uncertainty can be difficult for children and adults. It is really important that we look after our mental health. Take time to connect with nature, keep active and find ways to calm the chaos in our mind. Try some of the following ideas:
In the current times we are having to change the way we live day to day. This time of change and uncertainty can be difficult for children and adults. It is really important that we look after our mental health. Take time to connect with nature, keep active and find ways to calm the chaos in our mind. Try some of the following ideas:
Mind bubbles -blow your worries away
- Sit mindfully, with your spine straight and body relaxed
- Imagine you are holding a bubble wand
- Breathe in deeply, then breathe out as if you are blowing a bubble through the wand
- Breathe in again and notice your worry. Imagine what it looks like
- Breathe out and blow your worry through your bubble wand. Imagine it forming a bubble.
- Imagine the bubble pops and disappears
- Keep blowing out worries until you feel ready to go on with your day
- Lie on a mat or blanket. Hug your knees to your chest and close your eyes
- Rock sideways, left and tight. Breathe in a calming blue. Breathe out a fiery red. Let your body relax
- Roll forward and back three times. Breathe in your calming blue. Breathe out your fiery red
- Keep rocking and rolling until you’re full of calming blue
- Stretch out your legs and let them rest on the floor. Let your arms sink into the floor
- Take three soft, slow, mindful breaths. Open your eyes, roll to your side and stand up
Try P.E. with Joe Wicks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Story Hive Yoga for Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X655B4ISakg
Connect with nature with some Forest School activities NurtureStore https://nurturestore.co.uk/forest-school-activities
join in at home with Busy feet sessions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcSpZ9i3zXWBnRdFQ3Enmg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ
Story Hive Yoga for Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X655B4ISakg
Connect with nature with some Forest School activities NurtureStore https://nurturestore.co.uk/forest-school-activities
join in at home with Busy feet sessions https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcSpZ9i3zXWBnRdFQ3Enmg
Information for parent/carers
Spend time playing with your children
Why is play important?
Playing isn’t just fun – it is the best way for young children to learn. By playing, children can practise all the skills they will need as they grow up.
Make time to join in your child’s play, follow their lead. Introduce children to new vocabulary as you talk about what you are doing. Make sure you listen carefully to your child. If you ask them a question, give them some time to think, count to 5 in your head.
Try some of these:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/lego-party-games/
Encourage them to join in with everyday jobs and tasks
Let them help you with the washing, washing dishes and preparing meals. Not only will this equip them with important life skills, develop their understanding of mathematics in real life, mathematical language and communication skills but you will get your jobs done too. Make it fun and they will be happy to join in. Let them match the socks, make biscuits, cakes or fruit kebabs. Why not get your bikes out for an MOT
Cooking with young children –
Cooking is full of mathematics, talk to your child about weighing, let them count out the required tablespoons, talk about the difference between the sizes of the spoons, discuss cutting foods into different number of pieces, time how long food needs to cook
Cooking can help develop fine motor skills – let the children peel, mix, whisk and chop. As long as children are supervised, they are capable of doing these tasks.
Healthy eating and learning about food – this is a perfect time to discuss how and where food comes from and the importance of eating a balanced meal.
For some simple recipes take a look at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/10_easy_recipes_for_kids
https://www.sitters.co.uk/blog/15-fun-cooking-activities-for-kids.aspx
Fine motor skills
Let them help you peg out the washing. Using pegs will strengthen the muscles in their hands and prepare them for writing later.
Playdough – rolling, squashing, stretching and squeezing playdough all help develop those muscles. Not sure how to extend the play? Or want to know how to make your own playdough? Have a look at the following websites
https://artsymomma.com/playdough-activities-guide.ht
https://abcdoes.com/abc-does-a-blog/2010/08/21/playdough-recipes/
Or why not go to a dough disco – watch and join in with songs on Spread the Happiness TV on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSBO8N4ctJg&list=PLtw-7Jf06an0-84tDAgicwfYUqBD9Qfkm
Reading
Fostering a love of story and sharing of books play a significant role in developing reading
Pori Drwy Stori
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/poridrwystori/nursery/
Welsh Nursery Rhymes – Hwiangerddi
http://welshnurseryrhymes.wales/Gartref
Caru Canu
https://cyw.cymru/en/caru-canu/
Play games
Games, board games and card games will develop children’s
Mindfulness and Keeping Active
We are living in unprecedented, uncertain times. Some children and parents may be feeling anxious and worried. Keeping active and introducing some mindfulness could help.
Smiling mind
Free mindfulness meditation app helping to look after our minds and mental health.
Cosmic Kids Yoga
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specifically for children aged 3+
Be Creative
Being creative allows children to develop mentally, socially and emotionally – as well as developing essential basic skills. As young children manipulate a paintbrush, their fine motor skills improve. By counting pieces and colours, they learn the basic maths skills. When children experiment with materials, they dabble in science. Children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which is an essential skill that we need for our future. Let children enjoy the process rather than ask them what they are painting or making (they might not have thought about it). Allow them to be in the moment and paint or create without an end goal in mind.
Tip and ideas to promote creativity:
Websites
Here are some useful websites full of activity ideas for you to play with your child
CBeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for younger children
Nature Detectives
https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/activities/
A lot can be done in the garden if you are unable to go anywhere else!
The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com/
Creative play and learning for young children
ABC does – 50 Fantastic ideas to try at home
https://abcdoes.com/home-learning/
At least 50 play-based activities to do at home with items that you will find in the house
Spread the Happiness
https://www.spreadthehappiness.co.uk/product/100-things-to-do-indoors/
Free resource – 100 things to do indoors
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
Activities and games for under 5s
Online Games and Apps
The best way to use these games and apps is to sit with your child while they are online. Children learn a great deal from listening to an adult narrating what is happening and thinking out loud. Model how you work an answer out, for example ‘The bear has 3 cakes now so I think the bear will have 4 cakes, when I add one more because I know that 4 comes after 3’. Use the opportunity to encourage children to explain their thinking too ‘Why do you think that?’ or ‘how did you work that out?’
Topmarks https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
Crickweb http://www.crickweb.co.uk/Early-Years.html
Bys a Bawd - App for Welsh songs
Byd Cyw - App with games and songs from Cyw
Nature Passport - App with lots of ideas for you to do in the outdoors
Caneuon Selog
Straeon Selog - App for Welsh songs and stories
Dewin a Doti - App Welsh stories for young children
Spend time playing with your children
Why is play important?
Playing isn’t just fun – it is the best way for young children to learn. By playing, children can practise all the skills they will need as they grow up.
Make time to join in your child’s play, follow their lead. Introduce children to new vocabulary as you talk about what you are doing. Make sure you listen carefully to your child. If you ask them a question, give them some time to think, count to 5 in your head.
Try some of these:
- Have a tea party – invite the toys and teddies and other willing people in your house.
- Be a pirate – make a costume, draw a map and follow it to find the treasure
- Set up a shop – take turns to buy items and pay for it with real coins
- Play with Lego (or a similar construction kit) -build a village and use toy cars/small world people and animals to play in it, build vehicles or robots. Need some inspiration? Try the following website:
https://frugalfun4boys.com/lego-party-games/
Encourage them to join in with everyday jobs and tasks
Let them help you with the washing, washing dishes and preparing meals. Not only will this equip them with important life skills, develop their understanding of mathematics in real life, mathematical language and communication skills but you will get your jobs done too. Make it fun and they will be happy to join in. Let them match the socks, make biscuits, cakes or fruit kebabs. Why not get your bikes out for an MOT
Cooking with young children –
Cooking is full of mathematics, talk to your child about weighing, let them count out the required tablespoons, talk about the difference between the sizes of the spoons, discuss cutting foods into different number of pieces, time how long food needs to cook
Cooking can help develop fine motor skills – let the children peel, mix, whisk and chop. As long as children are supervised, they are capable of doing these tasks.
Healthy eating and learning about food – this is a perfect time to discuss how and where food comes from and the importance of eating a balanced meal.
For some simple recipes take a look at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/collections/10_easy_recipes_for_kids
https://www.sitters.co.uk/blog/15-fun-cooking-activities-for-kids.aspx
Fine motor skills
Let them help you peg out the washing. Using pegs will strengthen the muscles in their hands and prepare them for writing later.
Playdough – rolling, squashing, stretching and squeezing playdough all help develop those muscles. Not sure how to extend the play? Or want to know how to make your own playdough? Have a look at the following websites
https://artsymomma.com/playdough-activities-guide.ht
https://abcdoes.com/abc-does-a-blog/2010/08/21/playdough-recipes/
Or why not go to a dough disco – watch and join in with songs on Spread the Happiness TV on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSBO8N4ctJg&list=PLtw-7Jf06an0-84tDAgicwfYUqBD9Qfkm
Reading
Fostering a love of story and sharing of books play a significant role in developing reading
- Read at least two stories a day- five a day if you can manage it!
- Repeat favourite stories often. You may get bored, but children will love the repetition, it will help them become more confident with the structure and the language
- Encourage children to join in, turn pages, comment on the pictures
- Ask questions about the story e.g. What do you think will happen next? What was your favourite part of the story/ character? Why do you think the character did…?
- Play matching games for example, hat and ? (cat)
Pori Drwy Stori
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/poridrwystori/nursery/
Welsh Nursery Rhymes – Hwiangerddi
http://welshnurseryrhymes.wales/Gartref
Caru Canu
https://cyw.cymru/en/caru-canu/
Play games
Games, board games and card games will develop children’s
- mathematical development – recognising numbers on the dice, matching in pairs games, counting as they move a counter
- language skills – communicating with others as they play, following instructions
- personal and social development - learn to take turns, learn to cope with disappointment and build resilience if they do not win!
- I spy – something green and when your child is ready – something beginning with a (use letter sounds rather than letter names so a as in ant rather than ay as in ape)
- Kim’s game - Put 5 things from around the house on a tray - it could be things like a pencil, an orange, some cotton wool, a toy etc. Ask your child to look carefully at them for about thirty seconds. Then take the tray away and ask them to call out what they remember.
- Simon says
- Complete a jigsaw puzzle
- Follow my leader – make sure you include actions such as jogging, star jumps, kicks etc
- Tag – an old favourite to get you moving
- Hopscotch – another old favourite, draw the grid with chalk – the bigger you make it the further they will have to hop and jump
- Pop the bubbles – you can make solution with washing up liquid and water. Or use a balloon and stop it from touching the ground for as long as you can
- Make an obstacle course out of anything you can find – who can complete it the fastest?
- Go on a scavenger hunt – draw or print 5 items that your child has to find
Mindfulness and Keeping Active
We are living in unprecedented, uncertain times. Some children and parents may be feeling anxious and worried. Keeping active and introducing some mindfulness could help.
Smiling mind
Free mindfulness meditation app helping to look after our minds and mental health.
Cosmic Kids Yoga
https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specifically for children aged 3+
Be Creative
Being creative allows children to develop mentally, socially and emotionally – as well as developing essential basic skills. As young children manipulate a paintbrush, their fine motor skills improve. By counting pieces and colours, they learn the basic maths skills. When children experiment with materials, they dabble in science. Children who feel able to experiment and to make mistakes feel free to invent new ways of thinking, which is an essential skill that we need for our future. Let children enjoy the process rather than ask them what they are painting or making (they might not have thought about it). Allow them to be in the moment and paint or create without an end goal in mind.
Tip and ideas to promote creativity:
- Be prepared for a mess – lay down a plastic sheet or newspaper, put an oversized t-shirt or shirt on your child to protect clothing. Encourage your child to help tidy up at the end
- Collect natural materials from the garden or local part and use them to create a picture or collage
- Use old cardboard boxes to paint on – the bigger the better!
- Allow your child to use old magazine to cut and stick – combine these with other materials and painting or drawing
Websites
Here are some useful websites full of activity ideas for you to play with your child
CBeebies Radio
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
Listening activities for younger children
Nature Detectives
https://naturedetectives.woodlandtrust.org.uk/naturedetectives/activities/
A lot can be done in the garden if you are unable to go anywhere else!
The Imagination Tree
https://theimaginationtree.com/
Creative play and learning for young children
ABC does – 50 Fantastic ideas to try at home
https://abcdoes.com/home-learning/
At least 50 play-based activities to do at home with items that you will find in the house
Spread the Happiness
https://www.spreadthehappiness.co.uk/product/100-things-to-do-indoors/
Free resource – 100 things to do indoors
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
Activities and games for under 5s
Online Games and Apps
The best way to use these games and apps is to sit with your child while they are online. Children learn a great deal from listening to an adult narrating what is happening and thinking out loud. Model how you work an answer out, for example ‘The bear has 3 cakes now so I think the bear will have 4 cakes, when I add one more because I know that 4 comes after 3’. Use the opportunity to encourage children to explain their thinking too ‘Why do you think that?’ or ‘how did you work that out?’
Topmarks https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
Crickweb http://www.crickweb.co.uk/Early-Years.html
Bys a Bawd - App for Welsh songs
Byd Cyw - App with games and songs from Cyw
Nature Passport - App with lots of ideas for you to do in the outdoors
Caneuon Selog
Straeon Selog - App for Welsh songs and stories
Dewin a Doti - App Welsh stories for young children
Below are the links of what various celebrities are offering you and your child for free daily to help with their education while schools are closed:
9am -PE with Joe Wicks
https://youtu.be/6v-a_dpwhro
10am - Maths with Carol Vorderman
https://www.themathsfactor.com/
11am- English with David Walliams
https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/
12pm -Lunch (Cooking with Jamie Oliver)
https://www.jamieoliver.com/features/category/get-kids-cooking/
1pm -Music with Myleene Klass
https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/myleene-klass/music-klass-online-music-lessons/
9am -PE with Joe Wicks
https://youtu.be/6v-a_dpwhro
10am - Maths with Carol Vorderman
https://www.themathsfactor.com/
11am- English with David Walliams
https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/
12pm -Lunch (Cooking with Jamie Oliver)
https://www.jamieoliver.com/features/category/get-kids-cooking/
1pm -Music with Myleene Klass
https://www.classicfm.com/radio/shows-presenters/myleene-klass/music-klass-online-music-lessons/
We went on a winter walk around the school grounds. We are looking for animals hibernating
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We collected items to put in ice sculptures
We made snow!
We have been painting pictures of autumn trees
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Exploring all of the outdoor areas
Exploring all the different areas in the classroom
Welsh culture week
In Happitots we celebrate the Welsh culture through our learning.
In Happitots we celebrate the Welsh culture through our learning.
Chinese New Year
We celebrated Chinese New Year
We celebrated Chinese New Year
Winter
Our topic this term is winter, we experienced the snow outdoors, learnt about the different Artic animals and experimented with ice.
Our topic this term is winter, we experienced the snow outdoors, learnt about the different Artic animals and experimented with ice.
We loved pretending to be the dentist during Healthy Schools week
Exploring natural resources
Mark making in the shaving foam, lots of messy fun!
Preparing our own snack
We read the story 'Owl Babies' we then worked with a friend to create an owl babies collage from leaves
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rEMEMBRANCE DAY POPPY PAINTINGS
We Dressed up to celebrate World Book Day
We made an obstacle course outside
Painting rainbows
Parachute games outside with Mrs Mills
Exploring our outdoor area
We joined the Flying Start group for an end of term Easter party!!
We loved our trip to Park Hall Farm
Happitots parent open morning, we had lots of fun with our Mum and Dads.