Outdoor Play (Monday-Friday)

During our outdoor play this week, the bairns have looked after the polycrub, created sandcastles, played What’s the Time Mr Wolf and Duck Duck Goose, made nature bracelets using masking tape, had a quick play at the playpark, said hello to their school friends, created their own ink using ground up items from the garden, threaded leaves and stalks through the wire at the old hen house, done lots of climbing and digging and built dens.

Music (Friday)

The bairns moved their bodies to the rhythm of the music, followed the beat using their hands, copied their friend’s moves in Everybody Do This and showed us how monsters dance.  There was also time for a quick Head Shoulders Knees and Toes before we lay down to listen for the Zen bowl.

Learning Through Landscapes (Friday)

We began our Learning Through Landscapes sessions this week and the weather was in our favour.  Before setting off, we gathered on the grass outside the school to go over the basics and explain a bit of the background to the programme, which was developed with deprived areas in mind to help parents explore the outdoors for free.  Our setting was chosen to deliver these sessions following the team’s engagement with In-Service training last year.

We made our explore sticks ready by wrapping sticks with masking tape to gather treasures that we found on our way.  When the group arrived at the burn, they began by setting out the markers showing the boundaries and where it was safe to play.  Everyone worked together to set up a shelter.  There was time for free play and an activity called Hapa Zome which comes from Japan and involves creating designs on fabric using natural materials and a mallet.  After snack it was time to pack up and head back to nursery to share about our adventure.  “I liked the thing with the hammers cos it was so beautiful.”  The bairns were keen to share what they learned with their peers.  They explained how to make the Hapa Zome prints and their friends had a turn at making their own too.

Play and Learning (Monday-Friday)

Here is a selection of our play and learning from the remainder of the week.  The bairns have been engaged in different forms of mark-making, finding out about bugs, reading stories and creating their own games.

Hello and welcome to the Cunningsburgh Early Years blog.  We will publish an update most Fridays and post the link to the Facebook page.  The blog is not able to be found by using a search engine.

Loose Parts Play (Weeks 1 & 2)

We have lots of loose parts throughout the nursery, from large blocks to household items and Duplo.  The bairns use these for a variety of games, play and learning.  This week, they have engaged in jumping from the large blocks, lining up items, creating structures and as part of their role play.

Outdoor Play (Weeks 1 & 2)

Our garden is always a popular place to play and learn.  The bairns have played What’s the Time Mr Wolf, counting their steps and running back to the start when it’s dinner time.  The bairns used some old cardboard boxes and made a slide.  There were lots of ways to get to the bottom and every one was tested.  The bairns used some old leaves from the polycrub in their mud kitchen play.

Expressive Arts (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns have explored many different ways to express their creativity this week.  There have been paint mixing, water painting, models being made at the workbench and powdered paint outside.  The message centre has also been popular with the bairns using this to draw pictures to take home and practice mark making.  The bairns have also used technology to express their creativity on the smartboard using the Paint app.

Routines (Weeks 1 & 2)

While the setting follows a child-led approach, there are some routines that happen each day.  For example, the bairns are supported to following good hand hygiene, make their own snack, clear away their dishes into the dishwasher and tidy up what they are using if they are finished.

Music (Weeks 1 & 2 Friday)

We were delighted to welcome Mrs Garrick back for music.  The bairns started with the Welcome Song.  “Dat was funny!”  The bairns moved around the hall, listening to the beat and changing their actions with the music.  They moved like butterflies, took big steps, skipped, tip-toed, marched and ran.  We gathered around the piano to learn the words of the Frankenstein Dance and then the bairns moved around the hall doing their best monster dance impressions.  The bairns also clapped and slapped their knees to the beat of the music, with some playing the triangle or a small drum.  During Week 2, the bairns each had an instrument, and Mrs Garrick conducted her orchestra, moving her hands to indicate quiet or loud notes.  Some of the bairns became the conductor too.  We finished off with Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes, before laying on the floor to listen for the Zen Bowl.

Play and Learning (Weeks 1 & 2)

Here is a selection of the play and learning from the last two weeks.  The bairns have engaged in pouring and transporting in the sand pit,  unloaded the Tesco shopping for snack, made playdough, listened to stories in the quiet room and explored the water trays.