Investigation Hub and Discovery Hub at Deckham

This week has been World Nursery Rhyme Week, and we have had lots of fun singing, exploring and bringing some of our favourite nursery rhymes to life.

The children have enjoyed singing a variety of familiar rhymes, using musical instruments to accompany our singing and exploring different resources and activities to extend their learning.

We explored the rhyme ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ in our water tray, where the children discovered spiders and pipes. We had lots of fun acting out the rhyme, helping Incy climb up the water spout.

At our playdough area the children explored making their own version of ‘5 Currant Buns in a Baker’s shop’ and engaging in imaginative cooking role-play.

Outdoors, we explored ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’, through our small world play. With a selection of farm animals and construction materials, the children created their own farm scenes, using their imagination to bring the familiar rhyme to life.

This week our Investigation Hub children have also been learning about Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which is celebrated by people of different faiths including Hinduism.

We shared a story about Diwali, helping the children learn more about the celebrations and traditions associated with this special festival. In our home corner, the children enjoyed dressing in celebration clothes and role-playing a Diwali party around our specially set table. This encouraged imaginative play, conversation and sharing ideas.

We looked at images of colourful fireworks and used these as inspiration to create our own vibrant transient art work. The children explored different colours, patterns and arrangements to represent the fireworks.

We also discovered Rangoli patterns, looking closely at images and noticing the colours and shapes of the designs. The children then had a go at creating their own Rangoli-inspired patterns, experimenting with designs on both small and large scales. Coloured rice, loose parts, chalk and hoops supported their creativity, coordination and exploration of repeating patterns.

During group time, the children worked together to create beautiful, large-scale Rangoli patterns using shapes and loose parts. There was lots of problem solving as they explored how shapes fitted together, worked out what came next and turned or repositioned pieces to continue their designs. They shared ideas, listened to one another and took turns, developing their communication, cooperation and concentration. This brought together so many areas of the EYFS, particularly exploring shape, space and pattern, expressing ideas creatively and working towards a shared goal, while deepening their understanding of our Diwali celebrations.

Our playdough area also became a Diwali sweet shop, building on the children’s interest in shopping and using money during ‘5 Currant Buns’. They rolled and shaped their own sweets, strengthening their hands and fingers, and role-played buying and selling, accepting coins for their sweets. This encouraged conversation and taking turns, and we look forward to following this interest further over the coming weeks.

Making clay diyas, printing and creating Diwali cards offered further opportunities to use tools and express ideas. Lights and reflections in the water encouraged curiosity, while colourful scarves inspired dancing and movement outdoors.

We also welcomed Joanne Ridley from Gateshead Library, who shared some fabulous books. One followed a little boy experiencing Diwali, exploring preparations at home, diyas, Rangoli patterns on the doorstep and family celebrations. This helped give meaning to the activities in our provision, connecting the children’s play with the traditions they heard about in the story. The children were so engaged, listening and joining in enthusiastically.

Today, we also enjoyed a range of activities for Children in Need, including decorating biscuits, all in aid of this wonderful charity. It was a lovely opportunity to talk about kindness and helping others. Thank you to our families for your support.

Story of the week: The Best Diwali Ever

Sign of the week: Sing

Parents as Partners

BookStart packs, kindly provided by the library, have been sent home tonight. The children loved Joanne’s visit, and we would really recommend taking your child to explore the books at your local library if you have a spare hour. Choosing and sharing books together is a lovely way to support their language and love of reading.

If possible, please can you provide a pair of wellies that your child can keep in nursery. It is beginning to get very muddy in our outdoor area.

Please can we ask that your child also brings a warm coat to nursery everyday with them, and that this has their name inside.

Thank you.