The children having enjoyed exploring the book Superworm through a fun, hands on experience. Using the tweezers and magnifying glass they searched for different sized Superworms (string) comparing them to find the longest and shortest. Using small cubes, the children then measured each worm and counted the cubes to see how long they were. This sparked lots of conversation about short, long, big and small helping to develop their mathematical language and understanding of length while engaging in imaginative play inspired by the story.
“I got the longest ” AT
“It’s 15 cubes long that is the biggest I think” LH
“I think I need 5 more” PWE
“I found one look I did it’s 1234” ZM
This week in the art area the children have been exploring mirror image and sameness with paint and were able to create patterns with one line of symmetry. The children were able to reflect on their art and decipher what their marks looked like and listened to the opinions of others, introducing them to perspective and subjectiveness within art. Within this experience we used the sparkle words “half” and “double” introducing them to mathematical language.
PL “I’m making a tummy picture, i’m pressing it down with my tummy”
AM “this is a picture of my mummy” *folds paper* “ now its my mummy and daddy holding hands”
ES “ I folded it in half and now there are two of everything!”
ES “ I have to turn my body this way then that way to make it the same”
We had a very exciting morning on Thursday when Zoo Lab came to visit us, bringing along a fantastic selection of animals for the children to meet and learn about! Our children had the opportunity to see and, for some animals, gently hold or stroke a gerbil, tarantula, 5-year-old python, giant snail, bearded dragon and several other fascinating creatures. The children were captivated as they discovered wonderful facts about each animal, learning about where they live, what they eat, how they move and the special features that help them survive. Getting to experience the animals up close brought their learning to life and encouraged the children to ask questions, share ideas and develop their curiosity about the natural world. For many children, this was a wonderful opportunity to build confidence around animals, practise being gentle and caring, and develop respect for living things. It was a morning full of excitement, wonder and lots of memorable learning!
This week, the children have been having their voices heard by voting for their favourite snack choices for the following week! The children were excited to make their own choices and see which snack would receive the most votes, giving them a meaningful opportunity to express their preferences and understand that their opinions are valued. As part of the voting process, the children also began exploring early tally marks, making a mark to record each vote and helping them to see how we can collect and represent information. This was a fantastic way to develop early numeracy skills in a fun and meaningful context, as the children counted the votes, compared the different totals and talked about which snack had more or fewer votes. Most importantly, the experience encouraged the children to understand that their voices and choices matter and that they can play an active role in decisions within our nursery.
Our sewing table has continued to be a hive of creativity, with the children designing and creating their own wonderful pieces of artwork! The children have been encouraged to plan their own designs, draw their ideas, carefully cut them out and then sew them together, taking great pride in seeing their ideas come to life. We have seen lots of colourful creations, including beautiful rainbows, love hearts and butterflies. Through this process, the children are developing a wide range of skills, including fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, concentration and perseverance as they carefully thread and manipulate the needle and materials. They are also building confidence in using tools safely, making independent choices about colours and designs, and developing their creativity and imagination. Sewing provides a wonderful opportunity for children to slow down, focus and problem-solve, while experiencing the sense of achievement that comes from creating something that is uniquely their own.
Our woodwork area has been a hive of creativity and imagination, and it has been wonderful to see how much the children’s skills and confidence are developing! The children are becoming increasingly adventurous with their ideas, designing and creating bigger, more detailed and more advanced constructions. Through woodwork, children have the opportunity to explore real tools and materials in a safe, supported environment while developing important skills such as fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, concentration and problem-solving. They are learning to plan their ideas, make decisions, measure, join and balance materials, while discovering how things work through trial and error. Woodwork also encourages perseverance and resilience, as children learn that their first attempt may not always go to plan and that they can adapt their ideas and try again. Most importantly, it gives our children the freedom to be creative, take ownership of their projects and experience the wonderful sense of achievement that comes from saying, “I made this!”
In the literacy area we have been focussing on the Book of the Week – The Paper Dolls. We worked on our cutting skills as we cut out our dolls and also looked in the mirrors as we discussed our own features and what we look like. We then carefully chose which colours we needed to draw ourselves. We focussed on using descriptive language and then went on to drawing different members of our families on the other dolls.
Our outdoor area has been full of energy, creativity and teamwork this week! The children enjoyed taking part in a variety of ball games, developing their gross motor skills as they practised throwing, catching, kicking, aiming and controlling the ball. They also enjoyed playing circle games which they independently organised themselves, demonstrating fantastic communication, cooperation and leadership skills as they discussed the rules, took turns and included their friends. These experiences provided wonderful opportunities for the children to develop their balance, coordination, spatial awareness, listening and turn-taking skills, while learning how to work together as part of a team. To add an extra element of excitement, the children also took part in a dragon scavenger hunt, working collaboratively to search for clues and complete the challenge. It was lovely to see the children encouraging one another, sharing ideas and solving problems together, all while enjoying the benefits of active outdoor learning!
