Crown Meadow Nursery 2025-26 by

Week 1 - 08/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:32:31 UTC

This week we will be looking at 'The Colour Monster' by Anna Llenas.

Week 2 - 15/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:33:11 UTC

This week we'll be reading 'The Family Book' by Todd Parr. We'll be talking about our families, the special people that are in them and how we contribute to family life.

Week 3 - 22/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:34:22 UTC

This week we will be looking at the story "Home" by Alex T Smith.

Last week we looked at who lives in our house and this week we will be thinking about the types of places we live in. We will draw pictures of our homes and discuss the environment where we live. We will be working hard to understand how and why we share. This week we will begin to make marks on paper in response to a musical stimulus. We will be using a range of resources to build houses for the dolls in the doll house (lego, wooden bricks, paper, etc). Explore the types of jobs, roles and responsibilities our adults have at home and how we have roles and responsibilities in the classroom.

Have a good week
Mr Ainger 🦊

Week 3 - 22/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:35:20 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Read a story that has a family or a house (e.g. the three little pigs).
2) Talk about why it is important to share.
3) Build a house out of construction materials or Lego.
4) Make a note of what number your house is. What number is your friend's house? Are there any other important numbers you should know.

Week 4 - 29/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:37:17 UTC

This week we will begin our two-week topic on Nursery Rhymes.
This week we will be looking at "Three blind mice", "Little Miss Muffet", "Patta cake, Patta cake", "Jack and Jill", "1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish", "Miss Polly had a dolly", "London bridge is falling down". It’s important for children to be able to sing nursery rhymes and remember the tunes as this will help with developing their language.

We will be sharing what makes us unique this week, something that we can do that makes us special.

Week 4 - 29/09/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:38:00 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Sing these nursery Rhymes together at home
2) Talk about what makes your child unique/special, maybe their knowledge of dinosaurs, riding a bike, jumping really high, etc.
3) Bake a cake or buns at home, and decorate with people's initials so that they have their own cake.
4) Have a go at building a bridge and see how strong it is by balancing your toys on top of it. Try different materials to build your bridge, which is stronger.

Week 5 - 06/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:39:17 UTC

This week we will continue our two-week topic on Nursery Rhymes.
This week we will be looking at "Baa Baa Black Sheep", "Row, Row, Row your boat", "Incy Wincy Spider", "Humpty Dumpty", "Miss Polly had a dolly", "London bridge is falling down". It’s important for children to be able to sing nursery rhymes and remember the tunes as this will help with developing their language.

We will begin exploring Christianity this week in RE and look at some pictures of Jesus, we will read a bible story about what makes Jesus a special person to Christians. In circle time this week we'll be talking about why we wash our hands and why is it important.

Week 5 -06/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:40:50 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Sing these nursery rhymes together at home
2) Talk about how to wash your hands.
3) Bake a cake or buns at home, and decorate them with people's initials so that they have their cake.
4) Have a go at building a bridge between two tables over a gap of about 20cms, will your bridge fit the gap? Will it hold some weight?

Week 6 - 13/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:43:03 UTC

This week we will be reading “After the Fall” by Dan Santat, which explores the story of Humpty Dumpty and what happens next after he is put back together, spoiler he’s afraid of heights.
We will be talking to the children about how they can be in charge of their own safety and that of their friends. We are introducing this through the use of tools this week. The children will use hammers, nails and pumpkins to think about tool safety and the importance of wearing goggles to protect our eyes.
We will look at a story about Jesus in RE and discuss the importance of ‘sharing’ and ‘taking turns’ in our circle time.
We will also visit Number Land this week and meet number ‘five’ who is having a party, but it's only a party for 5’s. I wonder which numbers will need to hold hands so that they can get into the party? Spoiler it’s 1 and 4, 2 and 3. We’re having an early look at the relationships between numbers and how this could translate into number bonds.

Week 6 - 13/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:43:43 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Explore the different types of animals that lay eggs. Is it only birds that lay eggs?
2) Talk about who they share their toys with at Nursery. Is it the same person? Why is it important to share?
3) Make something with eggs at home. You could bake a cake or some biscuits, a quiche, or scrambled eggs on toast. I wonder how easy it is to whisk the eggs? Or messy?
4) When at the playground or garden, talk to children about possible dangers that they might come across (climbing/slides/swings/trees) talk about safe behaviour and whether we could make something safer. E.g. if your child enjoys climbing trees, talk about how we can be safer while still having fun (climb up to this branch, only with an adult near by, etc) You might also talk about what might happen if we don’t try and be safe.

Week 7 - 20/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:44:40 UTC

This week we will be reading "After the Storm" by Nick Butterworth, in which some of the woodland animals are forced to find a new home after a storm destroys it and working together they make an even better one.
We will be looking at the changes that are happening around us (leaf colours and weather) and how we are in the middle of Autumn now. We’ll forage for leaves and use them in our art to make some leaf prints and some leaf sun catchers.
We will look at another story about Jesus in RE and discuss the importance of ‘being caring and in our circle time how we can care of each other and our classroom by helping to tidy up.
In Number Land this week we’ll explore counting, recognising and writing the numbers 1, 2 and 3.

Week 7 -20/10/25

jainger — 2025-09-19 09:45:17 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Go on an Autumn walk and see what thing you can collect in our bucket/bag, do you know where the twigs, conkers, acorns, apples, leaves came from? Can you make a picture on the grass with all these nature finds.
2) Talk about why we tidy. Do you always tidy up after yourself at home? What might happen if toys are left on the floor?
3) Using a pumpkin can you carve a picture of a face together to display for Halloween.
4) What things come in 1s, 2s or 3s? Jumpers come in 1s, gloves and boots come in 2s (pairs), is there anything that comes in 3s?

Week 8 - 03/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:04:37 UTC

This week we will read “Hovis the Hedgehog” and learn about fireworks. We will be talking this week about how firefighters help us.
We will be making our own bottle rockets from 2-litre fizzy bottles. Later on, in the week, we will be inspired by fireworks in our art projects and learn that anything can be counted, even jumps, claps, steps, bangs, etc.
In our RE lesson, we will start our work around Christmas and think about finding the right presents for the important people in our lives. We will learn to choose a present that someone else might like rather than a present that we would like.

Week 8 - 03/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:05:46 UTC

This weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Go to a Bonfire Night and share in that experience together.
2) Talk about how to stay safe around fireworks and sparklers. What should we do if there is a fire?
3) Go on a conker hunt in the local forest and count them into piles of 5. (Please be aware that conkers are nuts and use pine cones if your child has an allergy).
4) Talk about the different types of wildlife in your area and how some animals like hedgehogs/mouses/bats are getting ready to go into 'hibernation'.

Week 9 - 10/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:07:01 UTC

This week we will read “Peace at Last” and learn about the sounds that we hear around us, musical instruments, and how we can play loud and quiet sounds. We will also be thinking about opposites, day/night, loud/quiet, big/small, and tidy/messy.
In Number Land this week we will be thinking about more and fewer. Do you remember ‘play your cards right?’ maybe you could play a game of this at home using the cards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
We will be making soundscapes while retelling the story using musical instruments. In our crafts this week we will be looking to combine some of the techniques we have learnt so far to make and decorate musical instruments. So please send in your recycling so we can junk model these. We will also be thinking about our teddy bears and why they are special to us at bedtime.
In our RE lesson, we will learn about how important it is to say “Thank You” and how we can make cards to do this.

Tuesday is Remembrance Day and we will be talking about soldiers and how they keep us safe.
Friday is Children in Need, and we will be talking about charity and why it is important to help each other.

Week 9 - 10/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:08:02 UTC

The weeks opportunities for home learning are...
1) Make a Children in Need picture at home.
2) Talk about why sleep is so important to your child and talk about if their bedtime routine is helping them to get a good night's sleep.
3) Last week there were lots of loud noises in the sky with the fireworks, maybe take a moment to sit outside and listen to sounds around us. Are the sound different at certain times of the day? (Morning, after school, night time.)
4) Crack out the playing cards and have a game of 'more' or 'fewer'. Only use the cards 1-5 and help the children to recognise the number on the card quickly.

Week 10 - 17/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:09:19 UTC

This week we will read “Owl Babies”, we will also read a story about the Northern Lights and talk about the difference between light and dark. We will also be exploring shadows and how they are created by light. This develops last week's work on opposites.
In Number Land this week we will be thinking about the composition of numbers, and how a number 3 is made up of 3 ones or 1 two and 1 one.
Last week we looked at teddy bears and this week we will think about Owls, Polar Bears and other animals that live in cold climates. In our crafts this week we will explore making Owlets out of loo rolls, and how we can use wax and water paint to make a magical picture.
In our RE lesson, we will learn about the Christmas Story and think about Jesus as a baby.

Week 10 - 17/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:10:07 UTC

This weeks opportunities for learning are...
1) Use the internet or books and find out where owls live. You might try and learn some facts about owls or go on a nature walk and look for signs of owls (hollow, nests, feathers, etc.)
2) Make a reading den at home, using blankets, chairs, tables, cushions, duvets and pegs. Read a story together in the den using torch light.
3) Make bird feeders out of cherrios threaded onto a string and hang this in your garden so the birds have something to eat.
4) Help your child to begin to read their name at home. Write it on a piece of paper amongst other names in the family and see if they can spot their name. If they can… then support them to write it by copying your writing.

Week 11 - 24/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:11:08 UTC

This week we will read “Lost and Found” by Oliver Jeffers which looks at the geography of where the North and South pole is and why friends are important. We will continue thinking about winter and make some penguin and snowperson pictures.
In Number Land this week we will be thinking about a running total. If I have 3 and then I take one away how many do I have? (2) How many do I have if I get 1 more? (3) What if I take 1 more away? How many now? (2) These long sentences encourage the children to hold a number in their heads while simultaneously calculating one more or one less.
This week we will be thinking about the globe and where are the coldest places on the planet. We will begin to identify which country we live in and where the penguins live. We will also consider if were to go on a journey to visit the penguins, the types of clothes that we might need.
In our RE lesson, we will think about the shepherds in the Christmas story and what their job was. We will also read ‘The Shepherd Girl of Bethlehem’ by Carey Morning and Alan Marks.
In our circle time this week, we will think about what we need to do when we are lost. We will also talk about ‘safer strangers’ who can help up, i.e. police officers, doctors, nurses, shop workers, etc.

NEXT WEEK we will post our letters to Santa , please make sure your self-addressed envelopes have been handed to the teachers.

Week 11 - 24/11/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:12:10 UTC

This weeks opportunities for learning are...
1) Use Google Earth to look at where we live and where penguins live (Antarctica/South Pole) and look at how long a journey it might take. I wonder if there are some other things could find on Google Earth?
2) If you have Netflix there is a documentary called “Our Planet”. S1:E2 “Frozen Worlds” is a nice episode to watch together and talk about the animals and places together.
On BBC iPlayer there is “Andy's Wild Adventures” Series 1: 1. Emperor Penguins or “Frozen Planet” narrated by David Attenborough.
3) You might also begin to look at boats that feature heavily in the story. You might investigate objects that float or sink at bath time.
4) Talk to your child about what they need to do in case they get lost while you are out shopping or at the park. Perhaps each time you visit a new place you make a plan in case they get lost so that they know what to do.

Week 12 - 01/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:14:07 UTC

This week we will read “One Snowy Night” by Nick Butterworth. We have read a story previously by Nick Butterworth and Percy the Parkkeeper.
In Number Land this week we will be thinking about positional language being able to say where something is in relation to the other objects around it. Most often when we start to ask the children where something is they will point and say ‘there’. This week will be encouraging the use of the following language which you can help by modelling at home. “Under” “behind” “inside” “on top” “between” “in front”.
This week we will be painting using ice cubes, looking at the change of state when something is frozen and when something is heated, the children will have hot chocolate on Friday.
In our RE lesson, we will think about the wise men and the gifts that they brought to the baby Jesus.
In our circle time this week, we will think about how to be calm especially when things are upsetting us, making us sad or making us angry.

Week 12 - 01/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:15:21 UTC

This weeks opportunities for learning are...
1) Make a den with warm blankets, books and pillows. By adding fairy lights, torches and teddys you can make a nice place to read a story.
2) Perhaps you might like to investigate what happens to woodland creatures in the winter. How do they get ready for the cold weather?
3) You might also investigate melting and how quickly that can happen and why. Leave a bowl of ice cubes in different locations (window sil, radiator, fridge, freezer). Which is the first to fully melt?
4) This might be a good week to re-cap our safety talk about children sleeping in their own bed and why it is important for safer sleeping.

Week 13 - 08/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:16:48 UTC

This week we will look at “The Nativity Story” which we have been reading often in order to do our Christmas production. We will look at the different characters in the story and how they contribute to the birth of Jesus.
In Number Land this week we will be thinking about pattern and repeating patterns. The types that you might seen on wrapping paper for example. We will be making our own patterned wrapping paper.
This week we will be finishing off our Christmas calendars, writing our letters to Santa and posting them and starting our Christmas cards.
In our RE lesson, we will think the different Christmas traditions we have in our families and looking at some Christmas artifacts (TV times, special baubles, crackers, hats, jokes, etc).
In our circle time this week, we will think about how to staying safe online with ‘Smartie the Penguin’. We will be talking about ‘in app pop ups’ and what we need to do if we see one on our iPad/tablets.
We are really looking forward to showing our adults The Nativity on Monday and Wednesday.

Week 13 - 08/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:17:19 UTC

This weeks opportunities for learning are…
1) Talk to your child about their part in the Christmas production, what job did their character have have in the Nativity?
2) We will be wrapping presents in our role-play area this week, perhaps together the children can help you wrap their presents.
3) We sent a Christmas card list out last week. Help your child to write their name in each one for their friends so that they have lots of practice. Each card needs their name in so their friend knows who it is from.

Week 14 - 15/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:18:53 UTC

This week we will look at the story ‘Dear Santa’ by Rod Campbell, we’ll link it back to the posting of our Santa letters we posted the other week. We’ll also be looking at the journey of a letter as it travels though the royal mail sorting office and heads on its way to the North pole.
This week we’ll be finishing off our cards, calendars, decorations and icing some biscuits to take home with us this week.
We’ll be having our Christmas dinner this week and our party days.
A very exciting week before we break up for Christmas, only a few more sleeps to go.

Week 14 - 15/12/25

jainger — 2025-11-11 11:19:33 UTC

This weeks opportunities for learning are…
1) How many sleeps is it until Christmas, count how many days left on their advent calendars. Do they know what number will come next?
Only one activity this week as I'm sure you’ve got lots to do already. Enjoy this time of year.
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year.

Happy Diwali

jainger — 2025-11-18 10:57:38 UTC

Money Matters

jainger — 2025-11-18 10:58:58 UTC

Remembrance Day

jainger — 2025-11-18 10:59:31 UTC

Fireworks pictures

jainger — 2025-11-18 11:00:06 UTC

Fire Fighting

jainger — 2025-11-18 11:15:16 UTC

Bottle Rockets

jainger — 2025-11-18 11:15:50 UTC

Tuesday 25th November

jainger — 2025-11-19 08:46:20 UTC

Tuesday 25th November

Please learn a joke so that you can tell it to your friends at school. This ties in with the rest of the schools Oracy day.