Hello everyone! We hope you have had a great week…..here is a look into what we have been up to this week……
Raine has been exploring the transient art outside where she made a picture of a beach house using the shells and photo frames.
A group of children worked together to build a house using the loose parts and different materials. They worked hard and used trial and error to make it work.
Sanna made her own mask with very little help! She shared her ideas with the adults and used different materials to put them together and create her mask.
It was Hamishs birthday this week where he chose to help make a cake. Hamish was able to mix and add all the ingredients and then asked to lick the spoon at the end.
A group of children chose to come and join for a healthy snack. They tried some pomegranate, pineapple, grapefruit and rice cakes.
Victor played outside where he wanted to paint a picture. Victor was able to discuss colours and patterns on his design.
A group of children created a speed boat using the loose parts outside. The boys said that they were going to Dundee to the shops where they discussed how they were going to pay for their shopping. The boys then discussed what other modes of transport they could take to other locations.
Lucy explored using the musical instruments outside where she created a range of different sounds.
Lily has been using the iPad to develop her seesaw skills as she sends a picture of herself to her mum and helps to upload it.
A group of children helped to plant some potatoes today after finding a hidden pack which had grown some roots! The children chose where in the garden they wanted to plant them and spoke about how they would plant them and what they would need to grow.
Murdo and Ruaridh were dressing up as pirates today where they were going around the nursery looking for treasure!
Reminders:
please remember to apply suncream to your child before arriving at nursery as it might get sunny in the afternoon, we are happy to reapply with the nursery suncream throughout the day and can we ask that no suncreams go into childrens bags as we treat suncream as medication in nursery. If you would prefer your child use your own suncream then we can give you a form to complete!
Please remember your helmet on your play on pedals day so your child can take part
The children will be visiting for another Primary 1 transition visit next week
Happy birthday to Hamish who celebrated his 5th birthday on Wednesday….we hope you had the best day 🎂🎉
This week learning is… Exploring, Being Curious, Literacy, Mathematics, Sharing, Self-Esteem, Creativity, Motor Skills, Turn Taking, Technology, Outdoor Learning and Problem Solving.
Monday 20th February
Today Finlay and Arthur confidently negotiated with each other during their play. Finlay and Arthur built a house together a spoke to each other about design problems and how they are going to fix them. “We need to move this block here”. “We built a big our house and it looks so good” Finlay and Arthur expressed that they are good at building in the block area. Finlay and Arthur engaged in role play when in the house pretending they were lost and had to build their own house to keep them warm “we need blankets and pillows to make the seats cosy and in the house we can play and chat. We’re playing with my toys” “The sun is out today which means it’s day time at my house”. “We’ve finished building our house, come and see it” Finlay and Arthur were keen to share their work with others.
Today Orla confidently experiments mark making using a variety of materials. Orla independently used doodle kids on the iPad to create a picture of her skiing in Italy. “I was skiing on the mountain. I got hot chocolate and chips to keep me warm.”
Today Blair took some time to cut out and stick in some photos in his folder with Miss McKenzie he spoke about the best part of his trip to the Kelpies. “The park with the big slide and the hot chocolate with the melted marshmallows!” It sounds like Blair had a fun time!
Tuesday 21st February
Today at the forest the children had regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences by using their confidence skills to climb up the trees and draw creatively using paint and charcoal. Freya, Orla, Ben, Sanna, Blair, Finlay, Lochlan and Arthur used their feeling in their tummy to see how high they could climb.
Today at the forest the children had regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences Raine, Jesse, Orla and Lucy used the charcoal to create different images on the stairs as it would show up better.
Pancake day today the children enjoyed watching the pancakes getting made on the fire and enjoyed a lovely pancake with the choice of honey, jam or butter. We then headed back to the nursery to enjoy a special snack (Cupcake) for Eleanor’s birthday.
Wednesday 22nd February
Today Calvin has been exploring one of his new favourite nursery books “Tabby McTat” as Calvin says. Calvin is using his words to share different parts of the story as he flicks through the book with an adult.
Today Christian and Flynn were exploring the Argos catalogue in the home corner discussing their likes and dislikes of toys they spotted.
Today Archie and Ruaridh were exploring the art area using different materials to create object and images to share with their peers. The boys created a space helmet.
Today Aayla-May and Lily were exploring outside they worked together to create an obstacle course that would help them get over the big puddle.
Thursday 23rd February
This morning Hubert and Victor expressed that the birds need some food and decided they wanted to make their own bird feeders. They listened well to the instructions, and followed the steps well. They then showed their writing skills to write their name on the feeder they had made.
Maggie independently completed the jigsaw of the rocket ship which led to a discussion about numbers and space.
Today Daisy has been exploring Chatter Kid on the iPad and has created a clip of the worry monster and said the worry monster takes all her worried away from the monsters. Daisy can confidently show and talk about feelings. Hamish has also been exploring Chatter Kid on the iPad and has created a clip of the snack table. Hamish added stickers to make his clip “more funny”. Hamish said “I like the snack table” “My favourite snack is cheese and crackers”.
Today Freya and Orla were discussing their personal experiences while looking at Maisy goes to the library story book. “I’ve been to the library I borrowed The Wizard and The Princess but my favourite story is The Gruffalo”. “I’ve been to the library too Orla” ”My favourite story is The Gruffalo too”. The girls asked questions about the story including “What does the blurb say? Can you read us it?”. During the story being read to the girls they began to predict what Maisy was doing when all of her friends were playing a game. Both Freya and Orla suggested Maisy would be reading her book somewhere quietly and she was.
Today Murdo enjoyed a quiet time under the bird hideout waiting to see if any birds would come to the feeders. He enjoyed looking at the book of birds, and was able to discuss birds that he has seen. That’s a sea gull, it makes a loud noise.
Jovan has been exploring ChatterKid on the iPad and has created a clip of the playdough table. Jovan added stickers to make his clip. Jovan expressed his love for his mummy.
Today Orla, Freya, Sanna, Maggie, and Daisy have been giving the nursery a preview of their dance show next Saturday by dancing along to music they have been practicing! There were able to keep the beat and sing along to the music and showed good memory skills as they remembered all the moves! Well done girls you will do great at the show.
Our Cosy Time Library 📚 This will be available to families at drop off and pick up time every day for you and your child to choose a book to take home to read 🏡There is no time limit on our library books we would just ask that you sign the book with your child’s name, the title of the book they have taken, the date it was taken and when it was returned ✍️There will be pens and hand sanitiser available for you to sign the books in and out. If your child has any special requests for a certain book please ask a member of staff or send a message on seesaw and we can help you 😃There will be a folder with your child’s name for them to put the book in for its journey to home and back 📁A tray will be available for you to put in your returned books so we can quarantine and clean them before putting them on display again, if you have any questions, any member of staff would be happy to help ☺️
Reminders
Can all parents label items of your child’s clothing.
Can all parents put in at least one full change of clothing for water play and accidents.
Can all parents if your child has a packed lunch can we please ensure grapes and big fruits are cut to minimise the risk of choking.🍇
Can we remind all parents\carers to park in a white space only as the yellow spaces are for staff only.
Can all parents ensure your child has a set of waterproofs and wellies to play outside when it’s wet.
Our nursery blog is sent out every week on a Friday afternoon.
If your child is going to be picked up by someone else, please let the ladies know or the office so we are aware.
Can we ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather.
Can we ensure when you are leaving the nursery that the gate is locked.
There is learning at home sheets available in the nursery to share your child’s learning and experiences you do at home.
Click on the Sound Link and let’s all join in for our last, “Hello Everyone”, before the summer holidays and our new adventures begin . . .
In this week’s Blog, we are going to explore Friendship. Watch this clip to think about how you can make a friend. What can you do to be a good friend?
We have been sharing lots of recipes over the last few weeks. Here is one recipe with a difference!
What other “ingredients” can you think of that makes a good friend? What would you add to your friendship cakes?
Time for Numeracy and Mathematics
In a friendship, sharing is a really good quality to have. Help Curious George share the dog treats fairly. When you have shared the treats fairly . . .
Can you help to share items in your everyday life? Can you cut sandwiches, fruit or cakes into equal parts?
Time for Art
Steven Brown is a Scottish artist. He paints colourful characters and always gives his pieces of art special names. Have a look at some of his artwork.
Talk about the different pieces of art with an adult.
What do you notice about Steven Brown’s art work?
Which is your favourite?
Can you make your own piece of Steven Brown inspired art using chalks, paints, crayons, pencils or pens?
Don’t forget to sign your piece of art with your name. Can you think of a special name for your creation?
Time for Craft
Here’s an activity that will help with fine motor cutting skills. It’s a great way to strengthen those finger and hand muscles. This is a family paper chain but lots of friend chains can be added together too because “friends are the family we choose for ourselves” (Anon).
This workout can be enjoyed by adults as well as wee ones. You can exercise in a circle or opposite each other on the spot, sometimes down on the floor or moving around your space.
Track List and Workout Benefits
Let’s Workout (Active / warm up); 5 Fruit & Veggies (Very active / listening skills); Sitting Rhyme (Focusing); My Head My Shoulders (Body parts / stretching); Seaside Song (Focusing); The Giant Says (Very active).
Time for Yoga
If you like a good stretch and a chill out, join Jaime at Cosmic Kids with some yoga. This is a playlist of kids yoga adventures with a focus on friendship!
Time for a Story
What’s the Time Mr Wolf by Debi Gliori
Listen to this very special story which is read by the author Debi Gliori.
How many different friends plan Mr Wolf’s special surprise?
Time for another Story?
Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
How do these special creatures help each other?
Time for a Chat (Phase 2). . .
We are currently in Phase 2 of the Scottish Route map.
Have a look and talk about what we can now do in Phase 2 with family and friends . . .
As the Government advice changes, we are being allowed to get together with more of our friends.
What are you looking forward to doing with your friends?
Time for an Action Song
The More We Get Together by The Learning Station
Can you remember all the different things you could do with your friends?
What was your favourite verse?
Can you share the song with a family member or a friend?
Transition Time
Miss Crichton, Miss Stevenson, Mrs Carmichael and the Nursery Team were delighted to welcome families to Newport Primary School on Tuesday, 30th June.
This is a very exciting time of the year for our nursery friends who are starting school after the summer. Both new and our very special familiar families had a chance to experience a live tour of the the Primary one classroom and meet their teacher, Mrs Carmichael in person!
‘The Queen’s Knickers,’ was certainly a popular choice of story shared by Mrs Carmichael during the visit. Would you like to listen again?
Remember you can have another look at our special ‘Welcome to Primary One’ Sway using this link
Incase you haven’t heard, the Scottish Government announced access to Solihull Online for parents and carers to support you to develop stronger relationships with your children during the coronavirus pandemic. Click on the link below for an invaluable parenting resource. Access Code: Tartan.
Did you know that all Primary one to three children are automatically entitled to free school meals but you must apply for older children? For more information visit the link
We thought this well known song was a lovely way to end this Blog. As you listen, why not draw or think about special moments we have experienced together during our time at Newport Primary School Nursery?
Each and everyone of you has touched our lives and we will miss you so much. Your next adventure awaits…whether it’s Primary one, returning to Newport nursery or another nursery setting. You are strong and you are brave…you can do it!
We have some messages just for you because you have touched our hearts!
We would like to introduce you to the new members of the Newport Nursery Team, starting in August.
Hello everyone, my name is Miss McKenzie and I will be joining the Newport Nursery team full time after summer. I was based in St. Andrews Nursery and look forward to meeting you all soon!
Hi there, I’m Mrs Wilson and I will be joining Newport Nursery after the summer holidays. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and to help you with your child’s learning journey. I’ve been an EYO in Angus before joining Wormit Nursery. Have a really good holiday and stay safe. See you in August!
Thank you for being part of our Newport Nursery Class 2019-2020.
Remember you can still add your thoughts and ideas linked with the Blog using the comments feature or why don’t you share some of you experiences through our school website
newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk
Would you like to send a photograph? Click on your photo and send an email to
https://www.fifedirect.org.uk/NewportPS
⭐️Mrs Beat will forward your special photographs.
Time to say goodbye!
Keep safe and keep connected.
The Newport Nursery Team
Mrs AC
Mrs Kay
Mrs Laing
Mrs Ross
Miss Crichton
Mrs Cunningham
Miss Allan
Mrs Beat
Miss Stevenson
Our Gallery
Thank you Ella for your very special message! You have captured all of us, beautifully. Have fun in Primary one!
Birthday Shout Out
Sienna visited school on her fifth birthday. What a special day for Sienna! A school visit and a birthday. 🎂 🎈
we hope you had a fabulous day!
This is the time of year we would usually be inviting children, carers and Buddies to the Newport Nursery Teddy Bears Picnic. The nursery staff thought we could each hold our own picnic instead. To help you with your Teddy Bears Picnic, we have been delivering special Teddy Bear Gift Bags to your doorstep (some houses are a little trickier to find or some people have moved house but we shall get the gifts to you soon). We were delighted to talk with some families during our deliveries and if we didn’t, we hope you enjoyed the lovely doorstep surprise bag! If you have received your new teddy bear gift, you could help them settle into your home by letting them join in with your teddy bears picnic or why not include your favourite cuddly toy (doesn’t need to be a bear), a blanket and some yummy treats? The picnic can be held indoors or outdoors, the main thing is to have lots of fun. Can you share some photos of your lovely time with your special friend?
As a wee surprise here is a template for an invitation to your very own Teddy Bears Picnic. Have a go at writing it out and perhaps inviting a friend.
One story we all know and love is ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Children love to join in with this story and often retell the story in the forest with lots of fun and laughter. Here Michael Rosen tells the story with lots of brilliant sound effects, can you make your own sound effects? Why do you think the bear was following the family home?
Why not have a go at making your own Teddy Bear mask? The link below gives you some ideas.
You will need:
Paper plate
Coloured pens/pencils or paint
Googly eyes
Scissors
Lollypop stick or elastic
Craft materials to decorate
Jez Albourgh is an author who writes lots of lovely stories about bears. Here he is reading one of his stories ‘Where’s my Teddy’. This is a great story with lots of rhyming words and lovely illustrations to promote discussion.
I love Sticky Kids Workout Podcast | Sticky Kids – Season 2 – Workout 2, let’s play it!
This workout can be enjoyed by adults as well as wee ones. You can exercise in a circle or opposite each other on the spot, sometimes down on the floor or moving around your space.
Track List and Workout Benefits Clap Your Hands (Action, Coordination); Tiptoe Like A Tiger (Action, Memory); Tap Your Head (Listening skills); Here Are My Knees (Body awareness); Wiggles and Jiggles (Very active); Take One (Numeracy skills); Cool Down (Develops focus)
If you’d like to try some mindful yoga to chill out to, Jaime at Cosmic Kids uses “We’re Going On A Bear Hunt”. Have a go at this. It is so much fun and good for your body and mind!
On a picnic, you usually have lots of yummy things to eat. What treats are you going to take to eat in the open air? Delicious cakes, crumbly biscuits, scrummy quiche or fresh fruit? What’s your favourite? These are some ideas for yummy treats if you would like to have a go at making something for you and your cuddly friend to enjoy.
Another awesome idea to make your own sandwich for the picnic. Make your grown up proud by making it all by yourself. What toppings will you add? We love the colours on this next recipe.
Here’s a game that we used to play on the computer in nursery! Can you show your grown up how to play it? This teddy helps us learn to count and it eats lots of cakes.
Now it’s time to meet a little girl who had a surprise awakening by ‘The Three Bears.’
With an adult, have a look at the song words. Can you sing each verse? Can you add some actions?
When Goldilocks went to the House of the Bears
When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears, Oh what did her two eyes see? A bowl that was huge, A bowl that was small, A bowl that was tiny and that was all, She counted them: one, two, three.
When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears, Oh what did her two eyes see? A chair that was huge, A chair that was small, A chair that was tiny and that was all, She counted them: one, two, three.
When Goldilocks went to the house of the bears, Oh what did her two eyes see? A bed that was huge, A bed that was small, A bed that was tiny and that was all, She counted them: one, two, three.
When Goldilocks ran from the house of the bears, Oh what did her two eyes see? A bear that was huge, A bear that was small, A bear that was tiny and that was all, They growled at her: grr, grr, grr
Goldilocks compared the size of bowls, chairs, beds and bears! Can you compare different items by size too? With an adult, why not look around your house or in the great outdoors and compare objects using size words? Why not take photographs to show us what you have found?
tiny wee small little
huge big massive gigantic
We hope you have enjoyed all the Teddy Bear activities that we have shared with you this week. We would love to see what you have been busy with and what you got up to on your very own picnic!
Thank you for joining us in our eleventh Summer Blog! We hope it helps all of you to make a connection with Newport Nursery. We miss each and everyone of you!
We are so excited that the Nursery Team shall see many of you this Tuesday. Those of you who are starting school after the holidays, have been sent a special invite to come to school to meet your teacher, Mrs Carmichael. This is an exciting time for everyone!
Remember you can look on the school website/Twitter or access special videos to help you with your transition from nursery to school. Click on these links…
Remember to add your thoughts and ideas linked to the Blog using the comments feature or why don’t you share some of you experiences through our school website
newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk
Would you like to send a photograph? Click on your photo and send an email to
We hope you are keeping safe and well. We are missing each and everyone of you. 💕
Let’s welcome everyone in our usual way to our, ‘Special Sports and Fun Fitness Blog.’
Hello Everyone! Click on the Sound Link and let’s join in together . . .
In this special, ‘Special Sports and Fun Fitness Blog,’ we are going to support your wellbeing through exercising our bodies and minds through the following activities;
a special virtual Sports Day experience
develop our knowledge of outdoor games and activities
dance activities
workout activities
mindful activities
Virtual Sports Day
As we cannot be together to take part in our usual Sports Day, we thought you’d enjoy taking part in the Newport Nursery Virtual Sports Day.
Have you got a Twitter account? If not, set one up and follow Newport Primary School and Nursery.
You can see our Newport Nursery, ‘Spectacular Sports’ videos on Twitter (Part 1 and Part 2). Enjoy!
You could also view the School’s virtual Sports Day on Twitter too.
Why not plan your own family sports day using the ideas from our, ‘Spectacular Sports?’ and the School’s videos.
You could send us video clips or photographs of your special day.
Mrs Ross found a lovely sports day poem she wanted to share with everyone . . .
It’s Sports Day Time by Sara Fox
Fasten your laces,
Toes behind the line.
The sun is shining,
It’s Sports Day time!
It’s time to have races,
It’s time to have fun,
On your marks, get set . . .
Jump!
Skip!
Run!
Sporting Facts . . .
Watch this short clip to find out some amazing sporting facts!
How many facts can you remember?
Interested in learning more facts?
Watch this video to find about your body parts.
Why not join Maddie Moate and find out about your bones?
There are lots of WOW facts on this short video clip!
More Sports Day Fun!
Mrs AC’s family had their own Sports Day with lots of different events from running and jumping to balancing.
‘It was super fun and we even had 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions for the different races. The dogs even joined in. Our hearts were beating so fast and we were rewarded with yummy ice lollies at the end!’
Mrs Kay’s family tried out some gymnastics and racing events too. The girls are awesome!
Outdoor Games and Activities
‘Playing, learning and having fun outdoors helps to improve wellbeing and resilience, as well as physical and mental health and also provides children with the opportunity to develop a life long appreciation of the natural world.’
Obstacle courses can be created both indoors and outdoors. Mrs Laing’s daughter had fun with a friend, designing their own obstacle course using natural materials around them. A simple and fun activity for all the family!
As well as developing our fitness through learning new games, we can also have fun learning to read, write and develop a huge range of numeracy skills.
The Penguin Shuffle
Equipment needed – bean bags/soft toy in a ball and hula hoops.
Best done as a relay race. The group is split into equal teams and each child is given a bean bag or small ball. The bean bag/soft toy is placed between the child’s knees and they shuffle up to a hula hoop. They must drop their bean bag/soft toy into the hoop and return to their team, allowing the next child to go. The first group with all their bean bags in the hoop wins!
Catch Don’t Catch
Equipment needed – ball or small beanbag/soft toy.
Players stand in a circle with their arms crossed. One player in the centre throws the ball to someone in the circle, saying either ‘Catch’ or ‘Don’t catch’. If they say ‘Catch’, the player should not catch the ball and must not move their arms. If they say ‘Don’t catch’, the player should catch the ball! If a player
does the wrong thing or misses the ball, they’re out! Listen very carefully!
Ticking Bomb
Equipment needed – ball or small beanbag/soft toy.
Players stand in a circle. One ‘spy’ stands with his back to the circle. The bean bag/soft toy (or bomb) is passed quickly round the circle
but cannot be dropped. If it is dropped the person who drops it must hold it for three seconds. The spy shouts ‘stop’ at any time
during then game. When ‘stop’ is heard, the person holding the ‘bomb’ is out. Winner is the last person in the circle!
Sleeping Lions
Equipment needed – none!
Everyone lies on the floor except one or two hunters. Everyone else is a ‘sleeping lion’, and once they’ve settled they’re not
allowed to move. The hunters walk around trying to make the sleeping lions move by making them laugh, telling jokes and
so on, but they aren’t allowed to touch them. Once a lion has moved, they get up to join the hunters.
Pass the Hoop
Equipment needed – hula hoops.
This game is excellent for building trust and co-operation between players.
• Players stand in a circle holding hands.
• A hoop is placed between two children.
• The hoop must pass round the ring without breaking contact.
Add to the fun by adding more hoops!
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Catch!
Equipment needed – hula hoops.
The group is split into two equal teams. As a team, they decide if the team is going to play ‘rock’, ‘paper’, or ‘scissors’. They meet for a “face
off” at the centre line of a gym or field and on the count of three they play their rock, paper, or scissors. Remember, paper beats rock, rock
beats scissors, and scissors beats paper.
Whoever wins then chases the other team to the end line and catches as many people as they can on the way. Those that
are caught then join the other team. The game continues until all the players from one team are caught.
Floating Balls
Equipment: 3 Balls (Beach Balls)
Players scatter over the playing area and a ball is tossed into the air. The players must keep the ball in the air using any part of the body. Once one ball is up, get two or three balls going at
the same time. Keep count of the number of times the ball (or balls) is kept up in the air before it hits the ground. Try to improve the score each time.
Scatterball
Equipment needed – 4 balls and set markers up like rounders.
No teams, everyone plays for themselves! One kicker and everyone else is a fielder. The kicker kicks (or throws) the four balls as far as they can. Once all four have been scattered, the kicker must run around the bases aiming for a home run. The fielders try to collect all four balls to the home base before the kicker
gets there. Swap the kicker each time.
Bench Ball
Equipment needed – a bench/log/marked standing area for each team,4/6 balls.
Split group into two teams. Each team stands in their half of the space. At the back of their half is a bench/log/marked standing out area. Balls are placed on the centre court line. The game is a bit like dodgeball, but if you are hit (below the hips only) you must stand on the bench/log/marker at the back of the other team. Benched players can re-join the game by catching a ball and hitting someone on the opposing team (below the hips only). The winning team is the one with the most players at the end of the game.
Everyone is It
Equipment needed – none
Set up a playing area. All children start inside the playing area and all are IT. Children run around trying to avoid being tagged by people,
but at the same time trying to tag others. Once tagged, the child is out and steps out of the playing area. If two children tag each other at the same time, they are both out. The aim is to be the last two left.
Numeracy and Mathematics (Technology)
Here are two games which some of us have experienced in nursery.
Have some aiming fun with these ball games!
Remember to think carefully about which challenge is right for you.
When a child dances, they learn about how their body can move. Through dance, children learn to coordinate and control their bodies and the movement helps them develop spatial awareness.
Wonderful Workouts
Within every Blog, we have enjoyed taking part in Sticky Kids Workouts.
Sticky Kids have now produced Season 2 for us all to enjoy!
This workout can be enjoyed by adults as well as wee ones. You can exercise in a circle or opposite each other on the spot, sometimes down on the floor or moving around your space.
Wash your Dirty Hands (motivation and cleanliness)
Kangaroo Brown (active)
Tap, Tap, Tap (listening).
Music and Movement
Are you ready to use your brilliant body to make music?
Can you perform your body percussion infront of an audience?
Have fun!
The Breathing Song by Julia Donaldson and Malcolm
Before we explore mindfulness, let’s think about our breathing through a fun song with Julia Donaldson and Malcolm.
Mindful Moments
Mindfulness develops the whole brain and helps children to understand their emotions and feelings, reducing the risk of mental health issues. Practicing mindfulness helps children to notice the positives, and develop a sense of appreciation, gratitude and contentment.
Story Time
Sharing books together brings many benefits, including fostering closeness and conversation and developing empathy and listening skills.
Reading books which discuss wellbeing and mental health together can provide a great way to start conversations about emotions that children may be experiencing or struggling with. Research shows that children who read with someone at home say it helps them to feel calmer and happier.
Reading before bedtime helps children to switch off from the day and prepares them for a good night’s sleep and to wake up refreshed.
Sit back and relax as a hare and a tortoise 🐢 take part in race.
The Tortoise and the Hare is a fable. A fable is a short story with a life lesson at the end. One man, known as Aesop, is famous for the many fables he told in his life. Here are two versions of one of his fables called, ‘The Hare and the Tortoise.’
Which version do you prefer?
The Gingerbread Man
In this story, lots of characters use their running skills to try to catch the Gingerbread Man. Can you remember the characters who run after the main character?
Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
‘One day he wakes early and goes for a jog.’
‘He sets off for home with a hop and a twirl.’
Listen to the illustrator Axel Scheffler reading this special story .
This is dedicated to all our Dad’s…Happy Father’s Day 2020!
Fife Council Psychology Service and Five Ways to Wellbeing during Covid 19
We all have a responsibility to look after our own and others’ emotional wellbeing and this becomes even more important during times of uncertainty, when people’s levels of anxiety are increased. Children and young people look to trusted adults to work out ways of dealing with challenging situations.
Fife Council Psychology Services provides a wide range of resources to help everyone support the wellbeing, learning and behaviour of our children (just search Fife Council Psychology Services).
One of the websites they signpost is Young Scot, which explores Five ways to Wellbeing during Covid 19.
Follow the five ways to wellbeing to look after your mental, emotional and physical health and think about how you can support others in your community.
As the Government has just announced that we are entering into Phase 2, you may wish to explore our special visual poster. Remember Government Guidance may change.
We hope you have had fun exploring our, ‘Spectacular Sports and Fun Fitness Blog.’
Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you very soon.
Remember to add your thoughts and ideas linked to the Blog using the comments feature or why don’t you share some of you experiences through our school website?
Would you like to send a photograph? Click on your photo and send an email to
https://www.fifedirect.org.uk/NewportPS
newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk
⭐️Mrs Beat will forward your special photographs.
Keep safe and keep connected.
The Newport Nursery Team
Mrs AC, Mrs Kay, Mrs Laing, Mrs Ross, Miss Crichton, Mrs Cunnigham, Miss Allan, Mrs Beat and Miss Stevenson
Gallery
This week Harris and his family have connected with us.
You have been having lots of fun! We are missing all your investigations and creations, Harris!
In this week’s Blog we thought it would be great to focus on keeping safe in the sun. We have had some lovely sunshine so lets put on our hats, sun cream and sunglasses and have some fun in the sun.
Mrs Kay recites a wee rhyme about the sun.
Do you remember when you were in nursery we would use the outdoor thermometer to find what temperature it was? In the winter months it would sometimes go below 0° and in the summer months it could go as high as 18°.
This is a story about the sun.
https://youtu.be/EwyqaLnsi5Q
Can you tell us what part of the story you liked best?
Here’s Mrs Ross singing about how to stay safe in the sun.
Now we all know how to keep safe in the sun. Here’s an activity that you can download off Twinkl.
Here is a flower chart that you can download. Then you can go on a summer flower hunt. It’s a fun way to find lots of different flowers either in your own garden or during your daily walk.
When you’re out and about you might find some minibeasts too. Mrs Laing found a story about a snail on a sunny day.
Another fun experiment you can do with your family is to plant sunflower seeds. Why not sew some seeds in a sunny area and sew some in a shady area? Watch to see how tall they grow.
This is a photograph of Mr Ross with Kirsty and Duncan on our garage roof. The sunflowers were measured and the tallest one was 10 foot tall.
We thought you would like to try some of these fun activities that you can do in your garden.
Why not make a Nature Mandala? All you need are some stones, sticks, leaves and flowers. Here is a photo of Mrs Ross’s granddaughter making her own Mandala.
A Mandala is a circular symbol often seen in Hinduism and Buddhism which represents the universe. It can be a calming experience.
Here is a workout to help you keep fit and healthy .
This workout can be enjoyed by adults as well as wee ones. You can exercise in a circle or opposite each other on the spot, sometimes down on the floor or moving around your space.
Track List Warm Up Song; Music, Music, Music; Two Little Hands; Wind Your Bobbin Up; Tall As A House; Stir Up The Porridge; Hands On Hips.
Now its summer and the days are getting longer why don’t you experiment and make a sun dial in your garden. All you need is : 1 paper plate, 1 long pencil, 1 pen a ruler and a watch. You can either pop your plate on the ground or put it on a table( I used a table and stuck the plate with blue tack) you then insert the pencil in the middle of the plate at a slight angle. Every hour you need to mark the shadow using a pencil and ruler.
Remember to write the time on the edge of the plate. You can decorate your plate and send us your photographs.
Here’s what mine looked like after I added some times.
I am sure everyone is missing going on our weekly trip to the forest. Maybe you could have a forest session in your garden? Make a den using lots of loose parts including blankets, sheets, rope and pegs. This will keep you cool. You can always ask an adult to make smores or cook sausages on a barbaque or on a fire. Do you remember any of the forest rules to keep safe? Here is a little reminder of some of them.
1. Always make sure you can see an adult.
2. We sit behind the safety square on your bottoms.
3. We have a great time exploring.
Can you think of any other rules we use in the forest?
This is Mr Tumble keeping us safe in the sun.
If you have a tent why not camp out in your garden with your family. You might hear an owl hooting or even see a hedgehog.
Why not draw pictures of the animals, birds and insects you have seen in your garden and share them with us?
Here are two different types of sun hats you can design and colour using chalk, pens, paints, crayons or anything you have in your garden, for instance leaves, flowers, grass and sticks.
I think everyone likes an ice lolly they are great at keeping you cool and hydrated. On a warm summer day why not try these recipes. Click below to try making your own.
Please share your comments, photos, drawings and ideas in the Comments section or send us an email at newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk. We’ll share these with all your nursery friends.
It’s time to sing goodbye with Bookbug!
I hope you have enjoyed our blog. Please share your comments, photos, drawings and ideas in the Comments section or send us an email at newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk. We’ll share these with all your nursery friends.
Keep safe,
The Newport Team
Mrs Ross Mrs AC Mrs Kay Mrs Laing
Miss Crichton Mrs Cunningham Miss Allen Mrs Beat Miss Stevenson
We have been learning about lots of changes in nature from brilliant bugs to all sorts of plants growing in our gardens and parks. I wonder what you have found in your outdoor space! Could you share what you have found? My family (Team AC) and I took a walk to a duck pond near our house and we found some frogspawn a few weeks ago so I thought that this week we could look to see how frogs grow and develop. Let’s join Bookbug and start with the Hello Song!
Frogs are fabulous creatures because they can live in water and on land which is why they’re called amphibians. They grow from eggs to tadpoles to froglets to frogs. The eggs (frogspawn) hatch and tadpoles grow gills so they can breathe in water. Their back legs grow first followed by their front legs and at this stage they are froglets. Their tails shrink and they get bigger and bigger. Poof! They’re now frogs!
Here’s a little video and song that helps explain the frog life cycle. Click on the link below to watch it.
It’s time to get crafty and make your own frogspawn, tadpoles or frogs. You can paint or draw! Or you can use any recycled materials you have at home. Or you could even pretend to be a frog and jump this way and that way!
Here’s an idea for you to use recycled bubblewrap or some egg cartons.
If you’d like to use playdough here is the recipe we use in nursery.
Playdough Recipe
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon of oil
A few drops of green food colouring if you want
Mix flour, salt and oil in a bowl, using your hands can be easier and fun! Remember to add a little water at a time to get the desired consistency.
I wonder what your your creation will look like…please share a photo with us.
Let’s get moving with Jaime at Cosmic Kids yoga to wake up all of our muscles in our body. I hope you enjoy meeting Frank the Frog!
We are missing reading you stories and there are a lot of stories and songs about frogs so sit back, listen and enjoy!
Can you remember all the different characters/animals in the story?
I remember reading this fun story to some of you. You were so good at guessing the rhyming words…see if you can do it again?! What do frogs sit on?
Mrs Kay sings one of my favourite frog songs…join in!
Our families have been baking loads of yummy treats to eat. Mrs Kay’s girls love to bake brownies and Mrs A-C’s boys loves to bake lemon drizzle cake and cupcakes. What have you been baking? Here’s an easy cupcake recipe for you to try at home:-
Ingredients 110g softened butter 110g golden caster sugar 2 large eggs ½ tsp vanilla extract 110g self-raising flour
For the buttercream 150g softened butter 300g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 tbsp milk food colouring paste of your choic
Method Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and fill a 12 cupcake tray with cases. Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising flour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases. Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack. To make the buttercream, whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.
If you’re still peckish perhaps Mrs Ross’ song will make you all full up!
If you are out exploring nature there are so many wonderful things to see and do, from counting petals on flowers or how many bees you can see buzzing from one flower to the next. Last week Mrs Kay was talking about pattern and this week I thought I could show you symmetry in nature. Something is symmetrical when it is the same on both sides. A shape has symmetry if a central dividing line (a mirror line) can be drawn on it, to show that both sides of the shape are exactly the same.
Have a Iook at pictures above. Can you see why they are symmetrical? Can you have a go at decorating this butterfly below so it’s symmetrical?
Since we have been focussing on frogs and they love water! I thought we could have a little look at this water cycle experiment.
Remember that when you’re out and about near water you have to remember to be safe. Please make sure there’s an adult nearby making sure that you are safe. Do not swim in ponds, rivers or the sea without a grown up’s permission and never swim alone. If you’re in a boat you should always wear a life jacket.
I wonder if you would like to do this week’s Sticky Kids workout 7. Get your blood pumping and your heart racing!
Track List I Jump Out Of Bed; Seaside Song; Shake Your Fingers; Beanbag Song; Sitting Rhyme; Stand Up, Sit Down; The Giant Says.
We wanted to share how all of our plants have grown in the last few weeks…some are quite small but some have grown so big.
We hope that you found this blog about fabulous frogs and water fun! We miss you all very much and would love to see what you’re doing at home. Please share your comments, photos, drawings and ideas in the Comments section or send us an email at newportps.enquiries@fife.gov.uk. We’ll share these with all your nursery friends.
It’s time to sing goodbye with Bookbug!
Keep safe,
The Newport Team
Mrs AC Mrs Kay Mrs Laing Mrs Ross
Miss Crichton Mrs Cunningham Miss Allen Mrs Beat Miss Stevenson
Gallery
A big hello to Bobby who has reached out and said hello! He has been very busy helping his family decorate, as well as jumping really high on his trampoline and going for walks in the forest. Thank you for sharing these with us and your friends.
We also had a lovely comment from Lachlann and his family who have been busy too. We love connecting with you and hearing what you have been up to. Please keep sharing!
I hope you all enjoyed learning a little about some of the exercises children might experience in Primary 1. We are going to continue using The Very Hungry Caterpillar to look at exercises around Maths, Health and Wellbeing, Science and Technology.
First lets say hello to everyone with the help of BookBug.
Mrs Kay’s caterpillars finally hatched from their cocoons. Here is a video of Jessica releasing them into Mrs Kay’s garden.
Maths
Here are some ideas of ways to use Brilliant Bugs to explore maths.
Design your own board game.
You will need:
Paper or card
Pens, pencils or paint to decorate
Dice and counters (borrow some from a board game you have at home)
Some ideas include:
Spiders and Drainpipes
Just like snakes and ladders but using spiders and drainpipes instead. Climb up the spiders web and fall down the drainpipe.
Butterfly land
Draw a beautiful scene with lots of butterflies and other bugs. Make a path all round the board and see who can be the first player to reach the end. You might like to add some funny tasks or forfeits along the way.
Matching pairs
Cut out some square pieces of card and draw 2 of your favourite bugs, with one bug on each square of card. Once you have at least 10 pairs turn the squares over and take turns trying to find each pair.
Patterns, size and shape.
Using beads, buttons or whatever else you have at home make caterpillars. Try and create a pattern and see how many times you can repeat it before you run out of materials.
Look at the size and shapes of bugs in your garden. Can you find a large bug or one that is really very small? Look at symmetry, bugs should have a line of symmetry (when you draw a line down the middle, the image is the same on each side). Does the line of symmetry work for lines drawn top to bottom and from left to right?
There are lots of songs that feature bugs and maths, here are some examples.
Health and Wellbeing
Sticky Kids have lots of podcasts on their website. They are great for getting children to be more active and are fun for all the family to join in.
The Bad Tempered Ladybird by Eric Carle is a great way for children to explore their feelings. It shows that it is better to be kind to our friends but that even ladybirds get grumpy sometimes!
Recipes
Here are some yummy bug inspired recipes to try at home.
Mrs Ross has a recipe for snail swirls she would like to share with everyone.
5 oranges, (make it easy on yourself and use mandarin slices)
Arrange all the pieces of fruit on sticks using any combination you want. Serve as a picnic lunch, and don’t forget to drop a few pieces in the grass for the neighbourhood caterpillars!
Perfect Picnics
Why not pack up as many of the foods that the hungry caterpillar ate and go on a picnic. You could have a picnic in your garden or while on a nature walk.
The hungry caterpillar enjoyed
1 apple
2 pears
3 plums
4 strawberries
5 oranges
1 piece of chocolate cake
1 ice cream
1 pickle
1 slice of cheese
1 slice of salami
1 lollipop
1 piece of cherry pie
1 sausage
1 cupcake
1 slice of watermelon
Send us some photos of you enjoying your treats! Children can help prepare these recipes developing their fine motor and life skills.
Science and Technology
Get outdoors and see what bugs you can find. Look under stones and logs, bugs prefer damp and cold places.
If you have a magnifying glass have a look at all the parts of a bug. Is what you have found an insect? How do you know what is an insect and what isn’t?
Insects have 6 legs, a head, thorax and abdomen. They may or may not have wings. If a bug doesn’t have one of these things then it is not an insect and may be something else like an arachnid (spider), an annelid (worms) or a myriapod (centipede). Lots of information can be found at www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/15-facts-about-bugs/
Mrs Kays caterpillars are still wrapped snugly in their cocoons. They will hopefully emerge next week sometime, we will keep you posted. In the meantime this video shows the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.
Mrs AC’s children Luke and Neve made a poster about bugs and their habitats.
Songs and Rhymes
Mrs Laing would like to share a new rhyme she has thought up just for Newport Nursery.
Mrs Ross has a worm at the bottom of her garden.
Mrs Kay has a rhyme about a little girl and her caterpillar.
Mrs AC likes this rhyme about 5 speckled frogs.
Thanks for reading the blog this week, have a great weekend and don’t forget to let us know what you have been doing. We miss you all very much. Lets listen to the Goodbye song.
Hello everyone! Welcome to this weeks blog all about Brilliant Bugs and the Very Hungry Caterpillar. We hope you have all had a lovely week enjoying the sunshine and celebrating Book Bugs birthday. Send us some pictures showing what you have been doing and we will add them to next weeks blog. We miss all of you very much and hope you are all safe and happy at home with your lovely families.
This is usually the time of year Mrs Kay would be inviting children and their carers to attend Peep sessions. These sessions are aimed at transition to Primary 1. This week and next weeks blog will be around transitions. A special transition that happens in nature is when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Caterpillars work very hard to prepare themselves for this transition, just like our nursery children do all year round. They prepare for school with the support of parents, carers and nursery staff.
Mrs Kay has got some little caterpillars to look after. they started of tiny, hopefully you can make them out in the picture.
Over the last 2 weeks they have grown bigger.
They grew bigger and bigger by eating lots of food. They crawled up to the top of the container. They have now made a cocoon around themselves and are waiting to transform. Hopefully by next week the caterpillars will change into beautiful butterflies, lets wait and see!
Twinkl has some fantastic resources that supports children’s learning following the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme. They are offering free access to the resources during lockdown. Visit twinkl.co.uk and search The Very Hungry Caterpillar for lots of great ideas.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a lovely story about a caterpillars transition to butterfly. Let’s listen to the author talk about the book, he has a great way of explaining why children have enjoyed the book for the last 50 years.
The book can be used to support every area of the curriculum. We will explore some activities that can be done at home. Let’s enjoy the story now.
This week we will focus on Literacy, Art, Drama and Music.
These are some ideas which will support children’s development in literacy. Children learn best through play, wherever possible learning should be fun and child led. These ideas are designed to be a gentle introduction to some of the activities children might expect to do in school.
Literacy ideas
Sand tray writing
Fill a small tray or dish with sand, salt or flour and allow children to make letter shapes or just enjoy making marks in the sand. There is no expectation for children to ‘write’ just to enjoy the experience. Gently shake the tray to clear, ready to start the fun again.
Play dough or plasticine.
Encourage children to use play dough or plasticine to make the letters that form their name. Plasticine is better to use if possible as it encourages strengthening of the finger muscles. This is needed to help when learning to write as strong muscles supports a child’s stamina when working. More information about building the strength of finger muscles and some fun games and activities can be found here https://www.teachhandwriting.co.uk/more-activities-help-develop-handwriting-skills.html
Playdough Recipe
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon oil.
Mix flour, salt and oil in a bowl, using your hands can be easier and fun!
Add a little water at a time to get the desired consistency.
You can add some food colouring if you would like, we do not add any in nursery so that we do not influence their design process.
Tell your own story
Have a go at being a story teller. You might want to be like Eric Carle and write over 70 books for people to enjoy. Parents can take on the role of authors if children do not want to write. Children can choose to be authors and illustrators if they wish. Older siblings can help too, it can be a fun activity for all the family. Try using some of these ideas and tips when publishing your book:
Who is the main character? Is it an insect?
What does the character do? Do they have an adventure, or have a problem they need to work through?
What other characters are in your story? Do they help the main character, are they kind?
Try to think of a start, middle and an end.
Think about your illustrations, they should do a lot of the story telling. Children that cannot read can still enjoy the story by following the pictures.
Have fun, would you like to read this story yourself?
Share a story
Share some story books together. Do you have any books at home about bugs?
The Very Quiet Cricket is another story from Eric Carle. It’ s a lovely story about a little cricket who hasn’t managed to find his voice yet.
I Love Bugs is written and illustrated by Emma Dodd. It tells of a small boys love of bugs, do you all love bugs as much as he does?
What the Ladybird Heard is a well known book by author Julia Donaldson. This is one of the children’s favourite books in Newport Nursery!
Art ideas
Eric Carle has a very distinctive art style. Why not try and create some images in his style? You could use paints, pens or crayons.
A fantastic way to explore art is by doing some transient art outdoors. You do not need any special equipment, just the materials nature provides. Go into your garden or on a nature walk to the local forest or beach. Collect sticks, stones, fallen leaves and flowers (only if they are from your own garden). Mrs Kay and her family collected sea glass from the beach. Jessica used the sea glass and some leaves and flowers from Mrs kay’s garden to create a beautiful butterfly.
Here are some pieces of art from Andy Goldsworthy who is an artist famous for his use of natural materials.
Art can be found in nature, the hive of a colony of bees, the patterns on a ladybirds wing or the markings on butterflies and moths. Can you find any patterns when you are out and about?
This week saw us celebrate World Bee Day. We celebrate world bee day to highlight the importance of looking after bees. The United Nations have a great section on their website giving lots of information about bees. https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day
Here we have a craft idea to make your own bee, send a picture of any of your art creations.
Why not try and make your own musical instruments? Empty containers filled with rice or pasta make great shakers. Pots and pans and wooden spoons make good drums. Old kitchen utensils hung from string make good wind chimes for outdoors.
Listen to the sounds that some well known bugs make. Can you hear bees buzzing or crickets chirping? Listen to some sounds here but go into your garden at different times of the day to see what noises you can hear.
Here is a funny song about some bugs going to a ball. What bug would you like to be? Would you dress up? Maybe you could make some fancy hats or clothes for your bug friends to wear to the ball.
Mrs AC, Mrs Laing, Mrs Kay and Mrs Ross have all sang a bug related nursery rhyme for you to enjoy.
Drama ideas
Sock puppets
You will need:
Old socks
Felt tip pens
Pieces of material
Googly eyes
Glue
Pipe cleaners
Decorate your socks in any way you’d like. You can make worms, caterpillars, spiders, bees or ladybirds.
Masks
Make bug masks using card or paper. Make lots and ask family members to take on the role of their favourite bug. Use old clothes and material to make a costume and put on a play.
Watch a bug themed film
Gather your family, make popcorn and turn the living room into a cinema. Some good bug films are:
A Bugs Life – Disney Pixar rating U
The Ant Bully – Warner Bros. rating U
Bee Movie – Dreamworks rating U
James and the Giant Peach – Disney rating U
Charlotte’s Web – Paramount rating U
Other news
Solihull Approach
Solihull is now available to parents and carers. This is a fantastic resource that is usually delivered to staff to support understanding of peoples emotional and behavioural needs. More information can be found here:
Thank you for taking time to read our blog, we hope you are able to try some of the activities at home. Don’t forget to send pictures of your activities and we can add them to future blogs. See you all next week and lets all sing the Goodbye Song before we go.
We hope you are all keeping safe and well. We are missing each and everyone of you and hope this Blog will help us to connect. 💕
In this special Bookbug Birthday Blog, we shall be marking Bookbug’s special tenth Birthday by sharing lots of special activities. We hope you enjoy this week’s Blog!
We know you can all sing Happy Birthday beautifully in English. Why not have a go at singing Happy Birthday to Bookbug in French?
https://youtu.be/F-Mn8Woi9XM
We are so proud to present a special Signalong Happy Birthday Video specially created to celebrate Bookbug’s ten years. Thank you to tracygood@signalong.org.uk
Can you learn and share the special song for Bookbug? Why not send us a video?
✏️ 🛒 Bookbug’s planning a Birthday party. He needs to write lists to help get organised.
Party Food
Party Games
Party Bags
Bookbug needs a few ideas from his friends. With adult help, can you write a list to help Bookbug?
Party Games
👄 👂 Before we followed Government Guidance, the morning children suggested we played Musical Statues and what fun we had! I wonder if you can organise a game of Musical Statues with your family? Remember to explain the rules of the game clearly so it is fair for everyone.
👄 👂 Can you play, ‘I went to the Shop?’ with your family?
Someone starts by saying ‘I went to the shops today and bought…’ something beginning with A (e.g. apple) 🍏
The next person continues by saying the previous item (apple) and then something beginning with B (e.g. banana) 🍏 🍌
Continue around your family members, working through the alphabet, adding one more item to the end of the list each time. 🍏 🍌 🥕
👣 🎶 Let’s Dance with Go Noodle
As you all know, exercise is great for our bodies as well as our minds. Why not join in with this ‘I’ve got a Feeling’ dance routine? Click on the link.
Bookbug likes to get moving with familiar tunes. Bookbug wants to share the fourth Sticky Kids Workout 4.
What was your favourite part of the workout?
Book Bug app
The Bookbug app helps everyone explore amazing songs and rhymes. Why not explore the Bookbug app as a family and have a Bookbug Birthday Concert? Share your concert with your friends or family.
Our Favourite Bookbug Songs and Rhymes
Mrs Laing’s would like to share this fun song called, ‘Ickle Ockle Blue Bottle.’
Mrs Ac’s favourite Singing Game is Sleeping Bunnies. Can you think of your own animal and movement to create your own verses?
Mrs Kay’s favourite Bookbug song is the Jeely Piece song.
‘I remember my teacher teaching it to me. She sang and played along on her guitar. When I told my Mum about the song, she said that it reminded her of when she was a little girl. My Mum grew up up in Glasgow and lived in one of these flats. Mums and Dads would throw sandwiches out of the window to save them from walking up lots and lots of stairs everyday for lunch. I like to think of my Mum catching her lunch everyday, I’m not sure if any of her pieces made it to space though!’
To celebrate Bookbug’s birthday, I would like to share a special game called, ‘Cut the Cake.’
Everyone makes a circle with one person in the middle.
Place an odd number of objects in the middle of the circle.
🎶Sing the song;
Clap your hands together (clap hands), give yourself a shake (shake your body), make a happy circle (hold hands with the people next to you and swing them), then you cut the cake. The person in the middle ‘cuts’ between two players and they run and collect objects in the middle. The person with the most, is the winner and they become the cake cutter. To make it trickier, why not add more items into the middle of the circle.
Our Favourite Books
Miss Stevenson’s favourite book is The Rainbow Fish. She loves the book because of the beautiful illustrations and the message of the story that sharing with others makes us happy and brings a smile to others.
Mrs Laing’s favourite book is Stick Man by the author Julia Donaldson and the illustrator Axel Scheffler. She loves looking at the changing seasons and all the adventures Stick Man experiences. Mrs Laing always feels relieved that he makes it home to his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.
✂️ Bookbug really enjoyed listening to Stick Man so we started to make him a Stick Family for a special gift.
Can you make a Stick Man? Why not take him out on an adventure and talk about what he is doing?
Stick Man is lonely. Can you make him a Stick Family? Can you make family members of different sizes? Can you order them from biggest to smallest? How many sticks did you use? Can you describe the Stick family?
Stick Man Illustrations
Illustrations are very important to help us work out words. Even as adults, we continue to use pictures to help us quickly work out messages shown in different environments.
Look at the video showing the Stick Man illustrations. Can you talk about the different seasons Stick Man experiences?
🌍 Can you describe the changing weather in each season? How do people dress in the different seasons? What happens to the trees throughout the story?
Join in with the the Seasons song.
🎭 How many ways can you use a stick? Why not work with an adult to write a list or send us some pictures?
Bookbug Sessions
On at Fife Libraries offers Bookbug sessions. Why not join in with one of the sessions by clicking the link and selecting videos? Look out for Pauline our local librarian.
Since following Government Guidance, Bookbug has been enjoying his outdoors daily exercise. Bookbug has travelled around Newport and stopped to rest at different places on his journey. Look carefully at each photograph. Can you guess where he has stopped? Why not share your thoughts in our Comments feature? The answers will be given in next week’s Blog.
Bookbug Cosmic Kids Yoga Dance Party
We would like you and Bookbug to experience one final birthday treat with Jaime from Cosmic Yoga.
We hope you have had fun celebrating Bookbug’s tenth birthday.
Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you very soon.
Remember you can add your thoughts and ideas linked to the Blog using the Comments feature or why don’t you share some of your experiences through
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Follow these fun activities from the Play Scotland Website. 
Method Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and fill a 12 cupcake tray with cases. Using an electric whisk beat 110g softened butter and 110g golden caster sugar together until pale and fluffy then whisk in 2 large eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Add ½ tsp vanilla extract, 110g self-raising flour and a pinch of salt, whisk until just combined then spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases. Bake for 15 mins until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack. To make the buttercream, whisk 150g softened butter until super soft then add 300g icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Whisk together until smooth (start off slowly to avoid an icing sugar cloud) then beat in 3 tbsp milk.
