Unicorn Class Blog                     Term 4 Week 6                       Week Commencing 31st March 2025

This week we have enjoyed Eid and Easter preparations. We have been busy making Eid Mubarak and Easter cards and pictures.

We have been learning about Ramadan. Ramadan is the most special time of the year for people who follow a faith called Islam. If you follow this faith you are called a Muslim. It is a time when Muslims reflect on being the best person you can be, like being kind and thoughtful. It is a time to be thankful and a time to come together as a community to help others. Ramadan begins and ends with the sighting of a new crescent moon in the sky. There is a special festival at the end of Ramadan called Eid al Fitr. We watched how Amirah helped to prepare for Eid al Fitr by decorating her house, preparing food and getting her hands ready by doing Mehndi patterns. Charlie remembered that Mehndi patterns were also used for Diwali preparation, the Hindu festival of light. Some children decided they wanted to draw around their hands and decorate them with mehndi patterns before our Eid al-Fitr celebration party. We had delicious food, enjoyed dancing and played games at our party. 

We discussed ways that we could be kind, thoughtful and helpful and this week we completely filled our class marble jar with acts of kindness and helpfulness. 

We also learnt about Easter, Easter is a Christian festival that celebrates new life and remembers Jesus. Easter can also be celebrated by eating food together as a family. Some people might go on an Easter egg hunt, make Easter hats or eat chocolate eggs. Eggs represent new life and birth. We made Easter eggs, Easter baskets, rabbit ears and enjoyed Easter egg hunts. 

In the mud kitchen this week there have been many family feasts being prepared and enjoyed for different celebrations. Zoe and Mrs Fenwick have enjoyed being invited to these which have included Eid, Easter and birthday celebrations. Outside we have also enjoyed making and flying paper aeroplanes, climbing the climbing frame, using the balance bikes and using the large loose parts. A face, arm, hand and nail painting shop with water and paint brushes was set up. We had a green open sign that we noticed the open sign began with an ‘o’ and a red closed sign that we noticed began with a ‘c’. We have also enjoyed setting up a ‘Welly washing station’ and cleaning each other's wellies. The large blocks have been used to make tall towers, roads and houses.

During our PE hall time we enjoyed taking part in ring games. We practised our counting ring game and then we loved dancing along to it with music. We were able to move around in different ways whilst playing the traffic light game. We were very good at stopping when we heard red being called and going when we heard green.

The Mobillo has been used to make cranes, fire engines and transformers.  

In the water tray we have been exploring mixing colour and washing babies.

During Forest School this week we enjoyed using our senses to explore wild garlic. Monty thought it looked like salad and smelt like onions. Margot told everyone it was wild garlic and she knew it was because she liked helping her mum to collect it. Some of us preferred the taste of fresh uncooked wild garlic whilst others liked trying it on cooked garlic bread. We continued to enjoy using the hammock and swings. We enjoyed going on an Easter egg hunt and we tried to look for tadpoles in the pond but we could not see any. We wondered whether it was harder to see because they were swimming in the middle of the pond or hiding in the pond plants.

During phonics this week we have continued to play rhyming games, alliteration and play Georgie’s Gym. We are continuing to learn the words and actions to our Alphabet chant. We have been learning the letters ‘l’ (The long legs leaps.’) and ‘j’ (Jane jumps for joy). The writing cue we use to write the grapheme ‘l’ is ‘ Down the long, long leg.’ and ‘j’ is ‘Down Jane’s back, up to her toes. Jump up to the ball.’ We practiced writing ‘l’ and ‘j’ letters using our magic fingers in the air, in flour, using pencils and whiteboard pens. We also practised saying the sounds in words with these letters and breaking words down e.g. j-a-m jam and leg l-e-g.

Our main Maths focus this week has been pattern. We have noticed patterns in the environment such as bricks on buildings, flowers and whilst we have been building. We used shells, pinecone, wooden rings, cubes and teddies to notice and make repeated patterns. We also helped the curly caterpillar complete her patterns on her body. We also learnt during our days of the week song that days of the week make a pattern too.

During term 5 as part of our new topic ‘Is Spring here yet?’ We will be exploring life cycles which will include  observing the life cycle of butterflies and releasing our butterflies into the environment. We will also be growing and caring for our own bean and sunflower plants.

We would like to add herb plants to our mud kitchen area if you have any spare plants that you would be able to donate that would be deeply appreciated.

The class reward for filling the marble jar will be held on Wednesday 23rd, your child/children will be able to wear their pyjamas to school on this day. If your child does not attend school this day they will be allowed to wear there pyjamas on another day that they do attend.

Hope you have a lovely school holiday and Easter.

Best wishes

Mrs Fenwick