Celebrating Diwali

This week we started our Diwali celebrations in Nursery. We joined in with a song about Diwali and watched a video about families celebrating Diwali by visiting the temple and making Rangoli patterns. Our Diva lamps were made from air drying clay. The children decorated them using stars and sequins. The children drew around their hands and cut them out; they decorated them to make Mendhi hands.  We watched a video about Rangoli patterns and then the children created their own Rangoli patterns outdoors using chalks. Among all the children's creative designs Ava I. drew a "spider-lion," Scarlett and Dolly drew a map and rainbow together, Charlie P. made "fireworks," Joshua chalked his garden, Imogen made a snowman, Thomas drew a kangeroo, Caleb drew a pattern of numbers to 10, Harrison created many Rangoli patterns including a rainbow and "X marks the spot." Freya's pattern was a "ghost family" and Florence drew a heart and wrote her name.  

At the Diwali party many children dressed up in traditional costume and colourful fabrics. They tasted naan bread, poppadoms, onion bhajis, vegetable samosas and mango chutney. 

We have been dancing in the hall with Mrs. Neil too. We danced a strong, marching soldier dance for Prince Rama, flexing our muscles, then danced a light, twirling, bowing dance for Princess Sita. We had an imaginary Diva lamp procession too. 

Click on the link below to join in with the Diwali song and watch the video. Can you spot the Diva lamps and fireworks?

Click on each sub page to see many photos of our celebrations and video clips of our dancing with Mrs. Neil.