A bit of everything and a whole lot of learning!

EXPLORING SHAPE
This week the aim was to investigate shape in different ways to stimulate language and promote thinking skills.

Working with huge shape outlines was a good talking point. Straightaway the children were commenting about size, length, corners and some blocks rolling around. 

"This is taking SO long to fill!" one child said.

 Making 2D shapes using straws was trickier than it looked! The children started to distinguish between sides and corners. They were counting the sides, checking the number needed. There were opportunities to talk about "same length", "short sides", "long sides" too.

JUST A PILE OF BOXES?
The possibilities are endless when you have a great imagination! This week we had cars, buses, houses...
Shape and space also came into this play with children spending a great deal of time adapting their creations so that there was room for them and their friends inside.

 The addition of an old computer keyboard prompted a little office!

These two children added lights and switches to their car. Later on they even made flags with their names on to ensure everyone knew whose car it was!

MUSICAL MAESTROS!

There has been a great deal of sound coming from our room this week! What has been particularly pleasing has been seeing children exploring together the sounds using the keyboard. Simple songs have been made up, repeated rhythms introduced with percussion instruments.
The preset tunes have been a constant source of entertainment and I've loved seeing the children swaying, bouncing and moving in a range of ways to the musical styles they have heard!

Learning opportunities galore!

THE MORE WE PRACTISE THE BETTER  WE GET!

It is wonderful to see the children taking steps forward in their learning week by week. Developing a good pencil grip and gaining more control over forming letters has been ongoing. These children were rightly proud of their individual achievements this week!

 

This superstar was able to spell and write some simple words!

RETELLING FAMILIAR STORIES

There have been some wonderful renditions of stories this week as children have shared stories with adults and with each other. 

The children's love of stories is so evident, and they are taking increasingly more interest in the illustrations. There has been much discussion this week about how characters are feeling, and how their feelings change as different things happen in the story. 

GROWTH, CHANGE AND DECAY

The potato plant on the right causes consternation every day we look at it - the children are convinced it will grow up to the ceiling! 

Outdoors our seeds are finally growing. With the extremes of weather over the last couple of weeks there have been many conversations about what the seeds and plants need to grow healthily.

 The potatoes are thriving, and the mangetout peas are steadily growing. The nasturtiums have also made an appearance-  just the sweet peas still to wake up!

 The tadpoles continue to fascinate - the children have noticed that there are three tadpoles that are now much larger than the others, and in fact there are fewer tadpoles in the tank! 
No doubt there will be questions soon about this - again, an ideal opportunity to talk about why so many eggs are laid in the first place by the frog.

WE ARE FULL OF GREAT IDEAS!

What a great dinosaur parade! - all carefully grouped and placed.

Let's make a pirate boat. The levers for steering were a clever idea. Great working together and development of their plans.

 

This was a portrait of Mrs Courtney! The yellow at the bottom is a boat and Mrs Courtney is wearing her pirate hat. The little artist continued painting and told me the yellow marks were bear steps and the treasure box was empty because the bear had stolen the treasure!

1st week of May

HAPPY DAYS FULL OF SUNSHINE

"Here we go round the mulberry bush on a warm and sunny morning..."

This is the way we put on our clothes on a warm and sunny morning..."

These two children were discovering just how heavy something becomes when you fill it with bricks and wet sand!

They each tried to raise the bucket alone with varying success, and eventually resorted to team work!

Controlling it on the way back down was a tricky challenge!

Apparently these girls were fishing for crocodiles!

 This week's menus in the outdoor kitchen  have included chocolate pasta and  vegetable soup! The children have enjoyed  using and smelling the range of herbs that  are growing.

 On a creepy crawly hunt!
 I was presented with two worms when I  enquired about what they had found!







EXPLORING STORIES
We have been enjoying this great story this week, and it has been so pleasing to hear the children joining in with and retelling the story with wonderful expression!

 We went into the hall and pretended we were the Jigaree!

We flew, skated, climbed, jumped, rode and swam very energetically!

WHAT ELSE HAVE WE BEEN DOING?
We have continued working hard at individual challenges. 

        Counting accurately

 Practising forming letters

Practising hand eye co-ordination and thinking skills

Enjoying singing and movement games with the parachute.



GROWING UPDATE
The pea plants have all sprouted and many have tall stems with lots of leaves - they are going home with the children this week for them to continue to care for.
Outdoors the seed potatoes have finally sprouted, as have the pea plants!
And the tadpoles? They are continuing to grow, slowly but surely, and there is a daily flow of children and adults to peer into the tank and see what is happening!