Autumn Time and Christmas Cards!

Class One have been learning about how the environment changes and animals prepare for colder weather during autumn time.  We went on an autumn walk to the woods to find evidence of changes, which we could then bring back and add to our investigation table. 

The children have also been bringing interesting things from home for the table and they have been thinking about making transient art pictures using them. 

We have been looking at different trees and after our walk, to support learning about regular 2D shapes, we talked about different kinds of triangles. We looked at images of Christmas trees and decided that an isosceles triangle was generally the traditional shape of a Christmas tree (a bit early for the ‘C’ word but the PTA fund raising cards had to be done this week!). We then had a challenge – What if you could only use autumn things to make a Christmas tree shape? Once they had met this challenge, some of them using their knowledge of repeating patterns in the process, the children got creative and decorated their flat Christmas tree shape with a selection of sparkles and beads so they looked like they had been covered in the magic of Christmas. Everyone created a unique and beautiful image and helped to take a photo of their completed picture to use for the Christmas cards. Then, the things they had used were put back where they came from – simple and sustainable. 

As the children worked they talked about shape, size, colour and pattern as well as about the natural things they had seen or included in their picture. They also talked about Christmas trees they had seen and whether their tree was inside or outside (something I hadn’t considered at all). 

Look at the amazing pictures they created.

 Once everyone had made their card images and we had finished using them we planted a selection of conkers, acorns and sweet chestnuts so we can grow our own trees.

Great job guys! I wonder if one day you will come back and see the tree you planted? I hope so.