Mini Mountaineers

Welcome to the Spring Term in Mini Mountaineers with

Mrs Stabler, Mrs Wootton

Mrs Cambell & Mrs Elsey

 

Welcome to the Spring Term in Mini Mountaineers, it is great to see the children back in school, they are all eager and excited to learn, which is lovely to see! We are looking forward to our new topics for the Spring Term which will build on the knowledge and skills we have already learnt in the Autumn Term.

A warm welcome to our new children who have started this week, the children have settled into school really well and are busy learning all the routines of our class. They are beginning to develop their own interests as well as making new friends. Thank you for all your support in settling the children into their new class. If you have any questions please see one of the Mini Mountaineers team, we are always here to help and support you.

Our Spring Term One topic is “Starry Night”

In the Starry Night project, your child will explore the differences between the world at night time compared with daytime, through a range of exciting and creative activities. They will find out about nocturnal animals and how they find food when it is dark. They will find out about people who work at night and the different jobs that people do when we are asleep. They will discuss bedtime routines and the importance of a good night’s sleep. They will explore the night sky and find out about the Moon and Stars.

Supporting your child at home:

Look at the night sky and see how many stars you can see each night.
See how the Moon changes shape each night.
Go on a short walk after dark or go into the garden. Take a torch to light the way. Discuss how things look different in the dark.
Share and discuss the Did you know? resource.


Starry Night- Did you know?

Our Mini Project for this topic is ‘Winter Wonderland’

In the Winter Wonderland project, your child will explore the seasonal changes that happen during winter. They will find out about the different weather associated with the winter season and explore changes that happen to water as it freezes. They will find out about what happens to plants and animals during cold weather and explore places in the world that are always cold and snowy, including the animals that live there.

Supporting your child at home:

Go on a winter walk and talk about how the environment has changed since the summer months.
Put bird food out in the garden or on a window ledge and observe the birds that visit.
Leave water out in a shallow container overnight on a cold night and see if the water freezes.
If it snows, build a snowman, and take a photo of it to share with the rest of the class.
Share and discuss the Did you know? resource.


Winter Wonderland- Did you know?

Our Spring Term Two topic is “Dangerous Dinosaurs”

In the Dangerous Dinosaurs project, your child will find out about prehistoric animals that lived on Earth. They will learn facts about dinosaurs and discover how big some of these giant creatures were. They will learn about the difference between carnivores and herbivores. They will also find out about the animals that lived after the dinosaurs and which modern-day animals have prehistoric relatives.

Supporting your child at home:

Go onto the Natural History Museum website and look at interesting facts about dinosaurs together.
Go to the CBeebies Dinosaurs website and explore the games and videos together.
Look up interesting dinosaur facts to share with the class.
Share and discuss the Did you know? resource.

Dangerous Dinosaurs- Did you know?

Our Mini Project for this topic is ‘Puddles and Rainbows’  

In the Puddles and Rainbows project, your child will learn about the weather associated with the season of spring. They will explore natural phenomena, including rainbows, clouds, rain and wind. They will explore colours found in the natural environment and learn how to mix primary colours to make new colours.

Supporting your child at home:

Walk in your local environment and talk about the changes that have happened since winter.
Go on a colour hunt and find objects for all the colours of a rainbow.
Watch the weather forecast together and make a note of the different weather through the week.
Go outside on a rainy day and find puddles to jump in.
Share and discuss the Did you know? resource.


Puddles and Rainbows- Did you know?

Reading

Early reading is key to all we do and incredibly important across the whole of our EYFS curriculum, your support is vital in helping your child develop the confidence and love of reading to reach their full potential. Please read as often to your child as possible, sharing a book at bedtime every night is a good way of developing a love of reading. We do expect for all children to read at least three times a week, please record in your child’s reading diary.

PE

Mini Mountaineers will be doing PE on Tuesdays. Your child can come to school in their PE kit on this day. PE kit is a white t-shirt and black shorts/bottoms and trainers or sensible shoes.

Thank you for entrusting your child to us this year. We promise to do our best each day to guide your child in exploring and learning, as well as helping them to feel safe and valued.

We look forward to working with you this year so that together we can make sure your child can achieve their full potential.

If you have any questions please speak to one of the Mini Mountaineers team as we are always here to help and support you. 

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs Stabler