During Hickory, Dickory Dock Week, pre-school began by learning the song, ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’, and listening to the book, ‘Mouse Shapes’, by Ellen Walsh. As a class, they decided to create their own mice using 2D shapes, building on their understanding from the previous week. Later in the week, the children expanded their learning by making 3D mice and learning the names of 3D shapes, specifically cones and spheres.
During PE, the children developed their gross motor and co-ordination skills by playing a game of cat and mouse. In this game, they had to run through the middle of the cones, pick up a ‘cheese’ (beanbag), and make it to the other side without being caught by one of the cats!
In Adventure Ants, the class explored the eco-garden and discussed the similarities and differences between what grows, or doesn’t grow, during winter compared to summer.
To strengthen fine motor skills, the children used their ‘pinchy fingers’ to weave lace in and out of holes in a piece of ‘cheese’. They also combined fine motor and maths skills by threading the same number of beads onto the mouse’s tail as the numeral or dots that were on its body.
Additionally, the children enjoyed looking at clocks and matching the hands on a big clock to pictures of clocks. They collaborated with each other, to paint and create a grandfather clock, and decorated the cogs, remembering to use their tripod grip and felt tip pens.
During RE, Hopscotch reflected on what each of them might be hopeful for. Some children expressed hope that those without a home would find a warm place to sleep. They then decorated a flame design, using red, orange, and yellow pens to symbolise their hopes for this Jubilee Year-Pilgrims of Hope.
