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.