This week we have focused on understanding the world, our weekly theme has been based on learning all about Africa, different cultures, homes and languages. We have also looked at stories from around the world. Activities we have enjoyed include, alongside other child initiated activities:

On Monday we looked at where Africa is in the world, we read the story from Africa 'why ansani has eight skinny legs' which is an African story. We learnt all about spiders and their life cycle, we made pictures of spiders and we also looked at African art and patterns.

On Tuesday we focused on the story 'Handas surprise', a story which is based in Kenya. We tasted the different fruit from the story. We made Handas fruit basket at the craft table. We also practiced yoga, moving like different animals and made lots of animal pictures. We counted out objects from the story and played matching safari lotto based on the animals from the story.

On Wednesday we read the south American story 'how bird's got their bright feathers'. The children enjoyed making spiral snakes at the craft table, investigating making new colours with colour mixing and also made some cardboard birds.

On Thursday we read the story Puss in Boots, a French story, and made pictures based on the story. We made cat masks, dressed up as the characters. Counted characters and objects from the story. We cut out pictures from the story, played matching lotto and acted out the story.

On Friday we read the stories Tidalik the frog, which is an aboriginal tale, and how the wolf lost it's tale, which comes from Scotland. We made frogs, pinned the tale on a wolf and enjoyed lots of mark making.

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 area
• building train tracks
• lots of fine motor activities such as threading and using pegs
• 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
• counting games, songs and rhymes
• playing games with balls outside
• playing on bikes, cars and scooters outside
• 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
Reading, Writing and Stories Equipment List
Reading, Writing and Stories I Can Milestones
Reading, Writing and Stories iSPY
Reading, Writing and Stories Make a Face Activity
Reading, Writing and Stories Overview
Reading, Writing and Stories Painting with Pegs
Reading, Writing and Stories Parent Guide
Reading, Writing and Stories Pretend Play
Understanding Text