The Cheeky Monkeys have been making bold moves in their chess lessons, diving into the world of the Bishop. They had a blast learning how this swift piece moves diagonally across the board and put their skills to the test through lively, hands-on games. Along the way, they also strengthened their understanding of ranks and files while exploring how different pieces navigate the chessboard. With each lesson, they’re growing more confident in their strategies, all while having a fantastic time!

Our little artists at the Cheeky Monkeys have been busy creating stunning masterpieces using silky, winter-hued paper. With boundless imagination, they transformed delicate sheets into vibrant flowers, cosy houses, rolling hills, and even magical unicorns. Watching their creativity shine was a pure joy.

The Cheeky Monkeys are encouraged to develop phonological awareness through auditory discrimination activities. Phonological awareness involves an appreciation of the sounds, as well as the meanings of words. Instrument exploration activities such as guiro encourage children to be sensitive to the nuances of different sounds. This also helps them become sensitive to and appreciative of the subtle differences in language sounds as they continue to develop and fine-tune their language skills.

We had a busy first week back when we travelled to the Csopa Science Centre. The children participated in exciting experiments and explored each room, covering different themes such as magnetic fields, the Earth and space, and forces and motion. At the beginning of the week, the children built an imaginary story based on a writing stimulus from the Literacy Shed. They first plotted the stories on a story map before retelling them to the class. In ICT, children focus on ‘Technology Around Us’ and the impact of technology on the modern world.

Circle dances typically feature repeating step patterns, reinforcing the concept of sequencing and structure. Patterns are fundamental across various disciplines, including dance, music, art, nature, mathematics, science, and literature. By engaging the Cheeky Monkeys in recognising and repeating these patterns, we help build essential cognitive skills that support their ability to decode, organise, and predict—foundational abilities that extend to all areas of learning and everyday life.

The Cheeky Monkeys are diving into the world of chess, exploring how each piece moves across the board with strategy and precision! Through fun-filled games and hands-on challenges, they’re building their skills, growing more confident, and sharpening their tactical thinking. With every move, they take another step toward mastering the game like true champions!

The Cheeky Monkeys recently engaged in an exhilarating and interactive educational experience, delving into the enchanting world of cool and warm colours. Inspired by the natural beauty surrounding us, they harnessed their creativity and imagination to depict their environment through art vividly. From the serene blues and greens of the sky and foliage to the vibrant reds and oranges of a glowing sunset, these budding artists embraced the emotive power of colour as a means of self-expression. Their outstanding artworks showcase their artistic prowess and their profound connection with the world around them.

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We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys, and preparations are ongoing for Valentine’s Day. In the Unit of Inquiry, the children finished their topic on the weather. They experimented with creating a tornado in a water bottle by moving the bottle in a circular motion to create a whirlwind. At the end of the week, the children celebrated Carnival with many indoor and outdoor games and activities and dressed in various colourful costumes. 

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This week, our little chess prodigies had an exciting time diving into the world of chess! They mastered the arrangement of chess pieces on the board and revisited the key concepts of ‘Ranks’ and ‘Files’ through interactive games. Moreover, the Cheeky Monkeys also got hands-on practice with the movement of the ‘Pawn’, learning how this humble piece can make mighty moves!

The Cheeky Monkeys recently dove into the enchanting world of snowflakes during a fun and creative activity! They rolled up their sleeves to craft mosaic snowflakes, combining cutting, sticking, and composing into a delightful hands-on experience.  The joy on their faces was as sparkling as the winter wonders outside.

Singing is one of the most fundamental and beautiful forms of human expression, and the Cheeky Monkeys enthusiastically embrace it. Their ability to express themselves through language naturally extends to exploring their voices, singing songs within a limited range, and developing emerging pitch accuracy. The benefits of singing go far beyond learning to match pitches. Singing supports memory and recall, enhances physical development through breath control and posture, sparks creativity, and fosters socialisation as the children sing together. For the Cheeky Monkeys, singing is a joyful activity and a holistic learning experience that nurtures their development and love for music.

​We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys, with preparations being made for the Student-led Conferences. The children are excited to host the parents next week and show them all of the hard work we have been doing. In the Unit of Inquiry, the children have continued with a unit on ‘How the World Works’. We have been focussing on the weather and discussing what makes the wind blow. The children made wind chimes using sticks and other materials. In Mathematics, the children made a bar graph to show their favourite season and spoke about the most and least popular season in the Cheeky Monkeys class.

​It has been a busy and exciting fortnight for the Cheeky Monkeys.  They have kicked off their new Unit of Inquiry on weather patterns and climates worldwide, and the children have been busy monitoring the weather in Budapest, recording it daily.

In Mathematics, they have been getting hands-on, measuring length using various non-standard units. The class ventured outside to measure the length of the playground and the fence, turning math into a fun, interactive experience.

To wrap up the week, the children reflected on their Christmas holidays and shared their wishes for the New Year in a thoughtful discussion and writing activity.

In their latest chess class, the Cheeky Monkeys took their skills to the next level! They explored how different chess pieces move on the board, focusing on the Rook and its unique travel along the ranks and files. Through fun games and hands-on practice, the children deepened their understanding of the chessboard layout and strategy, all while having a blast!

The Cheeky Monkeys are learning all about polar animals, and their latest art lesson is focused on the fascinating world of penguins. The children explored penguins’ main features and their chilly habitat and then got creative during a free-hand drawing activity. They absolutely loved drawing and colouring their adorable penguins, bringing their new knowledge to life through art.

The Cheeky Monkeys are on an exciting journey of sound discovery. By listening closely to the unique sounds made by different objects, they are honing their listening skills and becoming more attuned to the world around them.

Their creative thinking shines as they consider familiar objects in new and imaginative ways, finding music in the everyday. When they select and incorporate these sounds into a composition, they practice musical decision-making, building their musical awareness and exploring their expressive abilities.

Through this playful exploration, the Cheeky Monkeys are developing a deeper understanding of music while fostering creativity and critical thinking skills.

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We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys with a fabulous effort from the children in the Christmas Show. The children prepared decorations and gifts for the parents. In the Unit of Inquiry, the children continued a topic on cultures with another look at the world map. The children started in a circle outside, drawing their own interpretations of the Earth and the continents, and this was followed by a discussion on countries and continents and where we come from. Finally, the children visited the American School to watch a performance of The Nutcracker, which got us all into the festive spirit.

The Christmas fun continued as the Cheeky Monkeys got creative with their Christmas tree drawings. With a sprinkle of imagination and holiday cheer, they decorated their trees exactly how they wanted—colourful, unique, and full of festive magic.

From twinkling lights to sparkly ornaments, each tree tells a story of joy and creativity.

The Cheeky Monkeys had a blast responding to different musical cues, taking turns, and practising stopping movement—perfect ways to work on inhibitory control. This critical skill helps children resist the urge to act on impulse and choose the best action. The Cheeky Monkeys are learning to navigate their world with patience and self-control by pausing, reflecting, and responding thoughtfully.

Inhibitory control is key to their ability to:

• Think before acting
• Adapt to new ways of doing things, even if they go against familiar habits
• Make thoughtful choices, even when tempted to act impulsively.

It is incredible to watch them grow through these fun, interactive games.

The Cheeky Monkeys have been busy preparing for their Christmas play! They are ready to impress their audience, from crafting decorations to learning their lines. Santa visited with gifts, and they even started their skiing lessons—what a festive fortnight!

The Cheeky Monkeys are sharpening their chess skills! From learning the positions of the pieces to practising their movements on the board, they’re having fun while learning through play.

The Cheeky Monkeys got crafty with 3D reindeer art! They loved cutting and sticking paper pieces to create their adorable festive decorations.

In today’s lesson, Cheeky Monkeys learned that they can express their feelings through movement and identify the feelings music inspires in them. In this activity, we can explore together how major and minor tonalities can elicit different feelings and different ways to express those feelings through movement. This multi-sensory learning method deepens your child’s understanding of their expanding music vocabulary.

In our latest chess classes, the children embarked on an exciting journey with ‘The Campfire’ story, bringing the chessboard to life. This engaging tale made piece movements relatable and fun, while interactive games like “hide and seek” and the lively ‘bean bag dance’ helped them master chessboard ranks. Learning chess has never been this joyful and energetic.

The Cheeky Monkeys got into the Thanksgiving spirit with a fun-directed drawing activity. They created adorable turkeys while sharpening their motor and sensory skills and learning about international celebrations. It is such a creative and meaningful way to celebrate.

Today, the Cheeky Monkeys learned about these two musical symbols: one played and one silent beat. Putting these symbols together in different sequences gives us rhythm patterns. We moved, played, and read this pattern: ta ta ta (rest). Learning to create and play sequences using symbols is a beginning step in learning to read music, and reading those sequences is also good practice for learning to read words and sentences. The benefits of experience are that these patterns are experienced kinesthetically, aurally, and visually. The multi-sensory approach aids comprehension and internalisation.

We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys with preparations for the Thanksgiving assembly. The children made turkey faces with sponge paint and various shapes. The children performed the songs beautifully and enjoyed games and outdoor activities. In Mathematics, the children have been learning to partition two-digit numbers by focusing on representing tens and ones using cubes, straws, stones and other materials.

The Cheeky Monkeys embraced the basics of chess with enthusiasm! They learned about the chess pieces, their movements, and their special traits. Moving pieces across the board was both educational and fun, and they especially enjoyed a lively musical chess game and cheerful rhymes.

The Cheeky Monkeys immersed themselves in the season by crafting stunning collages with autumn leaves. This activity combined creativity and nature exploration, allowing the children to appreciate the beauty of the outdoors while making art.

Using movement to anchor new learning is one of the best ways to build understanding. The Cheeky Monkeys have now experienced a rhythm pattern by moving to it, hearing it, seeing it, and playing it. This multi-sensory approach makes the concept more accessible and meaningful to them. Engaging in different senses helps them grasp the rhythm on a deeper level. This understanding will serve as a foundation for future learning.

We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys with the Halloween party. The children displayed some amazing costumes and participated in various indoor and outdoor games. In Mathematics, the children have been consolidating their knowledge of 2D shapes with a shape hunt outside. The children have been focussing on the properties of the 2D shapes by counting the sides and corners of each. In the Unit of Inquiry, the children started a new topic, ‘Crossing Cultures,’ by studying the world map and discussing the continents and countries of the world.

It has been a busy two weeks! The Cheeky Monkeys had an exciting Rolli Polli class, practicing their jumping, climbing, running, and hopping skills to boost their gross motor development. Before the break, they joined the Brilliant Pandas for a trip to Doma Farm, where they picked apples, and enjoyed petting and feeding the donkeys. In mathematics, they have been diving into early addition, number bonds, and early subtraction with fun, interactive games in the classroom. So much learning and laughter!

Cheeky Monkeys loved mimicking rain and wind sounds with rhythm sticks and scarves! Through movement and sound, they are building essential motor skills, coordination, and confidence. Each raindrop tap and swish of the wind boosts their physical development and imagination.

Our Cheeky Monkeys are getting into Halloween too! They had a blast painting webs and spiders using water-resistant techniques. Spooky fun with watercolours!

Our Cheeky Monkeys took their first steps into the world of chess! They learned all about the pieces—their names, moves, and unique characteristics—through interactive games and memorable rhymes that brought the board to life.

The Cheeky Monkeys have been exploring the world of primary colours and learning how to mix them to create secondary colours! In a recent art lesson, they used basic shapes and vibrant primary colours to paint their pictures. This creative activity sparked their imagination and helped them develop their drawing and painting skills. What a fun way to learn about colour!
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In the Cheeky Monkeys class, the children learned the fundamental aspects of chess, including the names and features of each piece, as well as the layout of the ranks and files on the chessboard. Through engaging games and chess rhymes, they began to build their understanding of the game. A highlight of the session was the musical chess game, where students actively participated by walking in a circle, eagerly watching for a chess piece to be raised so they could sit and participate. This interactive approach kept everyone involved and excited throughout the lesson, making learning chess both fun and educational.

We have had a busy fortnight in the Cheeky Monkeys while preparing for the Harvest Assembly. First, the children prepared a class decoration outside using leaves and natural materials for printing. Next, the children prepared their apple and pumpkin designs for our class display using paint and paper plates. For World Habitat Day, the children made a habitat for their toy animals in the playground and then discussed the common needs of every animal. In Mathematics, the children learn the language of addition and subtraction and practice applying their knowledge by counting objects and calculating a total.

When learning to sing in tune, each child processes the experience uniquely. Our lessons are thoughtfully designed to cater to kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learners, ensuring each child can engage with the material through their preferred learning style. Whether listening to two pitches being sung, singing the pitches themselves, associating the pitches with a familiar song, or using hand movements to mirror the pitch changes, these activities are excellent examples of how a single lesson can meet diverse learning needs.
For the Cheeky Monkeys, success through their dominant learning style boosts their confidence, strengthening and accelerating the learning process. Engaging multiple senses creates a richer and more inclusive learning experience that supports each child’s musical development and overall growth.

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The Cheeky Monkeys enjoyed a chess lesson that introduced them to the game’s basics through the enchanting story of the “Chess Palace.” As they played games and learned rhymes, they became familiar with the names and features of the chess pieces, creating a playful atmosphere for learning.

The Cheeky Monkeys started their academic year with enthusiasm, creating self-portraits and collaborating on tribe-related projects. They shared their favourite summer memories and learned art room routines. Their directed drawing lessons focused on monkeys, and they celebrated International Dot Day by crafting vibrant dot and pattern artwork.

We have had a busy beginning settling into our new class and new year in the Cheeky Monkeys. The children were introduced to the new Unit of Inquiry entitled ‘Who we are’ and took to the playground to observe the effect of exercise upon the body and the inner organs like the heart and lungs. In Mathematics, the children recapped counting backwards and forwards to twenty and beyond, and are beginning to develop their adding skills.

In our classes, we structure activities to allow the Cheeky Monkeys to absorb information through multiple senses, a method we refer to as multisensory learning. This approach is an incredibly effective teaching tool, as it encourages robust and lasting learning while catering to the diverse learning styles of the children in our group. By engaging various senses, the children participate in activities that involve listening, processing information, labelling concepts, and incorporating movement. Utilising multiple senses offers a wide range of opportunities to reinforce the learning experience, making it more memorable and deeply embedded in the child’s understanding.