We’re learning all about the harvest this week, following on our Autumn theme from last week! We will be discussing what happens at harvest time, looking at different types of grains such as wheat, barley & oats & talking about what we can make from them, e.g. flour, from which we can make all sorts of delicious things like bread, & scones – which we will actually be baking in school this week, mmmmm!!! Also we will talk about different foods that are harvested at this time of year like carrots, apples, cabbage, leeks, & then look at the lifecycle of the apple, & do apple printing – if anyone has food growing in their gardens please send a sample in with your children for everyone to look at, or if your child can bring in any autumn items they may find on a walk, that would also be great. Then to end the week we will be doing some fun music & movement!

Here We Go Round the Apple Tree
(Sung to: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)
Here we go ’round the apple tree,
The apple tree, the apple tree.
Here we go ’round the apple tree
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we climb the ladder,
Climb the ladder, climb the ladder.
This is the way we climb the ladder,
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we pick the apples,
Pick the apples, pick the apples.
This is the way we pick the apples
On a cold and frosty morning.

This is the way we eat the apples,
Eat the apples, eat the apples.
This is the way we eat the apples
On a cold and frosty morning.

You can really start to feel the chill in the air….so it’s all about Autumn and the Autumn weather this week at The Children’s House! We will be asking the children to bring in leaves that they can find out & about of all different shapes, sizes & colours which we will be examining & then making collages with; we will be putting together weather trays (the nature table of 2020!!) as well as doing Autumn & weather related yoga poses (https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/513269688778606657/; https://www.kidsyogastories.com/weather-activities-for-kids-yoga/); finally at the end of the week we will be doing a little experiment using water & a layer of shaving foam in a clear glass & dropping food colouring in to illustrate how when water droplets become too heavy, they fall through the clouds as rain!

The Leaves of the Trees (tune of wheels on the bus)

The leaves of the trees turn orange and red,
orange and red, orange and red;
The leaves of the trees turn orange and red,
All through the town.

The leaves of the trees come tumbling down,
Tumbling down, tumbling down;
The leaves of the trees come tumbling down,
All through the town.

The leaves of the trees go swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish, swish;
The leaves of the trees go swish, swish, swish,
All through the town.

The Weather Song

What’s the weather?
What’s the weather?
What’s the weather like today?
is it sunny?
is it cloudy?
is it raining out today?

What’s the weather?
What’s the weather?
What the weather like today tell us (childs name)?
What’s the weather?
What the weather like today?

This week at The Children’s House we will be doing all about our families! It’s important for the children that we establish the link between their home/family & school from the beginning, so they see that their families are valued, & a consistency is built for them between the 2 places. The children love to see photos of themselves & their families in school, so we’re asking all children to bring in a family photo this week which we’ll put up on the wall to make a family display. During the week we will then be talking about our families, discussing the similarities & differences, naming all the people in our families who love us, and talking about what makes our own family so special. Verbalising and naming these things aloud can help reinforce the children’s feelings of security and reassure them of all the love surrounding them – a lovely thing to do at any age! Then at the end of the week we’ll be doing some yoga and relaxing exercises with the children.

Poem: Families

Some families are big                    (arms out wide)
Some families are small                (arms in close)
But I love my family                       (point at self)
Best of all!!                                       (throw arms up in air!)

We’re so excited to have the children back for a full week at The Children’s House, for the first time in a loooong time!! We spent the few days last week just getting to know the children and introducing them to each other & the new class routines, so this week is more about getting to know each other better. We will be doing paintings for our birthday walls and making friendship wreaths with the children, as well as doing mindfulness at the end of the week. As part of the Practical Life area of Montessori activities, we will also be practising carrying trays with objects, and putting on our coats – this helps the children to gain independence, while also refining their gross motor skills; we spend a lot of time in September concentrating on developing the children’s gross & fine motor skills & refining their spatial awareness.

Song: Do You See? (tune: Do you know the Muffin Man?)

Do you see our friend (name), friend (name), friend (name)?
Do you see our friend (name), somewhere in our room?
Yes I see our friend (name), friend (name), friend (name),
Yes I see our friend (name), somewhere in our room!

Please be aware that we will be asking you 3 questions each morning about your children:

1. Does your child have a temperature?
2. Is your child on any medication?
3. Has your child been unwell over the last 48 hours?

If the answer to these 3 questions is no, then we are delighted to welcome your child into class – if any of the answers are yes, then your child will need to stay at home until they have been well & healthy for at least 48 hours.

This is in order to protect the health & safety of your child, all the other children & their families, & our staff.

Thank you for helping to keep us all safe & well!!