We have been very busy this week at Inveralmond Early Years! We started off the week going for a walk in our local community. On the walk we took our purple elephant called SIMOA who is our mascot for safety inside and out the nursery. SIMOA stands for Safety, Inspect, Monitor, Observe, Act. You will notice our SIMOA signs up on all the doors and around our nursery to ensure everyone including staff, parents/carers and the children to act responsibly to safeguard, protect and support the children’s well being. Through the children’s interest of the icy wintery weather a few weeks ago we have been looking at ways we can keep ourselves safe inside and outside the nursery. We discussed about the safety on wearing helmets whilst we ride bikes and scooters, why it’s important to stay together when we walk and to hold hands when crossing the roads. We also found some road signs that show us where to go when we need help and keep us safe in the community. In the nursery playroom we looked at ways we can keep ourselves and others safe when playing with the bricks and with the tools t the tool bench. The children made their own risk assessments using a mind map!

Focusing on the children’s ability to recognise shapes in their environment we have been exploring ways which the children can talk about them in their own way. We have been using the sand to mark make our own shapes and the children have been building lots of different structures, talking about what shapes they’ve used to construct them. At the gluing area, we have had lots of different shaped materials for the children to create their own pictures of their choice and with adult support discussing what shapes they’ve used and what they look like.

Following on from the icy weather a few weeks ago we have been exploring how ice is formed and what we can use to melt the ice. This was very popular with lots of the children curious to explore the ice and experiencing it melting with warm water and melting it in their hands.

We finished the week off by having a tasting session at snack time of haggis, oatcakes and shortbread to celebrate Robert Burns Day. the haggis had a mixed reaction with some saying it was ‘delicious’ and others saying they didn’t like it. Some of the children enjoyed to dress up and try the kilts on, curious to learn what they were called and having a little dance.

I hope you are all staying safe and have a lovely weekend once this storm passes.

See you all on Monday!