Play on Pedals (Thursday)

We were delighted to welcome Andrew from Play on Pedals to the nursery this week.  He will be providing four sessions for the preschool children, focusing on core bike skills.  The first session started with an explanation of bike parts and safety instructions.  Then the bairns set up a corners game and also ran to the cone colour called out.  When the bairns got on their bikes, they had to stand like flamingoes on one leg and use a karate kick to lift their leg over the bike to get off.  The bairns also had a sit test where they lifted one leg, then the other and finally both legs together while balancing.  They played an elimination game, listening for the words “brake” and “bell”.

Senses (Thursday-Friday)

We have been exploring our senses in the setting this week.  The bairns had six pots filled with various different smells – mint, coffee, soil, rose, banana and shaving cream.  The contents were put into small covered tubs and the bairns had to use the small holes in the top to smell what was inside before placing it on the matching picture.  The bairns also used their sense of touch by feeling the contents of balloons which were filled with marbles, beads, coins, buttons and plastic spiders.  “Ugh, I don’t like spiders!”  Finally the bairns tested their sense of taste at snack.  They used one hand to cover their eyes, while holding out the other for a small piece of fruit, before tasting.  “Banana.”  “Kiwi.”

Bookbug (Thursday)

Our Bookbug session this week started with the Welcome Song, followed by Wind the Bobbin and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Fish Alive.  The bairns listened to a story called I’m Not Cute by Jonathan Allen about a baby owl’s adventures through the woods.  Every animal he meets thinks he is adorable and wants to give him a hug.  Then everyone held onto a piece of the lycra blanket and sung Jelly on a Plate before finishing off with The Grand Old Duke of York.

Outdoor Play (Wednesday)

The bairns used two large cardboard boxes in their outdoor play this week – hiding inside, cause and effect down the hill and as a footrest for a chill-out session in the sun.  They also explored the ice that had formed in our outdoor tray.

Fishing (Friday)

Some of the bairns were intersted in making their own fish and fishing rods.  We added paper clips to the fish and a small magnet stick to the end of our fishing rods.  One of the bairns demonstrated casting off.  “I sometimes do yun wi me crabby line.”  The bairns play evolved as they brought in other loose parts such as flippers, shells and a life jacket.  The bairns were also engaged in imaginative play, choosing to become divers, sharks, mermaids and dinosaurs.  “I’m going to dive in.”  “Pretend I’m a mermaid with my seashell crown.”

Viking Butter, Bread and Runes (Friday-Thursday)

The bairns are still very interested in Vikings and we discussed things that happened during the Viking Age.  The bairns learned that there were no shops to buy food or other items and that the Vikings had to trade for the things they wanted.  The bairns wondered how they would make bread and butter.  We added cream to a bucket just like the Vikings.  Then the bairns shook the bucket, taking turns and checking to see the progress.  The next day the bairns following a Viking bread recipe, measuring out the ingredients and kneading the dough.  The recipe is available at this link – Viking Bread Recipe for Kids to Cook.  Many of the bairns explored Viking runes by finding the letters of their name and writing them out.  They noticed the straight lines of the runes.  “Dat one goes doon like yun.”

Exploring Shape (Monday-Thursday)

The bairns have explored shapes this week using peg boards and elastic bands.  This focuses on fine motor skills, pattern recognition and creativity.  Our very crafty cohort also used the shapes to draw around to make more shapes like stars and houses.

Making Clocks (Monday -Tuesday)

Some of the bairns chose to make their own clocks, using old records and CDs.  They wrote out numbers, cut them out and added them to the base with glue.  They used split pins to create the hands.

Technology (Monday-Thursday)

The paint app on the smart board gets a lot of use.  This week the bairns have created rainbows, fire and written letters.  Selecting the tools they want to use promotes fine motor skills and builds their confidence in using technology.

Valentine’s Monsters (Wednesday- Thursday)

The bairns explored cause and effect, colour mixing and expressive arts while creating Valentine’s monsters for the people they love.  They folded a piece of paper in half, added paint to the centre and then squished the two sides together.  When they peeled the paper apart, their monster’s body was created.  They added eyes and feet using stickers and a black marker.

 

Reading and a visit to the Library Van (Monday-Friday)

The bairns love a story!  Through free play, the bairns can choose to have a story or find out information from a book at any time.  We visit the library van regularly and the bairns choose books based on their interests.  During this visit, the bairns chose books about animals, dinosaurs and an interactive peekaboo book.  “I picked that one cos my friend likes dinosaurs.”

Motor Skills (Monday-Friday)

The bairns decided to make a jumping platform in the outdoor room using the large hollow blocks.  They worked together to make sure it was safe by making it double width and stable.  They explored different movements including jumping, sliding, rolling and reaching.  Motor skill development is essential for building flexibility, agility and confidence.  Other ways that the bairns develop their motor skills include playdough, model making and movement.

South Mainland Up Helly Aa Shields (Tuesday-Thursday)

We are in the heart of getting ready for SMUHA.  The bairns chose to decorate their shields with fire, using red, orange and yellow paint.  When these were dry, they added black paint to the centre of their shield and used different sized marbles to move the paint around inside a basin.

Up Helly Aa (Tuesday)

We started our adventure on the bus to Lerwick to see the Jarl Squad in all their glory.  The bairns guessed lots of different colours for the suits and galley. “I think green.”  “Red!”  “Yellow.”  “Purple.”  “Red wi black stripes!”  Then we headed to the museum for a snack and UHA craft activities, creating, pictures, shields, helmets, torches and galleys.  The bairns also split into groups to explore the museum.

Music (Friday)

We are very lucky to have Mrs Garrick volunteer her time every Friday morning for a music session.  The bairns started with the Welcome Song with actions.  Next, we gathered around the piano and began to learn a funny bunny song.  Mrs Garrick encouraged the bairns to join in with her actions for the next song – making the widest mouth, wiggling our tongues and then we moved around the hall, describing our actions in song along the way.  The bairns were walking, skipping, hopping, jumping, sliding, skating and running.  Mrs Garrick sprinkled in some samba with instruments for the next song.  Then, it was time to copy someone’s moves in Everybody Do This.  We started a story song about a fox eating a mouse and then it was time to finish with Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes.  “Faster!”  We were ready for a rest after all of that and Mrs Garrick’s Zen Bowl was the perfect way to unwind while laying on the floor.

Play and Learning (Monday-Friday)

Here is a selection of play and learning from the week.  We ended our week with games in the hall, using balls and hula hoops.

Multicourt (Tuesday)

The bairns were interested in ball play so we headed to the multicourt with a big bag of balls from the hall cupboard.  The bairns chose to run with the balls, kick, throw & catch, play football and dribble.  The change of space meant that the bairns had a new opportunity to engage their gross motor skills.  “That was so fun!”

Snow Slime (Monday-Wednesday)

We added snow slime to the water trays in the outdoor room.  The bairns explored the texture, temperature and compared the consistency of the slime with water.  They also added their own polar animals, including polar bears, penguins and an orca.

Cardboard Cutter (Thursday & Friday)

Our new cardboard cutter Beaverbot arrived on Thursday and the bairns got straight to creating.  They listened to the instructions and were able to cut their first piece of cardboard in no time.

“It’s a flying thing for my velociraptor at home.”

Cones (Tuesday & Wednesday)

The bairns used two sets of cones to make a running track in the outdoor room.  They worked together, sharing ideas and discussing how to improve their safety and speed.  They made one large rectangle running track and then added another line of cones into the middle to create two lanes so that they could race each other more safely.  The following day, they set out the cones again and used hockey equipment along the lanes.  They showed great listening skills, team work and problem solving skills.

Clay Galleys (Thursday)

We are immersed in Up Hella Aa and the bairns used clay to make galleys.  They molded the clay to the shape and used tools to make cuts and decorative accents.  Some chose to add shields, a mast and a sail.

Outdoor Play (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns engaged in muddy puddle play, a water slide, chalk drawing, ice painting and digging in the sand pit.  Outside the quiet room, the bairns were discussing how the concrete had cracked.  “I think a dinosaur came and stomped on the ground.”

Expressive Arts (Weeks 1 & 2)

Our bairns are very interested in creating at the craft area, making painted pictures, models, drawings and even a laptop!  These creative activities help to develop fine motor skills used for emergent literacy.  We had music with Mrs Garrick in the hall.  The bairns used beaters to keep to the timing of the drum.

Literacy (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns engage in reading all over the nursery.  Jigsaw puzzles are also a great activity in preparation for reading – recognising shapes, colours and connecting the bigger picture.

Technology (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns have taken lots of interesting selfies this week!  We have many proficient woodworkers who have been making and adding to models of aircraft, boats, galleys and more.