F1X Unit's Blog: December 2015

Friday, 18 December 2015

Christmas rush

Christmas atmosphere has definitely come to F1X this week! Everybody was all cheerful and excited as we started the week with a dress rehearsal. I couldn't help but feel very proud of the children in class with how confident they were on stage. We had 2 rehearsals prior but they performed so well as if they were performing for the actual show!

To set the Christmas mood in the classroom, Ms Clarissa led a baking activity with them. They made sugar cookies and learnt many food vocabularies such as 'flour', 'butter', 'sugar' 'eggs' etc. Children all shared their finished product at snack time in the afternoon. Yum!

In Maths, children engaged in an IWB activity about a gingerbread man. Children had to count the number of buttons on the gingerbread man and match it with the correct numeral. They had to navigate through the IWB and click on the correct number using the wand. Well done children!

Just before we started our party, a special person paid a visit to F1X's classroom to give his presents to the children who have been nice throughout the year. Most of the children were giddy seeing Father Christmas came in the door with his little helper 'Elf Christine'! Father Christmas saw how incredibly behaved all the children in the class so he decided that all of them deserved to have a treat! Hohohoho!!!

As we end Term 1 in an exciting and fantastic way, let us greet you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Please enjoy watching the children's performance once again in the video below.

Thank you very much for all the support you gave us this term and we look forward seeing you all back to school in January.

* Term 2 starts on the 11th January 2016.
* We will start having our splash pool session in Term 2. Please make sure to bring in your child's swimming kit (towel, swimming costume - all properly labelled). More information will be sent to you when we get back from the holidays.
* We would really appreciate if you could send us a photo of your Christmas holiday so we could share it with the rest of the class next term. Please email them to us at gracemaling@bisvietnam.com or crisletsilva@bisvietnam.com .

Regards,
Ms Grace, Ms Crislet and the F1 Team

Friday, 11 December 2015

Christmas Countdown!

Christmas countdown begins in EYFS! The children are all getting excited with Christmas, making sure that they behave nicely so Father Christmas visits them and give them presents.

Last Monday, Harry brought in bells and baubles for our Christmas tree. Dad said Harry thought of bringing more Christmas trinkets for our Christmas tree and asked his mum and dad if he can do so. Such a sweet thought Harry!

In our workshop area, we have been making Christmas decorations. We made paperplate bells and Christmas tree photo frames with tongue depressors. The children had fun painting their plates yellow and glittering up their bells. In the end, the bells and even the children got all sparkly!

For our investigation this week, we continue to encourage the children to explore textures with their bare hands.

We set up a Christmas village in the tuff spot and have been playing with snow. The children particularly enjoyed naming the pictures such as 'Father Christmas', 'sleigh', 'reindeer', 'gingerbread man' and 'Christmas house'. They also sung 'Jingle Bells' and 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' whilst playing in this area. Some children noticed that the snow is very soft, cold and white.

For our ICT this week, Kin, Bao Nhi and Monica received video messages from Father Christmas! Father Christmas asked them if they have been naughty or nice and told them that he might give them a visit if they continue being nice to their friends.

Ms Grace was also welcomed with a message from Father Christmas and she was so happy about it! Welcome back Ms Grace! It's great to have you in class again!

As the children are beginning to show an interest in numbers and counting, we had a counting activity from 1 to 5 during our circle session. Ms Crislet had brought along 5 Christmas hats with Christmas baubles in them. The children took turns in getting them out of the hats and counting along. Most of the children were able to join in counting and show the correct number of fingers up.

We also used the IWB in our counting session. We counted the Christmas baubles in the tree and also saw the corresponding numbers for them. Bao Nhi and Minh Anh were very good at counting and number recognition.

Fantastic counting children!

As we prepare for our Christmas show next week, all EYFS classes got together in the hall and had our very first run through of our performances. F1 children did an amazing job as they sung and danced 'Jingle Bells' in front of everybody, We are so proud of them and are very confident that you will enjoy the show next week!

Well done children!

NOTICES:

The Interim Reports has been given out today. Please share it with your child, praise him/her and be aware of the 'next steps'. You can help your child in working on the next steps at home.

Wednesday 16th December at 8.30am in TX Hall: EYFS' COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

- Children should come in class wearing a red shirt and a white trousers/leggings/skirt/shorts.

Thursday 17th December: Class' Christmas Party

- Children were shown some food choices and were asked to choose one that they would like to eat and bring in on the party. A food slip has been sent home today with your child's food choice and the amount you can bring in.

- Children can come in school wearing their party clothes but please put a spare uniform in your child's bag.

Friday 18th December: Last day of Term - Home time is at 11.30 for ALL children. Please pick up your child on time.

Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind Regards;

Ms Crislet, Ms Grace and the F1 Team

EYFS Christmas Show

* All F1 children should be in red shirts and white trousers/shorts/leggings.

Friday, 4 December 2015

It's Christmas Soon!

It's December and we can now feel the Christmas vibe in F1! Snowflakes are everywhere, Father Christmas' workshop is up and running and the Christmas tree is all sparkly and shiny! Jolly Christmas songs can be heard too! What a fantastic atmosphere indeed to learn new things and have lots of fun too!

This week started with a special present from Father Christmas! We were so happy and surprised to see a silver wrapped present on our carpet and when we opened it, it was a big Christmas tree! We all helped each other in putting up the tinsels, baubles and bells!

We also had the story 'Ben's Christmas' which is about a boy who has been very good so Father Christmas asked his elves to make the finest fire engine toy for him. Father Christmas went to his house whilst he was asleep and placed his present under the Christmas tree. This story inspired us to write our very own letter to Father Christmas and asked for presents we want to get on Christmas day. They were definitely cute wishes!

For our carpet sessions, Ms Clarissa introduced new words such as tinsels, bells, baubles, snowflakes, Father Christmas, reindeer and more. We have also seen video messages from Father Christmas and even watched 'Peppa Pig's Christmas'.

In the role-play area, we have been pretending to be elves and wrapping presents for children. The children also had a go at wearing the Father Christmas costume and hat.

For mark-making, we have been tracing Christmas stencils. Children were encouraged to trace the lines and connect the dots. Most of the children understand the concept and tried really hard tracing them.

This week in our workshop area, we have made our own Christmas stockings! We decorated them with colourful sequins and they are now hung up for Father Christmas to see! We hope he will creep in through the night and place his presents on them!

This week was also extra special because Minh Anh celebrated her 3rd birthday! Daddy and Grandma brought in a cake and shared it with everyone. Happy birthday Minh Anh!