Week commencing 19.08.24

Welcome back to all new and returning children. We are delighted to welcome you to the centre and hope you had a lovely summer break ☀️  𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 to Cara who welcomed her baby girl in August 💗👶🏼 We currently have Christine in the centre who will be taking over Cara’s position until it is temporarily filled. We have also welcomed Rebecca to the team on a temporary basis who is a qualified practitioner 😊

In the coming weeks we are focusing on building relationships with our peers and settling into the environment. We are learning the routine of the day and are enjoying exploring the ECC 🎨

Can I please remind parents/carers to provide gym shoes or trainers on a Tuesday as this is our gym day. If you have not already done so, can you please provide wellington boots to remain within the centre so children can access outdoors in all weathers. If you have any concerns please speak to a member of our team who will be happy to help 😊 ☔️ ☀️ ❄️

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If you have changed address or telephone number during the summer holidays can I ask you please inform the school office as soon as possible as this is important information required indefinitely. 😊

We look forward to the year ahead and can’t wait to get to know our children and families 🤗Please find attached some photos from our first few days in the centre. Have a wonderful weekend and take care,

𝐿𝒾𝓈𝒶

x

𝕃𝕀𝕋/𝕊𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖/ℍ𝕎𝔹

Our last week before the summer holidays has been filled with lots of fun and laughter. Our ECC beach party was a great success, even with the slightly overcast weather. 🤣 🏝️ ☀️

A big goodbye and good luck to all our children starting their new adventure in Primary 1 in August, we will miss you all ❤️  Pop into the ECC on your first day of Primary 1 to show the staff you looking all grown up in your P1 uniform ⭐️

We would like to say a massive thank you and fair well to Jan❤️ As many of you will know, Jan has worked at Mauchline ECC for 27 years, working within EAC for over 40 years. She will be a massive loss to our team but we are super excited to wish her well on her retirement and all the new adventures she will have. I’m sure she won’t be a stranger✨

It’s also coming to that time when Cara finishes up to start her maternity leave. We wish her and her partner all the best during this exciting time and can’t wait to meet her new arrival👶🏼🍼💕💖

And finally, a massive thank you to all the staff past and present, children and families for another great year. We look forward to going again in August! Have a wonderful summer holiday and be safe☀️

Lots of love from all the staff at Mauchline ECC ❤️

INDOORS:

This week the children have been focusing on writing their names and listening to the initial sound of their name and other familiar words, where they were able to explore this during a variety of activities. They have also been creating their own stories about “Starting School” copying the words and drawing their own illustrations. We have continued to explore stories about starting school and talk about how we feel going into Primary 1. Some children continued to explore number and learn about the concept of time in our “Maths Area.”

I n d o o r s

This week in the indoor environment we have continued to explore our topic of internet, space 🚀, focusing on the solar system. We have been using technology, the internet as a research engine to fact find about space and the solar system. As part of a large group, we watched a video about the solar system and different facts about the planets that make up the solar system. The children know that planet earth is where we live 🌎. We discovered that the solar system is made up of 8 planets. These are the different types of planets that make up the solar system: 1.Mercury 2.Venus 3.Earth 4.Mars 5.Jupiter 6.Saturn 7.Uranus 8.Neptune 🪐🌞✨

Links to the Curriculum; Science, Technology, Social Studies.

This week in the ECC we have also been exploring story books about starting school as part of our transition to primary one. We explored the story of ‘Ziggy and Maggie starts school’. We had a discussion about starting primary one, what we think we will need for primary one and also how to travel safely to school.

O u t d o o r s

This week outdoors we have been focusing on mark making and writing and exploring different purposes of writing. Some children were able to form some recognisable letters in their name and identify the initial sound in their first name.

The children have been using their creativity and imagination to role play outdoors, creating their own fire pit and camping experience 🏕️ 🔥.

As part of our ‘Woodland Wednesday’ experience, some children participated in a fire pit experience with their parents/carers, risk assessing the dangers throughout. The children got to toast a marshmallow on the fire pit.

INDOORS

This week we continued to explore space, where we used construction materials to create our own Alien.  A few children have went one step further and designed and named their own Alien. Some children are now able to name most of the planets in the solar system.

In the creative area we finished our 3D planets and displayed them for all to see.

At gym, we were developing strength and technique when controlling the ball. We discussed the importance of working as a team and ensured all players were involved in the game. We started with a warm up of tree tig before exploring the basketballs.

OUTDOORS
We worked together to make the most amazing Gaming room ever. This involved team work, collaboration, imagination and problem solving. With the help of the adult a roof was created and almost all of the children were able to explore and use their imagination once it was complete.

 

           

On Wednesday the first group of parents/carers joined Beth at the fire pit to toast marshmallows to symbolise the end of woodland Wednesday for our pre school children. There are another 2 Wednesdays planned, sign up sheets are in the entrance corridor.

Last week concluded our learning together sessions we hope those that were able to attend were able to sample a little of what children are learning in these key areas.

IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD

Thursday 13th June (next week) is our graduation, invitations have been sent out and information displayed in the entrance hall and learning journals.

Friday 14th June (next week) rescheduled potted sports

WEATHER PERMITTING at 1.45pm

again information in the entrance hall and learning journals.

SHOULD WE HAVE TO CANCEL THERE WILL BE NO RESCHEDULED DATE.

hope you all have a fab weekend

Lynnette x

𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝟚𝟟.𝟘𝟝.𝟚𝟜

Due to the long weekend and unexpected closure, it has been a quiet week at Mauchline ECC ✨

We are continuing to explore space and the solar system. We have extended our learning and are continuing to create resources using various materials 🚀 Children are enjoying the opportunity to participate in imaginative play and are demonstrating sharing and turn taking skills through building opportunities.

In the creative area we have been using paper mache to create planets. This supports with language development and use of adjectives.🪐 Children enjoyed discussing the textures and textiles throughout and we discussed the benefits of creative reuse. This also supports with fine motor skill development as well as providing opportunities to be creative 🎨 🎈

Outdoors we are continuing to develop our problem solving and thinking skills. We have been building on our resilience and perseverance through team building activities including use of large construction materials and various shaped bricks, we have also been practicing a lot of ring games, encouraging listening, attention and turn taking. 🕺

Unfortunately due to the ECC closure, Beth’s outdoor learning (fire lighting) was cancelled. There are spaces left within the remaining dates so please feel free to sign up for one of these days. Thank-you for your understanding and continuous support.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 – 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 🔢 31.05.24

Thank you to those able to make todays session where we explored some of the activities that we have been doing during our numeracy focus time.Exploring ordering numbers, matching with the number name and counting out. Investigating 2D shape with 3D. Playing with 100 number square, exploring what comes before or after. And using pegs to make patterns. – 𝐿𝓎𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒

Have a great weekend and see you all on Monday 😊

Indoor Learning:

Continuing our interest in Space the children created their own space costumes using a variety of materials and boxes, they also made spaceships and rockets with construction resources, sharing their ideas. They explored books and gained information from the iPad when investigating all about planets. We read the story “Aliens Love Underpants” which was enjoyed by everyone and the children were matching, sorting and creating their own underpants, which they found really amusing 😊.  This is now going to link in with our Health and Wellbeing topic where the children will hear the story “Pantosaurus and the Power of Pants”, all about a dinosaur who has a problem at school and his super pants give him the power to speak up,  encouraging children to have conversations about keeping themselves safe.

In the art and craft area the children have been continuing to colour mix showing their knowledge and understanding about how two or more colours mixed together can create a different colour and which is their favourite.  🔴🟡🔵🟣🟠.  They have enjoyed the playdough where they have been creating their own planets, stars, space rockets and Aliens. 🪐⭐️🚀👽

Links to curriculum: Expressive Arts, Technology, Literacy, Health and Wellbeing

Outdoor Learning:

The children have been engaged in the construction area, using thinking and problem solving skills to create different houses  with their peers. The houses had walls, windows and doorways. We explored risky play as we had to figure out a way to keep our house from falling and we used our safety skills to manoeuvre loose parts. 🏠 👷👷‍♀️.  We also created our own hurdles and challenged ourselves to how high we could jump.

Some of the children headed down to the  Community Garden to plant our pumpkins that we started to grow in the ECC and learned some more about how to look after them, they worked together as a team to transfer the little plants into our large planter. We will be visiting the garden often to check on our plants and look after them. 🎃🎃

This week, the children had been talking about the “Aurora borealis” from the weekend, this sparked an interest in the night sky and finding out more information about space. We used the internet research engine to fact find about planets and solar systems in space. We have enjoyed creating our own spaceship and creating our own astronaut suits.

We also enjoyed using various coloured stones to create a transient art planet 🌎 . We explored information books to develop our knowledge around planets before exploring a range of small loose parts, developing hand-eye coordination.

In the creative area, we added tubes of coloured paint to the water for them to experiment and watch colours mix. The children worked hard to open the tube to mix the colours and was excited to watch it pour changing the colour. Creating their own Aurora borealis.

We were in the Quiet Room as the Music Room was busy this week but we still had fun doing our music and movement to the “Sticky Kids”. 💃🏽🕺🎶

Outdoors, we have been working on our problem solving and thinking skills. The children created their own obstacle course outside and tested their gross motor skills and understanding of behind, in front of, above and below. They were able to work together as a team to create different challenges and could adapt the course to make it more challenging.

The children have been very engaged in the construction area, using thinking and problem solving skills to create a house with friends. The houses had walls, windows and doorways. They explored risky play as we had to figure out a way to keep our house safe from falling and use our safety skills to manoeuvre loose parts.

As part of Health Week next week, the ECC are participating in walk to school week. Attached is the themes for each day.

𝕀𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕠𝕣𝕤 😃

This week in the ECC the children have been finding out facts and information about ladybird and life cycles. The children have also continued to focus on their interest of direction and positional language whilst exploring using transport 🚗 🚙 🚃

In the creative area the children have been exploring the life cycle of plants and butterflies. Some children created their own symmetrical butterfly paintings 🦋

Outdoors the children have been exploring building and constructing their own houses using a variety of materials. The children also have been exploring 2D and 3D shapes whilst creating their own houses. Some children were able to identify their address and were able to use Google maps to explore street views in Mauchline 🗺 🌍 

We have also continued to explore the life cycle of plant and the children planted their own sunflowers 🌻 , pumpkins in the community garden 🎃 and strawberries and tomatoes in our ECC. We are looking to continue to plant vegetables and wildflowers in our ECC outdoor area if anyone would wish to donate seeds or compost it would be very much appreciated.

Due to the lovely weather we all enjoyed a picnic in the garden today  🍎 🍌 ☀️

ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ 💜

Rebecca from the Crosshouse Ted-ucation 🐻 team visited the centre to discuss Crosshouse Children’s Fund and what to expect if we ever need to visit a children’s hospital. Crosshouse Children’s Fund is a charity in place to help support babies, children and young people in hospital in Ayrshire and Arran. Rebecca brought various medical equipment and discussed the purpose and benefit of its use. We also watched a slideshow and video telling us more about what the charity does to help others 👣💜👶🏼👦🏽

INDOORS

This week we have started to explore the life cycle of ladybirds. This was taken from children taking about ladybirds in their gardens.

Following on from last week we have continued to explore vehicles using “click” resources to make “monster trucks”. Children required to do lots of trial and error to fix the pieces the way they wanted.

We have also been using the Bee-Bots to build on our knowledge of using directions forwards, backwards, left and right.

Curricular areas : HWB, LIT, MNU, TECHNOLOGY, SCN.

OUTDOORS

With the nice weather, the children have been exploring the plant life cycle and getting our ECC garden ready for summer/Halloween harvest. We planted pumpkins, tomatoes and strawberries. This will be a continuous process over the next few weeks/months as we watch our plants change and understand how to look after them.

We have also been exploring the community garden. As part of our outdoor learning, we are currently learning how to look after plants. The children explored the community garden and also the school grounds. We then worked together to collect soil and planted some flowers.

Almost all children have been enjoying the construction area outdoors using their imagination to make things they use in a house. Developing gross motor skills when moving the tyres around and showing signs of lots of perseverance as it was a little tricky at times as they are heavy.

Curricular area: HWB, LIT, MNU, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES.

REMEMBER ECC IS CLOSED MONDAY 6th MAY 2024.

Have a great weekend.

Lynnette x