Category Archives: Early Level

Early Level

Fee, fi, fo, fum there is so much measuring to be done

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Traditional fairy tales have truly captured the children’s imagination as they continue to develop their numeracy skills.  Firstly, they had to work out how big their castle wall would need to be to keep giants out, then work out how big a giant really was and finally deciding that all they needed was a giant piece of paper from which they could create their giant by drawing round the tallest boy, all the while checking back through the story to ensure that they were recreating their scene in sequence.

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The Smartest Giant in Town provided an inspirational starting point whereby the children used different methods of measuring tools to create items which were “bigger than”.

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The Number Bunch were set of task of collating data on graphs, which practitioner had the biggest feet? However along the way some of the children decided they would like to find out which size shoe they had too, so with a little help the number was read to them.  The biggest size was 8 with 5 practitioners taking a size 5.

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Within cooking experiences the children were learning how to use spoons, scales and cups to measure out quantities needed for their recipes, they also enjoyed tasting the finished product.

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Stories can be read anywhere in the nursery, in doing so this has strenghtened the children’s creativity skills.

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Early Level

Today we made pizza

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The children’s early mathematical skills are continually being developed throughout their play.  The kitchen area has never been as busy, as they have been  learning how to measure and share equal parts.  However, the most important thing is planning to buy the ingredients, in doing so the children have been learning about safety in their travels, recognising environmental print and exchanging money for goods.  Next week the children have chosen to make macaroni cheese and sweet potato wedges.

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Learning about storytelling through traditional Fairy Tales has been of immense fun for the children, especially when the troll was waiting under the bridge when each of the Billy Goats trip, trapped over, who was the first to trip, trap over the bridge????

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 Story yoga is such a natural way to involve children in listening to stories, through movement and coordination of their bodies.

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Who was the tallest lady in the nursery, why don’t you have a look at the Wonder Wall to find out?

Early Level

Numeracy across learning

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Within baking and cooking opportunities the children have been using language of comparison as they become increasingly familiar with quantities which are bigger, smaller, more, less, before, after and altogether.

Some of the children have been learning how to order numbers from 0 – 10 and used the long jump they created to count how far they could reach.

In the realisation that there was no phone book in the role play area it was decided to create a book where they could call on characters from favourite stories.

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I wonder which recipes the children will be using in the kitchen next week?

Early Level, National storytelling week

Once upon a time……….

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Throughout National Storytelling week the children have brought their storytelling skills to life by using  a number of different mediums.  They have been able to link what they know about characters, problems and the setting within their play to retell some very amusing and interesting stories.

A story created by Mirryn and Cole

Once upon a time Betty was at the shops when she realised she needed the toilet.  She met Humpty Dumpty and asked him, “is there a toilet anywhere?” He replied “No”.  Betty then met Little Red Riding Hood who was buying cakes for her granny.  Little red Riding Hold told Betty.  “You’ll need to go home if you need the toilet.”

Then , as Betty walked home she saw Sid and Shannarri, so she waved at them and asked, “are there any toilets?” They replied, “follow the road up to the nursery and press the green bell.” So Betty arrived at the nursery and saw the troll who was hiding  at the gates.  The troll said, “move on”.  She pressed the buzzer and Lorraine said “come in”.  As Betty opened the door, she met Purple Luigi who tried to push her out the nursery, but Betty manages to shove him out of the door.  Betty eventually found the toilet in time.  She lived happily ever after.

The end

Using props and costumes to retell a familiar story

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Being creative by using finger paints to tell your story…..

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Telling a story through the power of yoga…

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and finally creating the ultimate web……

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We hope that you had as much fun at home creating your “once upon a time stories….”

Early Level

Numbers, numbers everywhere

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This week the Number Bunch  had set themselves many tasks as they planned their learning.

“I know how to write my name and I can count people but I don’t know how to write numbers”

“I want to look at everyone’s ideas and learn with them”

“I wonder where I can find numbers outside?”

“I think I want to learn how to write numbers”

“We can play hide and seek and count up high to 14”

“Play games and learn how number games work, adding on and taking off”

By the end of the day they realised that there were numbers almost everywhere, even on the labels of their clothing.  The task they set themselves was to challenge their mums and dads to see who could find the most numbers at home as possible.  We wonder who the winners were.

 

 

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Early Level

We have been learning so much

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The children have been using their own criteria to develop their early numeracy skills, understanding that the last number they say is the amount they have.  We have also observed a few of the children making simple calculations through early addition and subtraction, this has led to a small group of learners working together twice a week who have called themselves the “Number  Bunch”.

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Pattern making was popular during the Burns day celebrations whereby the children chose their own clan tartan to follow the pattern using paint.

Creating their own stories, the children, through the use of puppets, role play and drawings have been able to recreate their own “Once upon a time…..”  as they bring National Storytelling week to like.

The Wellbeing Wood with Sid and Shanarri has enabled the children to talk about what they need from significant others as they grow and develop.

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Tattie, leek and carrot soup was a firm favourite with almost all the children who were desperate to count out how many carrots, how many onions and how many tatties they need as they put their culinary skills to the test.  The children were also learning how to be safe in the kitchen, around the cooker and whilst using knives and graters.

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Play on Pedals is continuing to be popular choice of learning outdoors.  This is an excellent programme whereby the children are developing their literacy, numeracy, balance and coordination skills.

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Early Level

Once upon a time………National Storytelling week

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Can you think back to the time when you were little and your granny told you some wonderful stories which all began “Once upon a time……”, with each time she told it, there was a different ending with new characters popping up along as the story was told?

This week we will be encouraging the children to retell their own stories, which will not only develop their memory and  language skills but will also help develop their understanding of characters and setting, which they have been learning during the stories heard in their Three Read to Approach to literacy groups.

Why not rather than having a bed time story this week that you share an old fashioned “Johnny Morry Story” with your child.

Early Level

We have been learning………

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The children have been developing their numeracy skills in all aspects of their play, from counting in how many children there are in their group, making simple calculations, to chopping vegetables to follow the recipe of “tattie, carrot and leek soup”, which we are sure many families enjoyed tasting.  

SID and SHANARRI have been joining the children throughout the nursery as they are learning what it means to be Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected, Responsible and Included.  Why don’t you ask your child to tell you how SID and SHANARRI have been helping them as they explore the well-being wood.

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