We have been focussing on our basics this week including letter formation, number formation and fine motor strength/dexterity. Here we are moving through table top provisions in both writing and maths lessons. On these tables we love practising the basics and taking pride in our work. What a great start to the year.
In Crew McLoughlin, we have been working hard to develop a secure understanding of place value. We have been exploring the value of each digit in a number and using our knowledge to read, write, partition and compare numbers. We have enjoyed using practical resources and mathematical representations to help strengthen our understanding and explain our thinking.
What a week we have had in maths! Crew MI have been amazing mathematicians this week and showed great resilience when tackling some tricky problems. We have used the concrete resources to support us with our learning and have played some great maths games along the way. Keep this great up as work up to millions next week!
We kicked off our Year 4 math journey today with an energetic carousel of maths games and challenges!
Our classroom was full of focused mathematicians, as the children took on a fast-paced angle challenge. The children worked hard against a two-minute timer to correctly identify and label acute, obtuse and right angles.To prove and check their answers, they used a geometry tool; the corner-tester to check for a perfect right angle.
Today, Crew McLoughlin enjoyed a special reward after smashing their arithmetic scores and showing fantastic effort in maths. To celebrate their hard work and success, the children took part in two exciting Maths Kahoot quizzes, where they tested their knowledge, competed against their classmates, and had lots of fun along the way.
The competition was fierce, with the leaderboard constantly changing, but a huge congratulations goes to our Kahoot winners! We are incredibly proud of all the children for their enthusiasm, determination, and positive attitude towards learning maths – well done, Crew McLoughlin! 🌟
Today, our year 3 classroom transformed into a bustling hub of human compasses as the children dived into the wonderful world of turns and angles.With their arrow lollipop stick they master the core movements: Clockwise and anti-clockwise.
One day each week in Crew Frost, we spend time focusing on developing our fine motor skills through activities such as using scissors to cut along lines and around shapes. Cutting is an excellent skill to master in the Early Years, as it supports so many of the important skills children need as they begin their writing journey.
The children are learning how to separate and strengthen the muscles in their fingers and hands whilst carefully controlling the scissors. They are also developing their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills as they work out how to move the paper and scissors together whilst trying to stay on the lines. This takes a huge amount of concentration, control, and perseverance.
Alongside this, we have been practising our “ready to write” positioning by sitting with our tummy to the table and all six chair legs on the floor. Developing core strength, balance, and posture is a very important part of early writing development, helping children to gain the stability needed for mark making and pencil control in the future.
Although cutting may look simple, it is actually a very tricky skill that requires children to coordinate many different movements at the same time. We are so proud of the resilience, determination, and focus Crew Frost have shown whilst practising these important skills. Well done, Crew Frost — it is much harder than it looks!
During our choosing time, Crew Frost have been developing their early mathematical skills through a range of practical, hands-on interventions linked to the EYFS Development Matters guidance. This week, the children have focused on recognising, extending, and creating their own two-part patterns, as well as organising and comparing objects by size from biggest to smallest.
The children showed great curiosity and engagement as they explored pattern and shape through play. They were encouraged to use mathematical language to describe what they could see, including words such as pointy, corners, sides, stripy, and edges. This supported the children in talking about and exploring shapes and patterns around them.
These activities help to build strong foundations within the Mathematics area of learning, particularly in noticing patterns, comparing size, and developing spatial reasoning. Crew Frost have worked incredibly hard to explain their thinking, solve problems, and apply their learning independently during provision.
We are so proud of the progress Crew Frost are making as they continue to grow in confidence and prepare for their transition into Reception. Well done, Crew Frost!
Today, Crew Ramsay learned how to use our knowledge of doubles to make near doubles. We added 1 more to known doubles on the rekenreks to see the structure of near doubles. Here we are recording expressions and getting stuck in!
