Exploring Nature & Discovering Dinosaurs

The pre school children have continued to explore nature in the environment around them and over the last couple of weeks have been collecting sticks, leaves and flowers whilst out walking around the nursery grounds. The children have used the explorer bags which contains magnifying glasses, plant and insect fact cards and mark making materials. Some of the children enjoyed tallying how many birds they could see flying in the sky whilst others observed how different all of the leaves on the trees looked by looking through their magnifying glasses. The children have then used their nature collections for many activities such as leaf printing in play dough, sink or float in the water tray and also creative sticking collages using all of the materials. 

The children have also been investigating the new dinosaur bones and measuring cards. Firstly the children took part in a bone discovery tray where they were attempting to recover all of the bones which were hidden in sand and soil and then they were using the measurement cards to identify which bone came from which dinosaur depending on the length. Some of the children enjoyed playing the bones in to a dinosaur shape and showing each other what they had created.

Throughout the month of August the toddlers have been exploring nature through lots of different activities, starting with gathering sticks, leaves, bark and pine cones to use throughout the day. They explored different textures, prints and impressions with clay, pressing down pine cones and leaves, poking holes with sticks and using patterned rollers to make flower imprints. 

While enjoying the lovely sunny weather outside, the garden sandpit was turned into ‘The Beach’ and with tropical steel pan drum music on in the background and the children’s imagination it was the place to be! A group of the toddlers went swimming and splashing in the sand, others spotted sharks, crocodiles and dolphins while some children pretended to be those sharks, crocodiles and dolphins!

Over the month of August, the children in the Under Twos have been exploring the season of summer through discovery and exploration. During their daily walks, they were able to roam and discover bright and beautiful flowers on the grounds, with the aim of using their senses, they were able to smell and stroke the petals and leaves. 

The children then went on a hunt for fallen petals and leaves which they then attached to a nature box to display in the room so they continue on with exploring their senses.  

During their time inside, the children have taken a particular interest in the sensory room. For one activity, the sensory room was decorated like an enchanted fairytale land with sensory scarves hanging, soft lights above to look like stars and lots of interactive sensory toys on the floor. The children explored high and low whilst being able to listen to mystical background music to enhance their experience.

Wheelbarrows & Shadows!

Over the last couple of weeks, the preschool children have had lots of fun playing with the new wheelbarrows. They have used their imaginations to explore and use them in many ways. Some children chose to use the wheelbarrows to transport some blocks and logs around the garden to aid them whilst making some dens and camps, whilst others used them for a chill out in the tree house, sitting back and discussing with each other what they thought was going to be for lunch. The children also enjoyed some wheelbarrow races across the garden, starting at the start line and counting down “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” before commencing their races, giggling away as they were competing against each other.

The preschool children have also been investigating shadows and have been measuring their own body shadows against each others when observing them on the ground. Some of the children stretched up as tall as they could and were shouting out their estimates of how tall they thought they were. Some shouted “100 tall!” and others crouched down to get as small as they possibly could. Whilst out on a walk around the nursery grounds, one of the children spotted a shadow that was from an aeroplane going underneath the sun and shouted out for the attention of their friends. The children then sat themselves down on the grass, waiting patiently for anything else to pass under the sun. The children counted 6 aeroplanes and 11 birds and were eager to tell their friends and continue the bird and plane spotting back in the nursery garden. Whilst in the nursery garden, a group of children were engaged with shadow drawings. They had selected the animals then would like and worked their way around it, concentrating very well to draw along the shadow lines. 

Preschool Graduation!

The preschool school leaver children have been very excited on the build up to their graduation show this week. They have done lots of practising over the last couple of weeks to learn their words and songs for the show. The count down began when it was just one week left until graduation day and the children were asking on a daily basis, “How many more sleeps until graduation?” When it was the day for graduation, there was lots of excitement within the preschool room with some of the children eager to show each other their animal costumes whilst others discussed which family members would be coming in to nursery to watch their performance. 

When it was time for the show, the children were so excited to show their families their face paint and sat beautifully in their seats with big smiles on their faces and were waving as the families filtered through in to preschool. They were eager to get going and all stood confidently when it was time for each group to do their words. Some of the children’s older siblings were sat in front of the children, joining in with the songs and encouraging them to sing their words. The children put on a great performance for their families which was easy to see with all of the smiles coming and even a few tears. The children received their own graduation certificate and starting school book at the end of the performance which they were very keen to get up on the step and hold them up to their families to see.

The families stayed on for a little bite to eat and to socialise which was lovely to see. We wish all of the children every success at their new school.