About Fun Friday...

Fun Friday is a new alternative to the children's usual Friday home learning activities. We want the children to be motivated throughout the week and give them a special reward on a Friday to say thank you for all their hard work. We believe that family activities are just as important as our other areas of learning in school.

'where loves exists, it works great things'. 

Design

By studying design and technology, children will build up their creativity, problem solving, planning and evaluation skills. Since many projects are done via group work, children will also gain communication and teamwork skills.

Using toilet roll/kitchen roll tubes that are used and ready for recycling, design your own marble run. Think about where you need to place them in order to allow the marble/ball to roll all the way to the end. If you have siblings you could make one each and have a race to see which one is quicker (if not why not ask your grown ups to have a go and race them). Or if you're up for a challenge, create three or more different endings (like in the picture below) and see which one it ends up in. You could have a go at predicting which one you think it will be!

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Build

Every time a child builds and creates a structure or even an entire world, children have to use reasoning and critical thinking skills. They also have to problem solve when something does not work the way they hoped it would. These skills are what make children become well-rounded, independent and successful adults!

Work as a family to build an inside laser maze. Use string, scarves, toilet roll or anything you can get your hands on. Make it as challenging as you can and see who can make it through without setting off the laser beam alarm! A great way to have some fun and get moving indoors when it's not the best weather outside!

Walk of the week

 Create a 'journey stick' as you go on a walk outdoors. Take with you some tape or string to attach  interesting things they find on the way to a stick (for little fingers it might be easier to have a piece of card with double sided sticky tape attached already so they can easily attach their discoveries) 

Recipe of the Week

Crunchy tuna pasta bake!

Get the family involved and make tasty meals from scratch to help your kids stay healthy. 

For more ideas visit:

Phunky Foods:https://www.phunkyfoods.co.uk/members-area/

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 Healthy Recipes | Change4Life (www.nhs.uk) 

Do we have to log it?

We would love to see the children completing their fun activities so if you do take any pictures, please could you send them to your child's class teacher. This month our golden Gospel Value is 'gentleness'. We will be looking out for children from each year band who have been 'gentle' when completing their fun activities. One child from each class will then be displayed on our Fun Friday page each week. This is an alternative to our 'golden sweatshirt' celebration in school 

Experiment

One of the best ways for children to learn about chemistry, biology and physics is to ignite their interest through hands-on experiments. Besides giving children the chance to explore different scientific concepts through their senses, the experience also helps develop other useful skills including problem-solving, research and perseverance.

Experiment: recycled bottle bubble art!

Challenge: To create a piece of artwork using bubbles.

 Resources:

empty plastic water bottle, water, paper, food colouring/paint, soap/washing up liquid, mesh bag from oranges etc

 Method: 

• Mix some food colouring/paint with water and a little bit of soap in a bowl.
• Cut off the bottom of the water bottle and put to one side, you will only need to use the top half.
• Cut off a piece of the mesh fruit bag and tape around the bottom of the bottle (this will create the bubbles when you blow through the bottle)
• Get your paper ready, lay it on top of some old sheets/newspaper to keep the mess to a minimum.
• Dip the end of the bottle with the mesh attached, into the mixed water and then hold over the paper and blow to create coloured bubbles. (once the bubbles pop they will leave a pattern on your paper) - keep going with different colours and see what you can create.

When your child asks a question, they are taking an active role in their own learning. They are trying to figure out how the world works by seeking information. As they asks questions, they are developing critical thinking skills that build brain power. Asking questions is also an important form of communication.

Family Task

As a family work together to put on a family talent show. Each member will have to perform something they enjoy or are really good at for everyone to enjoy. You could make tickets for the show, create a stage, dress up and even have judges to make it really interesting. You could even award prizes so everyone is a winner. (best dressed, most effort, funniest etc)

Giving children the opportunity to feed their curiosity is not only important for their development but also for their well being. There is so much to be gained from getting out and letting your child explore. Teaching confidence and independence. Confidence is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child.

Evaluate

When we provide children with the time and place for reflection, we empower them as learners and thinkers. Reflection on a lesson or on their own progress also allows them to build skills in critical thinking that they can apply when they are problem-solving and learning on their own.

Listen to the story and think about what you liked and disliked.

Who was your favourite character?

what was your favourite part?

Did you like the illustrations? Which was your favourite, why?

Would you recommend this book to others? Who? Why?

Does this book remind you of any other stores you have read?

How did this book make you feel?

Mindfulness

Take 5 minutes to make a mindful glitter jar. It is a nice way to understand how sometimes we may feel stressed or out of control (like when we shake the glitter and see it going all over the place) but as we watch the glitter settle, we can practise calm breathing as our emotions and energy relaxes along with it. It is a nice way to calm down when we're feeling a bit stressed.

What do we do? 

Each week the Fun Friday page will have an updated timetable of 9 different areas of learning that the children can choose from. The activities will have a specific focus in mind but it's up to the children which activity they want to complete. Some activities are designed so the children can work independently and the family activity is designed for all the family.

Question

If you could ask a wild animal a question right now, what would it be?

I would ask a Giraffe if its neck ever gets sore with it being so long.

I wonder what its answer would be?

Explore

ICE - Explore what happens when you put a tub of water outside over night, will the same thing happen during the day? What would happen if you added warm water, cold water or coloured water?

If you freeze a small toy in a tub of ice how could you get it out without smashing the ice?

Special days