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Bonjour!

We hope you enjoyed thinking about our little fairy friends yesterday.

Here are today’s suggestions:

I bought this pot stand on holiday once because I loved the colours and the pattern. I also liked it because it was a circle – no straight sides but one curved side. Do you like it?

1. What circles can you find in your home? How many can you find in two minutes? Can you take some photos?

2. This painting is by an artist called Kandinsky and has lots of circles inside one another – concentric circles. What do you think about this picture? Can you describe it? Do you like it? Could you draw/paint/cut/stick something inspired by this?

3. When you go for a walk today try to spot some circles in nature and in things that humans have made. I wonder if you’ll find as many as 10… Maybe you could write a list of them or take some photos.

4. My pot stand has lovely patterns. Can you make your own interesting circle design? You could use everyday items or natural objects to make a mandala.

5. Do you remember looking at coins before? Why don’t you look again at some UK or other coins and find all those which are circular? Can you sort or order them? By size or colour? Do you have enough of them to create an interesting image?

6. Develop your fine motor skills by making, moulding and shaping playdough. Can you make little circular pancakes without using a cutter? Is it tricky? Maybe you will find a simple way to do it.

7. Did you notice on your circle hunt that the wheels on your cars are all circles? Why do you think this is? Would a car drive well with wheels that were squares or triangles? Can you use Lego, junk or other materials to experiment and find out?

8.  Watch and join in with this song. Do you recognise all of these circles in the world around us? Did it make you think of even more?

9. Can you practise the numbers or letters you know – maybe your name –  and try to write them in a circle instead of a straight line? Tricky!

10. Get moving – without growing dizzy! Can you run/walk/hop/jump in a circle? Can you circle your arm backwards/forwards/both arms at the same time? Can you balance on one leg and circle the other one?

11. Enjoy this story with Circle and her friends

Good morning!

Today’s post is inspired by the Fairy Trail at Huntly Park. It has been wonderful to see photos of you exploring the Fairy Woods and adding to the little collection of homes.

1. Go to Huntly Park with your family. Look at all the fairy homes and other colourful things that have appeared. Which is you favourite? Why? How many houses can you find?What is the same/different about them? Can you take some photos?

2. Use some items you have at home to create your own fairy home to leave in the woods. Think about the shape, colours and design. Do you think fairy houses need a number like our houses do?

3. Use your observation and counting skills to focus on the details in this picture.

4. What do you think fairies look like? Can you make a picture by drawing, painting, cutting, sticking or using beautiful natural finds?

5. Use paper, sticks or other materials to make your own little fairies. Give them special names and decide what magical things they will be able to do.

6. What kind of fairy would you be? What powers would you have? What tricks could you do? Why don’t you dress up and be a kind and helpful fairy for the day? You might decide to make yourself a wand. Look at the ideas below.

6. Join Jaime on a yoga story adventure – Fairy Floss. Namaste!

7. What do you think fairies like to eat? I imagine whatever they eat would need to be in small pieces. Why don’t you practice your cutting skills by helping to prepare a teeny tiny picnic for you and some fairies?

8. Maybe you could have some sweet treats too…

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-fairy-cakes-kids

9. Listen to and watch the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

10. Read, watch or listen to a story about a fairy, elf or other such creature.

早晨！
Zóu sěn!

We hope you enjoyed looking at the white squirrels yesterday and trying some of the suggested activities.

Remember that you can join our Microsoft Team (see e-mail sent on 3rd April) to see what your nursery friends have been up to and to share your fun and learning with them too!

Here are today’s ideas:

Craig has been enjoying learning about numbers and using them at home so that inspires today’s post.

1. Do you know the Numberblocks? In this episode they are thinking big! What is the biggest number you know? Do you think you have that many toys?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0007ln6/numberblocks-series-4-29-one-thousand-and-one

2. Here is a story read by one of our friends at Giffnock Nursery. It’s called “How Big is a Million?”. What do you think? Talk to your adult about what a million might look like before you read. …Now that you have heard the story, have you changed your mind? Do you have new ideas? Or other questions?

3. It can be tricky to visualise large numbers such as thousands or millions but little everyday items can help your child explore this if they are interested. What about grains of rice, lentils or sand to play with and talk about big numbers. Often referred to as ‘sprinkles’ or ‘funfetti’ in the US, you could make something sweet with ‘hundreds and thousands’.

4. Why not play a simple board game where you practise taking turns but also counting how many spaces to move and recognising the numbers represented on a dice? This immediate recognition of a small group (of dots in this case), without having to count each one individually is called subitising and a skill we try to develop in the children.

5. Now think about numbers on a number line. Can you use your number recognition skills to undertake a helicopter rescue? Try this game:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/helicopter-rescue

6. Maybe you would prefer to create a colourful image by saying the number and painting the square in this activity:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/paint-the-squares

7. Why don’t you go on a number hunt at home or out on your walk? Perhaps you could take some photos just like I did. Which is the largest number you can find? And the smallest? What is your house number?

8. Do you have some chalk? Why not create some number games outdoors?

9. Can you recognise and match numerals in this online paint by numbers?

http://coloritbynumbers.com/online

10. Compare quantities in the Toy Shop challenge.

Dzien dobry!

We hope you had a playful weekend and continue to enjoy time together to play and learn. You may find Play Scotland’s new resource  – Home Play Pack – an interesting and helpful read as you try to extend your child’s thinking and help them develop different skills. Click on the link to access: https://www.playscotland.org/wp-content/uploads/Play-Scotland-Home-Play-Pack-for-Parents-16pp-Web-1.pdf

Here are today’s other suggestions:

At the weekend I saw these pictures and read about some rare animals. They were spotted in Scotland and are red squirrels but have a special trait called Leucism. This means that they have all the same features as usual red squirrels but instead of auburn red fur their fur is white!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-52575674

1. Could you create your own picture of this special white squirrel? What could you use? Chalk? Wool? Crayons? Paint? Cotton wool…?

2. If you have seen a squirrel before it was most likely a grey squirrel. Talk to your adult about the last time you saw a squirrel and what they were doing. Watch this video with lots of grey squirrels. At the end can you challenge your adult? Can each of you remember at least three things you saw the squirrels doing? More than three?!

3. What things can squirrels do that humans can’t and vice versa? Are humans better at some things and squirrels others? Why might that be? Think about how our bodies are different. Can you name all the parts of a squirrel’s body with the right words?

4.  Squirrels are known for collecting food and hiding it for a later time. Sometimes when humans save something up for a later time we say they are ‘squirreling away’. Why don’t you use some dried pulses, marbles, other small items to work on fine motor and counting and number recognition skills. Can you set up a game a bit like this and put the correct amount in for each squirrel?

5. Can you help the squirrel to reach its acorns? Is there more than one possible route? How quickly can you/your adult reach the acorns?

6. Watch Patchwork Squirrel. Is the squirrel being polite and kind? How many nuts do you think he had altogether? Did he need that many just for himself? How did the friends solve the problem? Next time you have ll the blocks, cars or other toys maybe you could think about what you need and what you could give to someone else to play with.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dwcn/patchwork-pals-series-2-6-patchwork-squirrel

7.  Listen to the music and watch this squirrel dance. Do you think the dancers move like squirrels? Can you join in? Move your body in as many interesting ways as you can.

8. Join in with the squirrel song:

If you were a squirrel where would you hide your acorns or other food? Can you play a hide and seek game in the garden where you take turns to hide some ‘food’ and other people in your family need to find it? Who will have the best hiding place, I wonder…

9. The next time you go for a walk try to spot some squirrels. Why not look for other wild animals and pets too? Maybe you could keep a record of how many you find throughout the week.

10. Return to the colour white. Why don’t you make some simple gloop by mixing cornflour and water to make a slimey mix with interesting properties?

https://www.mumstakefive.com/index.php/clp/make-recipes/72-gloop-cornflour-recipe-fun

11. The current season may be spring but in winter time there are lots of interesting animals that change colour, matching the snowy surroundings. Find out more here:

12. Although we recently said it was a good idea to ‘eat a rainbow’ with lots of different fruits and vegetables, there are some healthy and tasty white foods too. Could you help to prepare a meal or snack today that has an ingredient which is (nearly) white? I’m thinking about raw cauliflower trees or maybe sprinkling some coconut over a dish…

Good morning!

Today will be the last of this week’s posts as the week ends with an in-service day and holiday.

Here are today’s ideas:

1.  Go around your house and garden and find as many balls as you can. How many did you collect? Is it easy to keep them altogether without some rolling away? Can you find a way to stop them from rolling off in different directions?

2. How many balls did you collect altogether? Can you sort them into groups or order them based on size/colour/hard or soft…?

3. Either indoors or outside, create a ball run with ramps, tunnels or other interesting features.

4. Set up a target practice where you throw, roll, kick or hit a ball (with a bat/racquet/club). Maybe different targets could be worth different points. Could you write the numbers on your targets? Who can get the highest score?

5. Play a ball game such as ‘piggy in the middle’ or dodge ball or a sport like football or tennis. Think about how you hold your hands or feet and how much force you need to use to make the ball move. Really try to control it.

6. Use a larger ball and move it as many ways as you can, just like we do at gym. How many different parts of your body can make the ball move?

7. If you go to a big open space like Huntly Park see how high or how far you can throw or kick the ball.

8. Marbles, tennis balls and footballs are all the same shape; they are called spheres. Can you spot any other spheres around you at home, in the garden or when out walking?

9. Can you think of any fruits or vegetables that are almost the same shape as a ball, a sphere? Why don’t you help to cut one up and eat it as a snack?

10. Listen to Nina and The Neurons      https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio/nina-get-sporty-bouncy-balls-and-bendy-knees

11. Follow some recipes for little spherical food!

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25622407/best-oreo-cookie-balls-recipe/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/i-can-cook-thai-green-turkey-balls

12 Kid-Friendly Energy Ball Recipes Made Without Protein Powder

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/my-world-kitchen-moroccan-fish-ball-tagine

12. Watch and learn some football skills with Rachel and the Footy Pups

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/footy-pups

13. See how beautiful marbles are made: https://youtu.be/1cXy7gxUtbU

14. Do some painting!

Roll a ball outdoors (or in a paper lined tray indoors) to make some interesting images with paint.

Hola!

Did you enjoy Handa’s story yesterday?

On our Team, Ismail suggested that I build a den for all the snails I had found so that inspires today’s post.

Here are today’s suggestions:

1. Build a den for yourself, inside our outdoors. How will you make it short/tall/wide/narrow? What materials, furniture or other items will you use? How will you make it stable and secure? How do you get in? Do adults need a password? Does your den have a special name? Can you make a sign?

2. Look here with your adult and find out how you can create ‘dens’ for wildlife in your garden.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening

3. Here are some more wildlife friendly ideas from the RSPCA

4. Why not enjoy a story together? Can you choose one that’s about a wild animal you might find in our country? A bug, bird or bigger beast? Here are some ideas:

https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/for-kids/kids-stories/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/radio-little-robin-meets

The Snail and The Whale           https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000cslw/the-snail-and-the-whale

What the Ladybird Heard

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

5. Play the minibeast spotter game

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/games/mini-beast-adventure-with-jess-minibeast-spotter

6. Make some of your own minibeast art.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/mister-maker-bottle-bug

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/mister-maker-bug-in-a-jar

7. Do some ladybird counting, matching or ordering.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/ladybird-spots

8. Join Jaime in a butterfly yoga story

Bonjour!

We hope you had a fun yet restful weekend. Welcome to another (short) week of posts with an in-service day on Thursday and holiday on Friday.

Here are today’s suggestions:

Good morning!

We mark another milestone today as we begin yet another new month apart.

After March and April comes…May! May is the fifth month of the year and usually a time of settled sunny weather as we are still in spring and not far from summer.

Remind yourself of the months of the year with this song:

Here are today’s other suggestions:

1. Talk about the cyclical nature of the seasons of the year and name them, starting with spring. Discuss some of the things we might expect to see and hear in the natural world at those times and what kind of weather we could expect.

Follow the link to hear Robert and Amy discuss the seasons and sing along too!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio/sounds-like-this-song-of-spring

2. Watch, listen and join in with this spring number song with the Numberblocks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/numberblocks-days-of-spring-song

Try to use ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc) when you are taking turns in a game, lining up toys or talking about recipes or other instructions.

3. Why not have a go at different writing patterns on a tablet? Can you follow the different lines?

http://resources.hwb.wales.gov.uk/VTC/foundation/seasons/eng/online/index.html

4. Stick with the spring theme and visit the dragon in his lovely field. Can you recognise and catch the letters falling from the rainbow?

http://resources.hwb.wales.gov.uk/VTC/foundation/seasons/eng/online/index.html

5. For this family, spring and Nowruz, their special new year, means they take part in special activities and traditions. Watch and discuss. Do you have any traditions like this in your family? What is the same/different? The children do a ‘spring clean’. Why don’t you spend a little time today helping your parent clean and tidy a bookshelf or toybox?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/lets-celebrate-norouz

6. Join Mr Tumble or JoJo and Gran Gran for some spring cleaning:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09sz8dh/something-special-were-all-friends-series-11-14-spring

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000gj9y/jojo-gran-gran-series-1-4-its-time-for-a-spring-clear-out

7. Why don’t you make a spring wreath to go along with all the lovely rainbows and teddies adorning your houses at the moment?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/makes/diy-crafts-with-evie-from-cbeebies-house

8. Find a spring story or information book and read it with an adult.

9. Watch Peter Rabbit in this spring tale:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b041dgbz/peter-rabbit-series-1-spring-special-the-tale-of-the-start-of-spring

10. Find some signs of spring on your next walk or when playing in your garden. Try to use your five senses.

11. Use any found treasures – remember not to pull flowers or leaves from living plants – to create a spring nature picture.

Ohayu gozaimasu!

Here are today’s suggestions:

1. Go on a picture hunt around your house. Are there pictures you have drawn or painted? What about ones that someone else has created? Are any in frames? What can your parents tell you about them? Where did they get them? Were they gifted on a special occasion? Did they buy them because they remind them of a special place or time? Or do they just like the way they look? Which one do you like the best?

2. Look more closely at some of your own pictures at home or the pictures shared below. Take a really careful look and describe the pictures with as much detail as you can; think about colours, shapes, line, light/dark… Which ones do you like/dislike? Why?

3. Can you create an image inspired by one of these? You might try to recreate it or you may just use some of the same elements like the same shapes or bright colours. You can draw or paint your image but you could also make one using pieces of paper or bricks to have the straight lines and shapes that Mondrian uses, for example.

4. Follow this link to find out about some other paintings and to try a special marble painting technique.

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/make/paint-draw/make-marbled-paper-foam

5. Join Katie as she explores some famous paintings.

6. Use the fun Tate Paint tool online to create your own images

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/games-quizzes/tate-paint

7. Look at this fun food art. Do you recognise the characters? Could you prepare an interesting plate of food today?