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Elm 1

 
Welcome to Elm 1!
 
 
2025 - 2026
 
Miss Aston - Class Teacher
Mrs Winyard, Mrs Whitlock, Mrs K Spencer - Teaching Assistants
 
Autumn 1
 
Everyday Materials
Elm 1 have been exploring rolling and direction in our PE lesson.
In today’s English lesson, we looked at the features of non-fiction books. We then looked at a range of books and decided if they were fiction or non-fiction.
During this weeks ‘My happy mind’ lesson, we discussed ‘happy breathing’ and how it can help us when we feel sad, frightened or stressed. After having a go, we drew a picture of how it made us feel. We then scored our level of happiness out of 10.
In today’s Maths lesson, we explored if an even number of cubes could be shared equally and halved. We then did the same with an odd number of cubes.
 
'An odd number of cubes can’t be shared equally,' Oscar.
Today we enjoyed the first Forest Schools session of the year. After collecting items such as leaves, twigs and acorns we created some ‘outdoor art’. We then went back into the wooded area and explored the mud kitchen, the castle and the little people’s village.
For Science we went out into our school grounds to look closely at the living environment. We will be using our observations over the coming school year to make seasonal comparisons.
 
Welcome to Acorn and Chestnut!
 
 
2024 - 2025
 
Mrs Smith/Ms Wise - Class Teachers
Mrs Sullivan/Mrs Hooper/Mrs Spencer/Miss Gregory/Miss Rickard/Miss Deakin - Teaching Assistants
 
Summer 2
 
Mad about Minibeasts

Acorn Class spent a really enjoyable day at Ash End Farm. First, we met a snake and a bearded dragon during our creepy critters experience.  We enjoyed a walk around the paddock and then saw the owls and birds of prey.  There were also some very funny ferrets.  After lunch we had a tour around the farm.  We sang songs and fed a variety of farm animals.  It was a fantastic day out!

What an amazing day we had! The sun was shining, spirits were high, and every child gave it their all. From sprints to sack races, the energy and enthusiasm were incredible! A huge congratulations to both classes — you were all winners. Your determination, teamwork, and resilience made us so proud. It was fantastic to see everyone supporting each other and having so much fun along the way. 

 
Summer 1
 
The Sights and Sounds of Africa
Acorn and Chestnut enjoyed constructing fruit kebabs as part of their D&T work this week. We used fruit from our innovated version of Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne. The children enjoyed using their senses to touch and smell the fruit as they were putting it on their skewer. Their favourite part was most definitely when they got to taste it at the end though, with lots of the children stating it was 'tasty', 'delicious' and 'yummy'!
Acorn Class have had great fun communicating and working as a team to build dens in our outside area.

This half term we have engaged in learning all about the sights and sounds of Africa.  We have been finding out about some of the different countries, learning about the weather, landscape and animals that live there. We have also listened to traditional music and tried out some different dances that originate from Africa. Our key text has been Handa's Surprise.  Through reading this, we have found out about different fruits and animals.  We have also adapted some parts of the story and written our own versions.

 
Spring 2
 
Dinosaur Stomp
On Monday 31st March, the children in Reception were super excited to receive a special delivery of eggs.  The excitement grew over the following days as they observed the eggs hatching.  The children have had the most enjoyable time learning about the life cycle of a hen, watching the chicks grow and learning how to care for them.  They especially enjoyed having a few cuddles with our new fluffy friends.
 
Spring 1
 
Winter Wonderland
We have been busy learning all about a celebration called Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year.  We compared it to other celebrations we have learned about this year (Diwali, Christmas, Bonfire Night) and enjoyed exploring many traditions associated with Chinese New Year.  We particularly loved having the opportunity to try some Chinese food - yum!
Reception have loved engaging in learning based around their new theme of Winter Wonderland and have especially enjoyed learning about ice.  It started off with Mrs Smith showing us how her bowl of water had turned to ice.  We had lots to say about it and had lots of questions to ask :
 
'Ice is frozen water.'
't’s been in the snow.'
'It’s been in the freezer.'
'A freezer keeps things cold.'
'Can you crack ice?'
'Where does ice come from?'
'How will it change to water?'
'Why does ice melt?'
'How long does the water need to be in the freezer for before it turns to ice?'
 
Throughout the week we observed, explored and played with the ice to find out more and answer some of our questions.  The following week we learned more about what happens to water when it freezes and turns from a liquid to a solid.  We moved about like water, then slowed down and made ourselves get bigger as we pretended to get colder and freeze. Making and eating ice lollies was our favourite part though.  We observed how the flavoured water turned to ice after pouring the liquid into moulds and then putting them in the freezer.
 
Autumn 2
 
Awesome Autumn
This week we were so fortunate to go on our very first school trip. What a trip it was! Conkers Winter Wonderland. We were very excited to be greeted by elves who took us off to read us a Christmas story whilst we ate some of Mrs Claus' amazing gingerbread cookies.  The story was about a robin and afterwards we made a robin decoration to take home.  Next, we were taken to watch an interactive 4D film where it snowed on us! After lunch, we took the Santa Express over to the Elf Village where we followed the elves through the enchanting winter wonderland forest.  We saw singing reindeers, a tunnel of lights and even got to sit in Santa’s sleigh. If all of that wasn't enough fun, we were led to a wooden cabin, decorated with Christmas wreaths and met SANTA! He was in his log cabin and spoke to us all about the joy of Christmas and trying our very hardest to be good little girls and boys. Santa was so impressed he gave each one of our children a special gift. It was a truly magical day that we will never forget.
Acorn and Chestnut enjoyed making their edible reindeer decorations for the Christmas Fair.
During our second forest school session, we completed two activities that developed our computational thinking.  This included developing our logical thinking, knowledge of algorithms, pattern making and creativity.  In the first activity we gathered autumn leaves and worked with a partner to create a life size leaf maze, leading to ‘treasure’.  We navigated through the maze to reach the treasure, using language of direction and position.  For the second activity we gathered leaves of different size, colour and shape and used them to make a pattern on a strip of paper to create a leaf crown.
On Thursday 14th November we had a visit from a Warwickshire Road Safety Officer and her friend Warwick the Bear.  Through story, song and interactive activities we were taught key road safety messages. We were introduced to the Road Safety Code and the safe behaviours of holding hands with a trusted adult, stopping before the kerb and looking and listening for traffic.  
Acorn and Chestnut class really enjoyed their first Forest School session on Thursday 7th November.  We were set a challenge by Mr Jackson, who looks after our school. He sent us a letter to tell us all about the problems he was having with things making a big mess on the school playground. We went on a walk to investigate. To our amazement we found the things he wrote about were the signs of Autumn. This prompted us to start collecting some of these Autumn treasures that were littering the floor.  We talked about the different shapes and colours of the leaves and why they were falling from the trees. 
 
Autumn 1
 
We All Belong Here
People who help us - Ambulance Service - 17.10.24
 
Today we had a visit from Bec, Meg and Matt who are paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service.  We got to look around the ambulance and car and they showed us how the lights and siren worked.  Mrs Robilliard had to try and lift the heavy bags that they carry, and Mrs Smith volunteered to help them demonstrate how to move somebody with a neck or back injury.  They also told us about some of the equipment they use.
Banana Sandwiches and Teddy Bears’ Picnic - Thursday 17th October
 
If you went down to Acorn and Chestnut Class, you were sure of a big surprise.  For every bear that ever there was, had gathered there for certain because, that was the day the teddy bears had a picnic!
 
The children in Acorn and Chestnut Class went on their first visit to the cooking room to make banana sandwiches for their special picnic.  They learnt how to cut the bananas carefully using the bridge method.  Later on in the day, they got to try their sandwiches and enjoyed a fun afternoon singing teddy bear songs, playing games, listening to teddy bear stories and even doing the conga with their teddy bears.
Acorn class have been learning about algorithms and how they are a set of specific instructions to achieve something. These are the first steps in computing and if we get the steps wrong then we need to correct them "debug" the instructions. We compiled our own algorithm using the well known song of 'Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes'. This is our final version!
Acorn and Chestnut class thoroughly enjoyed a week full of poetry.   They played some rhyming games with our visiting poet Ash Dickinson, before coming up with some amazing ideas for a poem about a pet monster.  The children looked fabulous on National Poetry Day when they came dressed up in clothes that represented who they were as an individual.  They learned the rhyme ‘One, two, buckle my shoe’ and confidently performed it to children in Year 1.
Acorn and Chestnut classes have been learning all about the number three this week. They have been looking at the numeral, how to make 3 and even got to have their first Now Press Play session on the story of the Three Little Pigs. Now Press Play involves the children using their listening skill and following the instructions that they are given through their headphones. It's an immersive learning experience that gave us a lot of laughter and fun.
On the 3rd of October the children in Acorn Class were surprised to have a visit from the local Polesworth Fire Service. They came to school in their special red fire engine and told us all about their very important role in the community, how they help us and what equipment they use to save people and keep everyone safe. We were fascinated and asked lots questions and even got to have a go on their big hoses.
 
'What do you like most about your job?' Caspar.
 
'What special equipment do you use in lakes?' Chester.
Algorithms - such a big word with very specific meanings. Acorn class have been learning the concepts of computing and constructing algorithms through the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". We have looked at how we can "debug" (fix) our algorithms when they are in the wrong order by using photos of our class mates.
We have so many lovely areas in school and are so privileged to have access to so much Outdoor Learning. Acorn Class have been taking advantage of this great outdoor opportunities to improved fine motor, writing, drawing, gross motor and balance skills. Look at all the lovely things we can do!
We have been on a number 1 hunt around school and we found so many! Maths is so much fun especially when we can use our wonderful school environment to apply it.
Starting school can be really exciting but also quite nerve-racking for not just the children but for their grown-ups at home. We hope you enjoy looking at some photos of the children’s first few days and weeks at Birchwood. They have been learning new routines and school rules, meeting important people in school, making friends and getting to know our school. The children have been exploring all the areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage and teachers have been getting to know their unique characteristics of learning. What a lot of fun we have all had trying new things and making new memories that we hope will last a lifetime.