2-3: The Discovery Hub

Science Week

This week we have been engaging with various experiments to observe the changes occurring. The children have shown lots of curiosity and engagement across the week with the experiments and experiences.

We have explored creating moon sand and gloop with the children. The children explored the flour and cornflour at first before adding the wet ingredients. As they adding the water or oil into the mix the children were amazed with the changes that occurred commenting “what happened?”. The children explored the new materials after mixing the ingredients together and commented on the texture “it sticky”, “oh it drip” and “wet”.

As we engaged with experiments where visible changes occur the children were very keen to take part and observe. The children explored taking turns to pour coloured vinegar onto the bicarbonate of soda and observed the reaction. They were amazed by the reaction that caused fizzing on the tray and asked for “more” and “again”. The children took turns to pour the vinegar from the spoons, showing development in motor skills and commented on the reactions:

• “look blue fizz”
• “it’s gone”
• “it yellow”

We explored observing raisins floating and sinking in different types of water. The children notice in one cup the water had “bubbles”. We tested placing a raisin in the cup with water and observed the raisin sink to the bottom of the cup, “it sink”. We asked what is going to happen with the fizzy water and tested out placing the raisin in. The children were very excited to see the raisin float on the top of the water, “it’s going up”.

In the water area, we added pipettes to explore collecting and transferring water with. The children were very curious with the resource and observed staff in their modelling. The children tested out squeezing the pipettes to collect the water and then pressed the top to release the water. We added colouring to the water to explore mixing the colours and the children identified the colour they wished to use.

Communication and Language

This week our core book has been the Colour Monster and the children have enjoyed exploring with the props. During the story, we have discussed the different colour monsters have different feelings such as the yellow monster is feeling happy and the blue monster is feeling sad. Across the week, the children have recalled the feelings of the monsters and have been exploring creating faces for each emotion. Some of the children are beginning to give example to the monsters feeling such as “monster is happy…it sunny” and “blue is sad…friends are hiding”.

Outdoor learning

In the garden we explored creating bubbles, we explored using water and soap to create bubbles on the tray. The children explored using the brushes to create many small bubbles on the tray. We explored creating marks on in the bubbles, the children copied creating movements side to side, up and down, circles and wiggly lines. Some of the children asked “make rainbow” and staff modelled creating a “rainbow” mark in the bubbles and explored “having a go” themselves.

On Wednesday, we noticed it was very windy when the children arrived to nursery. We explored taking some straws and paper into the garden to make some flags. The children enjoyed observing the wind blowing the flags in the garden. They then explored moving around the various areas in the garden to see where the wind was blowing

• “no not good”
• “yey it move”
• “it windy”

On Thursday, the children observed the weather outside as we watched the trees blowing in the wind. We watched the rain falling and running down the bank. The children pointed out where puddles were creating and were there was “lots rain” bouncing on the window of cars.

Staffing Updates

Cerys is on Annual Leave next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Parents as Partners

Some of the children have begun to have transition visits this week to the Investigation Hub with staff. They have enjoyed exploring the new area, discovering new resources to explore with and meeting staff. These visits will continue over the next few weeks.

There is a sign-up sheet on the door for our ‘parent consultations’ with your child’s key person weeks commencing the 23rd and 30th March. Please speak with staff or send them a message via Famly if you need to arrange a different time. There is also a sign-up sheet for our Stay and Play session on Wednesday 1st April if you would like to join us.

Our children are engaging and enjoying exploring stories in nursery with staff and independently. Exploring books is an important part of development for the children and we have a collection of books you may wish to take home in their wallets and explore before returning to nursey. We also have our home loan characters to have the chance to take home and share with staff experiences via Famly or in the book.

The Nursery Team