The children spent a sunny afternoon in the Mini Forest, we took magnifying glasses with us to help find signs of spring growth and mini beasts.

The children found small red specks on a branch and thought it might be part of a ladybird, small buds beginning to grow on a shrub, and lichen on branches.

The children found a large piece of wood “Look Mrs Gray it’s a pencil…we can draw with it in the mud.”

The children continue to explore the area, using their imaginations to act out different scenarios, working cooperatively to find and discover interesting objects.

Mrs Gray and Mrs Murray.

I can identify my senses and use them to explore the world around me. SCN 0-12a

Today the children used their senses as we explored the park area, we sat on the bench with our eyes closed using our sense of hearing. “Children, teacher, footsteps, running, the air in the trees, wind, birds singing, lorries,” are some of the things they initially heard. We then used our eyes as we walked, spotting a pirate flag in a garden, birds in the trees, puddles in the grass, sticks which we used to make sounds as we passed the construction and MUGA fencing. We then used the sticks to test how deep the puddles were and see if we could step in them safely, before using the sticks to fish out leaves.

We also used our imaginations wondering what would be kept behind the fence, “Maybe wolves, foxes, badgers, Mummy’s?” We explored behind the changing room building wondering “How can we get inside?” “Mmmm maybe we need a key!”

Well done everyone.

Mrs Gray and Mrs Murray.

We continued to discuss and evaluate our safety as we began each session, and as we explored the area. We used the litter pickers to help collect the rubbish in the area, taking it back to the ECC at the end of the session.

We enjoyed the mud using our senses, listening to the noise under our feet, feeling it squish through our fingers and looking as it as it stuck to wellingtons/gloves/suits/sticks etc.

We continued to explore the fauna and flora, look for insects, watch the birds, and discuss the berries we found.

Imaginative play continues to be popular as we make homes in the trees and bushes, with lots of fantastic descriptive vocabulary between peers and adults.

On return to the ECC we decided that next week we would explore the ‘Mini Beasts’ in the area.