Early Years – 21.11.22

November 25, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

This week’s music lesson was a lot of fun. The bairns paired their singing with lots of big movement. This was especially noticeable during ‘Everybody Do This’ when the bairns have to copy someone’s moves. Then it was everyone’s favourite song – Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes which got faster and faster with every round.

The bairns were interested in using paint over a large surface. We used the tuff tray and added paint and the bairns chose to use vehicles to mark make. Some of the bairns also formed letters in the paint using their fingers.

The bairns have continued to create using small and large blocks. The constructions have ranged from airports to boats to garages to Winnie the Pooh’s house and towers. These loose parts are an essential resource in the setting which support fine motor skills, imagination, spatial awareness, problem solving, language development and social skills.

After a request from some of the bairns, we added baby bathing items to the water trays. Engaging in the sensory play, the bairns used shaving foam and water to give the babies a bath. The bairns cared for the babies, remembering to wash their hair and clean off any leftover soap.

It’s been an exciting week in preparation for Christmas. We put our Christmas tree up in the quiet room. The bairns chose where to the put the baubles and tinsel and added a star to the top. This created much excitement and interest in wrapping presents and the bairns spent the next few days wrapping up lots of things in the setting. This provided an opportunity to practice cutting skills, develop fine motor skills and opened up discussion about what happens in other parts of the world.

Early Years Term 2 – 14.11.22

November 18, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Following the sensory interests of the bairns, there was plenty of opportunity to experience messy play with shaving foam, gloop and slime-making. The bairns described it feeling soft like custard! There are many benefits of sensory play including supporting brain development, adapting to new situations, awareness of the space around them, fine motor skills and language development.

The bairns were back to gym this week, exploring the equipment and it was clear that their confidence had grown. Whilst assessing their own risk, the bairns were keen to explore. Risky play supports self-esteem and resilience.

The bairns were keen to learn about Pudsey and took part in Pudsey yoga, Pudsey dancing and Pudsey Says (based on Simon Says). There was lots of great movement, building on gross motor skills and an opportunity for rich discussions including Pudsey’s important job to help lots of families.

Week Beginning 7.11.22

November 11, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

A busy, busy week with lots of visitors!

Airports, buses and boat building from various loose parts has played a big part in the bairn’s learning this week whether it be construction, holidays, transport, almost everyone has been involved at some point.

Mark making in all areas of the setting! Santa letters, signs, tally chart, shopping lists and recipes!

Childsmile came for a visit to apply the flouride varnish.

Following a question about the pedals on the piano were Mrs Garrick showed us how a piano makes its sounds. The panels of the piano were taken off to reveal the strings and the hammers, the bairns then plucked the strings to hear the sounds it made and watch as the hammers moved when the keys were pressed down.

Looking after their nursery! An excellent job was done of cleaning up a big paint spill at the craft area using water, soap and paper towels before setting out a cone so others knew the floor was slippy.

We all had an exciting visit to the school hall where Mrs Ritchie had set out and invited us to come and explore the large apparatus. The bairns listened as she told them how to use the stations safely. The bairns tried lots of different ways to travel along the benches and bars, they explored ways to swing on the ropes and used their hands and feet to climb up the high ladders. We will have the opportunity to revisit this over the next couple of weeks and I am sure we will see the bairns becoming more confident.

More construction and a great use of the long planks as a sloping wall roof! A great collaboration, giving ideas, listening to others, evaluation and turn taking.

One of the bairns came in with a poppy badge on today and everyone seemed interested to find out why. We all listened to ‘Poppy’s Day’ which explains remembrance in a child friendly way we also watched ‘Poppies.’ I have added the links if you would like to have a look at home.

Some of the bairns set to work making beautiful poppies and gifting them to others in the setting

“Poppies” on CBeebies – Children’s Remembrance Day 2 Minutes’ Silence Alternative – Bing video CBeebies Radio: “Poppy’s Day” – Bing video

And finally………….. I think Mr Clark will have to brush up on his draughts skills.

Early Years Term 2 2022/23 – Week 2

November 4, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We had a very exciting trip to Sandwick Junior High School this week. We were invited to attend a performance of dance and creative movement called Four Go Wild in Wellies by Independ-dance. The bairns went on the big blue bus and we were warmly welcomed on our arrival at Sandwick. The performance included tents, wellies, leaves and lots of movement. Afterwards, the bairns said they had loved it all.

We have been doing a bit of work on good hand hygiene, following the steps on our poster at the sink. We reminded the bairns to wet their hands before taking the soap. The bairns were surprised to know that soap doesn’t take the germs away but instead it coats their hands in a protective layer.

We added some seasonal vegetables including pumpkins and neeps to the setting and were curious how they would be used. Some of the bairns used the pumpkins as the base for their model by adding golf tees and nails. There were also opportunities for mark making and knife skills.