Here are more of our bakers busy making gingerbread just before Christmas. The children are becoming increasingly confident to be involved in food technology as their knowledge and understanding of the processes and health and hygiene rules develop.
Having visited the Music Department at Annan Academy several times and had exciting visits in Nursery from a Science teacher and STEM Ambassadors, we were delighted to be able to arrange a visit by some of the Raindrop Room to the Technical Department at Annan Academy towards the end of last term. This was a fantastic opportunity for our children to experience model making at a whole new level and to learn how to safely use tools that we do not normally provide in Nursery.
Mr. Paul Johnston, Principal Teacher of Technical Education, and several of his senior pupils modelled how to use a range of tools then showed great patience to help our children make spinning tops. Each child used a ruler to mark the centre of their wood and donned safety goggles as the senior pupils made a hole in it for them. Mr. Johnston and his pupils showed great patience to teach our children how to hold the wood safely and supported them to use the electric sander. We were so proud of our children who showed super listening skills and concentration to be able to use the sander safely.
Once the spinning tops were complete, the children enjoyed using the coloured pencils to decorate their tops and some were even supported to sharpen the pencils with Mr. Johnston’s tools.
This was a fantastic opportunity for our children, experiencing learning in Numeracy and Mathematics, Technologies and Health and Wellbeing and we greatly appreciate the kindness and patience of Mr. Johnston and his pupils on this visit. Thank you also for the off cuts of wood which are being put to good use in Nursery. We have loved our visits to Annan Academy and hope that we can continue to learn from you in the future.
Here are our award winners from the end of last term with their certificates. Very well done both of you! I wonder who will get a certificate this term?
Towards the end of last term the children in the Raindrop Room spent time talking about their emotions and learned how to take ‘selfies’ on the I-Pad as they tried to convey different emotions through facial expression. We would like to share some of their thoughts and their super skills with technology.
Anthony: I’m happy ’cause I just like Nursery and playing with everything. I hide from spiders, I feel scared. You have a sad face if someone sits on you.
Freya: I’m happy when I’m drawing Dad. I cry when I’m sad.
Joely: monsters make me sad.
Barclay: I’m sad when I’ve got no friends. When I play I’m happy.
Mason: I’m happy when I’m being good. I’m angry when people are being very very naughty to me.
Kyla: jigsaws make me happy. I get angry if my big brother annoys me.
Fern: I was sad when Daddy left (Nursery) today.
Sophie E.: I’m happy when my dinner comes. I like chips. When Mummy and Daddy make cupcakes then I feel in love.
Ella: I’m happy when I have a chocolate spread sandwich for breakfast. I’m excited when I play with my friends. If I’m feeling sad, I cuddle in to my Mum and she helps me feel better.
Marnie: I’m jealous when Alice has a pencil that I haven’t got and I want it. I feel happy when Kara plays with me.
Skye D.: I’m sad when someone doesn’t be my friend. I’m happy when Lola plays with me.
Kara: I’m angry if somebody a little bit pushes me. I’m happy when someone hugs me. I’m nervous if something really scares me.
Isaac W.: I like riding horses. It makes me happy. I’m only scared of bats ’cause they fly about in your face.
I wonder if you can work out how the children are feeling in their ‘selfies’?
Baking is always a very popular activity and these children did a great job of practising their chopping, measuring, counting and mixing skills to make an apple cake. The smell was wonderful and everyone who tried it said that it tasted delicious too. As you can see, some of the children further developed their skills in Technologies by taking photos of their work. Â Great effort everyone!
After experiencing a post office in the role play area, the children extended their learning by visiting our local post office to buy stamps and post letters and parcels. It was great for them to get this first hand experience and to begin to use services in their local community.
As we had the opportunity to use the school hall for a weekly session last term, we used the time to access some of the gymnastics equipment which provided a super challenge to the children. As well as building their confidence in the wider school environment, they learned how to safely use a range of equipment that they would not normally have access to. Most children grew in confidence during these sessions and were able to demonstrate learning over the weeks. This is an example of a group working on balance skills.
When Yvonne and Louise, from the Health Improvement Team, visited us last month for an informal taster and information session, they left some healthy recipes for us to try so this little group decided to experiment with the flapjack recipe.
Careful counting and measuring help to develop the children’s skills in Numeracy and Mathematics while their discussions, observation and use of the oven develop learning in Sciences and Technologies. The end result of some fun learning was a delicious smell which was matched by a gorgeous tasting session. Thank you to Yvonne and Louise for a super healthy recipe. This is one that we may use again.
Having already spread a little Christmas happiness with their singing at the Old Parish Friendship Club, some children also made a visit to Lydiafield towards the end of term to sing a few Christmas songs and chat to the residents. We were made to feel so welcome and the smiles and tapping feet told us that the children had a great impact on the residents. We felt very proud of their behaviour and confidence in a new situation. Thank you so much to everyone at Lydiafield for a delicious snack and a warm welcome. We hope that you all have a good Christmas.
Very well done to last week’s award winner. You thoroughly deserved your certificate.
