By Suzanne Beaney
‘People who help us’ was our topic for the first half of this term. After two weeks of disruption caused by the snow, the children eventually started to think about who helps them or who could help them. Mums and dads came first; the children drew pictures of their parents and made faces out of plates.
We don’t see lollipop ladies and men in Lee Common but it doesn’t do any harm to learn about what they do.
‘Doctors and nurses’ had the children bandaging each other, the teachers, dolls and teddy bears; we all had injections and medicine of course. ‘Firemen and fire engines’brought out the hard hats and hoses and ‘the Vet’ the cuddly toys to look after.
The police community support officer came in and talked to the children who were able to say hello to the lady in the police station over the officer’s radio. She also brought enough hats for everyone to try on; the highlight was getting into the police van and listening to the siren. The van had a cage inside for their prisoners; some of the children thought it was great to be locked inside – others were not so sure, but it did prompt lots of role play of cops and robbers.
We continue to teach letters, numbers and shapes etc., trying lots of different interesting ways so that they get remembered.
Cooking helps to understand balance and volume and most children continue to enjoy it.
The older group have been experimenting, mixing colours and putting shapes together to make a different one.
We always celebrate Chinese New Year, mainly because the children have great fun being the Dragon and this year was no exception. Dancing dragons and lanterns adorned the Parish Hall for the Year of the Tiger.