Freesia

Fun at Home

 

Holiday Time

 

The summer holidays are upon us! Thank you for partnering with us to support your children with learning at home over this time of school closures. We are looking forward to seeing you all after the long holiday, ready to learn together again. 

 

Here are a few activities that you might like to try as a family to have fun at home during the summer break. 

 

Can you make a home Cinema?

Rent, download or buy the children’s favourite movie, get some snacks such as popcorn and pizza at the ready, dim the lights and sit back and enjoy!

 

Can you go swimming?

Swimming pools are due to be open over the holiday, take a trip to the local pool for a dip if you are able.

 

Can you do a jigsaw?

Lots of you love to try different jigsaw puzzles in school, perhaps on a rainy day at home you could have a go at one at home

 

Can you go for a picnic?

Make some of your favourite picnic treats, choose a park or a favourite outdoor space and eat your food together outdoors. 

 

Can you do some gardening?

If you have a garden, allow your child to help you with the weeding, or planting new seeds to grow vegetables. If you don't have a garden, there are some seeds that will grow quite quickly on a windowsill e.g. cress

 

Can you make an indoor obstacle course?

Make it as easy or as hard as you like based on your children’s ability. Use bits of string to create a “laser maze” for them to crawl through, masking tape to mark patterns or areas on the floor that they have to navigate through or repurpose some toys such a hula hoop or play tunnel that they have to complete as part of the trial.

 

Can you make a big model?

Using carboard boxes from parcels delivered to your home, encourage your children to create some big junk models. 

 

Can you plan a day trip?

Now that lockdown has eased a little perhaps you could travel a little further afield and plan a day trip to one of your favourite places to go as a family. 

 

Most importantly, have fun and stay safe, if you would like to take some photos and send them to school when your child returns in September, their new teacher and team would love to see them!

 

Donna and Freesia Class team. 

Home learning activities

 

Week 15

 

Hello again!

 

Those children who have been accessing school, have been having fun with and under the sea theme, linked with the Julia Donaldson story - Tiddler. 

For the final two weeks of the school year, we will be using some ideas related to the story here too.

 

Can you watch a version of the story?

We like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYzXRA2vofM

Perhaps you could support your child to join in with the actions in the story.

 

Can you create some fish?

There are many different ideas of ways to create fish online. We have selected a few that you might like to try with your child. 

Fork Puffer Fish - dip the prongs of your fork into paint, and then press onto the paper to leave a mark, keep going until you have a circular fish shape. 

Celery scales- draw or print a template of a fish, and then use some celery dipped in different colours of paint to create the scales.

Handprint fish- Use some paint to create handprints on paper. Once they have dried you can decorate them by adding features, eyes, fins and perhaps even some sparkles for the scales

Paper plate scenes - paper plates are brilliant for making all sorts of under the sea scenes. Perhaps you have some seaside stickers you could use to create a scene, or maybe you can print some pictures from the internet to create your own design. 

 

     

Can you explore sand/water in different ways?

The children in Freesia Class love to explore sand and water.

If you have access to a garden, take your child outside and use different containers to create sandcastles, fill and empty buckets, mix dry sand with water and experiment with the results, hide objects in the sand for the children to find, make impressions in the sand with their favourite toys. 

 

Can you copy some of the dance from Nicky?

Nicky our dance therapist has made some more videos for us with the help of Edgar. Have a look and see if you and your child can move in a similar way to Nicky and Edgar. 

 

Have a lovely week. Please remember that if you need anything that you can be in touch using the school phone number, or by using the class e-mail address: freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk

Donna and Freesia Class team

 

 

 

Home Learning Activities

 

Week 14

 

This will be the final week of activities based on Katie Morag. For the final two weeks of term we will look at activities based on the seaside. 

 

We hope that you are all staying safe and well at home. If you require additional resources for your children please do ask, we are able to loan some things out to you all. 

 

Can you create a prize for Flossie?

In the story of Katie Morag and the two grandmothers, Flossie won a prize for the best fur. Can you create a medal or a rosette for Flossie using things that you have around your home?

You could use: tin foil, carboard, glitter and glue, ribbon/wool/string, pens, cake cases to create your medal

 

          

 

Can you play skittles?

If you have a skittles set at home have a go at rolling a ball to knock them down. 

If you do not, you could try to make one using empty bottles - you could decorate them to make them beautiful and then see how many you can knock down! How high can you count?

 

Can you create your own island using resources from around your home?

Katie morag lived on an island. Perhaps you could engage in some sensory play to create your own imaginary island?

You might need: 

soil/sand, small world figures, water, rocks/pebbles, a sandpit/baking tray or similar

 

It could look something like this when it is finished! Play with it and enjoy!

             

 

Can you sing some songs about boats?

Here are two of our favourites. Do you know any more? We'd love you to share if you have one we've not posted. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdvQ9aiGbY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm-6n4ChZ78

 

Can you go for a walk and see how many different animals you spot?

When you take your daily exercise, can you travel to somewhere you might see some animals? 

Take photos of the animals you've spotted so that you can look back later. Did you find a sheep like flossie?

 

Most importantly, it is due to be a lovely week for weather, do get outside and enjoy the sunshine with your child and the rest of the family. Freesia class love to be outside, and experiencing the outdoors. If you have access to bikes and scooters etc have a go at using them to support the children's physical development. Play throwing and catching games in the garden or at the park. 

 

Please remember that you can get hold of us at any time by contacting the school office, or by e-mailing freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk we would love to see what you are doing at home. 

 

Donna and Freesia Class team

Home learning activities

 

Week 13

 

We hope that the children who have been back to school have been enjoying learning with their friends again, and that those of you who remain at home are coping well. 

 

Here are a few more activities related to Katie Morag for you to try at home. 

 

Can you sort the items in Granny Mainland's suitcase

You will need: a bag, some clothing - socks, underwear, shirts, shorts, play jewellery, bathing suits.

 

Pack the bag with the items above, and present it to your child. 

Help your child unpack the bag, and name each of the items you take out. once the bag is empty make a pile with one of each of the items, encourage the children to match the rest of the clothing to the piles you have begun. 

Extension - with a range of socks unpair them, and see if your child can find the matching sock to make a pair. 

 

Can you wash some dirty animals?

Flossie the sheep got very dirty. 

Using some cornflour and water, or some custard, place some plastic animals in the 'mud'  encourage your child to play and make the animals dirty. 

Then introduce some soapy water, and clean the animals. 

You may wish to do this outside if the weather is nice. 

 

Can you sing some songs about boats?

Here are two of our favourites. Do you know any more? We'd love you to share if you have one we've not posted. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdvQ9aiGbY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm-6n4ChZ78

 

Can you use different materials to create a tartan pattern?

Katie Morag comes from Scotland, where tartan is a popular material for kilts. 

Can you try using different materials to make tartan patterns? 

 

You could make a pattern using different coloured paper, and gluing it down to make a pattern, like this:

 

You could make a pattern using different colours of paint, and a paintbrush, like this:

You could try weaving different materials (old shopping bags, bits of ribbon, tights etc) through fences or baskets to make a pattern, like this:

If you have a computer or a tablet, perhaps you could use a drawing programme to try making a tartan pattern?

If you come up with a different way to make a tartan, or layered pattern we would love to see it. 

 

Can you go for a walk and see how many different animals you spot?

When you take your daily exercise, can you travel to somewhere you might see some animals? 

Take photos of the animals you've spotted so that you can look back later. Did you find a sheep like flossie?

 

Most importantly, it is due to be a lovely week for weather, do get outside and enjoy the sunshine with your child and the rest of the family. Freesia class love to be outside, and experiencing the outdoors. If you have access to bikes and scooters etc have a go at using them to support the children's physical development. Play throwing and catching games in the garden or at the park. 

 

We would love to see some of the lovely things that you are doing at home together as a family. If you would like to share, please e-mail freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk

If you need any extra support for example resources to enable you to complete some of the home learning activities please let us know we can make up some packs and leave them at reception for you to collect. 

 

Have a great week!

Donna and Freesia class team. 

 

 

Home learning activities

 

Week 12

 

We hope that you are enjoying using the Katie Morag themed activities. If your child was at school last week, please do take a look back at week 11 as some of the activities this week follow on from this work. 

 

Activities are added weekly so on the week your child is not at school there will be two weeks worth of activities to choose from. 

 

Please pick and choose the activities that work for you and your child. 

 

Can you experiment with filling and emtying?

You will need: 

 

Place the sensory stimuli you choose to use in a container. Encourage your children to scoop the material into some of the containers. As the children experiment, talk about what they are doing. Comment on the containers being full/empty/half full/half empty. Comment on what your child is doing as they experiment. 

 

N.B. whilst the focus is filling and emtiying your child may choose to try something different. This is okay. You may find that whilst they are experimenting you find a sound, or a movement that they particularly like. If this is the case, you may like to copy what your child is doing in order to illicit an interaction. 

 

Can you go on a packing hunt?

Last week we packed a bag to go on holiday. 

Using photographs of some of the items, make a list and encourage your child to search for the items on the list in order, that you have hidden around your home. 

Pack the clothes in a bag and then use the 'pretend to go on holiday' activity suggested last week. 

 

Can you create a boat?

Last week we made watery pictures. 

Can you create a boat to add to your picture? There are lots of suggestions on Google, I've included a couple below. 

Encourage your child to mark make on a shape of a boat - either a template or shapes that could make a boat, cut it out and then add them to your watery picture. 

 

 

New to facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadyZiaWernherSchool/ 

Aga who leads some music sessions with the children has joined Yvonne, Alison, and Karleen to sing some of our favourite songs. The children may like to watch, listen and join in, do take a look. 

 

Please do let us know how you are getting on with activities at home. You can do so using our class e-mail address freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk

See you all soon

Donna and Freesia Class Team

Home Learning Activities

 

Week 11

 

This weeks home learning activities will continue to have a link with Katie Morag and the two Grandmothers - the story that we shared with you last week. 

 

Please choose to engage with all or some of the suggested activities to support your child in their learning. 

 

Can you locate farm animals hidden in different sensory stimuli?

Katie Morag and Granny Island had to search for flossie the sheep who was lost on the island. 

 

Can your child search for farm animals that you have hidden in a range of sensory stimuli? - you can use anything, at school our favourites are: shredded paper, cornflour and water gloop (if you add a little cocoa powder it looks like mud and smells good too!), cereals that make a crunching sound (rice krispies and weetabix especially), coloured water and slime - here are some examples from the internet. You don't need a fancy tray or special resources, you could use a baking or roasting tray to hold the sensory stimuli that you choose. 

 

                                             

 

As your child locates the animals can they count them? - support the children to count by saying the numbers out loud. When all the animals have been located support your child from their elbow to touch each animal in turn whilst you say the number name. 

 

Can your child use different tools to help search for the animals? - At school we would use spoons, paintbrushes and tongs/tweezers for example - Look at the different marks that have been made in the materials. 

 

Can your child wash the animals? If you have used a particularly messy material you could also involve the children in washing the animals after they have located them in some soapy water just like Katie Morag and Granny Island did with Flossie. 

 

Can you pretend to go on holiday?

Can you help your child to choose things that they might like to put in a bag to take on holiday with them?Include special items to them such as a teddy bear or a specific book, in the same way that Granny mainland took all her perfumes and creams with her. 

 

Can you take your case and pretend to go on a journey?

Build a boat or a pretend aeroplane in your house and play at taking your seat, leaving and returning home again. 

 

Can you use some recycling materials to make a junk model boat?

Create a model boat with your children, and have fun floating the boat on some water in a tray. 

You could create more than one and have races to see whose boat is the fastest!

 

Can you create a watery picture?

1. You can do this by using tissue paper in different shades of blue. Practise ripping the paper up and then gluing it to a piece of paper once it is dry it should look like water.

 

2. You could also achieve this by ripping and layering your tissue paper on top of your paper. Then spray water over the top of the tissue paper. When you remove the tissue paper the dye will have transferred onto the paper leaving a watery picture. 

 

In next week's update we will create a boat to add to the water. 

 

We hope that you have lots of fun with these activities at home. Please do send us photos or videos of what you create via the class e-mail address freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk we would love to see  what you've been up to. 

 

Donna and the Freesia Class Team

 

Home learning activities

 

Week 10

Hello everyone, 

 

We are getting used to the 'new normal' with some of the pupils from Freesia Class attending school on a fortnightly basis starting next Monday.

Teachers and support staff are working hard to prepare classroom 'bubbles' to support your children to be safe, have fun and engage in some learning in this last half term before the summer holiday. 

We will continue to update this page weekly as some of you will still be at home each week. 

 

During time in school, the children from Freesia class will be revisiting elements of 'Tiddler' a story that we used in the Autumn term, as we thought it would be helpful to use something familiar as we get used to the school environment again. 

 

For home learning we will be using aspects of Katie Morag and the two grandmothers, which is a story that we would have been using in school last half term. 

 

This week we wondered if you could share a sensory story together?

Here are the instructions:

 

To make this story extra fun- you will need : 

• A water spray, some blue or silver fabric for the sea. 

• A handbag containing scarves, jewellery like bangles and necklaces, perfumes and creams for smelling. 

• Something to get your hands messy with! 

• Bathtime things – a bowl of water, bubbles, soap. Brushes, towels, sponges, etc.  

• If you have a sheep toy, that would be great but not essential – your child can be the sheep and experience the getting messy and clean again! 

 

To tell the story 

• Use the powerpoint slides attached below (you might want to familiarise yourself with this before you use it with the children)

• Each slide gives you a simple version of events and a sensory activity to go with it.   

• The words in red are the story, the black are what you need use and what to do with the objects. 

• You can spend as much time as you want on each page – you could tell the story as a whole or revisit it in parts to explore the sensory side more. Up to you! 

• Each slide has music to accompany the activity  - the clips aren’t very long but you can repeat them if you want to. 

• The Washing Song is made up but goes to the tune of ‘Animal Boogie’ (for the tune, look up Barefoot Books on Youtube, they have the original song to listen to). 

Alternatively Nicola from Lily class has recorded herself telling the story, your children might like to watch this. You could use some of the resources from the sensory story alongside this:

Have lots of fun sharing the story with your children. 

Remember that we would love to see what you are doing at home, do send a picture or a video to freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk and inform us if you are happy for it to be shared on our website, or via social media. 

 

We are looking forward to seeing some of you next Monday!

 

Donna and Freesia Class team

Home Learning Activities 

Week 8

 

Fine motor control and hand strength - Part 2

 

Last week we looked at large movements and skills to develop grasping objects, including turning the hand in different ways. 

This week will have suggestions for some skills specifically related to finger isolation and manipulation. 

The tasks in this weeks instalment get harder as you read through and not all activities will be appropriate for everyone. Please pick those that will work best for your child. 

 

Can you use one finger at a time?

Can you use one finger at a time to complete some of the activities suggested below:

• point at pictures in a book
• finger painting
• using finger puppets
• making music with a keyboard using one finger at a time
• turning the dial on a toy telephone
• use your index finger to make patterns in sand, flour, or salt
• use your fingers to drum on different surfaces and hear the different sounds

 

Can you form a pinch grip with your fingers?

• pick up small pegs and beads from one container, and place them in another, or onto a peg board
• pick up small finger foods - cereal, raisins, pasta, peas are all ideal for this activity
• Thread pasta onto a string to make a necklace - use thumb and forefinger to pick up the pasta
• posting small items (such as dried chickpeas) through a narrow necked bottle - hold the bottle with non-preferred  hand
• Clipping pegs - removing pegs that have been placed on their clothing, or placing pegs onto the outside of an old box (you may need to place something inside to weigh the box down)
• posting coins through small holes made in the top of a box
• pick up pebbles or pennies - see how many you can pick up and hold in one hand, let go of them one at a time into a container
• play games with an element of pinch grip such as ker plunk or connect 4

 

Can you use finger manipulation to complete some tasks?

• twist pipe cleaners to make different shapes
• walk balls of playdoh across a table
• make marks (felt pens work best for our class) inside a shape that has been drawn for you
• follow lines of different shapes that have been drawn for you - we advise using a yellow pen to draw the line and have your child trace over the top in another colour. 
• trace over letters of your name that have been drawn for you- we advise using a yellow pen to draw the line and have your child trace over the top in another colour. 
• try to fold paper to make a model e.g. paper aeroplane

 

We look forward to being able to welcome some of you back to school as soon as it is safe to do so, in the meantime if you would like to get in touch please do use the class e-mail address: freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk we would love to see what you have all been up to at home. 

Donna and Freesia Class team

Home Learning Activities

 

Week 7

 

Fine Motor, hand strength, and co-ordination - Part 1

 

Each week in Freesia Class we have a focused opportunity to develop our hand strength and co-ordination, to support us with our fine motor development. 

 

The following two weeks home learning suggestions will be based on some of the activities that we have used in school, and will be familiar to your child whilst others will be new to them. 

 

Fine motor skills are needed to complete activities such as brushing teeth and hair, dressing and undressing, feeding and playing, writing and cutting with scissors. 

 

Advice suggests that children should develop their core strength and have good overall gross motor skills before the development of smaller hand and finger movements. 

 

Can you warm up your body using big movements?

Put some music on and work with your child to warm up their bodies. Encourage them to copy your actions:

• Can you shrug your shoulders up and down?
• Can you shake your arms and hands down by your sides?
• Can you pretend to play the piano with your fingers on a table?
• Can you roll a ball backwards and forwards between you?
• Can you make shoulder spirals? - See picture
• Can you join in with clapping games or action rhymes?

 

Can you use your hands and arms to perform different actions?

Using hands and arms against any kind of resistance will support the development of fine motor skills. 

• Can you roll, squeeze, pat and shape playdoh? At school we use dough disco to help us with this - here is a similar video with examples that can be found on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBsNhwxzgc
• Can you poke small toys (marble sized) into playdoh, and then dig the toy out?
• Can you place toys in and out of different areas? E.g. Dolls into and out of a dolls house, balls into and out of a bucket, shapes into and out of a shape sorter, placing, and removing pieces from an inset puzzle
• Can you make marks using jumbo crayons on different textured surfaces? - why not try sandpaper, trees, brick, bumpy wallpaper if you have access to some and see what different marks you get
• Can you play instruments such as a drum or a xylophone with a beater?
• Can you use a hammer or a mallet? - there are lots of different sets out there that would allow you to achieve this safely with the children searching hammering toys on Amazon will help with ideas. 
• Can you stir or knead materials during cooking? Such as biscuit dough, cake mixture or bread dough
• Can you use both of your hands to crumple paper? If that's too easy, can you do it with only one hand?
• Can you squeeze the handle on a water sprayer or pistol to have a water fight? Can you squeeze a sponge that has lots of water in it? Can you squeeze water out of a bath toy?

 

Can you rotate your forearm? - So that your palm can face up, or down

• Can you turn doorknobs with the palm on the front of the doorknob?
• Can you turn over blocks or upturned beakers?
• Can you pour from one container to another?
• Can you wind, wind-up toys?
• Can you use keys or toys with keys?
• Can you wring out dishcloths, flannels?

 

Have fun trying out some of these activities at home. Next week we will look at finger isolation and manipulation, and the ability to form a pinch grip. 

Have a lovely week. We miss you at school, and would love to hear from you. Please do get in touch using the class e-mail address freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk

 

Donna and the Freesia class team. 

Home Learning Activities

 

Week 6

 

Well what a rainy week we had last week. I hope that you had fun trying out some of the techniques that were modelled in the videos from Bamboozle. 

 

As the weather is set to be good this week, how about spending some time in the garden?

 

Over the Easter break I put my tent up in my garden and 'went camping' since I couldn't go on holiday, and had a really lovely time. 

 

Can you make your own tent or den?

Perhaps you have a tent that you can put up in the garden, maybe the children could help to construct it. If you don't, you can easily construct a den by hanging sheets over string attached to secure structures. 

If you don't have a garden, perhaps you could create a tent or a den inside using furniture and sheets. 

Here are some examples of other people's dens:

 

                                                                                                             

                                                  

 

Can you make a picnic?

Choose some favourite picnic foods, encourage the children to help you to construct the meal, such as making sandwiches, or cutting up the fruit and vegetables ready for their lunch. 

Eat your picnic in your tent/den. 

 

Can you share a story?

Whilst you are enjoying your tent/den perhaps you can read a story together in the outdoors. 

'We're going on a bear hunt' is a favourite story that most of our pupils like to enjoy. You could make this a sensory story by gathering a few resources to represent the different weathers, and environments that the children walk through. 

 

Can you make s'mores, or toast marshmallows?

If you have access to a fire pit, or something similar, you might want to try toasting marshmallows. Remembering to support your child with awareness of danger near fire. 

Alternatively you could make s'mores in the oven, you can find a good recipe here: https://www.thespruceeats.com/easy-baked-smores-3052398, graham crackers can be replaced with digestive or rich tea biscuits. 

 

Can you join in with some camp songs?

Perhaps you could sing some campfire songs whilst you are in your tent/den, and use your instruments from last week to play along. 

Some good camp songs can be found here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE51B264DF59F079C

 

I hope that you are all keeping well. Remember if you would like to get in touch, please do use the class e-mail address freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk. We would love to hear from you, and to see any pictures of the activities you have been doing whilst we have been away from school. 

 

Donna and Freesia Class Team

 

 

Home learning activities

 

Week 5

We are really missing you at School and hope that you are keeping safe and well at home. 

This weeks home learning comes courtesy of Bamboozle Theatre Company. Our pupils enjoy their visits and some of the pupils in Freesia Class were lucky enough to see them perform their latest show - rain, rain - at School just before we had to close. 

You can find a taster of the show here:

 

Bamboozle have been key in helping us develop some of the strategies and teaching styles that we employ in our lessons at School, and Christopher Davies, their artistic director has shared one of the ways we support pupils to engage, and join us in play. 

 

At home this week, perhaps you could try playing with some everyday objects at home and see if your child engages using the strategy shown in the video.

 

Bamboozle advocate a relaxed environment, with an invitation to engage with activities and resources. 

 

How about trying some of these activities as an invitation to play, with your child nearby and see whether they might come to join you:

 

Painting

Have some paint available, place some on a tray or in a pot, and explore, with your hands, using some objects that can be cleaned, using a paintbrush.

 

Drawing

We find felt pens work best as they require the least amount of pressure and most pupils can achieve a result. 

Explore using pens in different ways - attaching them to string and standing up to draw. 

Drawing on different types of paper: blank, newspaper, magazines

 

Interesting or inviting objects

Try using sand, different types of paper, bubble wrap, bubbles, rice, lentils, salt, water as an invitation to join you in play.

 

We would love to hear from you, or see pictures of what you have been up to whilst we have been away from school. Please remember that you can get in touch with us using the class email address freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk 

Remember to check back next week for the next instalment. 

Donna and Freesia Class team

Home learning activities

Freesia Class

Week 4

 

Can you make a musical instrument?

 

At school we love to make music using a range of tuned, and percussion instruments. Some of our favourites include shakers, drums and objects that we can scrape.

Why don’t you have a go at making your own instrument using leftover containers and items that could make a noise if they were placed inside.

Here are some pictures to show you what other people have created:

             

 

Can you play your instrument to join in with some songs?

In Freesia class we love to sing.

I have some video of myself singing some of the songs we love. But they are too large to upload. If you would like them please e-mail freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk, and I can send them to you. 

Alternatively use some of your children's favourite songs that you have at home, or on the internet, and play along with the tune. 

 

Can you make sounds outside?

When you are enjoying your daily exercise in line with Government guidelines, can you try to find objects that make different sounds? Can you bang, or rub two objects together to make a new sound? What sounds do you like the best?

 

Have a lovely week, 

Donna and Freesia Class team. 

Home Learning Activities

Freesia Class

Easter holidays!

 

Over the next two weeks most of the team from Freesia Class will be taking their Easter holiday. 

Whilst we are away perhaps you might like to try some of these Easter themed ideas with your family. 

 

Can you share the Easter story together?

During the final week of the Spring term we should have been sharing the Easter story as part of R.E. week. 

Here is a sensory story from Twinkl, which suggests some sensory elements that you could use to help tell the story. 

The story is quite long, you may want to tell parts on different days, or build it up so that you add a little bit more over the weeks. 

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/resource/t-s-3195-the-easter-story-a-sensory-story

 

You can also view a version of the Easter story with your children if you would prefer:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/lets-celebrate-easterperformance

 

Can you create and play with an Easter themed sensory tray?

You will need:

A deep baking tray or shallow plastic box

some rice

food colouring

Easter themed loose parts (available at most supermarkets as part of your weekly shop)

 

What to do:

Together with your child dye the rice with the food colouring, this is a nice activity for noticing changes, mix the food colouring and the rice together with your hands or a spoon (depending on how messy you want to get!). 

You will then need to leave the rice to dry for a couple of days otherwise the food colouring will stain your hands. 

Place the rice and the loose parts into the tray, arrange attractively and allow your child to explore.

 

There are various opportunities to explore size, shape, texture, sorting by size and colour etc

 

     

Can you have an Easter egg hunt?

Hide chocolate eggs or a selection of eggs that have been cut out of paper around your home and garden, and encourage your child to look for the eggs.

 

Can you create some Easter/spring themed art?

If you have paint or other crafting materials at home, try creating something with your child. They love to explore crafting materials. 

There are lots of ideas on the internet, here's a link to a few that could be appropriate for the pupils in Freesia class to try. 

https://iheartcraftythings.com/easter-crafts-for-kids.html

 

Can you plant some seeds?

People often talk about new life at Easter, because Christians believe that Jesus died and rose again, but also because it is spring time and we see signs of new life, in new animals, and plants which begin to grow. 

Seeds that will grow quickly include cress and grass seeds. You could make a grass head, and watch your characters head grow. 

Alternatively get out in the garden and try planting some pots. 

 

Can you create an Easter garden?

At Easter some people enjoy creating a special garden to help them remember the Easter story. 

Maybe this might be something you would like to try?

This website will tell you how. https://www.mybaba.com/nanny-anitas-easter-garden/

As you make it, you could use some of the sensory story above to explain why you are making a garden. 

 

We miss you, and we hope that you have a good break. 

You can contact us at: freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk

We would love to see what you have been up to whilst we have been away from each other. 

Donna and the Freesia Class team

 

 

Home learning Activities

Freesia Class

Week 1

 

Please look at the powerpoint for visual representations where I have mentioned ideas:

 

Can you make some playdoh with someone at home?

Silky soft playdoh 

You will need: 8 tbsp plain flour, 2 tbsp table salt, 60ml warm water, food colouring, 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Method

1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the water, a few drops of food colouring and the oil.

2. Pour the coloured water into the flour mix and bring together with a spoon.

3. Dust a work surface with a little flour and turn out the dough. Knead together for a few minutes to form a smooth, pliable dough. If you want a more intense colour you can work in a few extra drops of food colouring.

4. Store in a plastic sandwich bag (squeeze out the air) in the fridge to keep it fresh

 

For lots more sensory playdoh ideas and recipes take a look at the twinkl website

Free access can be acquired using the offer code: twinklhelps

www.twinkl.co.uk/offer

 

Once you've made your playdoh perhaps you can make some items related to the hungry caterpillar - see powerpoint for ideas. 

 

Read or listen to a story with someone at home

 

Sensory Stories

Try to find a book that has lots of repetition, actions and excitement to it. 

In class we really enjoy repeating a story over and over again so that we can begin to understand it and anticipate what is going to happen next

Incorporate lots of actions, signs and maybe even props to help engage us and keep us focused. 

Stories we have been enjoying at school recently include: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Rosie's Walk, The Gruffalo and A Squash and A Squeeze

 

Can you make a craft activity at home?

In class we enjoy making different craft items to be proud of. At home if you have access to craft materials, then any kind of craft work will be enjoyed by your child. For ideas linked to our theme please look at the powerpoint, but if you have anything else in mind, please use your own ideas.

 

Can you explore outside?

If you have access to an outside space, and following Government advice regarding social distancing, it is good to get outside and explore. 

 

Here are some ideas for outside learning:

1. Collect natural objects and create a collage
2. What can you see? Look around your garden, see what you can find - take some photos on a camera or a tablet if you have one
3. Practise your ball skills - throwing and catching, kicking and tracking a ball
4. Talk about the weather, notice the changing weather. Take photos or talk about it using your communication aid
5. Go for a walk and enjoy being outside

 

Can you make something delicious?

 

Cooking provides a huge range of opportunities to explore new and different foods as well as supporting us with learning some valuable life skills in self help and independence. 

 

We have been enjoying creating a range of dishes using foods that the hungry caterpillar ate in our story. There are some ideas in the powerpoint. 

 

If you would like to keep in touch, or show us what you have been doing whilst you are learning from home please use the email: freesiaclass@ladyziawernher.primaryluton.co.uk 

 

Have fun!

Donna and Freesia Class team