May 25th to 29th

Hello everybody!

If you would like to make your own butter this week can you please pick up a small carton of cream when you are shopping please! We will learn how to do it on Wednesday and it's great fun for all the family.

We are on to Unit 8 in our Over The Moon series. Our literacy theme for this week is The Fire Station which the children will love......Before your child looks at the poster and the books could you please have a char with them and find out what they know already about fire fighters,,,, where they work.... what they do..... the uniform they wear...... the equipment they use..

New words

From our Reader at school......He cant paint. wet - Here are some sentences to practice making....... where will GG sit? He will sit there. He can't sit there. The paint is wet. The grass is wet. The table is wet. He can't paint the box. He can't paint Miss Noonan!

From the Over the Moon series.... go no so like for have. These words will be covered in the interactive resources games

Some games to play with the word box......Word Wall put out all the new words on the table in the shape of a wall and give the children a list of clues to help them figure out what word you are thinking of ......... The word has 4 letters...... the word fits in the sentence I can ...... the house. The word I am thinking of starts with the 'p' sound and is at the rop of the wall etc......

Another nice game to play is called Buzz ..... Practice the words for 5 or 10 minutes and then write the new words out on some pieces of papaer and also add in 4/5 pieces of paper with the word buzz. take turns in picking up a word and saying it but if they pick up the word that says buzz they must run around buzzing like bees until you ask them to return to the hive!

Literacy

Oral Language

Please go tothe GillExpore.ie website and open up Unit 8 and select the Oral Language and Interctive Resources section please. Select the Poster in Story Mode please. Before listeningto the story please encourage your child to have a really good look at the poster and discuss who each person in the poster is..... what are they doing..... what items can they name in the poster., when do we need to call the fire brigade and why are they getting ready

Then they can listen to the story......

They might need some help learning some new vocabulary going with this theme.... firefighter, -helmet, coat, boots, gloves orch, radio, fireproof...... fire engine= ladder, hose, foam, water, alarm, firepole, flames .... fire station- sleeping quarters, canteen, equipment room, fire brigade, extinguisher, hydrant........ emergency, rescue, brave, equipment, safety

Next can you listen to the Interactive poem a few times and try to join in saying it.... I would really like iif the children could say most of it off by heart for Friday please

Watch the letter animation for b.... when we do it at school we say start at the top.... down the bat then up around the ball

Reading....

Pracice the words in your word box..... Play the Middle Sounds game in the Interactive Resources. Just check and make sure that they know the A, E, I, O and u sounds first. they should..... They must say the word slowly and listen for what comes in the middel. They can also play the Balloon Pop game today but again they must say each word as they pop the baloon. This is to help them remember each word. Can they read the other words on the balloons floating up

Writing ......

We will try doing a little bit of writing each day. It can be about anything that they want.. they just have to figure out what they want to draw and write about ..... I will suggest something for each day but they can choose whatever they want to write about! They may not like my ideas!They have to think first of all what do they want to share, then draw the picture, next say what they are going to write about the picture.... what words could they use from their word box to help them..... Try and sound out the first letter of the words they want to write. They do not have to spell the whole word, their handwriting does not have to be perfect or even very nice because this exercise is to get children thinking and sharing and writing for FUN! 5 or 10 minutes is loads but your child might like to spend longer and put lots of details in to the picture and maybe add some labels

Monday: Draw and write about your favourite toy!

Handwriting

... first page of the letter b ......... Pencil first and then a colour..... watch theanimation of how to write the b letter in the Interactive resources section

Maths ..........

what are going to count today???

Then can you do page 61 and 62 in your Figure it Out?

Oral Langauge Unit 8 Oral Language and Interactive Resources

Today can your child look at the Poster again but in Explore mode today.... Play the I spy game by clicking on the little eye and answer the 10 questions about the picture..... Can they make up some questions of their own about the poster

Listen to the poem again...... this time can you join in using different voices please.... happy, sad, scared, curious, excited, It is also fun to clap along with the poem

Play the Heads Up game

Reading

Before we open up the Genre Story eBook today in Unit 8 ....... Can you please explain this is a narrative story. We have learned a little about this type of stroy before. The important thing to tell your child is that stories have a problem and a resolution! The problem is what happen and the solution is how they problem was solved....... . The 3 little pigs had a problem with the big bad wolf but they organised him to fall in to the boiling water and he ran away and that solved their problem! The gingerbread boy ran away from the old lady and the old man(problem) the fox ate him up ( the solution) Goldilocks went in to the bears house with out permission (problem) they came home and scared her away (solution)

Now can you show your child the cover of the Genre Story eBook.... It is called Who Will Save The Day? . Discuss the title with them. What does save the day mean?who is in the picture, what is happening? what do they think will happen in this story? What do they think the problem will be and how will it be solved.....

Listen to the story, there are 2 Play triangle buttons. The one at the bottom reads the sentence while the green one at the top gives some extra details..... Listen to the story for fun first..... can they name all the characters? can they remember them from other stories. After reading the story discuss the following questions please..... what things do you do when you go to your friends house? Can you name some super heroes? what do they do? what did Tom mean when he said 'that was a close call' Why did Ella say 'I cant watch'

Writing

Draw and write about your favourite TV programme

Handwriting

The second page of the letter b... pencil first and then a colour

Maths ........

what are you going to count today?? can you count all the way up tp "0??

Do page 63 in your Figure it Out please

Oral Langauge

Today can you open up the poster again please but ask your child to explore the poster using their senses.... what can they see, hear, smell, touch and taste in this poster

Practice the poem again...... can you remember what colour the giant is.... what colour are his eyes,.his beard,? what foods are in the poem? ..... can you listen to the poem again but this time close your eyes and forget about the picture on the computer or tablet and can they make a picture in their head about the giant.....

Play Head Up and Matching cards in the games section and watch the letter animation for the letter k.... practise on the screen a few times

Reading

Some questions to ask before reading the book again....... This is to help the children to concentrate, understand and remember details from the story. ...... Can you remember what were they mams doing? what had Ella put on her cheek/, What was Tom's plan? why did Luna chase the cat? Where did the cat go? what things did the mams try? Who did they call? Can you describe the fire endgine? what did they do with the ladder? What happened when the ladder was half way up? How did everyone feel as the firefighter made his wasy down? who came looking for the cat? what did the fire fighters say to mr Winters? Ho w did Tom and Ella feel? Hopefully they will be able to answer some of these questions.... If they could answer them all they can think up their own questions to ask.....

Now listen to the story again and they can read along with the simpler sentences at the bottom of the page.

Writing

Draw and write about your favourite animal

Handwriting The letter K... first page pencil and then a colour

Maths

...... What are you going to count today??? can you find 3 very long iand 3 very short items of clothes in your house please.

Do Page 66 of Figure it Out please

Oral Language

Play a memory game..... I went to the firestation and I saw a helmet.... the next person repeats what the previous person said and adds on their own item and keep going until someone gets the order wrong! They can look at the poster while playing this game

Listen to the poem again today... can you say it off by hear yet.... can you make up a little poem or rhyme about yourself..... This is great fun!

My name is......... I havve hair the colour of........ I have eyes as ...... as the ..........my lips are pink like a .......... my shoes are as black as..........

Here is one I made up. My name is Miss Noonan, I have hair the colour of straw, I have eyes as green as the grass, My lips are pink like strawberry icecream and my shoes are white as snow!

Play some of the interactive games!

Reading

Let look at the Non Fiction Reader eBook. Emergency Services....... Loads of fantastic suggestions for discussion before and after reading. It is really important for children to be able to talk about the book before and afterwords as it helps them make a connection and develops their understanding and comprehension skills which are vital skills as they move up through the school.

Listen to the story first and then have a go at reading it a few times by themselves..... they should know a lot of the words by sight....encourage them to guess the words they dont know or else tell them the word and they should try to remembr it for the next time they read this story

Writing

Draw and write about your favourite superhero!

Handwriting The second letter K page..... pencil first and then a favourite colour

Maths .

page 67 and page 68 of your Figure it out please....... what do you like to buy at the shop? How much is it? what coins do you need to buy something at the shop?

Oral Language

Can they think up lots of words please that can be used instead of the word nice!......

Play some of the games.....

Literacy

Please explain to the children that they will be listening to the story today and can watch it next Friday.

Tell your child that today they are having a story called Grandads Secret Giant, Discuss the title and what it could mean..... what do they know about giants? Remind them of the poem Green Giant. Do theu think this giant will be the same or different.... what other stories have they read that had a giant in it? ( Jack and the Beanstalk, The Smartest Giant in Town.

Tell the children that they are going to be working like movie makers and making pictures in their head..... Tell them that that this is a story about a giant that no one has seen except Grandad has seen and that is why he is called a secret giant..... tell them that you are going to keep the giant a secret from them by not letting them see the screen while the story is being read! they must listen carefully and make the movie in their head by visualizing....

Here is a song to help them out

Now that they know that they have to listen, concentrate and image you can play the video of the story but It is very important that they do not see the screen and they will try to peek!! You can pause and ask questions whenever it suits you..... the giant has hands as big as tables.... look at the kitchen table and imagine them as hands .... legs as long as drainpipes.... have a look at their own drainpipes outside and imagine them as legs and feet like rowing boats......

Please stop listening to the story when it comes to the part where Billy sees the giant ........ about 5 minutes into the story

Some interesting questions to ask now... this is important as it will help them make sense of the story and develop their concentration and comprehension skills.

Why do you think he was called the secret giant.............. who looks after you to make sure you are safe......... I wonder why the giant is helping the people of the town......... why do you think Billys grandad knows about the giant and no one else........ Have you ever felt scared of something?

Listen to the description of the giant again..... he Was real ... He was HUMUNGOUS....... He was TERRIFYING ......talk to the children about does this change how they had pictured him in their movie ...... had they been imagining a giant who was terrifying ..... was he not kind and helpful?

Then continue listening to the rest of the story

After please ask ......... why do you think Billy ran away..... why did he go back....... Have you ever made a mistake like Billy....... what makes you feel better when you are upset........ What do yu think every one wants when they are upset? 1how do you think the giant is feeling to have Billy as a friend,,,,?

Now the very last thing..... Ask your child to draw what you think the giant looks like..... can you put in as many details in to your drawing as possible and can they write a little bit about him..... how big is his head? how long are his arms....?

STEM........ Build a birds nest!

you will need!

• Eggs or small rocks that you can pretend are eggs

• Assorted natural materials that you find outside such as twigs, grass, leaves, dirt, rocks, sand, etc. The materials you have available will depend on where you live.

• Bucket or other container to collect materials

Prep Work

1. This activity can get messy. If possible, do your work outside. If you are working inside, build your nest on a tray to make cleanup easier.

Procedure

1. First, go outside to see if you can find any bird nests nearby. If you find one, observe it carefully from a distance—do not get too close and disturb the nesting birds! Can you tell what materials the nest is made of?

2. If you can't find any bird nests outside, search for pictures of bird nests online. How many different types of nests can you find? What are the nests made out of?

3. Now, look around you for materials you can pick up easily, like twigs and rocks. Think about the purposes different materials could serve.

What materials do you think would make a good nest? Do any of them match the nests you saw in person or online?

4. Use your bucket to gather a bunch of materials. Note that the bucket is a convenient time-saver for you, but birds don't have that luxury. They have to make many back-and-forth trips, often carrying one twig at a time!

5. Now, use your materials to try and build a nest that will be able to safely hold at least one egg. This is an open-ended process—there is no single "correct" procedure to follow.

6. "Test" your nest (gently at first!). Can you blow on it (or aim a fan at it), pick it up, or place an egg inside it? Does the nest fall apart or stay together? If it falls apart, what can you change to make it sturdier?

Cleanup

When you are done with your bird nest, dump all your materials back outside where you found them.

What Happened?

You might find that building a bird nest can be surprisingly difficult! If you just made a pile of dry materials like sticks or grass, your nest probably didn't stay together very well. It might fall apart if you blow on it or try to pick it up. You can make your nest much sturdier by weaving the materials together to form a basket, or using a binding material like mud as "glue" to hold the pieces together. Now the next time you see a bird nest, maybe you will be a little more impressed with these natural feats of engineering!

Imaginitive Play

set up your own fires tation... you might need • ‘The Fire Station’ sign .....Canteen’ sign.......‘Dial 999’ poster.........What’s your emergency?’ form

You can set up a role-play fire station in the classroom by using the following:

• a desk, chairs and plastic food for the canteen area

• cushions and blankets for the sleeping area

• a phone to answer the emergency calls

• firefighter costumes and hats, a section of hose, a bucket and plastic spray bottles that can be used as

fire extinguishers.

• A fire engine can be made using a cardboard box covered in red crêpe paper.

Possible role-play scenarios include:

• answering an emergency call

• getting ready for an emergency

• eating in the canteen

• sleeping in the sleeping area

• fighting a fire

• rescuing an animal in distress.

Construction

Using small blocks such as Lego, ask the children to design a fire station. Ask them to consider all the areas required such as the kitchen, dorm room, parking area for engines, locker room, etc.

Next, the children can build their fire station. They could label the various areas or could number the parking spaces for each of their fire engines or parking spaces in the fire station staff car park.

Art

Junk art: Supply the children with various junk materials to make a fire engine. For example, shoe boxes, red paint, yoghurt pots (for siren), coiled art straws (or hoses), red paint, glue, scissors, paintbrushes.

Supply the children with various junk materials to make a fire extinguisher. For example, lemonade bottles, spray bottles and milk cartons, red paint or red sugar paper, paintbrushes, scissors and insulation tape of various colours.

The children could also create a scene for fire engines as a group project. A number of sheets of black sugar paper could be stuck together and the children could draw roadways using chalk. Various boxes could be used to create houses and different buildings.

Sensory flame painting: Use black A4 sugar paper and place blobs of orange, yellow and red paint on it. Cover with some cling film or plastic wrap and encourage the children to use their hands to move the paint around under the plastic wrap, creating a fire scene. You could include a fire engine for them to cut, colour and paste on the scene or a fire man extinguishing the fire.

Area 4: Sensory Play

Water play table: Supply a water tray that can be set up as a car wash for emergency vehicles. Supply the children with a range of emergency vehicles (ambulance, helicopter, Garda cars, fire engines), washing-up liquid, scrubbing brushes of various sizes (washing up, nail brushes, toothbrushes), cut-up flannels, cut-up J-cloths and sponges.

Following this, the children can explore washing and drying/polishing various vehicles and role-play could be introduced.

A ‘Car Wash’ sign could be erected and a Garda/ambulance driver/firefighter could visit the car wash with their vehicle and request a wash. A price list and pretend money could be incorporated.

Foam tray: Using a tray with ‘firefighting foam’ (shaving foam), the children could use their sense of touch to identify and describe objects hiding in the foam.

They could also use the foam trays to practise their letter formation.

Small World

Supply a range of fire engines, various vehicles and toy figures along with a street/car mat and encourage free play. Other emergency service vehicles could be added (helicopter, Garda car, ambulance).

Supply two phones for children to take/make calls to emergency services. A clipboard, a whiteboard marker and a laminated copy of the ‘What is your emergency?’ form could be supplied.

You could also ask the children to create a street scene with houses using blocks and bricks or toy buildings.