November 2022

Mark Making and Storytelling

In the main building there has been a focus on story telling over recent weeks.
We regularly share stories and story language with children: sharing a range of books, story props and songs.
Children are always encouraged to mark make and ascribe meaning to their marks. 
Some children are now able to use our Tales Toolkit story structure to create their own narratives.

• We start with a character.
• Add a setting.
• Create a problem.
• Find a solution.

Some children will tell their stories freely, with less structure.
Teachers will scribe exactly what they say. This is important as it shows we value their words.
We then encourage children to mark make around their stories. 
Of course you can do the mark making first and then create your story from that drawing

You can try this at home together.
Maybe start by getting your child to retell you one of their favourite stories. 
Most important is the time spent together sharing a book, maybe at bedtime. A cosy and warm time together. 
Remember you can borrow books from school to share at home.

Food Bank Harvest Collection

Children's House is at the heart of the local community: Bow is a place we are proud of.
We know many people in the local community may need extra help at the moment.
For our Harvest Appeal, generous families donated pasta, rice and tinned vegetables.
We are so grateful for the kindness shown by so many.

​Children are beginning to understand that people need help sometimes. 
​In school we always teach children to ask if they need help.
"We have a voice" is one of our Children's House Values.
"We share and take turns" is another that fits beautifully with our food bank support. 

Today, some children helped to transport the food to the Bromley-by-Bow Food Bank where people who need it will be able to use it. 
There was so much food that Guthsna also had to drive some in her car!!!
The staff there were very grateful.
Thank you Children's House families. 

If you need any help, please speak to staff. 
If you would like to access the Bromley-by-Bow Food Bank, please click the link below for more information:
https://www.bowfoodbank.org/how-to-get-food/

Children in Need

As we have collected for Harvest and have a sponsored cycle coming up, we kept Children in Need low key with an own-clothes day. We were delighted to see children in yellow or spotty clothes.
Thank you for donating money too. We raised £84 and donated to the cause.

Happy Diwali!

At Children's House we follow the seasons of the year with the children and support their understanding of the world and people and communities by marking many festivals as well. 
At the end of October, it was Diwali.
Diwali is the festival of lights and is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs worldwide. 
It celebrates good over evil.
At Children's House we explored many artefacts such as diva lamps, Rangolis, books and images.
Children listened to the story of Rama and Sita: some acted it out.
The story tells us that good is more important than bad. This supports our Children's House Values very well.
We celebrated with sparklers and children created patterns using a variety of mediums, indoors and in the garden.
We also listened to music and danced.
Some children brought in special clothes from home as they had been celebrating Diwali.
Ask your child whether they remember having fireworks and sparklers in the garden.