Before we begin to write letters we need to be able to “make marks” by creating patterns using a lot of different materials such as sand, mud, playdough, water and paint. When we make these marks we are developing the skills that will help us to write in the future. Every day in nursery we are busy making marks!

Mark making can be used to tell stories, enhance our play, express our feelings, make sense of the world and problem solve as well as being fundamental to formal writing in the future.

Mark making on large bits of paper on the floor, decorating big cardboard boxes using different sizes and thicknesses of crayon and pencils and using paintbrushes, whiteboard pens and chalk on vertical surfaces are great ways in which we develop shoulder and arm stability which we need for future writing. Mark making in these ways also enhances our imaginative play and communication skills.

  

Freya, Jordie and Annie drew volcanoes, talking about bubbles, lava, heat and “science suits” as they described their pictures to each other. David wrote out numbers for their boat play. Elsie created patterns on the front of the “fishing boat”.

Policeman Ertie wrote some rules for the “jail” and Freya used her marks to explain to others where the treasure might be hid.

Outdoors is a fantastic place to practice our mark making skills. Using chalk, washable paint, mud, water and natural resources we can develop our physical and creative skills as well as further our imaginations. The temporary nature of outdoor surfaces and the marks we make helps us to become confident in experimenting with writing.

Henry “wrote” his name using chalk so that he could get a turn on the wheelies. Henry, Micah and Maisie collected “dinosaur bones” and painted the different lengths and shapes while developing their game. Emmie found a “Secret Symbol” and wanted to use objects from her “boat” to make a symbol in the wheelhouse.

Mark making using playdough and utensils, fingers and different objects in the sand and using paint on natural objects helps us to develop an awareness of textures, patterns and lines as well develop our pencil grip, hand strength and finger mobility.

Emmie, Maisie and Sophia made “cupcakes” in the sand. They made marks using their fingers and sticks.

   

Annie and Sophia used a variety of utensils to create patterns in the playdough as well as kneading, rolling and stretching it with their hands and fingers.

 

Freya, Maggie and Jordie spent a long time discussing their shell creations and noting the different effects of the paint. Ross chose to mix colours and layer paint on his stone, painting in different directions.

Through daily routines and play we become motivated to write and engaged in creating marks on paper. It is important the we enjoy the process of mark making so that we enjoy formal writing later in our school journeys. When we “sign in” on arrival to nursery we learn about letters, what our names look like and that there is a purpose to writing. Having writing materials readily available throughout the nursery, to be used as part of our play, means we naturally learn to enjoy using, and be creative with, writing materials.

Stanley looked as his name and “wrote” his name to show he had come to nursery while Ali created a picture nearby.

Micah, Maisie, Emmie used whiteboards, jotters and a variety of writing implements as part of their play.

 

Jackson found a “secret symbol”, he took it to the message centre to copy so he could give it one to his friend. He chose to use a ruler to make the lines straight.