Early Years Term 3 2022/23 – Week 8

February 23, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We started our week with music and the good morning song. Then it was time to get active with the moving song. The bairns demonstrated the moves for the others to copy, taking turns and selecting who had a go next. Mrs Garrick introduced a new song Baby Bumble Bee which included signing and singing. One bairn was the bee and when it came to the stinging part they chose somebody else.

We did some drumming using beaters and different items as drums, boxes, lids, mats, chairs and floor. We practiced first with our hands to learn the beat then the drumsticks. The song was about left and right, this helped us to know which beater we should use as well as both together and crossed over in front. The bairns did great listening so they knew when to stop drumming.

The bairns used their loud singing voices for head shoulders knees and toes. We ended the session with relaxation time, lying down listening to soothing music and then moving quietly to the door. Instead of everyone loudly saying thank you, we all whispered thank you to Mrs Garrick.

The bairns have been engaged in Up Helly Aa play for some time. In extending this interest, they built a galley ready for burning on SMUHA day. The bairns worked together on all parts of the galley. “Let’s do the stripes” They added stripes with their chosen colours, first using pen and then paint. “Now we need to do the head.” After designing the head and tail, the bairns used the saw to cut out their shapes. We noticed great team work, listening and creativity that took place during this project.

We had several helpers for making snack on Pancake Day. They weighed out the ingredients, mixed up the batter and supervised the cooking. Then it was time for taste-testing!

Early Years Term 3 2022-23 – Week 7

February 17, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

The bairns asked to use the balance bikes again. We practiced handling by moving around cones and braking. We held races to focus on control and increasing speed. The bairns also tried out wheelie boards and created their own game using bean bags and relay teams.

Our music lesson this week started with bending in time to the music. This promotes listening and develops gross motor skills. Then we moved onto Ten in the Bed with lots of rolling. A small group were invited to lead the bairns using musical instruments. We split into teams for a Conga challenge an then joined up for a giant line. Lastly it was our favourite finale – Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

During our visit from Dynamic Earth, we engaged in an immersive underwater story featuring Charlie’s treasure box. Charlie had lost their favourite silver bracelet. The bairns passed around some smell tubes from the beach. They also put their hands inside the curiosity boxes and found small fish, sea anemones, starfish and shells. Then it was time to go fishing but there was still no sign of the missing bracelet. We also journeyed to the bottom of the sea to help Charlie, where one of the bairns found the missing bracelet right on the sea bed. We saw lots of creatures that light up the dark depths of the midnight zone which helped Charlie to find their way back to the surface. On the way up to the surface, lots of bubbles appeared.

We explored polystyrene and the bairns noticed that it was made from tiny circles. When they used scissors, the particles clung to the scissors and themselves prompting discussion about static. The bairns tried different ways to release the particles. We observed them float in water and made it snow! Then it was time to get out the broom and vacuum. Rich discussion followed regarding the environmental impact of polystyrene and other plastics getting into our seas and oceans. We watched a rhyming story called The Lump: The Lump! A rhyming kids’ story about plastic pollution in the sea – YouTube

Early Years Term 3 2022-23 – Week 6

February 10, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We were delighted to welcome Bookbug back to nursery this week. The bairns joined in singing songs, listening to rhymes and there was a story called Goldilocks and Just One Bear.

The bairns built a slide in the outdoor room this week and have been up and down the slope in all manner of ways, including sliding, running, jumping and twirling using lots of different body parts.

There are always lots of opportunities for drawing and mark making in the setting. This week we have seen very detailed drawings being created on the smartboard and on dry erase boards which have ranged from family portraits to space missions. Supporting bairns to develop their gross motor skills from their shoulders to their wrists also helps with mark making and emerging literacy development.

Small block play with small world items generated lots of different scenarios this week including Viking galleys, a garage, a castle and a party house! Small block play is often a great tool to unlock schemas (play that involves repeated actions, plans or ideas to figure out how things work).

Outdoor play has many benefits, not only does it help us connect to the world around us but it builds resilience too. We always encourage the bairns to be independent and this extends to getting ready to go outside by putting on our own suit and boots. The bairns also put away their own suit and boots when they return inside.

Early Years Term 3 2022-23 – Week 5

February 3, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We have been preparing for Up Helly Aa by learning the songs, practicing our marching and holding galley burnings in the quiet room! The bairns have also been creative building their own galleys and making costumes.

The anticipation had been building for Up Helly Aa and finally it was time to get on the bus and head to Lerwick to see the Vikings. We found a clear viewpoint from the balcony at the Great Wall. The Vikings roared past, bringing along their galley, the pipe band and the brass band. Then it was the turn of the Junior Jarl Squad. We headed to the museum where we had snack, a Bookbug session, Viking activities and a Viking hunt. Three cheers for Up Helly Aa!

After discussion at lunch about what Vikings eat, the bairns agreed that they would probably like butter on toast for breakfast. We discussed how they couldn’t go to the supermarket for butter or bread, where food comes from and that Vikings had to make their own food. The bairns poured cream into a jar, screwed the lid on tightly and shook it up until it turned into butter. Next it was time to make Viking bread using the buttermilk from the butter. The bairns weighed out the ingredients, all having a turn to mix the dough. Then it was time to pop the bread into the oven. The bairns had a taste of their baking at snack – “I love it!”

This is the recipe we followed:

Kids in the Kitchen: Viking Bread Recipe | Raising Lifelong Learners