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.
World Music Day & Harvesting from the Garden!
Over the last couple of weeks, the preschool children have celebrated world music day and have had the opportunity to engage in many musical themed activities. Some of the children were exploring the musical instruments, especially instruments from around the world, learning all about them and listening to the different sounds that they were making. The children also listened to various music styles from around the world, with some children choosing to dance along with the rhythm of the music. Whilst playing in the mud kitchen, a group of the preschool children used their imaginations whilst collecting various items such as saucepans, colanders, cake tins and frying pans to make their own music. Some chose to use sticks, whilst others chose to use spoons and spatulas. The children were taking it in turns to listen to the noises that they were each creating.
The children have also been learning all about the importance of disposing of rubbish correctly and which items can be recycled. The children enjoyed a sorting activity in which items they thought could be recycled and were discussing how important it is whilst doing this activity to make sure all rubbish gets disposed of correctly. One of the children told their friends, “We must make sure that all of this rubbish does not go in to the sea so the sea animals are all safe”. Whilst on a walk around the nursery grounds, one of the children found a piece of rubbish on the floor and said, “Oh, somebody hasn’t put the rubbish in the bin, that’s not good!”.
The children have also been harvesting the fruits and vegetables that have been growing over the last few months and have discovered that the raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, sugar snap peas and green beans are ready to be eaten. After picking, washing and preparing the fruits, the children enjoyed tasting them during snack time, with blackcurrants being a favourite. Each day the children check the vegetables and fruits to assess which ones are ready and some of the children have discovered that soon the carrots will be ready after noticing some orange slightly pop out from the soil.
