Welcome to the Pelicans Class!
Staff
Teacher: Nic Smith, Joanne Tierney (Monday, Tuesday)
TAs: Kirsty Kelly Steph Grundy and Yvonne Gallagher
Mid Day Leader: Deborah Sellars
Newsletter
Food Glorious Food
This term has been the topic of ‘Food Glorious Food.’
The Pelicans have explored the sensory story of ‘Oliver’s Vegetables’ where we have washed and explored the vegetables and created a piece of art work by printing with vegetables. We also explored the story of ‘The Hungry Giant’s Soup.’ We chose ingredients to make the ‘soup’ and explored these with all our senses and then we used our hands or spoons to stir the soup before we served it to the ‘giant.’
We have been choosing dressing up items in communication games and looking at ourselves in the mirror. We continued to take part in a ‘Sensology’ session each week this half term – waking up our eyes, noses, hands, ears, tongues, and our whole bodies to get us ready for learning.
There have been several ‘Special Days’ this half term. We had World Book Day; We explored red materials for Comic Relief Day; Wore pyjamas for the Easter Raffle and took part in a cultural celebration of India for Languages Day. We have also taken part in Easter activities.
We are looking forward to the summer term and getting outside in the sunshine! Have a lovely break, see you all after Easter.
The Pelicans.
Signalong
At Kingfisher we use Signalong as a part of a Total Communication Approach, we are constantly using core vocabulary with the children to support their language development and then through each of our topics we introduce new signs and language, which extends their vocabulary further. We also have two “Signs of the Week” which helps maintain and extend key knowledge and skills of everyday vocabulary.
Each half term we will be creating a short video showcasing and demonstrating signs relavent for the current term so that you can learn the signs and further this learning at home.
Click play to watch this half terms Signalong video!
Lunchtime
If your child has a school dinner, the school menus can be accessed by clicking here. For children who bring a packed lunch, please remember to provide healthy and balanced options. We are a Healthy School and will be focusing on healthy eating and how children can make healthy lifestyle choices.
How You Can Help at Home
The following activities are suggested as appropriate homework activities which you can enjoy with your child and reinforce the learning we are focussing on this half term.
- Allow your child to make choices where suitable and encourage them to use their voice or signs as much as possible to make their preferred choice.
- Play two-way games and sing action rhymes, such as ‘Row the Boat’ or ‘Wind the Bobbin’ supporting your child to join in and participate, leave space to see if your child anticipates what comes next
- Share songs and rhymes – such as Barefoot books on YouTube/ HelpKidsLearn/ SuperSimple Songs; sing action songs and model the actions
- Share stories – touchy feely books or stories that you can add silly noises and sound effects; share noisy books where you can press buttons and they make a noise
- Carry out simple physio exercises such as stretches; watch children’s yoga videos on YouTube and try some simple postures and stretches
- Share toys and materials that encourage your child to use all of their senses – eyes, ears, hands, noses and tongues (if appropriate). Help them develop their sense of where they are in space by using vibrating toys on their arms and legs, tummies and backs. Play movement games such as ‘shake your sillies out’
- Play anticipation games such as ‘ready, steady, go…’ use bubbles & balloons
- Go outside in all weather! Go for a walk in the park, feed the ducks, etc.
- Support your child to become as independent as possible – washing and drying hands, etc.
- Thank you for your continued support in helping your child to learn and make progress.
