Mrs. Irving and her son have kindly recorded this week’s”Rhyme of the Week” to help you all so we hope that you enjoy singing along with them.
Tag: family learning
Make Your Own Skittles
Some of you may have skittles at home but, if not, why not try to make your own? It’s a great game for strengthening your muscles, improving your control and developing your hand-eye co-ordination.
All you need are some empty bottles and small balls (or socks).
- Add some water to each of the bottles to help them stand up.
- Arrange your bottles on the floor.
- Roll your socks into balls if you have no balls at home.
- Roll the ball towards the skittles and see how many you can knock down.
Think about what would happen if you added more water to the bottles.
What would happen if you moved further away from the skittles?
Why not write some numbers on the bottles then see who can make the biggest number when you add up your scores?
Mental Health Awareness
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is kindness which is something we always focus on in Nursery. In these difficult times, it’s never been more important to be kind to our family and friends but also to ourselves, both adults and children alike.
We would like to share this short video from the Mental Health Foundation to remind us all to look after ourselves and others.
Refresh our page to watch video again.
Rhyme Of The Week
This week’s “Rhyme of the Week” is “Hey Diddle Diddle”. Click on the video below to help you learn it with your family.
Refresh our page to watch the video again.
Environmental Print
As well as sharing books together, the children could have fun developing their reading skills while out enjoying their daily exercise. There are so many letters, numbers and signs in the world around us so they can keep their eyes peeled for lots of examples.
• What numbers can you find? What number does your house have? Can you find that number on another door?
• Some of the children showed great interest in clocks last term. Are there any clocks outside in Annan?
• What about cars? Can you find your age on a registration plate? Or a letter that is in your name?
• Are there any symbols on road signs or letters on the roads?
• What letter does your name start with? Can you find it on a sign anywhere?
• Do any of the shops in Annan have a logo as well as a name on their sign?
You could take photos of all the letters, numbers and signs that you find when out and about then talk about your findings when you get home. You may well be surprised how many symbols and signs there are in the world around us.
National Numeracy day
Today is National Numeracy Day so why not have a little fun with numbers at home?
Cut 10 small pieces of paper or card from an old box and write numbers 1 to 10 on them. Or try 1 to 20 if your child can recognise them.
Scatter the numbers on the floor or a table and give your child a straw. See if they can use the straw to suck up the numbers in order and line them up to make a 1 to 10 (or 20) number line or ask them to move specific numbers using the straw. If you’ve not got a straw you could try it with a clothes peg?
You could then play a game by asking them to close their eyes while you remove a number from a number line. Can they tell you which number is missing once they open their eyes?
Early Reading
A focus on early reading skills has been one of our priorities this year in Nursery. We would like to share a few suggestions to support anyone who feels they would like a little advice when reading to their children.
• Find a comfy place to look at a book together ideally with no other distractions.
• Encourage your child to choose their own book to look at with you. Young children love to hear a familiar story again and again. This helps them to process the story and join in with the storytelling.
• Show your child how much you enjoy reading through your voice and facial expression.
• Talk about who is in the story. Use the clues on the cover of the book to help predict this.
• Talk about what they think may happen next in the story, encouraging them to use the picture clues.
• Use the terms ‘author’, ‘title’ and illustrator’ when starting to read a book. These may seem like sophisticated words for a young child but we use them in Nursery when reading a story and your child may well surprise you by knowing what they mean.
• Talk about where the story is set – is it at the farm, in the woods … ?
• Discuss how the characters might feel.
• Can your child hold the book the right way up with the front facing him/her?
• Can he/she turn the pages one at a time?
• Can he/she identify a picture and text?
• Can he/she read from left to right and top to bottom?
• With support, can he/she retell a familiar story using the pictures in the book as a prompt?
• Create a new ending for your story.
• Act out the story with his/her family, toys or puppets.
As well as books you may have at home, there are a range of websites providing online stories. As a starting point you could try these sites.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/Interactive.aspx?cat=39
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories
Above all, have fun reading together. There are so many wonderful stories out there waiting for us all.
What A Busy Girl!
Lola has been very busy while at home during lockdown. Baking has been a big hit and she has been practising her weighing and measuring skills. Lola has been planting some seeds and made her own flower bed. She has been watering her flowers to make sure they grow and stay healthy. Lola has been making pictures to celebrate our wonderful NHS and key workers to display in her window.
As well as being so busy, Lola made a home spa for her and her family to enjoy. “The cucumber was very cooling on my eyes and I loved relaxing”. Lola can’t wait to get back to nursery to see her friends.
I think we are all missing each other Lola. It will be lovely for your friends to see all your hard work here though.
Thank you so much for sending these super photos of all your activities. We love to see what you are all doing at home.
Home Play Pack
Play Scotland are delighted to launch their Home Play Pack to support children and their families. It contains many simple ideas to stimulate children’s imagination, creativity and play time. Many ideas can be led and carried out by children themselves, with very little adult support and some are good fun for all the family.
Click on the link below to see this super free resource. We have also added it to our blog on the right under “Useful Reading” if you would like to return to the play pack in the future. We hope that you have lots of fun.
Great Big Smiles
Mrs. Irving has enjoyed see the great work that Alfie and Kyla have sent us and she has left each of them a little message.
“What a fabulous drawing of a toucan Kyla! I love your bright colours which remind me of the rainbows in everyones homes. Well done.”
“Alfie, what a kind and thoughtful gift for your Grandma! You will have brought a great big smile to your Grandma’s face. Well done!”
You will certainly have brought big smiles to the faces of lots of people when they see the super work from both of you.
