Hello Everyone,

June is usually the month we have our Nursery Sports Day with the children. We don’t want them to miss out on this fun event and so for this week’s Fun Learning at Home we are suggesting they have their own safe one at home with family. Please take photos and share with us on Home Learning in Learning Journals, stating whether you mind us sharing your photos or not on our nursery blog.

Sports Day supports and encourages many Health and Wellbeing learning opportunities

• Moving at different speeds, levels and directions with others in a designated space.
• Sustaining energetic levels of play/activity.
• Practising different ways of being active.
• Staying on task that may seem challenging, to achieve successes.
• Building eye/hand and eye/foot co-ordination.
• Sharing and co-operating when interacting with others.
• Learning how to be a good winner and cope appropriately with losing.

The Nursery Ladies have been working hard, practising and demonstrating fun activities for you to try at home. Please find below easy to follow instructions with photo demonstrations.

Bean bag race – If you don’t have a bean bag (like me!) take a pair of socks & fold them into a ball. Place the rolled-up socks onto your head and either race a parent/sibling around your garden or see how far you can walk around your garden before it falls of your head! I managed two laps of my garden before they fell off.

Coconut shy – Stack up some cans in a triangle on a table, take a ball and stand a few steps back from the table. Throw the ball and count how many you can knock over.  Once you knock over all the cans you can try stacking up more cans or moving further away.

Optional: A four-legged friend could bring your ball back if you miss.

Welly Toss – We decided upon which welly we wanted to use, and the youngest person then went first to throw the welly. We then all had a turn of throwing the welly, we marked where it landed with a stone and the person who threw it the farthest was the winner (it was me).

Wheelbarrow Race – Pair up with another member of your family, one person can be the “wheelbarrow” and lies on their front on the grass, and the other is the “driver” and stands by the other persons feet. Before the race begins, the driver picks up the wheelbarrows ankles and the wheelbarrow lifts themselves onto their hands. Then….. Ready, Steady, GO! Once you are halfway to the finish line you can swap over.

Running Race – Choose a starting point to begin your race and a finishing point. My little girl chose to start at one side of the garden, run to the end and back to the start. One person can use the stopwatch on their phone to time how fast each member of your family takes to run and see who is the fastest.

Dribbling – You will need a ball and some cones or substitute cones (I have used bottles from the recycling) and filled them with water making them heavier, so they don’t fall over. You then dribble the ball in and out of the ‘cones’ as many times as you like, keeping the ball close to your feet and trying to avoid knocking the ‘cones’ over.  Both me and my brother did 3 reps of this.

Bouncing a ball – Take a ball. Count how many times you can make it bounce. Can you show that number? (a grown up might have to help with this bit). Think… What surface does it bounce best on?

Egg and spoon race – Each competitor is given a soup or dessert spoon and an egg/small ball, e.g. golf ball to put on the spoon. Competitors must hold the spoon by the handle and NOT hold/touch/secure the egg!

The competitors line up at the starting line and when they are told to “go” they run as fast as they can without dropping the egg/ball. If the egg drops and breaks, they are out/ if the ball falls off the spoon, they can put it back on the spoon and begin to run again towards the finishing line. The first person over the line wins!!

Three legged race – You will need: 2 people and something to tie your legs together (Rope, Ribbon, Dressing gown tie, skipping rope). Set a marker to where you are going to run to, tie your legs together and get ready to GO! If there is more than 1 team you can race each other, and the winners are the team that reaches the finish marker first. If there is only 1 team you could time yourself and see how fast you can do it.

You will need to work as a team to make sure you move your legs at the same time, or you might fall! This will develop your coordination, communication and problem-solving skills.

Sack race – 1. Use a pillowcase instead of a sack for a sack race.

2.Everyone climb into their pillowcase before the race starts.

3.Get ready on the start line and

4.”On your marks get set go”

5.Jump in your pillowcase moving all the way to the finish line!

Throwing – 1. You will need a pot or a bowl and a pair of socks paired together.

2.Set the pot/bowl on a countertop or a table if you wish to do this outdoors.

3.Move 2 big step back from the pot/bowl.

4.Attempt to throw the paired socks into the pot/bowl.

5.If you do this successfully you can take a step back to make it more challenging.

Jumping – Can you do the hurdles? Get 5 teddies and place them in a line, spaced apart. Can you jump over them all?  Can you jump over little teddies and big teddies?

Obstacle course – 1. Paper plate with middle taken out and decorated, you can use a kitchen roll holder or something similar to through plate over.

2. Hula Hoop – step through then place over your head or use your imagination and pretend you have one.
3. Throwing the ball in the bucket and if you have a hoop stand in it.
4. Hopscotch – Use paper squares or chalk to draw them.
5. Horsey Horsey – Use a cushion between your legs or any other soft toy.
6. Pram or any other moveable toy.

We hope you all have lots of fun trying! You can even make your own medal or certificate to reward all your good sport and effort. Please find template links here for medal and here for certificate.

Remember to have a look at http://blogs.glowscotland.org,uk/wl/snonursery for more learning at home ideas.

We look forward to seeing your photos.

EC Nursery Team

Good Morning

Here are some suggested activities to give a try.

Kim’s Game – Kim’s Game is a memory game using everyday items.

Collect 6 or so items from around your house and lay them out. Discuss each item with your child(ren) to see what they can tell you about them e.g. colours,  purpose, texture, what it’s made from e.g. we use a spoon to eat food with or stir things, it’s silver, you hold it in your hand, it feels smooth, it’s made of metal, etc.

Once you have discussed all the items, ask the child(ren) to have a good look and to try to remember what items there are.

Then the child(ren) cover their eyes while the adult removes one item. The child(ren) need to guess what item is missing.  Whoever gets it right, is the next person to hide an item, etc. Natural items can also be used when playing this game outdoors. L.I I am developing my concentration skills and memory.

Online games – Click on the following link to play online games which will develop many different skills. L.I I am developing problem solving strategies, navigation and co-ordination skills, as I play and learn with electronic games, remote control or programmable toys. https://pbskids.org/games/

Life Cycle   – Jenson has been doing the butterfly project. “We have been looking after baby caterpillars, watching them eat and grow bigger, forming their chrysalis then emerge as beautiful butterflies for us to release. We have been reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar book, painting caterpillars and butterflies with handprints and learning all about the life cycle.” L.I I have observed living things in the environment over time and am becoming aware of how they depend on each other.

I know some other children in the nursery are doing this as well, it would be great to keep us updated on your learning journal. If you are interested in this, you could always learn more about this by reading a book about the life cycle or watching a video on YouTube.

#GlobalDayofParents – Monday was National Parents’ Day to recognise and appreciate parents for all that you do. We know how hard you work, especially so at the moment. Be kind to yourself and take a moment to recognise all that you do for your family, no matter how big or small it may seem.

All the Ladies at East Calder Nursery would like to say a HUGE thank you to our parent/carers, for all your hard work through this challenging time. You are doing an amazing job, teaching your child life skills, supporting your child when they need reassurance, creating memories your child will remember forever and soo much more! All the Ladies have loved seeing your updates on your Learning Journals. We are thinking of and missing all our families at East Calder.

Sports day – We are having a virtual sports day on Wednesday the 10^th of June so next week the blog will only be updated with lots of sports day ideas from the Ladies. We will post these on Tuesday to allow you to get resources ready for Wednesday (don’t worry we have all had to improvise, please just use what you have got in your house). We would love you to join in the fun and share your sports day on your Learning Journal. L.I I am enjoying daily opportunities to participate in different kinds of energetic play, both outdoors and indoors. I am developing my fine and gross motor skills, coordination and balance.

Remember to have a look at http://blogs.glowscotland.org,uk/wl/snonursery for more learning at home ideas.

Take Care

EC Nursery Team

Good afternoon Everyone, we hope you are all well J

Here are some suggested activities to give a try.

Skimming stones – Have you been a walk near water? Have you tried skimming stones?, It can be tricky but very fun to see how far you can get your stone or how many jumps it does. Top tip: find the flattest stone you can. L.I I am developing my fine and gross motor skills.

Sensory Play – Jelly Baff is a great sensory activity. Can you describe what you think it feels like?, is it soft/hard, Wet/dry, cold/warm?, Do you like the feeling? L.I In everyday activity and play, I explore and make choices to develop my learning and interests. I am encouraged to use and share my experiences. I am increasing my vocabulary.

Football Buzz – Livingston FC have teamed up with Football Buzz and are offering a free, live football session on Monday the 1st June @ 4pm. For more information please click this link: https://livingstonfc.co.uk/lion-cubs-get-your-football-buzz-back-this-monday/ L.1. I am enjoying daily opportunities to participate in different kinds of energetic play, both outdoors and indoors.

Canal and River Trust – Canal and River Trust have a new resources bundle as part of their digital learning programme – designed to keep children engaged in learning and active whilst at home. The ‘Corridor for Nature’ bundle provides everything children need to research, design and build a canal-themed habitat. Please click the following link for more information: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/learning-from-home   L.I I am learning new things about the world around me. I am learning how to problem solve.

Remember you can also have a look at http://blogs.glowscotland.org,uk/wl/snonursery for more ideas.

Take care

EC Nursery Team

Good afternoon Everyone

Here are some suggested activities to give a try.

Sock Puppets – Create your own sock puppet and make your own characters and stories up. What will your puppets look like?, what will their story be? We would love to see them on your Learning Journal. L.I I can use my imagination to create my own characters and stories.

Skittle Rainbow – Do you like skittles? You could give this experiment a try?, What pattern will you make? Follow Chloe’s instructions to try this “I put skittles all around the plate and then put water in the middle. I waited and watched until the rainbow grew. I ate the sweeties after, they were yummy!” L.I I can experiment with various items and can explain the changes that happen and why. I can create and follow on a simple pattern.

Music – In nursery we love to sing, if you would like to learn some new songs please click on this link.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT03GmRKx8cvWbgX71Igz9HntNX-EC2eg

Remember you can also have a look at http://blogs.glowscotland.org,uk/wl/snonursery for more ideas.

Take care

EC Nursery Team

Good afternoon Everyone

Here are some suggested activities to give a try.

Decorating stones– Decorate stones and hide them in your local community for others to find. L.I I am using my imagination to create art.

Dandelion/daisy chain – Why not try and make a Dandelion/daisy chain, how many can you join together, can you make a chain longer than you? L.I I am developing my fine motor skills and can count using 1-1 correspondence.

Ice – Can you collect natural items in a small tub and freeze them in water. Where will you put the tub to make the water freeze? Once it has frozen hang it up using string and watch the ice melt. How will the ice melt?, how long will it take? L.I I am learning about how water can change forms in different environments.

Bird feeders – Some of the nursery children have been making bird feeders using a toilet roll tube, peanut butter and bird seed. Why don’t you give it a try, they are very simple to make. Step 1: coat your tube in peanut butter, step 2: roll over a plate of seeds to cover the peanut butter, step 3: put out in your garden for the birds to enjoy. L.I I am learning how to look after the wildlife.

Stay safe and have fun

EC Nursery Team

Good Morning, hope you are all well 🙂

Here are some suggested activities to give a try.

Baking/Cooking – Do you prefer savoury or sweet? Well here is an option for both. Click Here for a link to Lucy’s granny’s delicious shortbread, highly recommended by Mrs Laing And Click https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pizza-puff-pinwheels for a recipe to puff pastry pizza pinwheels.

Alexa Games – Do you have an Alexa in the house? Why not ask her to play some games with you and your family, here are some ideas L.I I can use technology to help me learn new things.

Stickman – Do you like the story Stickman? You could read the story (available on YouTube if you don’t have the book) and then go out a walk and collect sticks to make your own stick family. What size of sticks will you find, long, short, thick, thin, big, small? L.I I can compare size of everyday objects and can use correct mathematical language. L.I I enjoy listening to stories and sharing my thoughts and feelings.

Grow a sunflower – Measure it daily to see how tall it grows and record its progress in a notebook. L.I I am learning how to recognise numerals and use mathematical language in the correct context. L.I I am developing my pencil control.

Have fun and stay safe

EC Nursery Team