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.”