We returned to school on Monday after a lovely, sunny half term to find a wonderful surprise in our classroom. The caterpillars were now butterflies! We were amazed and excited. We fed them some apple and banana and watched them use their long tongues to drink the sugar from the fruit. We also enjoyed seeing the symmetrical patterns on their wings and the way they fluttered in the net. It encouraged lots of observations and discussion.

We drew the butterflies and made our own butterfly life cycle books. After watching the butterflies fly around the net we realised that they would be much happier if they were released into our outside area. We opened the net and three of the butterflies flew away to collect nectar from the daisies and buttercups. The last butterfly flew out of the net and landed on Charlie's knee! This was very exciting as it meant that we could all have a look at the butterfly.

While we were outside we took a look at the seeds we had planted. Some plants had grown better than others. We thought that Evie and Kyla's cress looked like a mop of hair! When Mrs Bawden tried to pull it out of the soil the roots had spread so far that the soil came too.

Today was Science day and we spent the afternoon being scientists with Year 3. We all had a pot of bubbles and we had to count how long our bubbles lasted for before they popped. We also looked at what happens when bubbles land on different surfaces. We made bubbles with different shaped wands and mixture from different sources. Each Reception child had a Year 3 partner and the children worked beautifully together.

A wonderful afternoon in the sunshine with a fun way of learning science.

Reminders

We are swimming every Friday morning for the next three weeks so please make sure that your child has their swimming costume and towel in school.

Friday 14th June is sports day. It takes place in the afternoon on the school field (weather permitting). Please make sure that your child has their PE kit and trainers in school as we will be practising outside.

We returned to school on Monday after a lovely, sunny half term to find a wonderful surprise in our classroom. The caterpillars were now butterflies! We were amazed and excited. We fed them some apple and banana and watched them use their long tongues to drink the sugar from the fruit. We also enjoyed seeing the symmetrical patterns on their wings and the way they fluttered in the net. It encouraged lots of observations and discussion.

We drew the butterflies and made our own butterfly life cycle books. After watching the butterflies fly around the net we realised that they would be much happier if they were released into our outside area. We opened the net and three of the butterflies flew away to collect nectar from the daisies and buttercups. The last butterfly flew out of the net and landed on Charlie's knee! This was very exciting as it meant that we could all have a look at the butterfly.

While we were outside we took a look at the seeds we had planted. Some plants had grown better than others. We thought that Evie and Kyla's cress looked like a mop of hair! When Mrs Bawden tried to pull it out of the soil the roots had spread so far that the soil came too.

Today was Science day and we spent the afternoon being scientists with Year 3. We all had a pot of bubbles and we had to count how long our bubbles lasted for before they popped. We also looked at what happens when bubbles land on different surfaces. We made bubbles with different shaped wands and mixture from different sources. Each Reception child had a Year 3 partner and the children worked beautifully together.

A wonderful afternoon in the sunshine with a fun way of learning science.

Reminders

We are swimming every Friday morning for the next three weeks so please make sure that your child has their swimming costume and towel in school.

Friday 14th June is sports day. It takes place in the afternoon on the school field (weather permitting). Please make sure that your child has their PE kit and trainers in school as we will be practising outside.

On Monday we had some very exciting visitors at Sandy Hill Academy. Three teachers from schools in India came to look around and find out all about the way we learn here. We were in the ICT suite when they came to see us and we impressed them with our ability to log in and navigate our way around the computers.

Also on Monday, Mrs Davies used the height chart in our classroom to measure us all. We were all measured when we started in Reception class and we have been measured again at the end. We have all grown so much and we definitely look ready to start in Year 1 in September.

On Tuesday we had our class photograph taken. We were the first class to go into the hall and we were super quick as we are all so good at smiling for the camera. We are looking forward to seeing the final picture.

In amongst all of these busy things we have also managed to fit in some learning through play.

In the outside area we have been on 'safari'. We have been wearing animal masks and hiding in different locations to use our camouflage to make us difficult to spot.

We have also been using crayons to make rubbings from different surfaces we found in the outside environment.

We have been bug hunting under the logs and finding wiggly worms, woodlice and spiders!

We are having a big focus on Mathematics work as well with lots of number, shape and measuring activities taking place. We are getting clever with the numicon.

There was another surprise for us this week too! Over the weekend the caterpillars split their skins and formed a chrysalis so when we get back from half term we will have some butterflies.

Have a lovely half term holiday. We will see you on Monday 3rd June for our last seven weeks in Reception class.

Please remember that your children are swimming every Friday morning, finishing on Friday 28th June, so they will need their swimming costume and towel every week.

Please have a look at home for any of the missing library books from the library packs and put them in the yellow homework box.

Please make sure that your child has PE kit and trainers/plimsolls in school as we are practising for the sports day which is taking place on 14th June.

On Monday we had some very exciting visitors at Sandy Hill Academy. Three teachers from schools in India came to look around and find out all about the way we learn here. We were in the ICT suite when they came to see us and we impressed them with our ability to log in and navigate our way around the computers.

Also on Monday, Mrs Davies used the height chart in our classroom to measure us all. We were all measured when we started in Reception class and we have been measured again at the end. We have all grown so much and we definitely look ready to start in Year 1 in September.

On Tuesday we had our class photograph taken. We were the first class to go into the hall and we were super quick as we are all so good at smiling for the camera. We are looking forward to seeing the final picture.

In amongst all of these busy things we have also managed to fit in some learning through play.

In the outside area we have been on 'safari'. We have been wearing animal masks and hiding in different locations to use our camouflage to make us difficult to spot.

We have also been using crayons to make rubbings from different surfaces we found in the outside environment.

We have been bug hunting under the logs and finding wiggly worms, woodlice and spiders!

We are having a big focus on Mathematics work as well with lots of number, shape and measuring activities taking place. We are getting clever with the numicon.

There was another surprise for us this week too! Over the weekend the caterpillars split their skins and formed a chrysalis so when we get back from half term we will have some butterflies.

Have a lovely half term holiday. We will see you on Monday 3rd June for our last seven weeks in Reception class.

Please remember that your children are swimming every Friday morning, finishing on Friday 28th June, so they will need their swimming costume and towel every week.

Please have a look at home for any of the missing library books from the library packs and put them in the yellow homework box.

Please make sure that your child has PE kit and trainers/plimsolls in school as we are practising for the sports day which is taking place on 14th June.