Oaks 1:
Oaks 1 have continued their Planet Earth topic this week.
We started by looking at pollution and the ways it can impact the various ecological systems in the environment. Using vinegar and bicarbonate of soda mixed together, the children simulated an ocean and later added litter to it. This led to discussions about the consequences this can pose for both animals and ourselves.
To extend this, the children talked about other water systems such as lakes and rivers and how they can be controlled by different structures. The children were then tasked with constructing their own dams out of bricks and logs. This required them to think critically about stopping water from escaping, subsequently protecting any unsuspecting animals on the other side of the dam. Using mathematics skills and their knowledge of measuring and quantities, the children considered how full the dam was and whether this might affect the rate at which it empties.
To mark St Patrick’s Day on the 17th March, Oaks 1 completed pencil control worksheets that saw them use their tripod grip to follow lines from a shamrock to a pot of gold. Most of the children were able to complete this, though a few needed guidance from an adult to begin with. Some of the group decided they would like to colour in the path, with most rather aptly choosing green!
We’ve started to think about Easter too and the children had a blast designing their own eggs. Using various coloured paints and materials, they worked hard to cover their egg’s surface area with sponges. Some of the group questioned why feathers and sequins were able to stick to the paint when no glue was present. The children loved making Easter nests too from melted chocolate and cornflakes. Using fine motor skills, the children drew around cups to make a template on baking parchment before using scissors to carefully cut out their circles. After combining the ingredients, the children spooned the mixture into a muffin tray to later be set in the fridge.
With Easter fast approaching, we will be having a little competition throughout the nursery. We would like parents and children to design their own Easter eggs using the template attached. The winner will be gifted with an Easter egg. Entries are due in on the 29th March, so time to get creative!
Messages – Please could your child bring in one vegetable or piece of fruit this week as we are experimenting to see which will provide the right acids to power our plant based clock mechanism.
Star of The Week:
Danny – For being very considerate when helping his friends with small tasks and for demonstrating very kind behaviour.
Oaks 2:
Oaks 2 have been furthering their knowledge of transport this week by taking part in activities aiming to strengthen gross motor skills.
They loved making tracks with cars in Play-Doh, with some telling their peers if they’d made straight, big, small or zig-zag marks. And in another activity which called on the children to use their taste, touch and hearing senses, they made cars out of fruit and got to grips with blue foam while playing with boats. The children then talked about the sounds made by different modes of transport including ‘choo choo’ and ‘zoom’.
They proved to be excellent at working as a team when we tasked them with creating a large junk model train after learning about The Flying Scotsman and how it and was powered by a coal fire. They were fascinated to watch a short film of its travels. The process required the use of many skills such as scissor handling, painting and gluing. The children were very proud of their collaborative creation.
Using a toilet has been another focus for the children this week now that some of the class have swapped nappies for underwear. We started by reading the book All Aboard the Toilet Train, supporting the children’s self-care and literacy development. The children also enjoyed caring for dolls by sitting them down on the potty before engaging in role play together.
Finally, the children painted clovers to honour St Patrick’s Day.
Star of The Week:
Elsie-Mae – For starting to build positive relationships with her friends and being more settled at drop off.
Saplings:
During last week’s look at Eric Litwin’s Pete The Cat books, we discovered that many of the children needed a little encouragement when it came to colour recognition. To help with this, the Saplings enjoyed more exposure to colours this week through a range of engaging activities.
During a special scavenger hunt, the children followed instructions well and were soon able to successfully match colours to everyday items found within the Saplings room. Our pasta sorting challenge was another excellent chance to revise understanding of different shades, while also working on fine motor skills. During this activity, the children used spoons to transport different coloured pieces of pasta to corresponding bowls.
We also found great ways to take our exploration of colour into the garden. For instance, in our traffic light signal game, the Saplings were asked to run when a green light was held up and stop when shown a red one. All were very good at doing this. Group challenges like this are a fabulous way for children to practice their listening and attention skills.
To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, the children decorated flags and clover using different materials. Not only did this enable each Sapling to confidently recognise the colour green, it also gave them the chance to enhance their understanding of the world.
Star of The Week:
Rafe – For getting involved during class activities.
Acorns:
Spring and Easter have been the core focus of the Acorns this week.
They enjoyed a truly sensory experience with our frozen daffodil Tuff Tray. Using their hands and different kitchen utensils to move the frosty flowers around, the children gasped in amazement when they touched the ice on the tray. Some of the Acorns found it amusing when they couldn’t pick up the ice due to it being too slippery. Once the ice had melted, the children used their sense of smell to explore the scent of the daffodils.
Out in the courtyard, we continued daffodil play by making ‘soup’. The Acorns beamed as they used gross motor skills to stir a wooden spoon around a metal tin to create their own concoction with water and petals. Using their pouring and emptying schemas, the Acorns then moved the mixture from one container to another.
Back inside, the children crafted their own flower paintings. This saw them demonstrate their pincer grip with a paintbrush before making marks across paper with a toothbrush. Sitting together around a table encouraged social interaction between the Acorns. When making tulip prints in another floral activity, the Acorns loved using a pepper to make petal marks on paper.
The Acorns also particularly enjoyed a Tuff Tray based on the Five Little Speckled Frogs nursery rhyme. We used tissue paper to create a pond and decorated the tray using natural objects including logs and flower petals. The Acorns used their senses of touch and sight to explore the tray and clapped along as the practitioners treated them to a rendition of the catchy song.
Star of The Week:
Archie – For settling into life as an Acorn so very well and joining in with different group activities.
Seedlings:
The Seedlings have also looked at Easter and spring this week.
To kick start this new theme, the children had fun playing with small world animals on our farm Tuff Tray. Oscar treated peers to some brilliant neighs, meows and moos as he explored the tray. To extend the children’s learning further, we taught the Seedlings Makaton signs for the creatures they could see. The animals also came in handy for our spaghetti messy play activity, designed to boost fine motor skills.
Hand/eye coordination is something we’ve worked on a lot this week, and the Easter egg water play game we set up certainly had everyone interested. The Seedlings were tasked with scooping up eggs with spoons before dropping them into a container – something they thoroughly enjoyed. In a block-building task, Sebastian, Maila, Rawdon and Sophia had a chance to work on their tripod grip too as they made impressive Duplo structures.
Inside the classroom, we’ve also been busy learning signs to accompany different songs. Flynn, Sofia, Alex and Roman had a great time copying the actions, even making up a few of extra ones of their own.
Stars of The Week:
Leo and Lorelai for transitioning well into Seedlings.
Have a lovely weekend.
The team at Broughton