St Mary's care home visit
This week the children visited St Mary's care home. The children took some of the new puzzles with them to share with the elderly residents. Norah Mae said "I can't wait to go, we can show them how good we are!" On the walk to the care home, the children observed what they could see. Jenson pointed out a big bird in the trees and lots of cars passed. As they arrived, the children walked to the door and waited patiently to be let in. They were very friendly to the residents, waving, smiling and saying “hello”. They sat with them, playing with their puzzles, showing them how they worked!
Ines was very excited and started singing “Let it go” at the top of her voice, with laughter coming from all residents. The children and elderly ladies enjoyed each other's company, and spent a while playing together. The fish tank took the children’s interest, and Hlenhaze and Arjun made silly fish faces “Look I am a fish!” which made the ladies laugh. When getting ready to leave, Emily decided to play peek-a-boo with one of the elderly ladies, hiding under the table and popping out shouting "boo" and giggling. We look forward to seeing them again soon!
The babies have had great fun building towers in the garden with the big blocks. Xanthe loved to help count the blocks as we built them higher and higher, "Three, four" she repeated with the staff. Well done! James and Freddie decide to build a tower together, and as it started to wobble they both giggled. They both pushed it over to see it crash to the ground, and Thomas decided he would like to help and came rushing over with a dustpan and brush! "Ta" Thomas said to his friends as he was trying to sweep up the blocks. Rowan joined in helping Thomas to pick up some bricks.
We also had great fun playing with some lavender plant stems and flowers in the water tray. Thomas pointed to the mixture encouraging Xanthe to touch it, as Ines looked disapproving as she felt the texture "Ewww" she said. The children were encouraged to smell the mixture, and as they lent forward for a smell, Thomas splashed them all instead! They all screamed and giggled, as Thomas ran off to play. Great fun!
The Hungry Caterpillar at Molesey
This week the toddler and pre school children have been taking part in activities for our topic "The Hungry Caterpillar". They have been making caterpillar names, sounding out letters in their names. They showed great control forming the letters. The children have also enjoyed making fruit kebabs using some of the fruit that the Hungry Caterpillar enjoys eating. Sam said " I like banana just like the caterpillar!" and Thomas said "Fruit makes you get really big" placing the fruit onto the stick.
The children have been exploring the outside area where they have been carrying out lots of different activities such as going for nature walks and trails looking for butterflies and caterpillars. The children have also enjoyed playing hide and seek in the bushes. We have been to the children play area for the first time within Imber court where they enjoyed themselves on the different climbing frames and sea saws. "Amelie said I like the park, we get to have so much fun!".
Babies have enjoyed exploring in our tuff tray where we set up a farm using different textured cereals. They enjoyed using their hands to crunch them up whilst also exploring and enjoying the taste.
They had lots of fun taking part in music and movement where they were exploring with the different musical instruments shaking them and banging them on the floor. They have also enjoyed exploring the outside area crawling through the nature trail with the toddler and preschool children listening to the bark crunch.
Let's Explore Maths!
The children have been participating in various maths activities from puzzles to threading. Whilst threading beads onto laces Amelia said "It looks like a snake" and began to pull it across the table, to which Theo started laughing and said "Mine’s a wiggly worm". The children then proceeded to count the beads on their laces. After Jenson had been counting he proudly said "I did it!". Darcy used her beads to make a necklace and said "It's a really big one" and attempted to put it on her head, she started laugh and said "It looks funny; my head does not go through!’.
They also took part in a number hunt in the outdoor areas, and when Matilda found an ‘8 ‘said ‘ It looks like a butterfly!’
This week the babies have been exploring with different media. They experimented with some puffy paint, gently putting it on the paper trying not to make it too thin. Thomas used the paint brush to dab the paper leaving lumps of paint and gently moved some around. He smiled throughout, and liked painting the table with his hand and he giggled at the messy result!
Ines was a little more tidy sticking to her paper and took time making her marks with focus on where her brush was going.
They made marks with crayons in the garden. They sat on the floor with some large paper and began drawing. When it started to get full, James began drawing on the floor with Emily running around the paper laughing with her friends. Emily stopped, dropped down and drew a squiggle before getting up and going again.
The babies also played in the water and enjoyed splashing everyone and the floor with Xanthe being one of the messiest pouring the water back into the water giggling when it splashed her. However not as messy as Thomas who was so eager to get his arms in the water and wave them around.
