We dressed in Chinese clothes to celebrate the Year of the Goat. Fen Fen told us the story of Chinese New Year and taught us a New Year song. In the hall we danced with ribbons to traditional Chinese music. We made vegetable stir fry and ate it for snack with prawn crackers. We had fun using chopsticks! We 'wrote' menus and orders in Our role play Chinese Restaurant.
Celebrating Chinese New Year
Eating Stir Fry, Role Play in the Restaurant and Decorating Our Dragons!
Pancake Tossing for Shrove Tueday
Ready to Write!
We have been doing a shoulder, arm, wrist and finger exercise to help our muscles get ready to mark make and write. The exercise goes like this...
Ready to Write!
We have been doing shoulder, wrist, arm and finger exercises to make our muscles strong, ready to mark make and write. The exercise goes like this....
Eric Carle, Nursery's Special Author.
We have chosen Eric Carle to be our adopted author. We have really enjoyed looking at Eric Carle books, reading stories together and painting pictures of the animals from 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Can you See?'
We painted clouds using our own ideas about what they looked like, just like in the story 'Little Cloud'.
Eric Carle, Nursery's Special Author
Maths Exploration
Number, pattern, counting, capacity and shape have been explored in Nursery this week through child initiated play, small group activities and whole class input.
Children have been threading beads and matching them with number cards. Children have used one to one correspondence to count bobbins, beads, pegs, play bugs, dinosaurs, transport and animals. Capacity concepts of 'empty', 'half full' and 'full to overflowing' have been introduced through coloured water play. Children have selected the clingy numbers and enjoyed identifying the symbol for their age.
Four friends had the idea to stack up two sand timers: they counted in unison to 20 to determine how long it would take for the sand to pass through. They also predicted which timer would be the quickest to empty, the blue or the yellow. They were jubilant when they were correct! 'The yellow won!' they shouted.
During class input, shape and fractions (whole, half and quarters) were introduced through making vegetable pizzas for snack.
This week we helped to stretch out to 'measure' the heavy sails which will provide shade in the outdoor area later in the year.
Also, Year 6 pupils played number games with Nursery, which they had designed and created during Maths Week. Everybody enjoyed themselves!
Pizza Intro (AM)
Maths Input (AM)
Pizza Input (AM).mp4
Maths Fun!
Maths Input 1 (PM).wmv
Maths Input 2 (PM).mp4
Creating and Designing
The children enjoy accessing the scissors, sellotape and a variety of media to design their own creations. They concentrate for sustained periods and talk about what they have made, taking pride in their achievements!
Using Materials to Cut, Join and Design.
Making a telescope Jan '15.MOV
Sign-A-Long
We have been using 'Sign-A-Long' during our prayers and greetings at the beginning of Nursery sessions, during small groups and whole class story times too. We use signs during the sessions for drinks and snacks, please and thank you, toilet, items of clothing and the names of staff and helpers.
Morning Prayers
Morning Greetings
Afternoon Prayers and Greetings
Child Initiated Literacy Fun
The children decided to match up their names with the photos they use to register for snack. They looked for each other's names, helping one another to search by looking for the initial letter symbols. They were delighted with their success.
Some children selected their name cards and attempted to copy their names on their pictures and mark making.
Literacy Fun!
Interest Led 'Frozen' Role Play
The children have been so excited about 'Frozen', so we created an ice castle for role play, made 'Frozen' cup cakes and explored ice through water balloons. Some of the children decided to use rubber gloves from the kitchen role play to handle the ice, a great idea! Keep a look out for more pictures of the children dressing up too!
Ice Castle Role Play and Singing
The children enjoyed dressing up and performed 'Frozen' songs together.
Singing 'Let it Go' Video 2
'Let it Go' Video 3
'Let It Go' Video 4
Ice Castle Role Play and Singing Video 5
Exploring the Frozen Theme
The children decorated fabric with glitter, icicle pipe cleaners and snowflakes which they had made. During role play some of the children developed creative ideas around witches; cackling, casting spells and setting traps!
We provided 'Spell Books' for recording their spells through mark making, emergent writing and drawings. This has been a highly motivating way to encourage literacy.
Role Play in the Ice Castle
Mark Making & Emergent Writing Through the Frozen Theme
The children are developing their fine motor skills, tripod grip and pencil control through imaginative scenarios in and around the Ice Castle.
Mark Making & Emergent Writing 1 (Frozen Theme).wmv
Writing A Frozen Cake Recipe
Mark Making Emergent Writing 2 (Frozen Theme).wmv
Mark Making & Emergent Writing 3 (Frozen Theme).wmv
Extending Role Play Ideas Through Planning and Mark Making
'Frozen' Role Play Photos
What an amazing time we had at the Christmas party when we met Elsa and Anna from 'Frozen' and Santa Claus too...!
Take a look at the short video clips and photos below to hear the children singing, bowing, learning to curtsey and building imaginary ice castles with magic hands.
Elsa & Anna Visiting the Morning Nursery (video 1)
Elsa & Anna and Morning Nursery singing 'The First Time in Forever.'
Elsa & Anna with Morning Nursery (video 2)
Elsa & Anna practising their curtsey with the Morning Nursery.
Anna & Elsa with the Morning Nursery Singing 'Let it Go!'
'For the First Time in Forever' Sung by Afternoon Nursery, Elsa & Anna (video 4)
Afternoon Nursery Learning to Bow & Curtesy (video 5)
'Let it Go' sung by Anna, Elsa and the Afternoon Nursery.
The Nursery Christmas Parties with Singing from Mike Arrat, Frozen's Elsa & Anna and Meeting Santa too!
Recycled Instruments
We made instruments at Nursery and at home with recycled materials. We had great fun making loud and soft sounds with the instruments, like Stephen Cartwright's book 'Who's Making That Noise?'
Using Recycled Percussion to Accompany French & English Singing
'Joyeux Anniversaire' with the Afternoon Nursery
Reclaimed Modelling for Book Week's 'Make Do and Mend.'