01 | May | 2026 | Cart Mill Family Centre

Welcome to our STEAM room!

This week we have been being super creative in the block area, creating our own designs and then having a go at building them with the blocks. Block play nurtures problem-solving and critical thinking.

Children learn through trial and error—figuring out how to make structures stable, how to recreate designs, or how to adapt when something collapses. This process builds resilience and persistence. Socially, when children build together, they practice communication, collaboration, and negotiation, sharing ideas and working towards common goals.

Also, in the science area we have been exploring the magnets. Magnet play supports language development as children describe what they notice, ask questions, and explain their discoveries. Fine motor skills are strengthened as they manipulate objects, while problem-solving skills grow as they figure out how to move items, build with magnetic pieces, or complete challenges.

Article 31 – I have the right to play

Wednesday marked Earth Day 2026 so within the STEAM room we have spent this week learning more about our planet. We started by making the planet in a variety of creative ways- playdough, gloop and collage.

We also created the earth by colouring in the sea on a paper plate then planting cress seeds on the cotton wool to represent the countries. We had lots of chat about the different countries everyone has visited on their holidays.

Then we made something to help look after our planet. We cut the paper from the recycling bin and soaked it in green and blue water for two days before draining the water away. We took a small amount of paper and created a well to place some wild flower seeds inside then we squeezed any excess water away and rolled it into a ball so it looked just like Earth. The boys and girls are very excited to plant the seed bombs in their gardens or plant pots at home.