Dear Parents,

I have written in the past and asked for your suggestions and many parents responded but I would really appreciate your input on a monthly basis as we recognise one member of staff for their exceptional efforts. I am delighted to report that Charlotte was this month’s recipient; well done Charlotte and thank you.

Oaks 1:

In Oaks 1 this week, the children have continued their topic of growth.

We discussed food chains and how one animal is food for another, learning new words such as ‘prey’ and ‘predator’. The class have also looked at the animal kingdom as well as the various classifications of creatures, i.e. mammals, amphibians, reptiles and insects. Following on from this, the children read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and will be using both fine motor skills and critical thinking to assemble their own colourful creatures out of junk modelling.

The children also exercised fine motor skills when creating inventive collages from various seeds. Oaks 1 spread PVA glue into their desired pattern before pinching small amounts of seeds between their thumb and forefinger. Next, the class used leaves and various coloured pens to make imprints on paper. The children decided that pens would make interesting marks. One of the group suggested charcoal could also be used as a mark-making material which we have readily available from our camp fire cooking so the children went outside to gather the resources. Using a number of techniques, the children made lots of impressions of the leaves, commenting on the shape, the number of points and how well they stamp on to the paper. To extend this, the children will be using other natural objects to produce collages of various habitats.

Oaks 1 thoroughly enjoyed becoming chefs and builders. Utilising the mud kitchen and the home corner, some of the class decided to ask each of the adults what lunch they’d like from the menu. Following requests for ‘jacket potatoes’ and ‘pumpkin soup’, Yannick explained that he had cut open the potato and put butter and pepper inside so that it melts. Working as a team, some of the children also decided to build a ‘prison’ out of blocks to accompany their peers who were pretending to be police officers and convicts. This involved the children playing chase games, negotiating the space around them and adjusting their speed and direction accordingly.

Star of The Week:

Nova – For showing core values, being kind to her peers and for helping her friends when challenges arise.

Oaks 2:

We’ve looked at sea animals again this week as the children are really enjoying this subject.

Firstly, we’d like to thank all parents who brought in books we could share with the children during circle time. We’ve loved looking at them and have observed that the class are already starting to remember some of the popular phrases featured. This has helped improve the children’s recall and aided their literacy development.

Oaks 2 also enjoyed creating an aquarium, with the class given different jobs in order to finish the project. Some put sand on top of the box and added shells, while others made hand-print fish. A few members of Oaks 2 decorated the background using star cutters and paint dabbers.

Together we gathered sea animals and put them into the aquarium. With team-building skills vital for completion of the task, this activity supported the children’s social development. It also strengthened emotional growth because all of the class were given responsibility.

Here’s a picture of our lovely aquarium!

The children also worked together with an adult to craft an octopus from a balloon and paper chains. Drawing on their mathematical knowledge, we asked the class to count out its eight limbs which they learned are called tentacles. Oaks 2 then used fine motor skills to attach the head to the tentacles using sticky tape.

Finally, the class rolled balls in paint to print pufferfish shapes on to paper. They created some very beautiful patterns.

Star of The Week:

Theo – For showing good listening during circle time and remembering our golden rules.

Saplings:

This week, the Saplings have been exploring colour and observing how it changes when combined with different media.

The activities we undertook presented an opportunity for the children to boost different skills. Fine motor movements were used to create butterflies, with the pincer grip required to grasp the straws needed for splashing paint on to one wing. The Saplings were astonished to see the paint transfer on to the other wing and were amazing at naming the colours they could see.

In another creative task, we asked the class to dip cotton buds in Fairy Liquid before dabbing them into a solution of milk mixed with droplets of food colouring. Joshua and Oscar told peers that the colours were ‘moving’ and were transfixed as they watched the bright shades expand outwards.

We also asked the Saplings to use rollers of various shapes and sizes to paint a large piece of paper, noting the different patterns that were made as they went. As well as really capturing the children’s attention, this activity encouraged the use of gross motor movements as they made exaggerated up and down gestures with their arms.

Play involving the senses of hearing and tasting have been another focus this week. The Saplings smashed up Shreddies using tools ever so enthusiastically, with Joshua quipping that his hammer made a loud noise as it broke up the cereal. Emi demonstrated great focus as she crushed the malty squares individually. A number of the room were unable to resist sampling the Shreddies and hid their faces when they noticed they’d been spotted by an adult.

The children have enjoyed plenty of fresh air in our garden too, with some of the younger Saplings persevering with pedalling bikes around the track while avoiding others. Everyone enjoyed playing with our wooden blocks and planks when we made a continuous line for the children to carefully walk along.

Star of The Week:

Seb – For settling so well and showing his confidence when talking to adults and peers.

Seedlings:

Our topic of space has enabled the children to get stuck into creative messy play this week.

We put together a variety of different Tuff Trays, including a shiny one decorated with planets, space figures and masks as well as one featuring aliens hidden in sand. The children searched for the extra-terrestrial beings using paint brushes. We also crafted our own planets from paper plates decorated with different textures.

It’s fair to say the Seedlings had a splashing time with our ‘black water’ activity too, emptying and filling containers and playing with glow-in-the-dark stars.

Later on in the week, we treated the children to a sensory light show accompanied by a soundtrack of space-themed songs such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Zoom Zoom Zoom (We’re Going to The Moon). During circle time, we read a selection of galactic stories to the room.

Star of The Week:

Kalin – For settling back into life at Broughton Cottage so seamlessly.

Messages:

We’d really appreciate any wooden or metal objects that you no longer need – they would be perfect for extending our sensory baskets.

We’re also keen to extend our family photo albums so would be very grateful if you could send your child in with a selection of pictures.

Acorns:

This week we’ve concentrated on construction.

The children have enjoyed a number of fabulous activities including brick wall printing, which saw us look at a photo of one before creating our own interpretations. By doing this, the Acorns developed their understanding of the world, people and the community they live in. They also had the chance to express themselves artistically as they used sponges to create the brick effect. We were particularly impressed by Alfie’s hand/eye co-ordination.

Sebastian F had lots of fun building a wall with soft Lego blocks in the main garden, aided by Alfie who thoughtfully transported the bricks over to his friend using a wheelbarrow.

Our Tuff Tray was a real highlight for the Acorns who loved exploring the texture of sand by driving construction vehicles through it. Raul was very engaged and had a go at naming the vehicles, supporting his speech and language.

Star of The Week:

George – For using his spoon with great dexterity during meal times.

Hoping the sun will continue to shine for you all this weekend.

Yours sincerely

The Broughton Team