Monday 1st February

Hi everyone welcome to week 5 of home learning and the start of a new month, February. The start of February reminds us that winter is almost over and spring is just around the corner yeahhhh! There are a few other exciting events in February like Pancake Tuesday, Valentines Day and half term.  I think February is going to be a great month and I’m looking forward to learning new things with you all.  
This week our new letter sound is b, as in bat and ball.  How many things can you find beginning with b? Think about the letter b when you are out for your walks this week. Can you find anything beginning with b? What about the word, bird, we’ve thought about that word a lot over the last few weeks. I will put up a video on seesaw to help us with the formation of b.
we are continuing to revise our numbers to 8. Last week I reminded you of our Numicon shapes and introduced the number 7. This week we’ll look at the numicon shape for 8 and something called subitizing.

In our topic work we are thinking about how birds build nests. Isn’t it amazing how a little bird can build a nest for their eggs with only things they find around them and using their beaks. They don’t have strong arms and careful hands like we do. Look out for the story this week about the birds nest. 

Road Safety Education - Task (Be Safe, Be Seen 4-7 year olds)

Dear Parent, this task is designed for you to work alongside and complete with your child/children in relation to a key road safety issue.  The focus is “Be Safe, Be Seen” and encourages the use of bright, fluorescent and reflective clothing when out and about as a pedestrian, on a bicycle/scooter or riding a horse either during the day or in mornings/evenings when it can still be dark.  Use the opportunity of your daily exercise to allow children to learn through wearing clothing that can easily be seen by other road users and by identifying bright/reflective clothing or markings on people, objects or vehicles in your environment which make them easier to be seen by the human eye during the day or night.  There are also two follow up activities (colouring/match the words and pictures) which can be printed out and completed by your child.

Be Safe, Be Seen (4-7 year olds)

On your daily exercise or when your child/children are travelling in the car with you, play a game of “Be Safe, Be Seen”.  This could be something as simple as “who can be the first person to spot 5/10 different ways somebody or something use to make it easier for other road users to see them/it”. For example, you could look out for some of the following in your local area;

Flashing lights on a bicycle,

Reflective strips on the trousers of a work person

Runner/cyclist wearing a fluorescent jacket

Walker wearing bright clothes

Emergency vehicle with its bright colours and/or flashing lights

Worker wearing a hi-vis vest

Reflectors on a bicycle

Flashing lights/bright colours at a pedestrian crossing

Road signs with bright colours or reflective parts

Bollards with reflective strips

Lorries or other vehicles with bright colours or reflective strips

Towers with a flashing light on top

Fluorescent cycling helmets

Warning signs with bright colours or reflective strips

Dog wearing a bright coat or reflective collar

As road users (whether as a pedestrian, cyclist or driver) we all know how much easier it is to see something which is bright especially during dull days or when it is dark.

Fluorescent colours make it easier for you to be seen during the day and reflective materials make it easier for you to be seen at night. Encourage your child/children to wear these materials when they are out. It will help to keep them safe!

For further information, why not have a look at the following resources to assist you in teaching your child how to use our roads safely and effectively as they develop:

Watch the following short video: https://youtu.be/-HlOJqqL56U

To view the teaching aid calendars that are issued in hard copy to every primary school across Northern Ireland providing each class teacher with a weekly photograph, message and discussion note on a road safety theme: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars

A road safety education leaflet “Be Safe, Be Seen”:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/be-safe-be-seen-leaflet

A recently produced guide for Parents of children aged 0-7 years: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/parents-guide-road-safety-0-7-years

General road safety information for parents of young children: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-children-under-seven