The semester has flown by and, hard as it is to believe, next week will be our final one before the three-week winter break!
This week, we have been enjoying extended mornings outdoors while the weather has been so pleasant. Please remember to ensure your child brings a hat to school, as all children are expected to wear hats while playing outside. We kindly ask that hats are clearly labelled with your child’s name. You are welcome to do this at home, or let us know in the morning and we will be happy to label it for you.
Our focus this week has been on how music can be used to communicate imaginative thoughts and feelings. The children listened to three very different pieces of music: one upbeat and jolly, one slow and sombre, and one with a spooky feel. The pieces were The Entertainer by Scott Joplin, The Funeral March by Frédéric Chopin, and Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky. The children reflected on what each piece made them think about and how it made them feel. As a follow-up activity, the children listened again to Night on Bald Mountain, shared their ideas about what the music made them imagine, and then created drawings inspired by the piece. The photos below show the children engaged in this activity while listening to the music.
Another enjoyable activity this week was linked to mathematics, with a focus on developing an understanding of patterns. We explored sound patterns using “body percussion,” such as clapping, stamping, and tapping knees, to create simple repeating sequences. This is an activity that can easily be extended at home by having one person create a simple pattern (for example, clap, stamp, clap, stamp) and inviting others to join in once they recognise it.
Finally, a reminder that next Monday, 15th December is Sports Day for KG1, KG2 and Grade One. The event will take place on the sports field at the back of the school (behind the swimming pool) and will run from 8:00am until 11:00am. Please ensure your child comes dressed wearing their allocated house colour (as per my previous email). We look forward to a fun morning!
We wish you all a lovely weekend.
The KG1 Team
