This week, we joyfully celebrated Maths Week alongside the entire school, emphasising the crucial role that mathematics plays in our daily lives and in the development of our young learners. Mathematics is not merely a subject; it is a fundamental skill that shapes our understanding of the world around us.
From a young age, children begin to explore mathematical concepts through play and everyday experiences. Activities such as counting blocks, sorting toys by size or colour, and recognising patterns in nature are all early steps in developing mathematical understanding. These experiences lay the groundwork for more complex mathematical thinking as they grow.
During Maths Week, our children participated in a range of exciting challenges that showcased their creativity and mathematical skills. One of the highlights was the whole school challenge, where students interpreted their own vision of the Shanghai skyline. This activity encouraged artistic expression while allowing the children to think critically about shapes, proportions, and spatial awareness. It was wonderful to see their interpretations come to life, demonstrating how mathematics can blend seamlessly with art.
In the classroom, we have emphasised how mathematics is woven into everyday activities. Whether it’s measuring ingredients during cooking, counting steps while walking, or telling the time, these moments provide rich opportunities for reinforcing mathematical concepts. By making these connections, we help children understand that mathematics is not just a subject to be learned but a tool they use in their daily lives.
This week has sparked a love for mathematics in our children and shown them the fun and creativity that numbers can offer. As we continue our journey in early years education, let us work together to nurture their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
In Reception, we read the enchanting fairy tale of The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The children have shown a deep love for stories involving animals, which has sparked their curiosity. They crafted their own puppets to retell the story, incorporating new vocabulary and inventing alternate endings. Our phonics lessons are progressing well, with the introduction of new sounds and the recognition of digraphs, supporting their reading and writing skills. In Maths, we focused on number composition and quantity recognition, reinforcing the concepts of one more and one less. As part of Maths Week, the children engaged in exciting STEM activities, building bridges with various materials, beautifully connecting to our story.
In Nursery, we explored the vibrant world of safari animals while continuing to read Handa’s Surprise. The children confidently sequenced the story and remembered all the key events. This week, we focused on the magical world of animal patterns and camouflage. The children examined how unique animal patterns can be, particularly fascinated by the chameleon's ability to change colour and blend into its surroundings. They enjoyed creating their own colourful patterns and imagining how they would hide in the wild.
Pre-Nursery began their learning journey with the story We areGoing on a Bear Hunt this week. The children enjoyed experiencing the book as a song and got creative by making bears from handprints and cutting different fruits to create their own bear snacks. As part of Maths Week, we used natural resources like stones, flowers, and sticks to practice our counting skills. We also built big and small towers to depict the Shanghai skyline as part of the whole school challenge.
