Day: January 28, 2022

Some children showed an interest in our “Rumble in the Jungle” storybook. Whilst reading the story, the children also played with the relevant jungle animals – discussing different colours, shapes, patterns and sounds. The children were offered an experience to recreate their own animal patterns where they were able to continue to explore various shapes, colours and patterns.

This week in the discovery area, the children have shown an interest in dinosaurs. We have been exploring all of the different species of dinosaurs and the differences between each. We explored some dinosaur small world provocations, exploring the dinosaurs in a variety of different ways. 🦖🦕⭐️

We have been exploring dinosaur eggs this week, we made dinosaur eggs using different materials such as ice and bicarbonate of soda. We then used our problem solving skills to hatch our eggs. 🦕🥚🦖

During one of our dinosaur experiences, the children began talking about volcanoes. To follow on from this conversation, we decided to make our own volcanoes using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. We developed our curiosity as we saw the effect these ingredients had on one another. 🌋

We have been exploring dinosaurs and their bones/fossils this week in the discovery area as the children continued to show interest in this. We explored some dinosaur bones and real pictures of dinosaur skeletons and bones, we developed our knowledge of the past, the world around us and how this has changed throughout time. 🦕🦖🦴

This week in the discovery area, we have been making our own fossils using different materials. We have developed our creative skills as we used clay and play do to create our own fossils by pressing the bones and dinosaur figures into this to create an imprint. 🦴🦕

We have been developing our curiosity and inquiry skills this week as we have been observing the hatching process of a dinosaur egg. We have been checking on our egg regularly to see any changes or signs of hatching, we will check on it again next week. I wonder what could be inside… 🦖

In our Acorn room a few children are settling, we are using one to one and high quality interactions to support them to develop positive relationships with their key workers. The children are in a calm, loving, nurturing and curiosity driven learning environment that supports them to gain a sense of security.

A few acorn children have showed an interest in getting a pet with our 2-3 room. We had a group discussion of the animals they wished for. The children were respected a they shared their views, thoughts and feelings. A few children asked for a “bunny rabbit”, “fish”, “snails”, “an elephant”. The experiences were scaffolded by their choice of animals. For example we had sleeping bunny’s, a bunny counting game, a pet puzzle.

Our Acorns have also been busy taking care of our dolls and learning through bathing the dolls, putting them to bed and dressing them.

In the courtyard the children have been experimenting with ice and figuring out different ways to get the animals out of the ice. The children had some ideas, which were to smash the ice with spoons, some children suggested using hot water as well. The children were being safe and used goggles for their eyes as the ice was going everywhere. The children used all of their ideas to solve the problem and counted all the animals the found and named as many as they could. 🐬🐙 🔢

At home some of our children have been experimenting and speaking about colour mixing. In our kitchen we have been using shaving foam and the children were choosing different paint colours to see what colours we could make. Some children used

red and blue = purple💜

White and red = pink 💗

White and blue = light blue💙

These were just some of the colours we mixed. The children were highly engaged in this activity and would like to do it again but make it a bit different.

Week Commencing 17/01/22 – Outdoors🌳

Happy New Year!❤️

It’s been a busy week in our garden.🌱🌿We discussed the cold weather and the children thought it would be a kind and very caring idea to make bird feeders.🥶

We felt they needed some food to help keep them healthy and warm inside!

It was a real collaborative effort!👏🙌

We used lard, bird seed and coconut shells!🥥Lots of mixing, stirring, mashing and turn taking!🙌👏We listened carefully and followed up to 3 instructions! We were kind friends sharing the spoons and we chose which tree we wanted to hang our feeders on.🌳

I think you’ll all agree our bird feeders turned out brilliantly!🤩

Can you see the pigeon having a good nibble at the feeder?!🙌🙌🙌🌳

To add to our busyness we decided to get a fingers moving to keep us warm by doing lots of weaving with ribbons, rope and pipe cleaners to make our gates to outside all colourful 🌈

As well making bird feeders and doing lots of weaving, the boys and girls have loved jumping in muddy puddles and breaking the ice when the puddles froze over ❄️

We also had a consultation meeting this week and the children decided they would like to develop an area at the bottom of the garden and create ‘Animal World!’🌳🐿🦫🦔🌳We are at the very early stages and will post regular updates on the blog for you all to see how this area is taking shape!🙌Children having autonomy and ownership over their own learning!🙌🙌🙌#teamoakburn #responsible #creative #independent #confident #teamwork #collaborativeworking❤️🌳❤️

Week commencing 24/01/22…🌳❤️

Look! We have added to our ‘Animal World’ area. The children felt the animals needed leaves and sticks so they could have comfy beds!❤️

We also tied some ribbons to branches of the tree. One child said ‘The ribbons will blow in the wind and the animals will enjoying looking at them!’…❤️