All posts by Miss Mitchell

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Marvellous Monday experiments 🥰

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Today some of our little scientists decided they would like to do a soap experiment.


We started off with our soap moulds, a plastic bag, a beaker, transparent soap base, food colouring and of course some scent. The children thought the soap base looked like crystals and noticed it was colourless with no smell  “ We talked about what the main function of soap is, the children know it is used for cleaning and how they use it – “I wash all my germs off at night with soap, so I’m clean”
Next we opened up the bag and placed the transparent soap base into it. The children chose what colour and scent to put into their soap. Some wanted the peach scent in it “Mmm I like fruity smells” I explained that all hand soap starts the same and then the scents and colours are added. We popped the bag with the soap scent and colour into the hot water. The children were excited to see the soap base melt and combine with the scent and colouring. “Look it’s gone slimey it’s melted”
The children were able to follow a set of instructions and used our pipettes to  fill their chosen mould.

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What shape would you pick – we had lots of choices: I want a dolphin soap for my bath” “ No I think penguins are the best sea animal so I want that soap” The children are excited to take their soaps home and try them out. I wonder if the soap will make the bath water smell like 🍑 ?

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Rainy day science 😁

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The children felt that today would be a good day to try out the thermal camera. A camera that detects heat emitted by objects converting it into an electrical signal , the signal is then used to produce the thermal image on the camera.

We made some ice the night before and tested our camera on it.

The children noticed that the ice was a purple colour through the camera. We filled a cup with warm water to see to see if it looked a different colour through the camera it was bright yellow. A quickly realised that the difference in colour was because the water was warm and the cubes cold. The children decided to try putting one hand in icy water to see what colour there hands would appear through the camera they looked purple because the ice had turned them cold. We looked at each other through the cameras we looked yellow E new this is because we are warm. Next the children looked at the temperature of the ice A noticed the warm water was 20.4 degrees Celsius and the ice measured -8.4 degrees Celsius.  That’s very cold as cold as snow commented A.

Some of the children decided to see what would happen to the temperature if we used the thermal camera outside. A thought we should jump in puddles and take a before and after temperature reading to see if the puddle warmed up with us jumping in it.  There wasn’t any change in the reading so T decided we should add some ice to see what happens. After adding ice the ice melted a bit and the children seen through the camera that the puddle had turned much colder.


As it was raining today some children wanted to do the cloud in a jar experiment. We filled a beaker with water, added a layer of foam and then used pipettes to drop blue colouring into the foam. I explained that when the cloud gets too heavy the drops fall from them like rain. We discussed that when water droplets get heavy in the sky, gravity pulls them down into the atmosphere.

Maybe you could try this experiment at home with different colours and let us know your findings!

Article 29- I have the right to an education

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Today in the discovery room we were Little scientist’s 🧑🏼‍🔬

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Today the children chose to do two different science experiments. The first one was called The underwater volcano experiment. For the first experience we used water, food colouring oil and an effervescent tablet. The children were able to follow my step by step instructions and used their critical thinking and problem solving skills to guess what was going to happen in the experiment. We measured out the exact amounts off water and oil using our measuring beakers and counted five drops of food colouring into the measuring beaker.

I explained how the effervescent tablet produced a large amount of carbon dioxide when it met the water the carbon dioxide then takes the coloured water out of the oil and water layer and creates an explosion.

”That’s cool, it’s gone bubbly” “ The oil and the water haven’t mixed” “I wonder what will happen when I shake it, oh the bubbles go away”

The second experiment we did was called sugar water rainbows. It didn’t go quite to plan as we didn’t really have a rainbow at the end though the children still enjoyed doing it and we can always try it again.

For this experiment we used sugar, water and food colouring again the children measured out their ingredients, the idea behind this experiment is to learn a little about different densities the colours that have more sugar in them will sink to the bottom of the beaker.


“ I’m measuring 40 ml of sugar into my cup”

” I have only to put 10ml of sugar in mine”

“ I’m squirting in one drop of colouring, I want red, I like using the dropper”

“ I need blue for mine it’s my favourite colour, I have blue in my hoodie”

“look the sugar has sank to the bottom, it’s blue at the top”

Great team work everyone.

I wonder what experiments we will choose to do next maybe colour mixing? If anyone has any other suggestions, we would love to hear them!

Expressive Arts, Snack, Special Event

Today we were Celebrating Burns day at Cart Mill family centre 😁

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Here are some of our Burns day activities. We enjoyed Vegetarian haggis neeps and tatties for our snack and asked the children what they thought of it thumbs up or thumbs down I’m pleased to say the majority of the children liked it.

” The haggis is a bit spicy, but I like it”

“ can I have some more , it’s so good”

“I don’t like it, it’s to bitty”

” The turnip is my favourite it’s a nice yellow colour “

We also enjoyed painting using a big box and cars to move the paint around to look like tartan.   The box was quite heavy and the children had to get it into the correct angle to move the cars. “ My car is super fast” “ Im making the green tartan”

After lunch the children decided they would like to try some highland dancing. They were twirling jumping and dancing in time to the Scottish music.

Block building, Creativity, Digital Technology, emotional literacy, Outdoor Learning

Welcome back everyone 🥰

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It’s lovely to see everyone and get settled well back into our nursery routine. Today we have enjoyed a variety of interesting learning experiences. We have made play dough, following an adult’s instructions to measure, mix, knead and roll. We then used it to make 3D shapes and discuss the properties of the different shapes. We got straight back to building wonderful creations including big towers so we could count how many bricks we had added. We investigated technologies and used our fine motor skills to make different drawings.

We also spent time problem solving to complete a pirate jigsaw and to build a new garage, which allowed us lots of imaginative play for our toy cars.

With everything being frozen, we decided it was a perfect time to role play with the artic animals.

And this is just the start of our first full week! Who knows what else we will do in Cart Mill this January?

Literacy, Snack, Special Event

Christmas at Cart Mill

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As we said yesterday, this week at Cart Mill is full on festive. Today we enjoyed a special Christmas lunch with turkey and all the trimmings, followed by ice cream. We have also been busy writing letters to Santa and this afternoon we baked gingerbread biscuits.

When writing their letters, the children talked about all the gifts they were hoping for. We hope you know what they are hoping for too!

‘ I Would like a unicorn’ ‘Its quite hard to cut out the stamps because they are so small’

‘I’m posting my letter i have written lots in it’ ‘ I would like a diplodocus for for Christmas and a big T-Rex also a giraffe’

There has also been requests for a coffee machine for the bath, bubble machines, dolls and Spiderman. Let’s hope Santa is listening!

We then made our gingerbread men or angels. After seeing the play, we thought it would be so good to make our very own gingerbread! The centre was full of festive smells as the biscuits baked.


‘I measured out three table spoons of sugar’ ‘I think these will be tasty’ ‘I’m rolling it out flat’


Every day seems so busy at Cart Mill, it will be Christmas before we know it!

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Imaginative fun

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Today some of the children enjoyed exploring their own interests through imaginative play in the home corner both independently and with their peers.

“I made pizza in the oven be careful because it is hot”

“ You can’t touch it without these special oven gloves”

”I made strawberry ice cream, I don’t think it’s to cold to eat ice cream “

”I’m making ever Pasta for their dinner it will be nice I’m putting onions in it”

“ It’s a busy day for me, first working in the office , then I need to make dinner for everyone, I hope they like it, it’s macaroni , I need to put it in the oven for 20 minutes “

” I will put the timer on ”

”Stir,stir,stir “” my baby is sleepy so I’m putting him to bed, I don’t want him to be cold, so I’m putting a blanket onto him”

”I’m reading a story to my baby’s”

“ I’m chopping up the play dough into smaller pieces “

Sometimes it is lovely to sit back and watch the children play. They have such great imaginations and how they interact can be inspiring. The boys played, happily sharing the utensils and taking turns. Role play enhances children’s social skills, communication and language development as it allows them to share ideas with one another and learn to play and socialise in group situations.

Article 31 – I have the right to relax and play

Article 28 – I have the right to an education

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Thursday is for muddy movers fun 😁

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Today the children helped to create and set up two separate obstacle courses  suitable for the different ages and stages of the children at Cart Mill. The obstacle courses that we set up in the garden are an excellent way for our children to develop their gross motor skills.

The children carried out their own risk assessment to make sure that the loose parts were used safely. We used questions such as is it to high to climb,  Will I slip? How can we set up the wooden planks so they are safe to balance on?  Take a look at the fantastic creation we made!


Using the loose parts provided the children decided that they would have two different sized jumps at the end of their obstacle course. A high jump using 3 boxes and a smaller jump using 2.  Our children our developing so much confidence and showing progression all the time.


Some of our younger waned to explore the larger course and were able to ask for help when they required.  The adults were able to support and encourage them as they moved across the wooden planks is different ways.  Some were crawling, walking and sliding along.  They demonstrated they could as they jumped from the boxes holding an adults hand.

Article 28 (right to education)

Expressive Arts

Today We Were Puffy Painting 🎨

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Today the children decided they would like to try making puffy paint which was a lovely sensory experience for them. Puffy paint is unique because it dries raised with a three dimensional texture. Working with the puffy paint requires a level of precision and control, helping improve their fine motor skills. The children were able to squeeze, spread, mix and decorate using their hand eye coordination. The children were loved this arty experience. The ingredients we used were.

PVA glue, shaving foam and paint.

“I’m making my puffy paint pink so I’m only putting a little red in”


“I’m making mine yellow, I’m only putting a little glue in”


“It feels like slime, and is so soft” Mmm the shaving foam smells nice”

“I’m going to paint a rainbow with all the colours I made” “I need to mix everything in”

Some of the children enjoyed mark making in the foam. “It’s wet and sticky” “ look at my hand prints they are blue”  “ I wrote an A in the foam because it’s at the start of my name”

We are going to look at other types of paint we can make, who knows what we will come up with!

Expressive Arts

Some of our Piet Mondrian inspired Art work 🎨😃

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In the studio we are studying artists that used pattern in their art work. Piet Mondrian was a Dutch painter he specialised in geometric abstract art works using primary colours.  We looked at images of Mondrians paintings using red, blue and yellow shapes. Some of the children were able to identify the shapes and colours.  
The children were encouraged to use a range of materials and ways to represent their ideas involving simple shapes and primary colours. Some were able to use Duplo to recreate a 3D version of a painting. “ I’m using red, yellow, blue and white blocks but I don’t have any black , They are rectangle and square shapes” She then moved on to printing with the Duplo using primary colours.

Another child made a collage and cut out red yellow white blue and black felt. “It’s hard to cut the shapes out but I can do it myself, I think it looks really good“

The children were all deeply engaged in creating their master pieces and I think you will agree they all look amazing.  Well done everyone 😍