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

Play and Exploring

The sandpit continues to be a large interest in the garden, with this week it turning into an ice cream shop. The children explored using the ice cream moulds to fill with sand and make their favourite ice cream flavours. We have heard some lovely imaginative talk during the ice cream shop interactions such as

·      “Would you like one?”

·      “that will be £3.00, please”

·      “here you go, it’s banana with sprinkles”

We have many musicians and dancers in Nursery this week as the children have enjoyed dancing and creating their own music with the shakers. The children have been requesting songs to play favourites such as Let it Go, Hop little bunnies and Twinkle Twinkle.

Thinking Creatively and Critically

This week we have been observing the changes to the caterpillars as over the week the caterpillars have moved to the top of the tub and made their cocoons. Each morning the children have predicted whether we would have caterpillars or butterflies.

·      “I think we will have 3 butterflies”

·      “I think they will be big caterpillars”

We have then looked at the tub after predicting what may have changed and discussed our findings. On Thursday, we moved the cocoons into the net and discussed what is going to happen next in the life cycle. The children made connections to the experiences of the ducklings saying:

·      “they are squished inside like the ducks in the eggs”

·      “are they going to be wet like the ducks…they had to get warm to get fluffy”.

Active Learning

There has been a great an interest with mark making this week with our Discoverers and Investigators. Following a Review time, the Investigators explored representing their own planes as one of the children was talking about going on to the airport to go on holiday. The children showed concentration as they made marks to represent the windows, doors, wheels, wings and some ever represented the pilot. The children then tested out ways to make the planes fly, by throwing and blowing the paper. 

Our Discoverers have been exploring using the drawing boards to create marks, using the pens to make exploratory marks. The children have been so proud of their achievements and loved showing others their work. After modelling from staff, they tried pressing the button to clear their drawing and repeated this action.

Our Investigators have been exploring representing themselves. We explored taping paper to the mirrors where the children concentrated on looking at their features to include in their drawing. The children were very focused checking the mirrors and then adding more detail to their representations. They showed such pride in their representations as they showed staff their lovely creations. As we have observed the caterpillars turn into cocoons we explored representing the life cycle of the caterpillars. Again, Miss Goodrick was very impressed of the children’s representations as the children had thought about the size and shapes of the marks they needed to create. We have placed some of the drawings around the butterfly net in the reading area, please feel free to have a look.

Communication and Language

This week we have continued to discuss with the Investigators about their visits to their new classrooms. We have discussed the similarities and differences between the classrooms and outdoor areas. The children have been very keen to share where they had explored in the environments and what their new teachers are like.

“New skills take time to learn. Practising at home will help your child move into school more easily and with confidence.”

Please find attached a link with some activities and ideas which you may wish to explore with your child at home. https://startingreception.co.uk/

Parents as Partners

This week’s song of the week has continued to be There’s a Tiny caterpillar on a leaf as we observe the life cycle of the caterpillars.

Your child’s key person would like to offer an opportunity for Sharing the Learning meeting for the children who are not leaving for Reception. This is an opportunity to discuss your child’s interests, development and next steps in learning. The signing up sheet will be on the wall for Monday 7th July 3:45-5:15 and Tuesday 8th July 3:45-4:15, if these times are not convenient, please arrange with your child’s key person. For the children who are leaving for Reception, myself and Terri will be sharing their progress in writing over the next few weeks.

We hope you have a lovely weekend.

The Nursery Team