Numbers Around the World

We have been learning all about different languages and focussing on number.  We have looked at different number systems and discovered some fascinating facts from around the world.  Children across the school have all had experience of counting in Spanish and playing games to practise.  In Nursery and Reception, we have had minibeast-themed counting as they have been learning about these creatures.  In Year 1, we have played a version of La Oca, a Spanish boardgame.  Year 2 have played Cuatro en Raya, a four-in-a-row game using dice to generate the numbers.  Years 3 and 4 have played matching pairs or snap while Year 5 have created their own calculations.  Year 6 have made boardgames with various languages. 

We have also been learning about languages which are spoken by the children and adults in the school.  Our children, some of whom are our Language Ambassadors, have been fantastic at sharing their language skills with their classes and interacted with them enthusiastically.  They have visited Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes and have helped us count in their languages.  We have found it really interesting to compare languages and find the similarities between them.  We have also had an opportunity to learn Swedish numbers from our recent ERASMUS visit.

We are counting in different languages during some of the international playground games this term!

Sweden: Forest Learning

Sweden gave colleagues an excellent insight into how to embrace nature as part of our daily classroom life. They learned how to take a range of subjects into the outdoors; the key concepts and knowledge can still be learned in an environment that promotes well-being and a sense of calm.

They saw how Swedish children are educated holistically- learning to work as a team, risk taking, communicating well, building resilience and independence.

Adults appreciated how calm and mindful they all felt from spending time outdoors and in the forest.

In Sweden 'fika' is an integral part of the day. This involves taking breaks and sharing coffee, food and meals together whilst communicating socially. 

At Bridgewater, we have trained members of staff to achieve the Forest School school accrediitation and strive to build this into the curriculum. We will incorporate aspects of learning gained from the experience in Sweden into our outdoor learning.