All posts by Mr Edwards

Creativity, Expressive Arts, Literacy, Outdoor Learning

Creating The Cart Mill Scarecrow!

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In our garden adventures on Wednesday, we dove into the beloved story of “The Scarecrows Wedding” by Julia Donaldson.  Inspired by the tale, one of our little minds proposed an exciting idea – let’s make our own scarecrow to protect our plants from hungry birds!

”The birds like to eat fruit so they maybe will eat our seeds”



Excitement bubbled as we brainstormed what we’d need, just like in the story we got to work and wrote some lists. These included:

  • Straw
  • Clothes
  • Hat
  • Scarf
  • Head 
  • Legs
  • Face

With our list in hand, we turned to the internet for guidance. Click the link to try building a scarecrow at home.  How to build a scarecrow

Today was the big day! We gathered our supplies and got busy.

First, we stuffed some old clothes with straw to make our scarecrow’s body. We made sure everything was nice and secure.

Next came the fun part – creating the face! We discussed facial features together and gave it some eyes, a nose and a big friendly smile. We also gave it some lovely Cart Mill branding. 

 

Once the body and face were ready, we used sticks from our willow tree to give our scarecrow a strong frame. Then, we proudly placed it in the garden to stand guard over our precious veggies.

As we admired our handiwork, one question remained: What should we name our new friend? Suggestions flew around, each more imaginative than the last. It came to a vote and we decided on Harry!

With our scarecrow watching over the garden, we wrapped up another day of fun and learning in our outdoor classroom. 😀

Article 13 (freedom of expression)

Article 31 (leisure, play and culture)

Article 28 (right to education)

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Planting fun in the Cart Mill garden!

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As the weather warms and signs of spring appear in our Cart Mill garden, last year’s bulbs are starting to bloom, adding bursts of colour to our outdoor space. Excited by this transformation, we’ve begun planning and planting for the year ahead.

Take a look at the mind map some of our children created recording their ideas for the 2024 garden.

The children eagerly shared their ideas for this year’s garden, and we’ve picked out seeds to sow based on their suggestions. Planting seeds isn’t just about digging in the dirt; it’s a chance for the children to learn how plants grow and how to take care of them.

In small groups, we’ve talked about what plants need to thrive. Some children mentioned “mud,” “water,” and “sun,” while others brought up tools like “spades and diggers.” Their enthusiasm and knowledge are growing alongside the seeds we’re planting. Through this hands on experience, we hope to develop a deeper connection to nature and a sense of responsibility for caring for our environment.

Take a look at the photos and children’s comments of todays planting. 😀

 

”Can we grow chillies so I can give them to my granda! He loves spicy”

“This seed is like a dried pea”

”Will they grow tall like a beanstalk?”

”You need to pat them down nice in the soil so they grow. We will need to give it water”

Respect for the views of the child (Article 12)

Health and health services (Article 24)

Education (Article 28)

Digital Technology, Literacy, Modern language, Special Event

Languages Week Scotland!

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Last week at Cart Mill, we participated in Languages Week Scotland, a wonderful initiative aimed at celebrating the diverse languages within our centre and around the world.  Take a look at some of the activities:

During our daily group time, we kicked off the day with greetings in different languages – Bonjour, Hola, Merhaba, and Ciao plus many more.  The children had a great time trying out these diverse hellos, turning language time into an engaging experience. 

We infused technology into our story time, exploring stories in Spanish and French. ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ took on a language twist, and the children even grasped counting to three in both Spanish and French – quite impressive!

Wednesday brought a delightful surprise – one of our parents very kindly visited the centre to read a story in Gaelic. The children enjoyed learning animal names in Gaelic, making the session an enriching language journey. 



Thursday saw a visit from Camembear when we sang songs in French and talked about the French words that we already knew. We then asked how to say some of our favourite things in French. Our favourite one was the French for sweets – bonbon – because they are good good!

Finally, on Friday afternoon, we held a grand Book Bug gathering! We sang songs in French and Gaelic, and the children selected different languages to welcome Book Bug. Some even remembered to say hello in French or Spanish, showcasing their newfound language skills. We were then treated to some story telling in Polish.

Languages Week wasn’t just about words, it was a week filled with smiles, curiosity, and a lot of language fun. Here’s to our fantastic little language explorers! 🌟🌍✨

UNCRC ARTICLES

Article 8: Right to an identity

Article 28: Education

 

Outdoor Learning, Special Event

The Big Bird Watch

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Throughout the week in Cart Mill, the children eagerly engaged in preparations for the upcoming RSPB Big Bird Garden Watch. A small group of children enthusiastically participated in a hands-on activity, crafting bird feeders. Using provided materials, they mixed bird seed with natural fat, carefully scooping the mixture into cases to let it harden. The process not only provided a fun activity but also served as a perfect opportunity to explore cause and effect, observing the fascinating transformation of the fat from a liquid to a solid state.



Despite the challenging weather conditions this week, preventing the children from venturing into the garden for bird watching, a collaborative decision was made. The children decided to set up a bird feeding station just outside the window, offering them the chance to enjoy bird watching from the warmth and comfort of the indoors. Positioning themselves strategically and armed with signs, they eagerly awaited the little visitors to the Cart Mill garden.

For those interested in joining the excitement of the Big Garden Birdwatch scheduled for the upcoming weekend, a link is provided for more information. RSPB Link  This initiative encourages participants to connect with nature and contribute to bird conservation.

UNCRC ARTICLES

Article 28: Education

Creativity, Expressive Arts

Cart Mill Clay Creations!

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In Cart Mill, we’re always seeking ways to spark imagination and connect children with the wonders of the outdoors. An activity that achieves both is the art of flower pressing in clay. This isn’t just an activity; it’s a celebration of nature’s beauty and the boundless creativity of our children.

With clay, rolling pins, colorful flowers, and herbs, our little artists began creating their works of art. First, they rolled the clay using the rolling pins to create a canvas for their art. Using the rolling pins and their hands to flatten the clay is a fun way to develop fine and gross motor skills. Next, they selected flowers and herbs to press onto the clay, leaving beautiful imprints that capture the essence of the world around them.

Some of the children have been using their problem-solving skills by figuring out how to get the flowers to stand up. They worked together and discovered they needed to pile the clay around the stem to make it stand straight. Well done!

The children had the opportunity to explore their senses by discussing how the clay felt. We also had a smell of the herbs and flowers. Below are some comments.

“It smells like my toothpaste.”

“It smells green.”

“The clay is really soft.”

“It’s a bit sticky.”

Now, we let the clay masterpieces dry, and voila! We have fantastic keepsakes that showcase not just the creativity of the Cart Mill children but also the wonders of nature.

Stay tuned for delightful surprise! These fantastic creations will be showcased in the welcome area later this week. 😀

UNCRC ARTICLES

Article 28: Education

Article 13: Freedom of expression

Creativity

Being Festive with Loose Parts

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In the discovery room the children have been provided with resources to explore some Christmas themed loose parts play.

Using loose parts such as blocks, fabric, or natural materials encourages open-ended exploration and creativity. This unstructured play fosters problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and enhances fine motor skills. It promotes imaginative thinking, as children can manipulate these parts in countless ways.

Some children showcased their creativity by crafting unique Christmas tree designs using triangles and an assortment of loose parts.

Using large blocks, some children explored concepts of size, sparking discussions as they navigated the process of filling the Christmas tree design on the floor. This hands-on activity prompted them to problem-solve, choosing which bricks to use and determining what would fit seamlessly into their creation.

 

 

Creative movement, Creativity, Expressive Arts, Outdoor Learning, Social Studies, Special Event

Diwali Celebrations!

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Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrated with much excitement and light. It usually involves the lighting of lamps or diyas, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. People also exchange gifts, clean and decorate their homes, and participate in various cultural and religious activities during this festival.

Take a look at some of the activities we have been doing as we learn about Diwali.

Today in the garden we used power paint to create our own rangoli patterns. It was a great gross motor art activity that got our bodies moving.  Using bright colours the children selected their painting tools and got busy. Rangoli patterns are traditional Indian art created on the ground usually during festivals and special occasions. Rangoli involves using coloured powders, rice, flour, or flower petals to make intricate and vibrant designs. Rangoli is believed to bring good luck and positive energy to the surroundings.

 

On Friday we had a camp fire in the garden with Val. We helped to make some pakora and cooked them on the fire.  Outdoor cooking with a fire is great fun and our children at Cart Mill love to take part. The crackling flames create an exciting setting as the children prepare simple recipes connecting them with nature and basic cooking methods. Whether it’s toasting marshmallows, baking bread on sticks, or cooking pakora the open fire becomes an engaging tool for learning teamwork, patience, safety and an appreciation for the environment.

UNCRC

ARTICLE 2 – Non- discrimination.

ARTICLE 31 – Leisure, play and culture

 

Special Event

Our Mighty Mini Kickers

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Watching the Cart Mill children taking part in todays Mini Kickers session it was easy to see that they were having so much fun!. The boundless energy our children have helps to develop essential skills, and one of the most exciting skills to nurture at this stage is ball control. Ball games can help develop coordination, confidence, team work and physical development. Take a look at some of the activities “the coach” set us today to help develop these skills.

Using our feet to dribble the ball practicing control. This helps children improve hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, which are essential life skills. We were dribbling the ball round the room using little kicks. Picking the ball up and placing it back down ready to kick.

Mastering the ball can boost a child’s self-esteem, helping them feel capable and proud of their accomplishments. Todays group did amazing taking part in all the activities. They responded well to praise and were proud of their achievements. Well done team!

Football is a team sport, taking part in the activities with their peers and working together to build relationships. We were in 2 different teams today. The blue team and the red team. We played a game of trying to score goals in the other teams net. “If you get the ball in the net you win”

As you can see it’s never too early to start nurturing ball control in young children. Mini kickers can develop this skill while having fun a blast with our peers. By making the learning process fun, playful, and supportive, we can help these little athletes embark on a journey filled with confidence, teamwork, and physical development. So, grab a football and let these mini kickers enjoy the magic of ball control.

Article 31 (leisure, play and culture) Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

 

Maths Week Scotland, Outdoor Learning, Special Event

Maths Week Scotland in the Garden

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Numeracy is all around us, and for our young children at Cartmill, developing our numeracy skills can be an exciting adventure, especially when taken outside into the garden.  In Scotland, we celebrate the importance of numeracy and outdoor learning with Math Week Scotland.  Take a look at a snapshot of the activities going on this week in the Cartmill garden.

Creating Patterns

Exploring patterns using natural resources in early numeracy involves using items like shells, pebbles, or branches to create and expand patterns. This hands-on approach not only enhances understanding of early numeracy but also encourages an appreciation for the natural world. By taking part in these activities, children develop problem-solving skills, boost their creativity, and gain a deeper understanding of numeracy in the early years.  Take a look at some of the pictures below and the patterns that were created.

Measuring

Measuring with our hands and feet is a practical and fun way to introduce children to the concept of measurement. They can use their hands or feet to gauge the size and length of everyday objects.  We explored different objets in the garden which you can see in the photos below.  This interactive activity not only helps them develop an understanding of measurement but also enhances their fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

One of the children used their hands to measure two separate pieces of wood, and then combined them, exploring addition. He said “this is 11 and 4 together” and then counted out 15 with support.

Measuring using our feet  “It’s 10” showing 10 fingers.

Shape Hunt

An outdoor shape hunt is a amazing adventure where our children explored their natural surroundings to discover shapes in the world around them. Together with curiosity the children of Cartmill embarked on a quest to find circles in tree trunks, squares in windows, triangles in buidings, and countless other shapes. Take a look at the shapes we found on our shape hunt.

“It’s a big circle”

”A triangle on the leaf”

”The window has 4 rectangles and a big one”

Why not take a look at the Maths Week Scotland website to see lots of different activities you can take part in at home. Just click the link bellow.  😃
Maths Week Scotland Website

Article 28: You have the right to education

Article 31: You have the right to play

Expressive Arts, Literacy, Outdoor Learning

Exploring the Cart Mill Garden

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This week in the garden we have had lots of learning experiences to take part in. Take a look at what we have been up to.

Duplo Rockets

We used Duplo blocks to build our own space rocket.  First we planned out our rocket on paper and got ready to build. Once we had built it we used different lengths of rulers to measure how tall our rockets were.  We have been learning different mathematical language such as centimetres, tall, short, tallest and shortest.  We were also practicing counting up to and back from 10 ready for blast off!!

Sunflower Harvest

The sunflowers that the children have grown this summer have come to an end. We decided to harvest the seeds and dry them out ready to plant next week. We looked at different parts of the plant and studied the head.  The children used the tweezers developing their fine motor skills to pull out the seeds from each head.  We will place them somewhere safe to try and store them for next years planting.

Chalk Mark Making

The children have been using the chalk to write and draw on the ground. They have created everything form spiders webs to beetles with 10 legs!  We even drew round our friends and looked to see who was the biggest and who was the smallest. Some of our children have also practiced writing their letters.

Obstacle Course

The children have helped to build different layouts using our loose parts this week. The obstacle courses help to challenge our gross motor skills. We have also been learning to manage our risk and ask for help on the more difficult parts.

What another fabulous week in the Cart Mill garden. I wonder what we will get up to next week?

 

Article 12 – Respect for the views of the child

Article 31 – Leisure, play and culture

Article 29 – Goals of education