Science and Library Adventures!

Throughout the month of September, the pre school children have been exploring all of the new resources available within the developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) area. The children have engaged in many activities including exploring fact sheets about certain bugs and insects and then seeking out these specific features on some toy bugs and insects hidden within some soil. Some of the children were using the magnifying glasses to take a closer look and then matching them up to the correct fact sheet, whilst other children challenged themselves to life cycle layered puzzles, discussing the differences and similarities and what each one looked like throughout its life cycle. 
In the garden, the children’s interest in technology and engineering continued as they were investigating ‘cause and effect’ by experimenting with speed. The children set up various materials such as wooden slopes, blocks and guttering in which they could roll cars and balls down. The children worked together to balance each item in a slightly varied angle and observed after a collective count down from 5-1 how fast the cars and balls went and very quickly worked out that the more vertical the slope was, the faster the cars and balls rolled down and soon enough, all of the guttering was positioned up right against the wall with the children all giggling.
A group of the pre school children enjoyed a trip to the library where they had the opportunity to join in with a group story time lead by the library and also some quiet time where they chose their own stories to take a look at. A couple of children recognised some of the stories that they recognised from home and at nursery with a couple even discussing that they remembered the author of the Gruffalo is Julia Donaldson. Whilst there, the children collected a library card to be used for future library trips where the children can choose to borrow some of their favourite stories and share them back at nursery with their friends. 

Recently, the toddlers have shown a real interest in the sky, where they have looked at the clouds and the different colours they turn depending on if it’s going to rain, also the moon and stars, the sun, as well as things that fly through it, including birds and aeroplanes. One morning on the Imber Court grounds the toddlers were supplied with paper aeroplanes and cardboard rockets, ready to launch them from the field and into the sky. One child noticed, “Its windy” while another planned what they were going to do with their plane, “My one is going to go super high”.  As the toddlers began running and throwing their planes and rockets there were smiles, giggles and squeals as some planes dropped to the grass and others got taken a few feet away by the wind. Some children made sound effects as they threw their planes and rockets with a few niaow’s and whooshes heard. Periodically the toddlers would stop and stare towards the sky as planes and birds flew past, some using their rockets as telescopes for a better look. At one point the children began pretending to be birds, bumble bees and butterflies as they flapped their arms up and down, with one child encouraging everyone else to join in with them, “Come on like this” as they ran across the field waving their arms. After this, they spent some time pretending to be aeroplanes, running, swerving and gliding along the field with their arms out by their sides. One child said they were flying “over the ocean” while another said they were going to “fly to Ireland” which then opened up a discussion mid run where they all went on their holidays.

One afternoon the toddlers spent some time reading stories around a role play campfire in the garden. A small group sat themselves on the surrounding toadstool seats with their books ready on their laps while others found different areas of the garden to perch, including the floor, bridge, in the tunnel and by the sand pit. A couple of children shared a book between them and chatted about the pictures, “Loook its a cat! I’ve got a cat at home” while others chatted away to themselves. One child turned her book around to face her friends and held it open with one hand and began telling the story from memory!

Over the month of September the children have spent lots of time exploring nature through activities. On their daily walks the children have helped out with hunting and gathering sticks and fallen leaves, in all shapes and sizes, and have been able to explore their textures and colours. As we approach Autumn, the leaves are changing and the children noticed this immediately by picking up the leaves, squeezing them and hearing the crunching sounds between their hands. As the pile of collected materials began to grow, the children passed them between each other, examining every fine detail they had to offer. They were also able to learn some new words, with some children saying, “green”, “leaf” and “stick”. As the exploration went on, the children heard the noise of a tractor and began looking around. One child spotted the tractor and pointed, making babbling noises as they did. The children waved goodbye to the tractor and happily got back to their play. 
Inside, the children have been learning about colours through song. Using their sensory floor tiles the children joined in singing the song, ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’. As everyone sang the children used their hands and feet to clap and stomp along with the song, and watch as the colourful patterns emerged in the tiles. These are a great tool for turning movement and pressure into a sensory experience for children, along with learning cause and effect. The children experimented with pressing various parts of the tile to create a different visual experience.