Hello Everyone,

As shown in this week’s photograph, Reception have been busy in maths, learning about words and phrases linked with position and direction. We used different stories such as ‘The Enormous Turnip’ and ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ to create maps, use small world toys and act out events. This helped the children to use and remember a range of vocabulary. 
In Year 1, our maths topic has been addition and subtraction. We introduced the children to part whole models and they were able to use the language associated with addition and subtraction.

In RE this week, we continued to learn about the story of creation in the bible. We have completed a piece of whole class art, which shows what the bible says about the things that were created on each day of the week. We also discussed that people have different ideas and beliefs, and that we are all different.

In drawing club this week, we have been using David McKee’s stories of Mr Benn to spark our imaginations. We have created labelled drawings or sentences to show our own inventions of hot air balloons. Our imaginative ideas included balloons covered in butterflies to help it to fly, jet packs, sails, baskets of food, landing lights and sirens. I love how imaginative the children are. They are never short of ideas for writing and drawing.

Have a lovely weekend,

From The Penhallow Team

Hello Everyone,

It was lovely to see so many of you at our meet the teacher meeting on Tuesday. If you have any questions, or were unable to attend, please don’t hesitate to see me at the end of a day, or email me at hfitzsimmons@polperroprimary.co.uk.

This week in Penhallow we have been continuing to improve our writing through ‘drawing club’. Our work this week has been based on the story ‘Not Now Bernard’ by David McKee. The children have enjoyed being creative and imaginative, inventing their own monster for the story, writing codes to make their monster move, drawing Bernard’s house, and deciding which foods the monster could eat. It really is a joy to see our children enjoying stories and being imaginative. Well done Penhallow. 

In art this week, we have continued to work on self portraits, as well as creating a large collage of Elmer the elephant. We have used a variety of materials this week including paint, pastels and collage materials.

We have been so fortunate with the weather again this week, and everyone has enjoyed plenty of time learning outside. We have used chalk to draw and practice the letters that we have learnt in phonics. The children have been practicing being collaborative, building dens, solving problems together and discussing ideas. 

Reception have been working hard in mathematics this week, where we have been using number blocks characters to learn about the numbers 1,2 and 3. They have been practicing their mathematical vocabulary outside of our mathematics lessons as well as practicing forming these numbers correctly in the outside area.

Have a lovely weekend,

From The Penhallow Team

Hello Everyone,

It has been a lovely, busy week in Penhallow.

We have launched ‘Drawing Club’ where every morning, we have explored the story of Elmer, by David McKee. We have developed our imaginations and confidence in our ability to draw and write. Some of our activities have included designing a disguise for Elmer the elephant, and planning a jungle surprise for Elmer’s elephant friends. 

In maths this week, year 1 have continued to learn about place value. We have been counting back and counting on from different numbers, as well as recognising numbers in words and numerals. Reception have been comparing size and capacity in the outside area.

In art, we have created paintings which show off and celebrate how unique we are. We discussed what makes us the same and different from our friends, and used our favourite colours as a background to our self portraits. 

This week, we have also enjoyed a science lesson in our school garden, where we were able to use our 5 senses to explore the area.

We look forward to seeing you at our meet the teacher session on Tuesday afternoon. 

Have a lovely weekend.

From The Penhallow Team

Hello Everyone!

A fantastic first full week in school for our reception children. 

This week we have enjoyed plenty of collaborative and imaginative play both outside and inside. We have been practicing the letters that we have learnt in phonics using natural materials, chalk and sand. We have also been practicing writing our names in a variety of fun ways, including using magnets or play dough. Our muscles and fine motor skills have been developing through activities that have involved cutting pouring, mixing and sticking. All of these activities help to prepare the children to become fantastic writers. 

This week we have launched our class enquiry question; ‘What makes me, me?’ We have looked at and compared different self portraits by different artists and followed instructions for how to draw a face. 

In maths this week, year 1 have been working hard on their understanding of place value. We have been using tens frames to represent numbers, and have been counting on from different numbers. Year 1 have particularly enjoying using our new counting packs, which consist of a range of different objects to count, and are a stimulus to use a range of mathematical language.

Have a lovely weekend,

From The Penhallow Team

Hello Everyone,

First of all, a huge welcome to all of our new children and parents this year. 

We have been amazed at how well the new Reception children have immersed themselves into school life already. They really have settled in so well and have arrived every morning with smiles on their faces, ready to learn. We have thorough
 enjoyed getting to know each other, through plenty of play based activities. All week, the children have really impressed us in the way that they have shown kindness and co-operated well with each other. 

Reception have already been working hard on their phonics, and have been busy learning initial letter sounds and blending them to make words. They have all taken home a reading book, where they can practice reading and blending the sounds that they have learnt. Please practice with them at home as often as you can, and make sure that reading books are returned to school each day. Reading books will be changed after the children have practiced reading their book in school at least 3 times. Next week, all pupils will also take home a library book of their choice. We love reading in Penhallow, and do everything we can to share our passion and enjoyment for this subject.

We have also completed some lovely self portraits this year, which we have displayed in our cloakroom. We are looking forward to seeing the development of children's abilities  to draw and write their own name, as we repeat this activity every half term.

On Thursday afternoon, we all enjoyed a fantastic music lesson, where everyone was able to sing and develop their skills of playing different percussion instruments. The children were excellent at following directions to stop, start and control the volume of their instrument. It was lovely to see how much the children enjoyed singing and performing as a team. Well done everyone!

Starting from next week, our PE lessons will be on a Monday and Thursday afternoon. PE kits can remain in school until half term. If the weather is warm enough, we might be able to go swimming during one of these sessions. 

It has also been lovely getting to know new parents this week. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding school.. We are looking  forward to getting to know you, and working with you to help your children.

From 

Mrs Fitzsimmons and Mrs Gouriet