From Sandpit to Pond!
This week, our sandpit became the starting point for some fantastic child-led learning!
The children worked together to dig a deep hole and decided they wanted to turn it into a pond. Once it was deep enough, they asked to fill it with water. They quickly noticed that although the pond stayed full while the hose was running, the water disappeared as soon as the hose was turned off.
The children began thinking about how they could solve the problem. One child suggested using tin foil, but when we couldn’t find any, another child discovered a large sheet of tarpaulin and suggested trying that instead. Together, we placed it in the hole and filled the pond again. This time, the water stayed!
With their pond complete, the children continued to investigate. They collected different objects from around the garden to find out what would sink and what would float. They discovered that the plastic animals sank, while the plastic sand moulds floated.
Of course, no pond is complete without getting in! The children then enjoyed jumping into their creation, experimenting with different jumps and seeing who could make the biggest splash! 🌊
Through their play, the children were developing skills in problem-solving, prediction, investigation and teamwork, while following their own ideas and curiosity to see where their learning would take them.
In the block and small world areas this week the children’s interests have been focused on building houses. These homes have been for families, dinosaurs and animals alike.
“It’s a house look how big it is. I sleep away up there. That’s the roof” BA
“A house put more there” ZA
“I’m making a house in here they keep falling down” E
“Let’s make a house, you need to make walls like this. I want to be a family” DM
“I want to put dinosaurs in” LD
“No dinosaurs allowed” M
“That’s our house that’s the door you have to wipe your feet” IM
This week in the literacy area the children have been exploring sounds. A key early skill in phonological awareness is being able to identify and differentiate between sounds in the environment. We explored this by playing sound bingo. The children listened carefully and had a go at guessing what the sounds were. They identified animals, vehicles and different household items. We also discussed how many we each needed or had left to win and counted them down as we played. Lots of children asked to play again during the week, and each time they were able to identify more of the sounds.
The children have been enjoying exploring our new woodwork area, developing their confidence as they learn the basic skills of woodwork. They have been hammering nails into wood, using screwdrivers and experimenting with different tools and materials. Through these hands-on experiences, the children are developing important skills such as hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, concentration, problem-solving and perseverance. They are also learning how to use tools safely and responsibly, while beginning to understand how different materials can be joined and transformed. It has been wonderful to see their curiosity, creativity and sense of achievement grow as they explore and learn through practical experiences.
This week in the malleable area the children have been making their own playdough and were exploring measurement and turn taking within this process. The children decided to shape and for their dough into cakes, exploring fractions and touch counting as they made their creations and extended their play by transporting their makes into the home corner for a birthday party and engaged in imaginative and symbolic play.
FS “The cake will take 12 minutes”
“ He needs 10 candles because he’s a 10 bear”
IQ “Do you want some cherries?”
In addition to this the children have also been exploring clay as their malleable material. The children have been experimenting with the clay and exploring cause and effect as it changes in texture and appearance. The children were also introduced to a range of tools and were able to take positive risks as they explored the resources safely and were able to create a range of marks on its surface. Some children began to extend their curiosity and explored making 3D structures with a particular interest in fairy castles which we will continue to explore in the next few weeks.
BH “ I’m making a tall house for the tooth fairies, pretend the bricks are teeth”
RP “I need a roof or they will get wet”
“37 Fairies live there”
SH “It feels sticky now”
ES “It’s going to be five meters tall and have five floors”
The children have been enjoying exploring the sewing area as they make colourful bracelets to celebrate the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. They have been carefully threading beads and materials, developing their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and concentration. As they selected colours and patterns, they also explored creativity, decision-making and early mathematical skills such as counting and sequencing. The activity provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn about the cultural significance of Raksha Bandhan while developing patience, perseverance and confidence through hands-on making.
The children have been enjoying exploring the water tray through our tea-making activity. They investigated different ingredients and resources, including teabags, lemon, cucumber and orange slices, using their senses to explore the smells, colours, textures and changes in the water. As they poured, stirred, squeezed and transferred the ingredients, they developed their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect. The children also enjoyed using their imaginations and developing their communication and language skills as they talked about their ideas and experiences of making and sharing tea.
