This week we have focused on understanding the world, our weekly theme has been based on learning all about Australia and the cold climates of Australia and Antarctica and the north pole, different cultures, homes and languages. Activities we have enjoyed include, alongside other child initiated activities:

On Monday we found Australia on our world map, we talked about where it is in the world and how long it would take to get there. We looked at photos of Australia and different landmarks. We created aboriginal art and decorated the Australian flag.

On Tuesday we explored Australia a little further. We made paper plate koala bears, learnt all about animals that live in Australia. We explored mark making by making postcards from Australia. We made boomerangs and learnt about didgeridoos.

On Wednesday we focused on the water around Australia and learnt all about the great barrier reef. We made craft models of the great barrier reef and also under the sea collage pictures. We learnt about diving underwater and about the creatures that live in the great barrier reef.

On Thursday we looked at the cold climates of Antarctica and the north pole. We made polar bear masks, penguin pictures and played penguin bingo. We also found Antarctica on the world map and counted different polar animals.

On Friday we reviewed our week and repeated some of our favourite activities. We had lots of fun crafting and role playing travelling around Australia and Antarctica.

During we week we also enjoyed lots of other activities including:

• lots of mark making in various forms: water painting, wipe board marking, pencils, pens, tracing patterns
• guessing the objects games
• yoga
• fine motor skill activities such as tap-a-shape
• having fun in our role play
• car building with duplo
• creating stories with farm animals and car
• lots of matching games
• learning about different 2d shapes and their properties
• lotto games and puzzles
• painting and creating some lovely artwork
• name writing practice and practice finding and recognising own name
• lots of listening games, songs and rhymes
• developing our superhero skill of opening the items in our lunchboxes
• making models with play dough
• counting games, songs and rhymes
• playing games with balls outside
• playing on bikes, cars and scooters outside
• making patterns in glitter on our light box
• lots of fine motor activities to help develop hand strength
• listening to lots of stories

Please see the links below for home learning ideas related to our curriculum.
For further home learning ideas you can look back through the previous weeks to find more ideas of things you can do at home.

Best wishes, Julia, Claire, Hannah, Lisa and Adam

Home Learning Activities
Practical games for learning letter formation
Letter formation explained for parents
Early literacy quick start poster
Parent guide to mark making
Parent guide to early writing