Tag Archives: problem solving

Blocks Rock!

June 13, 2022 Mrs Hannah Leave a comment

We have been very busy in our block area today!

Using our excellent problem solving skills, we explored measurement and balance. We were able to identify which blocks were “lighter” and “heavier” and discovered we needed to put some of the heavier blocks on the bottom of our towers so that they didn’t topple over!!

It was so much fun adding in our small world figures. We worked together to build stairs for them to climb into their houses and we even constructed a lego train which had a bed to sleep in!

Next we decided to use our larger blocks to build “somewhere to give money out”. We decided we needed steps and a seat “so we can give the money out to people”. Using our measuring skills, we were able to compare the size of each block and identify which were “bigger” and smaller” and discussed where we should place them so that it “would be safe to climb on”. Placing the blocks together we discovered that 2 of our smaller “square” blocks were the same size as “the rectangle one”.

“this one is bigger”

Collecting lots of loose parts gave us lots of “money” and we took turns being “the person who gives the money to people”. Everyone demonstrated excellent turn taking, counting and negotiating skills!

Block play enables us to explore logical and abstract thinking, use our imaginative and creative skills and develop our communication and negotiating skills, while having lots of fun!

Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Outdoor Learning

Happy Campers ⛺️

April 25, 2022 Miss Simms Leave a comment

Today, the children were talking about camping in tents and shared their some of their own experiences together in a small group.

”I have been camping”

”I have a tent in my living room”

“ I would like to go camping “

We decided to bring the outdoors in to the discovery room and build our own tent in our block area. We shared our thoughts on how we could create this and what resources we would need to collect.

Some suggestions of what we could make or need for our camping experience were – ”a roof ”, “a camp fire”, “torches”, sleeping bag” and of course “ food”

The children gathered a variety of resources and began to build the tent using and exercising their gross motor skills. They communicated well and helped one another when building their tent. During this time they were able to problem solve together when they had to think and decide “how will the roof stay on ?” The children had some great ideas – “we could use cellotape” “string” “blocks” and “pegs” . We decided the pegs and blocks worked the best .

Finally the tent was complete and the children were excited to get inside and begin to make a campfire using some sticks, stones and tissue paper. The children used their imaginations creating a variety of scenarios they have tried before such as toasting marshmallows, fishing, playing mummy’s and daddy’s and Going on a Bear Hunt.

” It’s sleepover time”

”I have made real life marshmallows on a fire ”🔥

”Fire is burny”

Later, I was invited into the tent join the children and read one of our favourite stories – The Tiger Who Came to Tea before we snuggled down cosy for our sleep in our tent! ⛺️ Goodnight campers! See you in the morning!⛺️

Health and Wellbeing, Literacy, Numeracy, Social Studies

Busy Builders

February 14, 2022 Miss Simms Leave a comment

All go this morning in the construction corner but safety first! We ensured we had our high viz jackets and goggles on and most importantly our checklist. We had a discussion on why we wear protective clothing and complete checklists to ensure our safety for ourselves and others around us…

The children took time to design what they would like to build using clipboards, paper, rulers and pens. Then we got to work, we looked around at different blocks shapes and sizes.

The children built their own creations from the variety of resources on offer to them and then worked together as a group expanding their ideas to create a big castle using their imagination. During this time the children were using mathematical language such as taller, smaller, long and short, The children demonstrated good communication skills when sharing ideas. They also shared equipment and worked together, passing blocks to each other.

Digital Technology, Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Technologies

Bee Bots Navigation

February 11, 2022 Mrs Kaur Singh Leave a comment

Today in the Discovery Room the children have been enjoying playing with the Bee Bots robots. They have been developing their technology and navigation skills by learning the positional terms on the Bee Bots e.g the symbols: up, down, left, right and green for go.

The children were trying to direct the Bee Bots onto the first letter of their name on the alphabet mat. They used their numeracy skills to count how many times the Bee Bots moved after pressing each symbol.

“Its on e“

“ I got it on l”

“ Its going on e”

“ I got it on c”

After becoming comfortable with the navigation systems, we decided to do a follow up activity. The children raced the Bee Bots to see if they could push a ball over the finishing line.
During this the children developed their problem-solving skills by navigating a route and implementing it by pressing the symbols on the Bee bot in order to push the ball over the finish-line.

“ I got the football”

” my one crossed over the line ”

We had so much fun developing our navigation, fine motor, numeracy and literacy skills.
Why not give it a try at home with any electronic games, remote control, or a programmable toy.

Digital Technology, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, News, Social Studies

Team work makes the dream work

February 7, 2022 Miss Brown Leave a comment

Today the children have been developing their team working skills during a variety of different experiences.

We played ‘Feed the Teddy’ on the Promethean Board and worked together as a team to count up to 5 cakes to feed the teddy.

“That’s number 5 like my fingers, I have 5 fingers”

“Teddy is eating 5 cakes”

Next some of the children worked on a new painting technique, they had lots of fun mixing different colours in the shaving foam, and printing it on to the paper. The children made their own individual pieces and also worked together making larger prints.

“hold this side, I’ll get that one”

“1,2,3 down”

Finally some of the children were working together to build a garage for the cars. They built ramps for the cars to go up and down, and roads for the cars to drive on.

“Can you put that long plank up there so the cars can drive down”

“I put this one up here to stop the ramp falling”

Children develop very important life skills when working as part of a team such as problem solving, leadership and communication skills which they will need as they grow into adults.

Digital Technology, News, Numeracy

Imaginative Block play in the Discovery Room 😀

January 10, 2022 Miss Mitchell Leave a comment

The children were discussing dens and how to build them. They had lots of ideas about what they could do inside their own den. The children had a look around the room at what they could use to make a den and how they could make it cosy. They decided that blocks would make the best den, but they thought they should research it a little first, before planning it out.

Using digital technology, the children started looking at different types of dens. After their initial research, the children decided they should draw a plan of what they wanted their den to be like.

“ I want it big enough to have a tea party in”

“ I want my den to have a roof, so we don’t get wet”

The children then put their problem solving skills to work and worked collaboratively to build their den.

They shared resources and made suggestions to each other to make sure the den they built was the best den ever!

“ How will we make the roof stay up”
The children searched the room for resources and showed their skills as future engineers and architects.
“ I think that wall is tall enough now”
“We need the cardboard tube to keep the roof up high”

“ We need to be careful not to knock the walls down when we are inside”

When their den was finished the children made it a home from home by adding comfy cushions and a table, they then invited some special guests to join them for afternoon tea complete with cakes and sandwiches, cheese of course!

Science

Science Citrus explosions

December 14, 2021 Miss Mitchell Leave a comment

Today some of the children in the discovery room wanted to make an explosion. We decided to try and make one using lemons and tangerines. We placed the orange and tangerine onto a plate and then took the tops off and squished the insides of the fruit to bring out some of the juice. We then squeezed some washing up liquid into the juice and added some food colouring and a teaspoonful of baking soda. After we did this, we watched as the fruits exploded with colourful bubbles! It was so exciting!!
We talked about the science and how the experiment worked. Citrus fruit contains citric acid which has a chemical reaction when it mixes with the baking soda due to form carbon dioxide, which is a gas. Once the citric acid and the baking soda have neutralised each other the reaction stops and no more gas is made. The children had so many things to say about the experiment including:
“ I think the lemon has more citrus acid in it than the tangerine because the lemon has bigger bubbles”

“I want my explosion to be rainbow colours”” Look the blue and red has turned black”
“I need more baking powder I want a big explosion “ “ It feels slimy if you touch it” “The lemon smells nice”

We really enjoyed participating in this fun science activity.

Expressive Arts, Numeracy

Play dough and loose parts

September 3, 2021 Mrs MacRae Leave a comment

Loose parts are real objects/ ordinary things that can be used or manipulated in different ways. Adding loose parts to the play dough play will enrich and expand the children’s creativity, improve their fine motor skills along with hand eye co ordination and problem solving.

After helping to make the play dough. The children explored the different objects and discovered different ways they could use them.

Their play evolved from sticking the feathers into the play dough to make birds, to stuffing the play dough into the pots and adding some lolly sticks and dolly pegs to create a rocket ship. We then incorporated some counting into the play. Counting forward to 10 and backwards from 10 as our rockets blasted off into space.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 …. blast off 💥

“My rocket is going to space”

”I’m going to french fry planet”

Outdoor Learning

Getting creative in the Garden!!

August 30, 2021 Mrs Barnes Leave a comment

Today the children were having great fun in the garden. They really enjoyed some gross motor art. They were using rollers to paint on a large shower curtain! They were rolling, reaching and stretching, developing both their gross motor skills and hand eye coordination whilst having great fun and chatting to each other.

”Look at my rainbow!”, “I’ve made a big road!”

The children also had fun den building with our new camouflage materials and pegs. This helps the children develop important skills like problem solving, teamwork and role play! Once the children had built their den they were happy playing inside pretending to sell ice cream out the door! Great fun was had by all!

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