This week we have been exploring different mathematical games and activities. We have been rolling the dice to be able to pick a number, we have been able to identify the number and think of two or more numbers to add together to make that number. We have also enjoyed making clothes for the people out of different shaped magnetic tiles, this spark allowed for the children to create different houses for each of the people. 

Some children have expressed an interest in creating their own structure at the woodwork table. We have been able to speak about the need for safety equipment and what we need to do to keep safe.

“This is the house, you come through this door and it takes you to the living room, but if you go through the door opposite you go to the dinner table and the kitchen, and upstairs is the bedroom then on the top you have the roof” L.S

“This is an underwater house for the mermaid, she has lots of shiny things just like Ariel” B.F

“A mummy daddy gate” C.G

“Bananas in pyjamas are coming down the stairs” C.G

“2 fours are eight” M.F

“Five and five or nine and one” (to make the number 10) R.L

“It’s 14” M.

“Five and three” (to make the number 8) M.S

This week in the literacy area we have been creating characters for our stories/comics.

This children have been using descriptive language to describe how they would like their character to look,  likes, dislikes, personality etc. The children designed their character by mark making them and some children used technology to generate their character through AI.

RF: “I’m going to give my character black curly hair”

GM: “He’s taller than the tallest building in the world.”

NF:” A rainbow butterfly with hertz on it.”

AP: “My monster is spiky he has lots of spikes.”

RK: “Mine is called Claire.”

This week outdoors the children have been exploring speed using the skateboards to zoom down the hill. They have risk assessed to determine how best to stay safe during this adventurous play. We also placed mats and tyres at the bottom to prevent them reaching the wall. 

“We need helmets for our heads”

“Wait until someone’s out the way”

“Hold on tight”

“Don’t go up that way” (up the same way as others coming down”

They have enjoyed the thrill and exhilaration travelling at speed brings.

“I went so fast”

“Look I went in a circle at the bottom”

“I’m the fastest”

“I reached the tyres”

“It’s hard to get back up”

“ I can’t do it can you help?”

“That’s so fun can I go again and again”

We have also explored colour mixing with the paint and water. Using our big blue buckets to mix ‘potions’ of different colours. We added a white sheet hung up on the wall to try out our different colours. 

“ I’m making purple look with blue and red”

“I’ve made pink that’s my favourite colour”

“We’re making a witches potion to poison you”

There has also been an interest in ball games: tennis, velcro ball, football and basketball

This week at the water tray the children have been playing with our babies. They have shown an awareness of the needs of a baby and how to take care of them as they washed them, dried them, changed their nappies, dressed, and fed them. The children were able to practice their self care skills as they changed the baby’s clothes and made positive attempts to do buttons and fastenings. The children engaged in imaginative play and assumed different roles within their chosen families.

RP “ I’m feeding Michael’s baby mummy milk”

MK “ I don’t want to be a daddy when I grow up-its too hard”

” It’s a little baby boy – he’s tired il put him down for  twenty minutes”

“ I’ll have a sniff- yes he needs a change”

RS “ my baby is called wee man”

“ you need to change baby or she’ll get a runny cold”

ES “ babies don’t eat they just drop stuff on the floor-that’s what my brothers do”

    “ here comes the aeroplane say ahhhh”

In the malleable area this week the children have been using their senses to explore. We have used different herbs, essences and flowers within our playdough. We mashed them and ground them with the mortar and pestle, and some of the children then decided to use these to make perfume. 

In the home corner we have been creating our own recipes. The children looked at some examples and we spoke about what the purpose of the numbers are and the quantities of ingredients. When making their own recipes the children thought of a name for them and wrote or drew pictures to represent the ingredients they chose. This learning experience has been reflected in the children’s independent play in the home corner as they have discussed different foods and pretended to add different ingredients whilst using their imagination during role play.