Technology (Monday-Friday)

The bairns have been making creative models at the workbench, using real tools and problem solving to develop their critical thinking skills.  We have also been finding our houses on Google maps by staring at nursery and using the street view to travel along the road.  Topmarks is a numeracy and literacy site with lots of games for bairns – they often revisit counting and shape games.

Learning to Count with these fun Counting Games – Topmarks

Outdoor Play (Monday-Friday)

The bairns have been sorting out the garden this week.  They have helped to clear out the cupboards, organise the resources into labelled baskets and filled in a muddy puddle on the way to the mud kitchen using the stones from the stone pit.  We also spent some time at the playpark so that Trevor could use his ripsnorter saw in the garden.  He has removed our broken climbing wall and is building us a new one.  Mr and Mrs Malcolmson built a new music wall, using ideas from the bairns.  “Jingle bells!”  “Something to bang on.”  “We could use bits like we use at music.”  “Something bumpy like dat pipe.”  They have been exploring the sounds, using different utensils and materials.

Trip to the Lerwick Library (Thursday)

We took a small group up on the service bus to Lerwick to visit the library.  The bairns played I Spy while we waited for the bus.  Once we were in Lerwick, we made the short walk from King Harald Street to the library.  We stopped to look at the leaves falling from the trees and discussed what happens when the seasons change.  We heard the Town Hall clock striking and talked about the different sounds it makes at every 15 minutes.  When we arrived at the library, we returned three books we had borrowed from the library van.  Then we headed inside, straight to the bairns’ books.  Everybody explored the books and toys, before selecting a book to read and a couple to take back to nursery.  We read stories together and noticed what was outside from our high vantage point.  Soon, it was time for snack and play in the activities room.  The bairns made jigsaws, played matching games and counted rainbow caterpillars.  On our way back to the bus, we wondered what the bairns though about their trip to the library – “it’s good”  “fun”  “awesome”.

Stay and Play (Friday)

Thank you to everyone who attended our Term 1 Stay and Play.  The bairns were very excited to show their grown-ups their favourite parts of nursery.

Muddy Puddle Fun (Thursday-Friday)

The wet weather played in our favour this week.  The bairns explored cause and effect jumping in the giant muddy puddle in the garden.  They added run ups to see if they could make a bigger splash.  “Yun is deep.  It’s covering my boots.”  They also noticed the patterns in the water from the raindrops.

Library Van (Tuesday)

The new Library Van came by for a visit and we learned that its name is ‘Tammy Stories’.  The bairns selected books about animals, being kind and Halloween.  They have frequently chosen to read these books throughout the week.

Numeracy (Monday-Friday)

There are numeracy invitations and opportunities across all the areas of the setting.  The bairns have been using clay sprinkles to fill number shapes.  They have built shapes with the Kapla sticks and the magnetic blocks, often creating farms for the magnetic animals.  They have explored height using towers made from blocks and cups.  The bairns often ask for counting games on the smart board.  Our numeracy table has featured ten frames, loose parts and numbered tiles to promote counting, ordering and quantity recognition.

Circuits and Electricity (Monday-Friday)

The bairns have been interested in learning about electricity.  We found some interactive games on the internet related to electricity, hazards and energy.  The bairns have also been testing the circuit boards, making the fans spin and lights shine.  This also supports numeracy development in relation to number, placement and shape.

Sensory Jars (Tuesday-Wednesday)

One of the bairns wondered how to make bubbles in a sensory timer so we made our own.  The bairns added oil, water, food colouring and confetti stars to their jars, before gently swirling the ingredients together.  The bairns discussed when they would use their jars.  “It helps you, the way you feel.  It made me feel happy.”

Story Dough (Tuesday)

The bairns made a big batch of green playdough to use for Story Dough.  The dough was placed on the centre of the table and the bairns marched around it, singing the wake up song.  Once the story dough had woken up, it was time to divide it up and create our own characters, and use our imagination to invent stories about them.  Mrs Malcolmson sprinkled in many unique describing words to add a bit of nonsense and fun to support language development.

Welcome to our weekly blog!  The posts here will cover the bairns’ learning and development each week.  Grab a cuppa and enjoy!

Outdoor Learning (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns have spent time exploring the playground, created chalk drawings, discovered huge mushrooms, mixed paint colours and looked after slugs.  They have also tested the slide many times and it’s still a lot of fun!

Gross Motor Skills (Weeks 1 & 2)

Gross motor skill development is essential for sustaining healthy bodies by building core strength, increasing self-esteem and even aiding social interactions.  The bairns often use the large hollow blocks to create jumping platforms.  This can also evolve into imaginative play with doctors/nurses looking after the person who has jumped.  Another popular early morning activity is yoga, especially if Mario or HuntrX are involved.

Music (Week 1 Friday)

We were delighted to welcome Mrs Garrick back for music sessions on Friday mornings.  She also brought her grand-daughter who demonstrated all the actions.  The bairns started with the Welcome Song and Incy Wincy Spider.  They used instruments to make sounds in time with the music.  They split into groups for Ring-A-Ring-A-Roses, going round in circles to the music.  It was a nursery favourite next with Tiny Tim the Turtle and then we revisited Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to make sure we could remember the actions.  Mrs Garrick had us all lie down while she moved around the room with the Zen Bowl for a relaxing finish.

Imaginative Play (Weeks 1 & 2)

The bairns have engaged in a range of imaginative play this term.  There has been lots of of family play, looking after babies in the home corner and giving them a bath at the water trays.  The bairns have also revisited their doctor role play game in the outdoor room from last term.  There have been many detectives looking for clues with magnifying glasses.  The bairns have created lots of potions with our new coloured bottles at the water trays, including turning us into Elsa and Anna from Frozen, taking us to visit the dinosaurs and also up to space.

Routines (Weeks 1 & 2)

After the summer break, we have focused on re-embedding our routines, like handwashing, snack and lunch.  The returning bairns have undertaken these routines naturally and our new starts have shown increased independence even after only a short time.