Continuing our ‘Spring’ context this week we planted our runner beans to grow in different conditions; light, dark, watered and dry. We made our predictions about which would grow and which wouldn’t and will monitor them for progress.  The children enjoyed digging into the compost and getting the watering can out.  We also emptied the flower tubs and re-filled them before planting some pansies to brighten up the garden.

There has been lots of fantastic play in the garden, it’s great to see the children making up their own games and role plays using different things they have found in the garden. One of the children asked if we could have a picnic so, on Friday, we all had snack together outside on the mats before singing some spring themed songs.

Mrs Carson began potted sports practise with the children this week; they were learning to hurdle with great success. The children will learn a new event each week in the run up to our potted sports day in June.

The children have been working together to plan our new topic this week in the Nursery. We are going to be learning all about Spring.  There were a variety of different learning suggestions from the children ranging from birdwatching to growing plants to getting some caterpillars.  We will cover all of this and more over the coming few weeks.

We began our topic by creating observational paintings of daffodils using water colours, the children produced beautiful work which is now displayed on the wall just inside the Nursery door. Some of the children also created daffodils using craft materials to great effect!

We all enjoyed getting back into the Nursery garden this week. The children dug and weeded the old potato plot – we even found a bucketful of potatoes that we had missed at harvest back in September – oops!  We discussed what we could plant this year and decided that we could have potatoes again.  We will also dig another plot and plant some kale which is quick growing and, all being well, will allow the children to see the whole process from plot preparation to planting to harvesting to their plates within the term.

A number of children recognised that plants need water to grow so before we begin our own planting we are undertaking an experiment to understand how plants use water. We have put daffodils in dyed water and predicted what will happen and are now keenly observing the daffodils for any changes.  Next week we will try growing beans in different conditions to understand what else plants require to grow.