This week’s activities
In their arts and crafts this week, the children have been busy learning what happens when they mix paint colours together; sometimes successfully, other times just making a non-descript sludge colour. This is great for not only helping learn about colours but helps with beginning to understand cause and effect.
In their role-play they made yummy chocolate cakes; choosing the ingredients, eggs, chocolate and flour. Once they had baked them in the oven, they sold them in their cake shop using the play money. This helps children make connections between the real and imaginary world. Re-enacting what they know gives them a sense of place, time and control over their own lives. Children learn from the adults around them but also from their peers. Role play is invaluable in helping children find their way in the world. Concepts such as exchanging money for goods helps them understand very simple economics.
In their sensory play, they not only had the usual playdough, sand and water but explored the shaving foam in the tough tray. They created their own ‘fireworks’ and talked about Bonfire Night and Diwali. Exploring what these traditions mean and thinking about how they celebrate them and with who. Being part of a family and wider community helps them find out where they fit in the world. Exploring shaving foam is also great fun and smells great!
In their small group work they have played pairs and matching games. These games develop turn-taking skills, language and communication, including descriptive language, memory skills and concentration. All really important aspects of development. They have also played “What’s in the box”, another game involving turn-taking, sharing, patience and concentration. Each child has to wait to find out “What’s in the box” after singing a catchy tune, sharing the anticipation and excitement with their friends, then taking a turn with whatever appears out of the box. Lovely!
Outside the children drew around the large tyres using chalks to create circles. They then went on to draw freehand circles and added numbers to the circles. This further developed into a game of hopscotch, with rules, turn-taking, numbers and physical elements.
Continuing to work collaboratively, the children created an obstacle course using planks and crates. Not content with this challenge, they added pots and pans and chairs. They had to crawl under the chairs on their bellies. Lots of lovely processes here including planning, teamwork and collaboration, problem solving, turn-taking and large physical skills. Excellent.
Helping with their core strength and balance, they used the large wooden blocks to walk along, stretching out their arms to keep upright and steady. Core strength is essential to be able to sit still and concentrate at a desk in later school years. So when your child is being physically active, remember that they are developing the core stability to help with sitting and concentrating.
In their maths development they have really enjoyed engaging in the ’10 little frogs’ song. Each child is a frog – 1-10. As they sing the song, one frog jumps into the pond, leaving one less child. As each child jumps in they repeat the numbers, taking one away, so 10 to 1. By physically engaging with numbers they are able to relate numerals to quantity. This is far more meaningful than sitting down with a worksheet.
Another simple activity to promote maths development has been using the tweezers (great for fine motor skills), pompoms and milk bottle tops stuck to boards. Each board has a different number of milk bottles and the children have to match the number of pompoms to milk bottle tops. Simple.
As always, this is only a snapshot of some of the activities the children have engaged in this week. No photos on the website today but they should be there from next week.
We hope you have a lovely weekend and a safe and happy Bonfire Night.
The Pre-school Team