Our First Chicks....!

This is our first chick.  It has just hatched.  Doesn't it look exhausted!
This chick is called Bella!

"Look!  He's got his mouth out....Shh!""I can see his beak""Come on wigglebum""I can see his leg""Look - wings""Peep Peep Peep/""Look - it's hatchin'"

This morning, when I arrived I was told by Charlie (who had been busy counting)  "I think that there is six Michele"

we spent the afternoon periodically
watching a chick hatch.  Everyone
was very excited!

Our chicks arrived on Tuesday...yesterday afternoon one hatched in front of the children...today three hatched during the day. We have 9 now.....2 boys (cockerels) and 7 girls (hens).  The hens are brown. The cockerels are yellow.  

The children have all been SO excited..they avidly watch as each chick hatches, noticing small details.

We've learned lots of new words already, including "incubator" "hatching" "brooder" 

It's truly an amazing experience to share with young children!

LITTLE DRUMMERS!

One of our parents is an EXPERT drummer (a music professor)   

Dominic kindly offered (with a little arm twisting) to come into the setting one morning and show us his drums.

The children had a great time drumming on different drums including samba pans; bongos; tom toms & cymbals!

The children were eager to have a go at playing the big drum kit....it made a LOT of noise.  They were able to explore the different sounds that the different sized drums called tom toms and snare drums, made.

They enjoyed playing the big bass drum by pressing the pedal on the floor...it made a thud noise...and tapping the cymbals (called high-hat, crash and ride).

We ALL had an amazing time. 

Many thanks for coming 



Some of the goals covered include:

Confidence in a new situation:  PSE
Trying something new: PSE
Awareness of different jobs:  UW
Listening; Responding and understanding instructions:  CL
Playing different beats; exploring muiscal instruments  EAD

SO.....

If YOU have an interesting job; an interest, a hobby, a skill, musical ability, or something YOU think that the children would find interesting and may learn something from, don’t be backward in coming forward – talk to Michele and Dawn without delay.

Your visit need only last 15-30 minutes.  We would be delighted to have your help!

 

Everyone has something to offer...

you could even come into the setting and read your favourite story!

Noah's Ark

It REALLY rained this winter!!!! One showery day, we went outside – the children noticed a beautiful rainbow in the sky….it was both raining and sunny at the same time, giving us the opportunity to explore the Noah’s Ark story!

Three of our Noah Activities included:

Using umbrellas in the showers

·         The children really enjoyed using our new umbrellas today.  We didn’t have enough for everyone, so some had to share or wait a turn (PSE)

·         They gleefully pushed their umbrellas’ up and down each time the showers came and went, listening to the pitter patter of the raindrops.  (CL/UW)

Drawing Rainbows on the Interactive Whiteboard.

                                                                                                                   

We were so lucky to win this resource 5 years ago!

·         The children were able to make full use of it’s very big vertical surface and draw huge arcs’ of colour developing their pen control and pressure, whilst using the software palette to change colour – PHY/LIT/UW/EAD

·         Some of the children chose to draw their rainbows using the pen option whilst others chose the highlighter option:  those that chose the highlighter option noticed that where their lines overlapped that they blended together and new colours were formed - EAD

Rescuing the Animals from the floods

Using a table-top as an ark...everyone aboard!

The children used a variety of tongs to reach all the animals in the sea and pull them aboard the ark.  Great fun.  We all had to be careful, because it WAS quite a squeeze!

PSE:  working together.
PHY: using tongs and stretching.

Building an ark

·         After rescuing the animals out of the rain (in the nick of time) we built them an ark…the children helped to make pens and compartments for the animals  (EAD)

·         They found matching pairs of animals (2 of every kind)  (Math)

·         Used tongs to collect their animals and put them into the allocated pens  (PHY)

As Always:  

WE DID LOTS MORE & HAD LOTS OF FUN!

Kung Hey Fat Choy!

We had a great time celebrating The Chinese New Year (2014) The Year of the Horse!

Just a few of our activities include:

The children explored writing some Chinese Characters using a brush and black paint.

Areas of Learning Include:

·         Using a brush to make a mark – PHY (FMC)

·         Learning about another culture – learning about similarities and differences in writing – UW

We enjoyed dancing a fan dance, pretending to be different year characters.

 

Areas of learning include:

·         Being confident to have a go – PSE

·         Responding to music:  Chinese Animal Fan Dance - EAD

We enjoyed making a tangram by cutting up pictures into shape pieces.  The children put different picture puzzles back together again.

Areas of learning include:

·         Using scissors to cut up a simple puzzle – Phy

·         2D Shapes - Math

We enjoyed using chopsticks to pick up noodles.  The challenge was to find the longest/shortest!

Areas of learning include:

·         Using chopsticks to pick up a noodle   PHY

·         Discussing and comparing the length of different noodles & deciding which was the longest/shortest – Math


   
      Other activities included:

Our dragon dance:  drums, music
and team working! 

•      Counting using an abacus  (Math)
•       Drawing willow patterns (EAD)
•       Making lucky red envelopes (UW) 
•       Making watercolour lanterns  (Phy)
•       Wearing red costumes (red is lucky) (UW)
•       Doing dragon dances (EAD)
•       Dragon Crafts (EAD)
•       Finding 12 different animals. (Math)
•       Stories (Lit)
•       Matching animals sounds (CL - Listening)
•       Taking a ride on a dragon (made from tunnels outside)
• 
  
• 
  

Decorating the Christmas tree!

Today we were invited to decorate the Christmas tree outside Howard's shop. We brought along some handmade decorations. Everyone took turns to hang some on the tree. Howard went up very high and decorated the very tall branches.
After that, we sang some of our favourite Christmas songs - jingle bells, twinkle twinkle Christmas star, Rudolf Rudolf and many more.
Afterwards Howard very kindly gave all the children a little treat to take home.
We all had a fun time, thankyou to all the helpers who made this trip possible.
Happy Christmas,
Dawn.

Motorbikes!

Another Dad offered to visit the setting and show us his families motortrail bikes!

 

We would like to thank Mr. Jo Leeming for bringing his trial bikes to the setting to show to the children. 

Although initially some children found them scary...especially when the bigger bike roared to life...the children were all persuaded to sit on first the little bike and then on the bigger bike (both on stands).  It was a long way up!  They then all had fun trying on the safety outfits – the gloves; bodysuit; helmets and glasses too.

 ...Thereafter...this short visit sparked a lot of different activities and learning opportunities.

We talked about

•  EAD/CL – loud and quiet noises....what other noises can you hear

• CL – language development – new words naming other vehicles – tricycles to juggernaut lorries

• M – Sizing vehicles, counting wheels (which has the most/least)

• UW – using ramps to make vehicles roll

• EA – Printing wheels.

SO.....

If YOU have an interesting job; an interest, a hobby, a skill, musical ability, or something YOU think that the children would find interesting and may learn something from, don’t be backward in coming forward – talk to Michele and Dawn without delay.

Your visit need only last 15 minutes.  We would be delighted to have your help!

 

Everyone has something to offer...

you could even come into the setting and read your favourite story!

 

Submariner Visit - 20th June

We regularly ask parents if they would like to come into the setting and talk/show the children something.  One of the setting's Dad's offered his time & took up this challenge last term.  Mr. Mason visited the setting to talk to the children about his job

 

– we grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

 We would like to thank Mr. Mason for his visit.  You were absolutely BRILLIANT!  The children enjoyed themselves immensely.

Mr. Mason talked to the children about his job, explaining that submarines floated under water.  The children sang a sailor went to sea sea sea and saluted to Mr Mason (he was very tall!).  Mr. Mason then helped the children to explore how to make bottles float & sink in a deep water tray.  Lots of learning!

 Thereafter, we arranged lots of different activities –

• EA - drawings of submarines;
• UW - who could make the biggest splosh;
• blowing bubbles and other sea themed under water activities.

SO.....

 

If YOU have an interesting job; an interest, a hobby, a skill, musical ability, or something YOU think that the children would find interesting and may learn something from, don’t be backward in coming forward – talk to Michele and Dawn without delay!

Your visit need only last 15  minutes.  We would be delighted to have your help!

 

 

Everybody has something to offer

....you could even share your favourite story!