(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Shetland Youth Orchestra Concert (Monday)

We were very lucky to have a visit from the Shetland Youth Orchestra for a spooky-themed concert.  “I see a fiddle.”  “I hear a trumpet.”  The musicians showed off their instrument groups – woodwind, string, percussion and brass, and the conductor spoke about individual instruments.  The SYO played song from Harry Potter, Fantasia, Ghostbusters, March to the Scaffold and Scooby Doo.  The bairns were asked if they could hear the story that was being told by the music.

Sea Creatures (Monday)

Following the bairns’ interest in fishing, we had a special delivery of living sea creatures.  We looked at the squid in a blue crate and wondered what might happen when they went from the pink bucket to the grey tray.  “Do they change colour?” The bairns found out about how lobsters move, sunfish’s eyes and mouths, crab’s pincers and how welks move.  The discussed how the creatures felt, what they ate and the Shetland names for a sea urchin – “scaddy man’s head” or “scabby man’s head”.

Outdoor Play (Monday- Friday)

Mud, glorious mud! The bairns have created an obstacle course, used loose parts to make a farm and there was a fire in the ice cream shop.

Bookbug (Wednesday)

The bairns took part in nursery rhymes and listened to a story during this week’s Bookbug  session.

Tesco Visit (Wednesday)

The bairns asked to go to the supermarket and we took a trip up this week to buy vegetables for the sheltered housing residents.  We caught the service bus at the top of the road.  On the way into Tesco we noticed a sign for the charity initiative.  We picked up a handheld scanner and went to find the vegetables we needed for our gifts.  The bairns found the barcode and pressed the button to scan the items.  The bairns commented on the Halloween decorations in the roof.  “Look, a spider!”.  Once we had paid for our items, we headed back to the bus.  On our way, a kind lady gave us her blue tokens for the charity box.  Mrs Malcolmson explained that the Shetland Youth Orchestra was one of the options and it would be great if we could help them get some pennies by putting our tokens into their box.  We went back on the bus to nursery and arrived just in time for fish and chips.  During lunch one of the bairns explained to their friend that “It was good but exhausting.”!

Sheltered Housing End of Term Gift (Monday and Wednesday)

The bairns decorated paper bags with different kinds of harvest vegetables and made a small note to attach to the gift.  They thought the residents might like to make soup and chose onions, tatties, carrots, brussel sprouts, tomatoes and neeps.  Once the bags and vegetables were ready, the bairns filled up the bags and then we headed out to deliver the gifts.  We also made a trip around the school to wish everyone a happy holiday.

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of the play and learning from the rest of this week.  We have decorated vests for Mrs Meadows’ baby.

Happy Holidays!  We can’t wait to hear all your news from Wednesday 30 October.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Outdoor Play – Slide (Tuesday – Wednesday)

The bairns were quick to make use of some donated cardboard and made a slide in the garden.  They took turns to find the fastest way to slide down, testing out different surfaces.  The thick cardboard was a winner!

Music (Monday)

This week we continued to explore orchestra instruments, with a focus on percussion.  The bairns took turns playing the kabasa, guiro, triangle, hand bells, cymbal, xylophone, maracas, glockenspiel and side drum.

Outdoor Play – Polystyrene (Wednesday)

Let It Snow!  The bairns have explored the properties of polystyrene by creating large plumes of puckles, rolling around in the polystyrene, sleeping in the polystyrene and then running around the garden to get the puckles off their clothes and hair. We discussed the impact of polystyrene on the environment and wildlife, it was all hands on deck for the big clear up at the end of the day.

Fishing (Monday and Thursday)

The bairns have shown interest in fishing, making their own rods, using loose parts for fish and creating magnetic fishing rods using stick magnets and staples attached to Post-It Notes.

Yoga (Tuesday)

The bairns participated in a yoga session with Cosmic Kids.

Polycrub (Monday)

The bairns planted daffodil bulbs, fed the hens, collected 13 eggs, picked tomatoes, fed the goats and took a cabbage back to school for lunch.

Library Van (Tuesday)

The bairns visited the Library Van and chose books based on what they thought the other bairns at nursery would like to read, as well as choosing one for themselves.

Cities (Monday – Tuesday)

The bairns created their own city using masking tape on the floor.  They added various loose parts, including house ornaments and vehicles.  They also made Go and Stop signs for the roads.

Artistic Painting (Friday)

The bairns explored different artistic styles to create their own masterpieces.

Outdoor Play (Monday – Friday)

The bairns have been engaged in lots of outdoor play, including climbing, cutting, imaginative play “fireball!” and ice cream shops.  We also had a short play at the play park where the bairns explored the equipment and made use of the space with chasing games.

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of the remainder of our play and learning from this week.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Music (Monday)

After our Good Morning song, Mrs Garrick got a little surprise when Lavinia from Voluntary Action Shetland arrived to present Mrs Garrick with a Helpin Haands’ award for her time and effort to enrich the bairns’ experiences through music.  This week we learned about sound waves and vibrations, using rubber bands, instruments and the Zen bowl.  We also had a visit from two P6 fiddle players who played Auld Lang Syne and Hurlocks Reel to show different music tempos.  The bairns also took turns to play the fiddle.  After an energetic Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes, we relaxed with the Zen bowl before heading back to nursery.

Bookbug (Wednesday)

During Claire from Bookbug’s visit this week, we listened to a story and the bairns suggested rhymes including Old Macdonald, One Two Buckle My Shoe, The Pea Pod Press and Grand Old Duke of York.

Polycrub (Monday)

While we were at the Salvation Army polycrub, the bairns planted strawberry runners, made signs, picked tomatoes and fed the animals.

Stay and Play (Friday)

It was lovely to see so many of our families during our Stay and Play.  The bairns made sure the setting was looking its best before parents arrived and then showed them everything they love to do throughout the nursery.  Thank you for everyone who shared their hobbies and specialist skills.  It was great to find out more about our families.  We will also pass out a form to anyone who couldn’t attend.  Hopefully we’ll have you in soon to share those skills with the bairns.

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of photos from our play and learning this week.  The bairns have made playdough, looked for rainbows, attended a Shoebox Appeal assembly, created paint using chalk and built varied structures using loose parts.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Music (Monday)

This week we learned about the trumpet and the French horn.  Mrs Garrick demonstrated how to make the sounds and then the bairns took turns with the instruments.  One of our bairns brought in their fiddle and played along with Mrs Garrick, while the audience clapped along in time with the music.

Childsmile (Tuesday)

We had a visit from Childsmile and the bairns practiced good brushing technique.

Outdoor Play (Monday – Friday)

Our outdoor play has involved a trip to the playpark, water painting, digging in the sand pit, ice cream shops, mark making and building a tent.  The bairns worked together to build the tent, followed the instructions and keeping everyone safe.  After it was secured in place, it was time for a quick snack inside the tent.  We also visited the Salvation Army polycrub.

Nice Cream (Thursday 12th & Wednesday 18th September)

The bairns’ interest in ice cream continues!  After making their own ice creams from paper and lolly sticks, they asked if we could make ice cream at nursery.  We tested out the “nice cream” recipe of frozen bananas blended to make ice cream.  The bairns prepared the bananas by slicing them up and adding to bags, before putting them in the freezer.  Once they were fully frozen, we took them out and added them to the Nutribullet.  “Did you remember to bring your special machine?”  It was quite loud but after a few whizzes of the machine, the bananas had turned into nice cream.  The bairns had this, along with pineapple and mango for snack.  “Yummy!”

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of our play and learning from the rest of the week.  The bairns have created jungles and jumping platforms, and played many games in the quiet room.  The bairns also made banana muffins.

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Outdoor Play (Monday – Friday)

We’ve experienced all kinds of weather outside this week.  The bairns have used their fine motor skills to cut the long grass with scissors.  They have also been engaged in climbing, splashing in the giant muddy puddle, creating chalk art, water painting, monster chasing games and role play “I’m at my job wi “puters.”  “Mam, the bedroom’s ready.”.

Music (Monday)

This week at music we marched on the spot, found out more about percussion and wind instruments, including a clarinet that Mrs Garrick assembled and played and we listened to the tempo of the tunes on the piano and made different movements in time with the music.  Our chorus line did a fantastic job of Baa Baa Black Sheep, projecting their singing voices to help us all join in together.  We finished of with a relaxing lie down, while listening to Mrs Garrick play a calming tune on the piano.

Wind (Wednesday)

The bairns have been interested in storms and wind this term.  We took the opportunity to test out some new equipment.  The bairns found an open space in the garden to place a rain catcher.  We also measured the wind using an anemometer.  The bairns moved around the garden to find a good spot for the wind to catch in the cups.  They also used loose parts to stand on, making them taller to see if that would make the anemometer spin faster.  We went down to the playpark, where the wind was stronger and noticed how much faster the anemometer spun.

Cloud/Rain Experiment (Thursday)

Following the bairns’ interest in weather, we have been speaking about the water cycle. We held an experiment using glass jars, water, shaving foam and food colouring.  The bairns filled the glass jars about two/thirds full with water to represent the sky.  They added shaving foam on top for clouds.  Using a pipette of watered down food colouring to represent the vapour filling the clouds, once full and not able to hold any more, the blue water could be seen floating down through the sky like rain.

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of the remainder of our play and learning from the week.

 

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Music (Monday)

Mrs Garrick brought along a fascinating pop-up book all about instruments and orchestras.  The bairns explored the inside of the piano, touching the keys and strings, listening to the different sounds and watching the hammers inside the piano move.  We also moved our bodies with the music, changing from tiptoes, to big strides, skipping and running.  Mrs Garrick also brought three instruments for us to hear – a recorder, a duck whistle and a flute.

Outdoor Play (Monday – Friday)

The bairns have been engaged in lots of outdoor play this week.  They created their own cafe using equipment from the mud kitchen.  They have also practiced their hula hoop skills, used spray bottles, climbed and we visited the playpark while our nursery garden grass was being cut.  The bairns also worked together to gather up the loose grass and add it to our compost bin.

Polycrub (Monday)

We have started our weekly visits to the Salvation Army polycrub again.  The bairns checked on the tomatoes, tatties, collected sunflower seeds and feed the hungry goats.

Force and Angles (Monday – Friday)

The bairns have been interested in using pipes and plastic sheeting to create tunnels, ramps and tracks for their vehicles.  This has developed conversations about force, motion and direction.  The bairns have also used the pipes to create motion with their bodies.  We revisited wind force using a fan.  The bairns have also been exploring sinking and floating at the water trays.

Outdoor Mark Making (Friday)

Combining the bairns interests in force, mark making, water play and creativity with an outdoor painting activity.  The bairns used an upright Perspex framed sheet to add paint and then squirted it with water to see what would happen.  They also used the spray bottles to skeet water at their friends on the other side of the Perspex.  The bairns added large pieces of paper to make prints and made pictures using the leftover paint.

Play and Learning (Monday to Friday)

Here is a selection of the remainder of our play and learning from this week.

 

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Music (Monday)

We revisited the Wiggly Worm song, with groups of the bairns standing up at the front to lead the singing.  We moved our bodies to the music, including some freestyle dancing.  Mrs Garrick brought out props for Miss Polly had a Dolly.  The bairns took turns to take on the roles of Miss Polly, the doctor and the percussion player.  Mrs Garrick started with a slow Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and then the bairns requested “faster, faster”.  After that energetic burst of movement, we relaxed with the Zen bowl.

Bookbug (Wednesday)

The bairns gathered in the quiet room for Bookbug. Claire had brought along a rainmaker, which the bairns quickly identified from the sound. They were keen to try this out for themselves. We sang the Welcome Song and then moved onto nursery rhymes. The bairns moved their bodies by clapping, spinning and jumping. The bairns listened to the story Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley with a different take on the traditional Hans Christian Andersen story of the Ugly Duckling by the invasion of a green and yellow crocodile. The bairns form a circle to stretch out the green material for Five Fat Peas, letting go when the peas go pop.

Outdoor Play (Monday – Friday)

The bairns have been exploring balance, climbing and looking for bugs.

Role Play (Monday – Friday)

The bairns have been engaged in different role play across the setting. This has included families and dens in the quiet room, cafes in the home corner and cities using a table with extended legs.

Building (Monday – Friday)

We have seen lots of building this week, from small structures using wooden blocks to a large jumping platform in the outdoor room. The bairns also built a den outside using a tarpaulin and cable drums.

Water Play (Tuesday & Thursday)

The bairns used loose parts to add to their water play, creating angles for pouring.

Play and Learning (Monday – Friday)

Here is a selection of play and learning from the remainder of the week.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Outside Play (Weeks 1 & 2)

We have had lots of time outside these past two weeks.  The bairns have engaged in role play chasing games, drawing and painting, planting herbs, building obstacle courses, ice cream shop imaginative play, digging in the sand pit, exploring the playground, muddy puddle play and catching up with our friends over the fence.

Music (Monday 19 August)

We were delighted to welcome Mrs Garrick back for our music session this week.  We began with the Good Morning song, including actions.  Then, Mrs Garrick was keen to know if the bairns could copy her clapping pattern.  We revisited the Wiggly Worm at the bottom of the garden.  We marched around the hall, freezing when the music stopped.  The bairns split into groups for Humpty Dumpty, with some sitting on the wall and some helping to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.  There were much excitement when Mrs Garrick began to play Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.  The bairns remembered the actions and Mrs Garrick fingers were faster than ever on the piano keys.  We finished off with the soothing zen bowl.

Library Van (Tuesday 20 August)

We visited the library van, browsed the books and borrowed a few new ones for the nursery bookcase.  The bairns made decisions based on their interests of pandas, dinosaurs and racing cars.  The bairns also listened to a story called Yawn all about passing a yawn to different animals.  Once we got back to nursery, the bairns had a look at their books and found space on the bookcase.

Baking (Wednesday 21 August)

Following the bairns’ interests in baking, we made biscuits and pancakes this week.  The bairns measured and added the ingredients to the bowl, mixed them up and rolled out the dough for the biscuits.  They chose dinosaur cookie cutters and then placed them on the tray ready for the oven.  When they were baked the bairns enjoyed the biscuits for snack.  The bairns chose a heart-shaped mould for the pancakes.

Playdough (Weeks 1 & 2)

While making playdough, the bairns decided that this batch should be blue.  They have used their fine motor skills to shape the playdough into cookies, cakes, flowers and more.

Chicks (Monday 19 August)

We had a special visit from some feathered friends.  The bairns gathered in the outdoor room to see what was inside the cardboard box.  They could choose whether or not to take a turn of holding the chicks using gentle hands, with one hand on top and one underneath to make the chicks feels safe.  .

Oat Milk (19-22 August)

During a discussion at snack, the bairns spoke about where milk comes from, the different types of milk and that some people can’t have cow’s milk.  They decided to make their own oat milk.  Following the process they found online, the bairns rinsed and treated the oats.  The bairns tried the oat milk at snack.  “That milk made me cough.”

Magnets (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns have engaged in magnet play, using the stick magnets to find various metal items in the tissue paper-filled basket.

Wind (Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 August)

The bairns have been interested in storms and wind this week.  They tracked the wind on the interactive board, learned about how wind is formed using a video on the iPad, drew and painted storm pictures and explored wind and force using a fan, polystyrene chips and pom-poms.

Here is a selection of the rest of our play and learning from the first two weeks of term, including Mrs Malcolmson’s birthday, den building, creativity at the craft area, building, preparing and tasting snack and putting away the Tesco snack delivery.