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.