Driffield Church Of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School

This week the children enjoyed a wonderful long walk around Elmswell Farm, taking in all the sights and sounds (as well as smells!) of the countryside. One of the highlights of the day was meeting the newly born Highland calves that Farmer John showed us. 
While there we also explored the meadow, looking carefully at the flowers growing there, as well as the crops in the fields. It was lovely to see the children being able to explore so freely. 

We have enjoyed spending lots of time outside as usual, thank you to those who have completed the sun cream permissions and sent in sun cream - fingers crosse for some sun now! If you have not completed the forms please do so and send in the cream just incase of some sunshine!

Following the success of the Sensory Bus we are now in the process of organising some more dates for them to visit so that's exciting as the children had such a great time.

We hope you all have a lovely weekend.

In history, the Seals have been comparing Victorian toys with the toys they have today. They thought about the materials they were made from, their similarities and differences and whether they would enjoy playing with them or not. In DT, the Seals were enthusiastic about making their pasta salads and, judging by the empty bowls, they were pleased with the ingredients they had chosen! 

Please remember- we're going to Elmswell on Monday! Children do not need to wear uniform but do need suitable footwear. They should come with sun-cream applied and bring a coat too so that they are prepared for any weather!

It has been a short week, but a very busy one!

On Tuesday we headed off to Elmswell Farm. The children enjoyed the tractor ride to the farm and then they met 'Farmer John.' He took us on a walkaround the farm, we meet some of the Highland cows and their calves. We looked at crops which grow on the farm and the different trees we saw along the walk. We spotted wild geese in the field and found butterflies, snails and worms. We even found an egg shell which had fallen from a nearby nest. We all enjoyed our picnic lunch and then some activities in the garden before we returned to school. The children's behaviour was brilliant and we all had a wonderful day.

Daily phonics and maths have continued this week and we have been practicing our bouncy letters, 'n' and 'm' in our handwriting sessions.

The children have been very excited to discover that some of our caterpillars have made themselves a chrysalis ready to change into butterflies.

Our book of the week has been, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, linked to our theme of the life cycle of a butterfly.

Next week, we will look at contrasting locations using the book, Handa's Surprise. We will learn all about the weather, landscapes and animals which live in Africa. Please try to find out a fact about Africa and bring it into school on Monday to enhance our learning.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Kind regards

Mrs Dean, Mrs Lawrence & the Hedgehog Team.

Another week has flown by since the last round up. 

After all the planning and testing we finally made our own pasta salad - we learned how to chop and grate, we followed our design and we then ate our pasta salad! Some enjoyed it more than others - next week we will evaluate our dish. 

In maths we are continuing with fractions and will be recognising and finding a quarter of a shape, object or amount. Science - it's all about trees and naming evergreen and deciduous trees. Since last week we have planted some wild flower seeds in one of the planters in the playground and are eagerly waiting for something to sprout. 

Phonics - /oi/ oy  boy joy toy enjoy annoy destroy,      /igh/ i  tiger find wild kind child spider

/ai/ a  acorn paper later chasing basic baking     /oa/ ow  grow show follow snow arrow window

Alien words - scroy ept spraw quisk chort shome

If you haven't signed your sun cream form please do and don't forget the cream!!!! Named please. 

On Tuesday we will be visiting the church for a Pentecost experience - Rev Stuart always makes us very welcome and we will learn lots of new things all linked with our RE. 

Enjoy the rest of the week and thank you for your support. 

Starfish team. 

Starfish had a wonderful (if chilly) day at Elmswell Farm - Farmer John took the class on a long walk and spoke about building new hedges, planting a forest and tree recognition.  Next month we will go to Kingsmill to identify trees once all the leaves are out and name more wild flowers.  As a class we have been watching the activities of the birds in the playground - Bobert (the robin) is taking food into the ivy so we think there might be a nest and Brian & Brenda the blackbirds are also diving in and out of the ivy - fingers crossed !!!

Maths next week is all about fractions. We will be learning all about finding a half of a shape, an object and an amount. 

In History we are learning about the Victorians - Mrs.Jackson took the class on an impromptu tour of the school where we could see what the school looked like when it was built in the 1850's. We spotted old windows, chimneys and old high ceilings - we learnt about boys and girls being separately taught and that the toilets were outside. Mrs.J did have to keep reiterating that she was not teaching there in Victorian times.  But if any parents/ grandparents did attend the school perhaps you could tell them about how it has changed. 

Phonics next week - 

/e/ ea- feather head bread breakfast spread thread

/ur/ ir  bird skirt girl first shirt third

/ow/ ou cloud sound about out proud found

/oi/ oy  boy joy toy enjoy annoy destroy

Alien words: scroy ept spraw quisk chort shome

In Design Technology we will be making and tasting our pasta salads for the Lighthouse Keeper Mr.Grinling - I'm sure there will be some comical photos! 

Thank you for your continued support. Starfish team.