My Reception children spent half a term learning about caterpillars and butterflies. We learned Makaton actions to the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We watched a makaton video on YouTube. My class wanted to use some of the actions for the minibeasts, and then chose their own actions for other parts of the story.
We learned Makaton actions for minibeasts - Mr Tumble CBBC video on YouTube.
We painted the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
We used this script which includes the songs that we used. We found all of the songs on YouTube and learned them during snack time.
The class assembly lasted 10-15 minutes.
My Reception class enjoyed the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. We came up with our own story, and changed the words to 'We're Going on a Bug Hunt'. For our class assembly, we learnt Pie Corbett actions to retell the story. We also sang the Ugly Bug Ball song. It took us about 20-25 minutes. The parents and children loved it!
Pre-Writing Shapes
Early years
Before children form letters, they should be able to form these shapes correctly.
Included:
Assessment sheet
Practise sheets (can be laminated for an independent activity in the literacy area)
Word document (editable) and PDF copy included
Bossy Verbs - Instruction Writing - How to Make Fruit Kebabs
Reception
Language, Literacy and Communication
Differentiated - fill in gaps, cut and stick pictures in order, write sentences independently
Reception Worksheets - Cornerstones Topic - ‘What’s that sound?’
Instruction Writing - how to play a triangle PDF
3 differentiated worksheets/activities
Top group - use the writing template to scaffold writing. Children write independently using the word mat to start with bossy verbs. Draw pictures to illustrate writing.
Middle group - Draw pictures to illustrate writing. Children just need to choose the correct bossy verb to include at the start of their sentences. Word mat included.
Lower group - cut and stick activity. Children could draw their own pictures to illustrate the writing for further differentiation.
Our genre was instruction writing.
Each task is differentiated.
Introduction - use a big piece of sugar paper and ask the children to tell me what to write. We talked about the features that we needed to include (title, numbered points, pictures to illustrate what happened).
3 tasks - Instructions to make bread, instructions to plant potatoes, instructions to plant onions
MAT - copy from a model/word mat/independent writing
Top group - use a word mat to find the correct bossy verb. Fill in the gap. Draw pictures to illustrate each step.
Middle group - cut out each step and stuck them in order. Draw pictures to illustrate each step.
Bottom group - I took photos of each activity and they cut them out and glued them in order. A member of staff wrote what they said about each picture.
Differentiated sheets
Early Years/Reception/Year 1
A skeleton table to help children to plan all elements of their story.
Word mat included to help children generate ideas.
An editable Word document is included, as well as a PDF copy.
Includes 3 Word Level Pictures and sentences to read.
Laminate and use as pairs/snap/splat etc.
Adult must encourage the child to say the sentence correctly. Repeat the sentence correctly. Tick off the sentences and date when the child is able to read them correctly.
Early Years - Reception Writing Template
Genre - Instruction Writing
How to play a triangle.
Our topic was music/sound - ‘What’s that sound?’
Introduction
We had a letter from Y2 asking us to teach them how to play a triangle.
We played the triangle.
We wrote instructions as a class on an A2 piece of sugar paper.
3 Differentiated worksheets
Top group - write sentences independently - word mat to help with tricky spellings. Draw pictures of each step independently.
Middle group - fill in the missing bossy verb (word mat included but you can add your own).
Lower group - cut and stick the pictures and writing in order. They were able to order the numbers.
Early Years & Year 1 Literacy
CVC Word Bingo
Staff member will need to orally segment CVC words - e.g. pig ‘p - i - g’. Children will need to orally blend the word and then look for the picture on their board. When all 4 pictures have been called out, shout out ‘BINGO’ to win the game.
I’ve included a Word Document (editable) and the PDF copy (cannot edit).
Spider Web Phonics
Group activity / game.
Each child needs a board and a spider.
Start with the spider in the middle of the board.
An adult will need to shout out a letter. The children need to move their spider to the sound that they hear.
I’ve attached 2 copies - a PDF & and editable Word document to change the sounds