The nursery children visited the residents at Servite Care Home in Leuchars sharing the joy of Christmas performing a selection of songs.

My favourite song was ‘Jingle bells’.  Said an excited Layla.

“They liked the singing!” Maisie enjoyed performing to our audience.

“They were clapping that’s how you know -it lets people know how good they are.” Explained a delighted Samuel.

As part of delivering the Curriculum for Expressive Arts the children are given the opportunity to experience the excitement of performing for audiences. The experience also allows them to develop an understanding of their role in representing the nursery in the wider community. Their confidence soared as they were complimented on their singing and lovely manners by the staff and residents at Servite.  Studies have shown that there are many benefits for all age groups in inter-generational learning and we are planning to extend the nursery experiences in the coming term.

The PEEP group chose to explore the Early Maths PEEP topic

Sorting and matching.

“Sorting is an important early mathematical skill – it is a way of organising things and focusing on similar and different characteristics.”

“When children explore sorting and matching in everyday life or as part of their play, they are building the foundations for more advanced mathematical and scientific thinking later on.”

peep learning together programme @peeple

We discussed opportunities to explore and learn about sorting and matching during play, and as part of daily life and routines. Interacting with the children we help model mathematical language and concepts of sorting and matching.

We sorted the cutlery into knives,forks and spoons – then we sorted the spoons into different sizes -small( teaspoon), middle size (dessert spoon) big spoon (serving).

 “I lay the table.” Some children shared that they helped do jobs at home. We discussed and recognised the learning involved in such tasks.

“I help mummy put the shopping away and get it out. Put cold things in the fridge. You need to look at the pictures on the tins.” Said Layla.

I am sorting by food type, thinking about science hot/cold and using environmental print.

Maisie explained she helps to sort and match the socks at home. We could sort them into groups for different people next.

The children help to tidy their toys at nursery and at home. We sort the toy animals into categories -farm, zoo, dinosaurs and sea creatures at nursery.

The nursery children made playdough and decorated craft to sell at the Christmas Market to raise funds for the school. The nursery raised £40 thank you to everyone who supported us! We are developing our knowledge and understanding about what money is and how it is used everyday. The children helped to operate the stall, write the price tickets and experienced the role of shopkeeper and customer.

“We were selling playdough – my mummy buyed it!”

Said a very happy Gracie S.

“I was getting all the money in the basket. Then I did the sweetie game.”

Explained Aulley.

Verity shared her experience of the whole school event.

“My nanna looked around with me. She got lots of things we had fun!

As part of the School and Nursery Improvement Priorities the nursery children are developing their digital skills. (QI 3.3)

• Use of digital technologies enhancing play and learning.
• Access to a range of everyday technologies and understanding how they work.
• Becoming confident in using technologies to problem solve.
• Awareness of digital technologies in their home and community.

“We use the water machine to get water for snack. It is really cold” Said Aulley.

“We use the computer to play learning games and draw.”  Shared Gracie.

” How hot is the milk?” We used the digital probe to investigate the temperature of liquids from the the fridge and after heating on the cooker. We tested what happened if we put liquids in a flask.

The first PEEP topic chosen by the families this term explored

“Helping Children to Understand and Manage Their Feelings.”

We discussed the importance of  helping children recognise and understand emotions (emotional literacy) so that they can begin to manage their own feelings and behaviour (self regulation). The families enjoyed working together to making puppets which expressed different emotions.

Activities to share at home.

We are resuming Bookbug activities from Monday 29th October 2018. We would love to see parents, grandparents and carers .  Please encourage members of the community to come along – all are welcome to attend and share the free story, song and rhyme sessions with their babies , toddlers and pre-school children.

Monday 29th October

Monday 5th, 12th,19th and 26th November

Monday 3rd and 10th December

9.05am till 9:35am

And

12.50 pm till 1.20 pm

After Bookbug there is an opportunity to stay and share coffee and a chat with other families.

For more information contact the nursery on 01334 659451

Thank you to the families who have helped share ideas for developing the garden. During the holidays we were lucky to have Blake’s mum and other family members come and start implementing the plans. What a huge improvement!

Before…

After…

“Its SO lovely.” Shared an excited Samuel.

The children love their new tyre tunnel.

We think the bugs will love their refurbished hotel!

This week we have focussed on extending our learning beyond the nursery and investigated landmarks around the village.

As we walk around the village we develop our learning about road safety and notice the environmental print on the street signs, bus stops and houses.

Matthew shared his understanding. “20 that’s how fast you can go!”

The children had the opportunity to develop their gross motor skills visiting the large physical play equipment at the park and develop their own risk awareness.

As part of our health and wellbeing and outdoor learning we are building up our stamina by walking more regularly. We wrapped up cosy and visited the area beyond the Burnside Hall. We plan to visit the woods for a forest kindergarten session .

The girls and boys worked together problem solving how to make a “‘Waterfall.” Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in action.

Samuel described what we used.

“We needed some pipes without tops on them, needed water and buckets.”

Matthew explained how to make the water flow.

“We needed to build up the pipes to make a waterfall – lifted it on a box to be high.”

Blake added.”The water would just go on the grass if there was no bucket to catch it .”

Ivy took turns. “I was catching the water it was fun. “

The afternoon session we were writing letters and we developed this child led interest by writing a letter and posting it back to the school.

We followed the process through from writing the envelope/ buying a stamp/ posting in the postbox.

On our walk around the village we learned about risk assessment and road safety.

We looked at print in the environment and were excited to recognise familiar letters from our names.