The children have been very excited talking about bonfires and fireworks, so we created a fire for the children to try and put out.The adult demonstrated how to use the syringe, which the children picked up very quickly. They showed good motor skills filling up the syringe with water and squirting it onto the painted fire.
Nursery
An introduction to Diwali
The children have been introduced to the celebration of Diwali. We read the story of Rama and Sita and looked at creating our own rangoli patterns.Rangoli patterns are created at the entrance of the house to welcome the guests that visit. Rangoli is said to have a calming effect on visitors, putting them at ease, making them comfortable and happy.The children used loose parts to create their own rangoli patterns and all the designs looked amazing.
Pumpkin Fun
The children noticed a crack in one of the pumpkins and we discussed how we could open it up. They chose hammers to break it up, before scooping out the insides, the children collected some seeds ready to wash, dry and plant later!. They found it most amusing when the seeds slipped out of their hands across the table.
One of the children wanted to create a hedge hog and together we talked about what we might need. The children collected sticks and took turns hammering them into the pumpkin to create spikes. There was such deep concentration on their faces as they focused on the task.Problem solving and teamwork are important for our children to learn to help build their confidence in readiness to learn.They children have been catching pumpkins with hoops working out which hoop fits where. They experimented with different ways of using the hoops, rolling or throwing, and cheered each other when a hoop landed on a pumpkin.
Great Teamwork.
The potential of a puddle
The children had lots of fun puddle splashing. We explored the patterns and talked about the shapes we made in the water with our fingers. The children then tried to count the rings 1…2….3.
The children noticed their reflections in the water and laughed at how ‘wibbly wobbly’ they went when the water moved.
It was time to sing the song ‘jelly on a plate’ and wobble like a jelly.
Looking after our Mental Health (Time to relax)
After a very busy morning the children took part in a short meditation session. We talked about some of the feelings we have and why we might have them.
We practiced different ways of breathing to make ourselves feel calm, if ever we were sad or worried.
The children then relaxed to a short guided meditation. They fully embraced this activity looking very chilled and relaxed, even Spiderman had time to relax.
After the session Sue asked the children how they felt, their replies were happy and calm.
Why not try it with your child? It is available on line ‘Guided meditation for children / Your Secret Treehouse/relaxation for Kids.
A special visitor to the Nursery
We had a special visit from Reverend Robin today, to say thank you for the Harvest.The children joined in with the songs and were fascinated by his guitar. He talked about the farmers who grow the food for us to eat and we all said a big ‘Thank you’ to them.
Reverend Robin asked the children if they could find some of the animals from Old MacDonald farm, as someone had left the gate open and they had escaped. The children searched and found all six animals, and lined them all up on the floor, we all sang the song ‘Old Mac Donald had a farm’.To finish the service the children joined in a prayer.
Making Vegetable Soup
Today the children have been making vegetable soup.
We talked about the different vegetables and where they grow, with adult support the children cut and prepared the vegetables then put them in a pot for cooking. They added some water to the pot to help the vegetables cook and then stock was added, the children thought this was funny as they said ‘it looked like little jellies’.
Georgia put the slow cooker on and we had the lovely smell of soup cooking through the nursery.
When the soup was cooked the children were able to try a little of what they had made.
‘This is yummy, I like it’ One little boy said.
Exploring Autumn Colours
This week the children have been exploring the colours of autumn. Together we have discussed some of the colours we have seen in the environment, yellow, orange and reds. Some of the children associated these colours with the lovely things they have brought in to add to our autumn sensory tray.
They used different tools to experiment ways of using the paint, pippets to squirt and brushes to mix the paint.
The children watched with excitement as the paint ran down the paper creating new colours,purple and brown.
We have also explored painting with different vegetables, sweetcorn, carrots and potatoes, so much fun!
The children then chose to have their own paper to splatter the paint on, an adult suggested folding their paper in half to see what might happen.
Here are some of the comments the children made about their pictures.
‘Look we made a butterfly’
‘Colour monster is happy’
‘It’s a waterfall’
Gratitude for the Harvest
This week to celebrate harvest time, the children have been exploring flour and the many things we can do with it. We began the week reading the story of The Little Red Hen, this tale is written for children to help teach the values of hard work, self-reliance and consequences. In the end without any help the hen made a beautiful loaf of bread for herself, and the other animals, who did not help, got nothing.
The children have made their own bread to take home, with adult support they explored the different ingredients, weighing it, mixing it, and rolling out their own dough ready for the oven. They described the dough as sticky, cold, squishy (what lovely words).
The children explored different ways to make marks in the flour, using brushes, cars, their fingers and sticks. They created lots of different lines and circles.
Outside, the staff added some lavender seeds to the flour and the children decided they wanted to make bread, so helping each other, using whisks and spoons they scooped, stirred and mixed the flour into a big bowl adding more leaves and flowers from the garden to make their ingredients.
What a great job!
Nursery – A Trip to the Church
We took the children for a little trip to the church in Stibbard. They walked so well with the adults. We listened out for cars and chatted about staying safe on the road, remembering to always hold an adult’s hand.First we explored the church, looking at the beautiful windows and the patterns the shadows made on the floor. Outside we looked at the unusually shaped trees, thinking they looked like cups.We walked a little further to the play area where the children had lots of fun on the equipment. On the way back we looked at the village statue created by Ros Newman, and peeped in the telephone box and found some books to look at.
