Pioneers children are Reception and Year 1, aged four to six years old. Children enjoy a range of creative and engaging play based activities, as well as formal inputs, to support their development and growth. Children in Pioneers are taught by Mrs Hann, Mrs Gurney, Mrs McGill and Miss Greaves.
Learning begins the minute they walk through the door. The classroom is a carefully curated collection of wonderful things to allow the children to flourish. The classroom is theirs and everything in it is there for a purpose. What they chose to do may be completely different for each individual. This is when the learning happens. The resources are ready to use and accessible and the team work together to create, to communicate, to count and to grow
Each day starts with exploration of the resources and suggestions for learning set out around the room. The Pioneers will come together for teaching. This will happen in small groups, as a whole class and often one to one. Across the day we will gather for mathematics, reading, writing and phonics sessions, to share stories and to learn about the world.
PE kits are in school all week to allow us to do PE at any time. This term, the Pioneers have dance on a Tuesday afternoon.
Mrs Gurney teaches computing on a Thursday morning.
We are rolling with phonics and children will bring a book and their reading record home each day. Please read little and often and write a message in the reading record. All reading is good reading. This is such an exciting time.
Please look out for a text message to let you know when we will go to the forest. We will use our wonderful outdoor space as much as we can and this will not always be on the same day each week.
Children’s progress and activities are recorded in their own Learning Journeys. These act as a summary of the journey children embark upon during their time in Reception and Year 1 and demonstrate the progress and success that has been achieved, as well as the next steps that may need to be taken.
It’s Friday and I Need Your Help!
This one was very popular with addition so try it now with subtraction.
Can you mark,correct and finish my calculations please?
Can you show me why some of these are not correct?
Remember to practice your number formation and maybe do a bit of estimating. Don’t get rusty now!
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks1numeracy.html
Take a look ar this maths link for some simple games. Try Two digit number labelling for a bit of a challenge and Subtraction to support subtraction!
Happy Counting
I have tried and I have tried but I really cannot get it right. I wanted to build a great catapult to help my Lego friends but it just didnt work.
Perhaps you can help.
Can you build a catapult to fire a lego person up into the tree to do the rescue?
Show me how!
Happy Learning
Stuck is one of my all time favourite stories.
I have started the story map but I need you to finish it for me.
There are too many things stuck in the tree and I simply cannot manage to remember them all!
If you would like to you could draw a story map to help you to retell the story or you could watch my story video with the volume down and retell the story as it goes along.
Have a wonderful day.
Can You Save Floyd,the Fireman and the Rhinocerous from the tree?
All the things are stuck in the tree and they need to get down.
We’ve tried a rocket.
We’ve tried a zip wire.
Now let’s try a parachute.
I have collected some materials to make a parachute. Which one will work best?
Try different material and different shapes and sizes. Can you save Floyd,the firemen,the rhinoceros and Mitch,his cat ?
Here is a little game to play with a number line,a dice and some magic beans.
We started with 6 beans. Roll the dice and give away the correct number of beans.
The winner is the person who gets rid of all of their beans.
You could just play or you could talk about each calculation.You could write down each subtraction !
That’s up to you and your Pioneer.
We just had fun and the counting just happens.
Here is the link to a Numberblocks episode about bigger numbers.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0007gcv/numberblocks-series-4-24-land-of-the-giants
Its a good one.
And here is a number square game that you might like to play when it is quiet and it is snowing and hailing:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/chopper-squad.
And a great song,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0dJWfQHF8Y
Happy Counting
That’s Maths Magic
Here is your new reading book.
Over the next few days I will add links to help you focus on ee and oo.
The most important thing is to enjoy reading together so get comfy and have a nice time.
Pop over to Tapestry to see the videos and more photographs to help you.
Happy Learning
Pioneers Wednesday – Zip Wire and Toilet Rolls
Here is another link to some phonics with Mr Thorne. He is Geraldine’s owner
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaumAMxXEzY
You can turn the volume down on this one and use it for reading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjmsx-XmB5w
Mr Thorne does W
Here is a link to Mr Thorne if you would like to revise this sound.
It Alll Began When Floyd Got His Kite Stuck in a Tree…
Afters reading the story,Stuck,I had lot of ideas of things to make to help to get things out of the tree.
I always enjoy making zip wires.
You can try different angles for your wire and add a variety of weights to see what happens.
I have used lego to make a very simple construction but I am sure that you can come up with your own wonderful ideas to help when things are stuck in the tree.
Enjoy
Right Pioneers,gather up your toilet rolls and count how many you have to start with.
Estimate,count and check.
Set up your toilet rolls and go bowling to play Toilet Roll Takeaway!
Write down how many you have at the start.
Throw the ball or the toilet roll.
Write down how many you knock down.
How many are left?
Have fun.
That’s maths magic.
Stuck in the Tree. What Can You See? Pioneers Learning Suggestions for Tuesday
Lots of things are stuck in my tree just like in the story. Use your phonics to write a list of all the things you can see.
Watch Geraldine to help you with the -ck digraph.
Is there anything stuck in your tree? Id love to see.
Here is a link to Geraldine doing -ck at the end and in the middle of words.
Enjoy
Happy Writing.
Now after reading “Stuck”,I started to think about all the ways that Floyd could have got his kite out of the tree. A rocket was the first thing that came to mind.
I gathered together some stuff and got making. You can have lots of fun with different sized balloons.
Let me know how you get on!
It is fun.
Have a go at subtracting this week.
Set out things to take away and discuss what is left.
Look at a numberline while you do it.
Play my little Maths Magic Game.
Write number sentences using – and =.
Happy Learning
Welcome to a New Week of Happy Learning Pioneers
Way back in time,when Pioneers were small,I read my favourite story Stuck by the wonderful Oliver Jeffers.
This week it would be lovely to make some kites. The weather forecast says it’s going to be windy.
Sit back and enjoy the story. It is in two parts- watch the 2nd bit first where I am holding a closed book.
Happy Reading
Last week,I was singing 17 in the Bed and 5 Lovely Buns.
Both of these are subtraction based songs.
Here are my suggestions for some more fun:
Based on our book “Stuck”, I have a collection of things that were stuck in my tree. Can your Pioneer count them and spot missing items and changes?
I brought the things in and set them on the table. Each time I have taken something away.
Look together at then photographs.
How many items are there?
How many items have I taken away?
You can write number sentences using – and =.
You can make your own game by having a selection of items on the tray,cver with a cloth…no peeping. Can you name the missing item.
or look at the selection for 30 seconds,then cover. How many can you remember?
How many did you forget?
Here are some useful maths links,if you need them:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0006rrg/numberblocks-series-4-12-tall-stories
Here is a suggestion for a Numberblocks episode to watch.
Here is a good game to play online to support all numberwork. It is one of my all time favourites.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
This one is great to get going on bigger numbers:
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/blast-off
This one makes an awful noise:
http://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/bottleTakeAway/index.html
And this one is lovely to use for clear adding and subtraction:
http://www.ictgames.com/mobilePage/tenFrame/index.html
And don’t forget that Sumdog is set up for youif that is something that your Pioneer enjoys.
Happy Counting
Happy Counting
Here is your new reading book. The full text is on Tapestry
As always,enjoy reading it together. Take it slowly.
If your Pioneer does not want to read,read it with them. It is tricky.
Go through the sounds on the cover page and keep your sound mat close by.
All reading is good reading.
Here are some new words to get familiar with this week.
Last week Pioneers wrote them in all sorts of funny places to help them to get reading and writing.
One Pioneer wrote them in chalk on their toy car and then washed them off when asked.
Little and often is good.
Enjoy
Some nice handwriting for you today.
Happy Writing
Here are some lovely suggestions for you Pioneers…Enjoy.
Good Morning Pioneers, I have prepared a wonderful selection of different suggestions for you to enjoy today and I think that some of them will make you smile.
We always enjoy a song and today you can have two songs: 17 in the Bed ( a Pioneer Style version of 10 in the bed) and another favourite 5 Currant Buns ( ihave changed the words a litttle for that one too!)
Both of these songs have lots of subtraction.
Here is a wonderful maths song with subtraction.
Once you have watched it,try drawing some pictures to tell the story.
When you have done that you can write the number sentences using – and =.
You can also have a chat about how much the buns might cost.
Make some price labels for you shop.
Do you need any change?
How much do the buns cost altogether?
Take a look at some coins and play “Botham’s “
That’s Maths Magic.
If you want to do some writing to go along with the maths song,you could do some signs and some sentences. Here are some words and ideas to hep you:
Use you tricky words from the last feel weeks to help.
Come and get some big buns.
There is 1 bun left.
They are in a dish.
I got a coin.
I got 3 buns.
There are some buns.
Come and see.
Make labels and add the price.
Here is another maths song to get you doing some subtraction or take away.
Get your numberline out and do jumps backwards along with the song.
You could draw a picture of all the Pioneers together and give them each a number as they roll out of bed.
I was so excited about singing that I may have muddled some of the numbers so you need to listen and check I got it right!
You could also do some subtraction and that might be difficult.
Start at 17 and take 1 away. 17-1=16, then 16-1=15 and keep going.
Use magic beans or use your toys and pretend.
Take a look at a few episodes of Numberblocks
Ten green bottles ( the first section of this clip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ7ifiuQpQo
17
We have 17 in our class and that number features in the song.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00063vv/numberblocks-series-4-7-seventeen
That’s Maths Magic
Handwriting for the weekend.
And a bonus story for you all. Its about cake.
Enjoy!
Wow! It’s Wednesday.
Snails are beautiful and here is a link to a beautiful picture of a snail created by the famous artist Matisse
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/matisse-the-snail-t00540
I am also including a link to a lot of activities from the gallery in London where you can see this art work:
https://www.tate.org.uk/kids
I have had a go at creating my own copy of Mr Matisse’s Snail. You could use any paper pieces you have to create your own snail. He called his art form “painting with scissors”
As with Bug Quiz,look at all the features of the text: the index,contents page,labels,photographs and page numbers.
Go slowly with the sounds and use your sound mat to help you.
Revisit “W” on Geraldine the Giraffe”
and have a look at this one on double letter.Always useful to chat about.
Happy Reading
I would like to introduce you to my Bugs. They have lots of legs and lots of spots. You may be able to spot some doubles. You can write and draw some maths pictures.
Bugs like sweets.
But the are not so very good a sharing.
Have a go at sharing. Perhaps you could do it with some of your toys.
In some of the pictures the bugs have not shared equally. They do not have half each. This is not fair.
Count carefully and check.
Happy Counting
Tuesday the 5th of May-Snail Race
I had so much fun in the garden with my new friends,the snails.
Here is my suggestion for learning today:
Have a look around your garden for some snails. I hope that you can find 2 or three. You may have to look in cool,dark places to find them.
https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/insects-invertebrates/guide-to-britains-slugs-and-snails-how-to-identify-common-species-and-protect-your-plants/
Once you have found them,set up a race track.
Be very gentle with your snails.
Draw a start line. Make a label to say “Start”
Draw a finish line. Make a label to say “Finish”
Pioneers can write this.
Give your snails a name.
Get a timer on your phone or click on this link:
https://www.online-stopwatch.com/rocket-timer/
Shout “GO”
and your snails will romp off.
Who is the fastest?
Make a medal for the winner of the race.
You could try running the race on different surfaces.
Do the snails prefer grass or lunchbox to race on?
Return your snails to where you found them.
I have had so much fun watching my snails so I have included all my videos!
Happy Racing
Focus on 12
Yesterday’s Numberblocks and the Legs question was all about 12 and different ways to make 12.
My suggestion for today is to play around with the different ways to split 12.
I have got out an egg carton and some baking trays. You could draw circles and use counters or use paper plates. This will introduce ideas linked to sharing and to multiplication.
You could colour in squared paper or use lego.
Try setting 12 out in 3 lots of 4.4 lots of 3,6 lots of 2,2 lots of 6,12 lots of 1.
Look at the shapes that you can make-different rectangles
You could write number sentences for what you see.
How Many Legs?
Get out in the garden again and do some leg counting.
This guide groups garden creatures by the number of legs they have.
You could make your own guide by drawing the creatures you find and writing how many legs they have.
Can you find them all?
Can you find 12 Legs?
https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/discoverenjoy/families/ground-minibeasts-id.pdf
Happy Learning
Slugs and Snails-Our Theme for the Week
These words are tricky and your Pioneer will need help to work on these.
Post them around the house. Make them with play dough. Write them in flour…if you have any! Scratch them in the mud.
Put them on the mirror in lipstick.
Have fun.
Don’t forget to repeat all the letter shapes you have done already.
Happy Writing
Alongside the Bug Quiz book,I thought it would be nice to have a focus on some of our garden dwellers.
We can begin the week with snails. Here is a little video to get youstarted.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/mini-beast-adventure-with-jess-snail-adventure
Pop out into the garden and have a look for some snails. I have found one next to a down pipe where it is cool and dark and damp.
Where can you find snails?
Here is a new reading book for this week. This one is non-fiction and it is good to point out all the features in the text.
Have a chat about the index and use it to find information. Point out the questions and the labels and discuss arrows and lines to join text and pictures. Use the contents page and the page numbers.
Go to YouTube and look at Geraldine for ‘qu’ to revise.
Have your sound mat handy to help with all the sounds.
Enjoy
Happy Reading
Maths Magic
So here is a little interesting problem for you:
In my garden I saw 12 legs. Which animals could they be?
Explain your answer. Perhaps you could use little animals and draw pictures .
You might like to write the number of legs next to each animal and write a number sentence for the total.
Remember to do some daily estimation and practise writing your numbers.
Do 20 claps,20 star jumps and 20 squats.
Dance along to our favourite counting video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKvgwVAGSgw
And watch an episode of Numberblocks to get ready for your maths magic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwXmOZuRVvQ
It’s Friday. Yipee!
Let’s start with maths. Odd and Even
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3uxBI9npas – NumberBlocks Odd and Even
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/paint-the-squares -Number Square
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/helicopter-rescue
This one is always popular. Once you have found the number ask,” Is it odd or even?”
If you have lego you could sort a pile of blocks that are the same and build odd and even numberblock type shapes and compare them.
Write a pile of numbers onto squares of paper and sort into two piles
Number Slap
Set all your number cards on the table. Get a stopwatch. Get a grown up to time how long it takes for you to hit all the even numbers. Muddle them up and repeat. Compare your timings.
Now try with odd numbers.
If the weather is nice you could write the numbers in chalk and hit them with a water pistol or a wet sponge!
or if you have ping-pong balls or ballpool balls you can write the numbers on and draw them out of a bag and shout odd or even.
Remember Sumdog is set up for you too.
That’s Maths Magic.
Reading,Writing,Speaking,Listening
Often it can be tricky to write a text which suits the phonics the children have been taught. Here is a short suggestion which could be used for reading,writing or drawing alongside planting or just at the table.
Plant a Seed
1. Get a pot.
2. Get a seed.
3. Fill the pot with soil.
4. Pop in the seed.
5. Cover it with soil.
6. Add water.
7. Add soil.
You can draw some little pictures with each sentence to form a short story map.
And finally,here are two reading books to keep you going:
Happy Weekend To You All