Oakburn Early years centre

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!’…❤️

 

We arrived on Monday to see our elf had found a pom pom and decided to have some upside down fun!😆The children thought he was very funny. We did giggle at his antics!

 

On Tuesday and Wednesday the elves got up to more mischief, which involved superheroes and a zip line!

The children have been developing their fine motor and creative skills as they decorated their own gingerbread men using a variety of craft resources. The children enjoyed creating their own unique designs 🎄🎅⛄️

 

 

We have been developing our early literacy skills as well as our fine motor skills whilst mark making in some gingerbread powder. We copied the letters on the gingerbread men and made marks in the powder. 🎅⛄️🎄

 

This week in the Acorn Room we filmed our Christmas songs to show you the songs we have been learning in nursery. We hope you enjoyed watching and listening to our videos.

On Thursday we had our Christmas party and a very special visitor came to see us. At our party we did some dancing, played musical bumps and enjoyed a party snack then we saw Santa 🎅🏼. 

The children used the glitter flour to mark make in the pretend snow using sticks, acorns and their hands. They made big & small lines, circles and enjoyed feeling the texture of the flour in their hands.

 

 

Acorn Room

The children in the acorn room have been busy this week continuing their learning through Christmas based activities. The children made hand print Christmas trees,  explored their senses with our shaving foam snowman and explored different shapes when helping decorate a hat for our elf!

Construction Area

This week in the construction area the children explored a winter wonderland! On the run up to Christmas this experience allowed the children to work on shape and number recognition as well as learning about animals who live in cold climates.

Courtyard

I set up a blank canvas of a Christmas Tree using tape and set out some loose parts for the children to decorate the tree with.  Using these open ended resources together as a part of transient art children explore shape, positioning, space, colour and texture

In the courtyard kitchen the children we have been using our creative skills to make Christmas decorations for the nursery! What do you think?

Malleable Area

This week the children have been baking gingerbread men and Christmas tree shortbread for our Christmas bags. The children used their fine motor skills mixing all the ingredients together. We explored measure weighing each ingredient. The children were able to listen carefully and follow instructions as we followed the recipe.

More malleable fun! The children used shaving foam, glitter, pom poms and pipe cleaners to decorate Christmas trees. Exploring different colours and textures.

Expressive area

We have been creating Christmas decorations for our expressive area. We made a ‘Merry Christmas’ sign using lots of sparkly materials. The children also used different shades of green tissue paper to make a Christmas tree the used lots of sequins to decorate it.

We set up a writing station where the children could use their mark making and writing skills to write a letter to santa! We told him all the things we like about Christmas then signed our names at the end and posted it in our box. We had a lovely festive week.

We decided to make winter potions using oranges, pinecones and cinnamon sticks. The children enjoyed measuring out the ingredients and pouring and emptying the liquid into different sized containers.

Discovery Area

We really got into the festive spirit this week. Santa’s workshop arrived and we were busy wrapping presents and writing cards!

On Wednesday we enjoyed Christmas Lunch! It was delicious! Our tables were very festive.

On Thursday and Friday we had a visit from Elf on the Shelf! She decided to mess up all the fruit in the kitchen and wrap up some of our nursery resources.

Have a lovely weekend !

 

Expressive Area

This week in the expressive area we have continued to explore our interest in transient art. We have been decorating little Christmas trees with a range of different loose parts. Each one was beautiful and unique!

Lots of children have been interested in mark making! We decided to use a range of different tools and different surfaces to develop our fine motor skills.

We have been developing our curiosity skills as we explored shredded paper. We were able to identify letters and numbers that were hidden throughout. We also developed our fine motor skills as we used tongs to retrieve the pom-poms. Some of the children said the shredded paper looked like snow!

Courtyard

This week the children have been getting into the festive spirit at Oakburn EYC. With the help of Hannah we have decorated both our Courtyard Christmas Tree and our HUGE outdoor tree. They look amazing!

On Tuesday we celebrated St Andrews day. We used different colours and sizes of paper to create our own tartan kilt. We discussed patterns and many of the children were able to follow a pattern using 2 or 3 colours.

It has been a very icy week in our garden and the children have enjoyed exploring the ice. This led us on to having a discussion about snow and when the snow would come. Using the iPad we had a look at pictures of snow and snowflakes. We created our own snowflakes using loose parts and cork boards. Through this activity we discussed symmetry and how to make symmetrical patterns.

Discovery Area

In the discovery area we have been focusing on our fine motor skills and this was the perfect opportunity to make paper chains and Christmas decorations to hang on our trees.

For St Andrews day we made wool patters, danced to Scottish music and read stories.

Towards the end of the week we explored loose parts introduced through a Christmas theme.

Malleable

In the malleable area we have been exploring shape through playdough. The children developed their fine motor skills as they manipulated the playdough in their hands, rolling, pressing and squeezing it. They then used our cutters to make it into a shape of their choice

2-3 Acorn Room

It is officially Christmas month within our acorn room. We have been very creative making our Christmas surprises for our families. We have had sensory experiences like our reindeer food provocation. A few children were able to identify the colours of the magical drops and count them as they added them to their bag. A few children chose to make Christmas trees with their hands. The children are learning our Christmas songs and are beginning to copy a few words and follow a few of the actions.

Just a reminder we are looking to create and igloo. We would appreciate if you brought in your finished milk cartons. Thanks in advance.

Have a lovely weekend!