Castle Room News

The focus of learning over the next two weeks will be Understanding the World as we explore the world of light and dark. We will talk about how we can create shadow and discuss the effectiveness of translucent, transparent and opaque materials in blocking out light.

In the Snack Area, we will be continuing our learning from our Book of the Week, Diwali, as we consider some of the different ways we can celebrate. We will be making a special Diwali treat called Kheel, which is a rice pudding flavoured with cardamom and sweetened, perfect for a cold autumn day!

We will also be using the change in weather to explore different ways to keep our bodies warm. The children will be in charge of their clothing, ensuring that they are fully covered and can keep dry in the rain and possibly snow! We will take this opportunity to discuss keeping warm from the inside by drinking warm milk and eating warm rice pudding to keep out those autumn chills.

In the Creative Area, the children will be exploring changing light, using coloured cellophanes to create stained-glass windows. We will talk about the changes and the concept of ‘transparency’ as we are able to look through individual layers, and it becomes ‘opaque’ the more layers you add. On the Malleable Table we will be exploring glow in the dark playdough, using torches to charge the dough. We have created a dark den around the table to make the glowing dough more effective.

On the Mark Making Table we will be using chalk on black paper to create nighttime scenes, creating ‘light in the darkness’ as we draw stars and moons.

Our first Book of the Week is called Diwali, the Story of Rama and Sita. It is all about the Hindu Festival of Light, Diwali, where good triumphs, or wins, over evil. We will join Rama, the prince, in his journey to save Sita from the evil Ravana, the Demon King. Here is a lovely video that explains what Diwali is to share at home; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXIZpwCaFxI. 

The Song of the Week is a Sesame Street Special, a wonderful and catchy song that teaches us all about how Diwali is celebrated, as well as being so much fun to dance along to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOudPTDMTLQ. 

Our second Book of the Week will be 'Wow, said the Owl'. This is the story of an owl who normally lives in the nighttime world, being 'Nocturnal'. Tonight Little Owl has a quick nap and is ready to see the colours of the day. I wonder what he might see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LyW3YpHThk 

Our song of the week that goes along with this is all about colours. It is called 'The Colour Song'. The song introduces colours with a rhyming action to go with it.