2-3: The Discovery Hub and 3-4: The Investigation Hub at Deckham

Play and Exploring

This week we have explored Insect Week where we have looked at various insects. During the week our Investigators have explored sorting insects into groups such as legs or no legs and wings or no wings. The children have been labelling the various insects and have been discussing their features. We have explored memory games where the children had to find a matching pair of insects. The interest of the insects has continued into other areas of the nursery as the children have explored making snails, worms and ladybirds in the playdough.

The sandpit in the garden has been popular again this week with the children developing their ideas. Some of our Discoverers and Investigators have began to look around the garden to find ‘decorations’ of natural resources such as leaves and twigs to add to their sandcastles.

Thinking Creatively and Critically

This week the water animals were frozen in ice! The children explored testing out different ways to help the animals out of the ice. Some of the children tried tapping the ice against the tray to break the ice where as others explored pouring water over the ice. Children made connections to own experiences commenting “we need warm water to melt the ice”. The children worked together during this exploration discussing ways to break or melt the ice. They were all so proud when all of the animals were out of the ice.

Communication and Language

This week we had a delivery of 5 little caterpillars. We discussed the writing on the box and the meaning to show where the parcel had to be delivered to. As we opened the box, the children had a peak inside and were very excited to see a picture of a butterfly and caterpillar. We then took each piece out of the box and we explored the items discussing what each piece is for. The children loved observing the caterpillars making comments such as:

“They are going to get bigger and bigger”,

“Them caterpillars will turn into butterflies”,

“If we want to we can let the butterflies outside”,

“Is this all the food at the bottom?”,

“It’s moving”

“There are spider webs in there “

Across the week, the children have been asking to check on the caterpillars to see if they have changed into butterflies. Over the next few weeks we will be continuing to see the progress of the life cycle of the caterpillars. Some of the children are already predicting what will happen as they comment “Just like in the story”.

Active Learning

Our Investigators have been thinking about weight this week in group times. The children explored using the scales adding cubes in each side to see what would happen. We then tried counting out a given number of cubes into each side. The children then began to use mathematical language to comment “it heavy” “6 is heavier” and “it the same” when the scale was balanced. The children then started to predict what would happen if they took some cubes out or added more to the other side. “it will go down…cos it’s heavy” or “it’s in the middle…it’s the same”.

Mark making has been a large interest this week as the children are becoming proud of the marks they make. The children are keen to show staff the marks they have made and are beginning to ask staff to scribe their ideas. Some of our Investigators are concentrating as they begin to explore forming letters for their name.

Parents as Partners

This week’s song of the week has been Tiny caterpillar as we observe the life cycle of the caterpillars.

Staff training

During the staff training day last week, we gathered as a whole school team to discuss updates using Famly as we as go ahead using it for medication and accident/incident forms. We also took part in training as we think about interactions with the children and their peers. This week we have explored various activities with the children to develop eye contact, listening skills and turn taking skills. We will be continuing with similar activities during group times.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

The Nursery Team