Whalsay Early Years Blog 2020\21

The space we now have in nursery means we now have a great environment in which to develop our block play both on large and small scales which is so important for our early literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing development.

Through block play we can represent what we see in our environments and our interests and develop our design skills. Block play develops our literacy as we use blocks as inspiration to draw plans of our constructions and use our mark making to enhance our imaginative play, listening and talking skills.

Henry, Emmie and Freddie built a boat. Henry drew a map, “We’ll go dis way”. Freddie – “Let me check. Oh yeah. I’ll be the driver.” Emmie asked “Whar ir we going?”

Jordie and Jackson worked together to build a house. There was a lot of discussion, hypothesising, sharing and expressing their ideas. “We need to balance dis bit Jackson, it’s going to fall aff.” Jordie. “Ok, I’ll pit dis block aside it, dat will help.” Jackson.

We develop a lot of numeracy concepts and skills when taking part in block play. We learn how to select the correct shapes and numbers of blocks as well as how to combine blocks together. The photo on the left shows how a group of children used different types of blocks and accessorised their construction by adding bowls for “seats” showing an understanding of shape and angles. By bridging blocks together to make more space in the “waiting area”, without wasting the blocks they needed for height, the children who built the “piers” in the photo on the right were using their problem solving skills and learning about 3 dimensional objects.

Block building helps us to learn about size and measure. When we create structures we learn about breadth, depth, height, pattern and symmetry.

Jordie used the metre stick during the build to check how high the construction was getting. James helped him to build it higher. 

We can use our whole bodies during block play. Balancing small blocks needs concentration and fine motor control and movements. Using blocks as balancing objects increases our core strength, body awareness and gross motor control.

What a busy week at nursery! One of the huge benefits of our new setting is having the luxury of a flowing indoor to outdoor learning environment, giving the children the choice of where they want to learn as part of a continuous provision. There are numerous advantages to learning outdoors and we are very grateful to the Zephyr for supplying the children and adults with outdoor suits so that we can learn outside whatever the weather if we want to!!

Our outdoor area gives us opportunities for rich physical activities which grows our muscles and physiques making us ready for writing and sitting in the future. Having a strong physical core is fundamental to being able to sit at a desk later in our educational journeys. Having time to explore, climb, balance, grip and grasp when outside strengthens our hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders – all of which we will need for focussed writing activities in the future.

Digging in the sand with others, sharing play in the mud kitchen and pushing with our whole bodies, arms and legs on the See-Saw this week is helping us develop, not only our gross motor skills, but also our awareness of space, of each other and our listening and communication skills as we negotiate and take turns.

Our outdoor area has also provided an excellent environment for us to take part in treasure hunts this week. Imaginary play that started indoors naturally moved outside as we “read” treasure maps and worked together to hunt for buried treasure. Taking part in these activities are important for us to develop early literacy and numeracy skills such as print awareness, early mark making, communication and interaction skills, turn taking and awareness of number and quantity and counting.

We have been very busy this week making our advent calendar. Everyone got to choose a number and we made ourselves as whatever we wanted to be for the display. Miss Stewart helped us with some of the tricky bits but we have done a very good job. We can’t wait for our number day so we can see what is behind our doors!

Everyone looked so good in their blue clothes to support anti-bullying day. Here we are giving a big thumbs up. We had a really good discussion about what bullying is and why we shouldn’t do it. We also raised lots of pennies for Children in Need too.

That’s us reached the end of our time at the Isbister Hall and the end of term 1. Staff and bairns alike have loved our experience at Isbister but we are all looking forward to getting back into the nursery too. We hope you all have super October holidays and we will see you for term 2 😁