Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 6

May 26, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

A couple of the bairns found discarded blackbird egg shells on their way to nursery. They brought them in to show us and we spoke about using gentle hands, what might have come out of the eggs and how you can tell the different between male and female blackbirds. We also watched a short time lapse about blackbirds to find out more.

Our transition activities this week included break times in the playground and a visit to the P1/2 classroom. Miss Hunter asked the bairns to draw a bear and the variety was incredible. The bairns got a chance to explore the classroom and try out different resources including the water tray, white board and wooden blocks.

The preschoolers had a taster P.E. session this week. Mrs Ritchie used a Mr Men game to learn all their names – the bairns had to listen for their name and then do a different pose or way of moving. One of the bairns described the scarf throwing and catching game as “We threw something colourful like paper but it was cloots.”

We took the opportunity to share the Pantosaurus video which explains that your body belongs only to you. We spoke about the correct names for body parts and who to talk to if you feel uncomfortable. There is more information available on the NSPCC website: Talk PANTS & Join Pantosaurus – The Underwear Rule | NSPCC

“Come and look ootside, it’s da sun!” We discussed what the sun does which led to questions about solar panels. We added a solar fountain to the outdoor water tray. The bairns covered the solar panels with their hands to stop the fountain. When they took their hands away the sun powered the motor to make the water shoot up into the air. We spoke about the differences between the fountain (water going up) and a shower (water coming down). The bairns noticed that the sun was powering the motor to make the water rise. Some of the bairns said that they have solar panels at home too.

We’ve been engaged in lots of activities outdoors, from obstacle courses to Up Helly Aa processions and games such as duck, duck goose and what’s the time Mr Wolf, even the Titanic made an appearance.

Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 5

May 18, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We had an amazing trip to Sumburgh Airport this week!

The airport staff showed us parts or the airport including the offshore terminal part of the building where the helicopter passengers have their safety briefing and get suited up for the journey. The bairns were able to try on and explore the suits they wear and also the life jackets, the oxygen button was very popular!

We had time for snack in the newly refurbished cafe area and the bairns were presented with an activity book from the staff to keep them busy until the next part of the visit.

The highlight of the morning was the unexpected surprise of getting to go aboard a real plane and sitting in the pilot’s seat! We all got our boarding passes and headed through to departures, just as if we were heading away somewhere. We all had a think about where we could go, Orkney, Aberdeen or Lanzarote? The buttons on the plane were a bit of a temptation and I half expected us to start trundling down the runway…… Thankfully we stayed put!

The Airport fire alarm went off so we all had to head out of the building and walk up to the upper carpark for safety until we got the go ahead to return to the building. Unfortunately because of this the last group that was due to go aboard the plane didn’t have time before our bus departed but we are hoping to organise a visit so they too can have the experience also.

Transition this week has included morning break with buddies and a visit to see the P1/2 classroom and say hello to Miss Hunter. The bairns explored the room and it’s resources, seeming quite at home.

Fun and games with Claire and Bookbug on Wednesday included rhymes, songs and stories.

A mysterious delivery arrived at nursery this morning and the bairns were all very curious to see what was in the big red bucket!

A brown crab, green crabs, spider crabs, a big dogwhelk, sun stars, star fish, scabby mans heads, lobster and a squat lobster were all there ready for the bairns to explore.

Hard, soft, rough, smooth, squishy, slimy, spiky, sharp, nippy and scary were all words used to describe the sea creatures. Some of the bairns held some of them on and others stood well back but lots of questions were asked and they wanted to know about them all. They were most fascinated with the star fish and sun stars as their mouth is underneath and their eyes are at the end of each leg.

And finally a bit of a round up of what else has taken place over the week. They are a busy bunch!

Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 4

May 12, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Playtime transition is now known as Buddy Day! The bairns are increasing in confidence in the playground, exploring the equipment and inviting the older bairns into their play. Miss Hunter visited again, checking in with each of the bairns, exploring their current interests.

We started out our music session with a few rounds of Everybody Do This, where one person stands up at the front and everybody copies their actions in time with the music. Then we practiced our hand co-ordination using the benches and beaters. We started our top secret preparation for our graduation ceremony – all will be revealed soon! We started very slowly for Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, increasing in tempo with each round. “Faster, faster!” We ended with some breathing exercises, using our arms to match our breath.

We were lucky to have a visit from 20 chicks. The bairns learned how to hold the chicks with one hand underneath and one hand on their wings to make them feel secure. We also spoke about how you have to use gentle hands. The bairns used descriptive words – hard feet and soft fluffy wings. The chicks ate crumbs from the bairns’ hands. After our discussion about gentle hands, one of the chicks fell asleep.

There are plenty of opportunities for the bairns to engage in technology in the setting. The bairns often use the iPad to capture the events of the day or take selfies. We added some resin insect blocks to the light table. This has generated discussion around size, shape, number of legs, wings, where they come from and whether they are alive. Early literacy encourages mark making in many forms and our LCD pads offer a new way to develop fine motor skills. We also use the iPad to look up information – do whale sharks have teeth, gymnastics routines and frozen treats for hens.

Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 3

May 5, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson 1 Comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We had our first music session of the term this week, starting with the good morning song. Then the bairns listened and sang along to the scales on the piano, rising up from the bench as the music got higher and louder. We practiced our beating in time with the music using right hand, left and both together. Next it was time to move around the hall to the music. This included jumping, tiptoeing, skipping and long strides. After finding out about everyone’s pets, the bairns sang a new song – How Much is That Doggy in the Window. We slotted in a very fast rendition of Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes before singing our goodbye song while lining up at the door.

We were back in the hall for bike training. The bairns took turns using the bikes and practiced stopping, weaving and gliding. Cones were used to create a route for weaving which builds on corner control. Gliding allows the bairns to practice keeping their bikes upright and stable while traveling at speed. We discussed keeping safe by looking out for hazards and using the bell before you might bump into someone.

We had two more transition visits to the play ground this week. The bairns are getting more familiar with the space and can call on their buddies from P6/7 if they have a question. We also welcomed Miss Hunter for a visit to nursery. This provided an opportunity for a quick chat with each of the bairns.

We were delighted to have one of our parents visit the setting to show us what they use as part of their job as a Physiotherapist. The bairns were keen to test the staff’s blood pressure using a BP monitor and they took turns with the reflex hammer to see if our knee reflexes were working. We found out how to tie a bandage to create a sling and that there are to parts for listening with a stethoscope. The balance board was a popular item with lots of the bairns making it look really easy! We also measured leg lengths and found out that some people have longer legs and shorter bodies and some are the opposite.

We had a visit from Bookbug and the bairns thought it would be a good idea to head outside for the story. This week we listened to Shark in the Dark by Nick Sharrat. Timothy Pope looked through his telescope but did he see a shark in the dark?

In honour of the King’s Coronation, we wore red, white and blue. The bairns made flags using recycled bunting. The nursery attended Coronation Morning Tea with all the bairns from school. We were treated to a mini feast including quiche, cucumber sandwiches, oatcakes with cheese, mini cakes and millionaire’s shortbread. Mr Clark spoke about what might happen during the Coronation and that this is a rare event.

Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 2

April 28, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

During a hail storm, one of the bairns shouted “We will go n shelter til it’s finished” and everyone headed to the garden den. The bairns listened to the noise of the hail on the outdoor room roof and noticed that the hail was stuck in their hair. Once the hail had stopped, the bairns decided it was time to go back out and play. The bairns have also been sieving and raking the soil in the polycrub getting ready for more planting. They found a couple of slaters (woodlouse) to feed to the tadpoles.

We took the service bus to Lerwick to attend a concert at the Shetland Folk Festival. The bairns chatted with the other passengers and noticed the moving scenery outside. After a short walk from the Viking Bus Station to Mareel, we were ready to sing and dance. The first band started with a farm song incorporating animal noises and actions. Then it was the turn of a band from Canada who showed us their double bass and some very fast square dancing. On the bus back, we discussed staying safe while traveling, meeting different people and our favourite moments from the concert.

Childsmile visited this week to apply fluoride varnish. The bairns listened to what would happen – the glasses they would wear and the brush that would be used to apply the varnish. Everybody went through to the library which had been turned into a dentist’s surgery.

The water trays were transformed into a jelly bath this week. This unfamiliar texture provided a new sensory experience. “It’s so squishy!” There was lots of transporting and the bairns watched toy animals sink into the jelly and disappear.

We spent our winnings from Jumpstart January on ropes, jumbo noughts and crosses, climbing wall handles and a large foam rugby ball. The bairns have been making good use of them out in the garden. Our janitor installed the new climbing wall handles and added holes to the top for attaching ropes. The jumbo noughts and crosses has been used in lots of ways. The parachute play book gave us new ideas, especially with the space in the playpark.

Early Years 2022-23 Term 4 – Week 1

April 21, 2023 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We were delighted to be back in our garden this week after the renovation works. The new path has brought opportunities for extending imaginative play, using different kinds of resources in new ways, trajectory play makes for some fast movement around the garden. We also enjoyed an outdoor visit from Bookbug. The bairns received their Jumpstart January prize equipment including large noughts and crosses, ropes, foam rugby ball, sensory timers and a parachute book and put them to use in all kinds of play. We discovered different ways to make bubbles using loose parts.

We started our planting in the polycrub for this year’s produce including garlic, spring onions, leeks, onions, beetroot, carrots, radishes, peerie neeps, and flowers . The bairns made the beds ready, sorted out the seeds, planted the vegetables and watered all the plants. There was even time for a quick selfie! The bairns noticed that the apple tree had lots of flowers and we are hoping for lots of apples this year. Our strawberries have also started flowering.

We had a couple of exciting wooly visitors to nursery this week. One of our families brought in their two caddy lambs. The bairns showed the lambs the outdoor room and noticed they were already good climbers. The bairns also fed the lambs using bottles of milk.

We have been given a raised bed at the Salvation Army Community Allotment. The bairns headed down to see the allotment and plant tatties.

The bairns noticed a police car in the car park. We went to investigate! They identified the numbers and letters on the car and spoke about what number you could call to reach the police. The bairns discussed different kinds of emergency services – police, ambulance, coastguard and fire & rescue service. The bairns also sat in the car and sounded the horn.