This week’s activities

Well the weather has played a big part in the children’s activities again this week as we go from boiling hot sun to torrential downpours within a few days of each other.

When the weather was hot and sunny the children talked about why it felt so hot and how it is the sun that makes the temperature rise and this happens in the summer.  They learnt about how to keep safe in the sun by wearing a sunhat to prevent their head from burning, suncream on their skin to stop their skin from burning and drinking plenty of fluids to stop them dehydrating.  They also enjoyed a cooling icelolly, learning that they need to eat it fairly quickly before it melts in the warm air.

The words hydration and dehydration are ones we have been using with the children for quite a while now.  It is amazing what vocabulary the children can pick up when it is explained at their level of understanding and is used in context.  A language rich environment has many benefits, not only in terms of communication, but in future literacy learning. Children learn more by using language, hearing new words, rhyming and rhythm activities, than they do from sitting down with a worksheet.

As the Euro football tournament is currently taking place and many children are interested in playing and watching football, we have used this interest to develop their understanding of the world by introducing the flags of the countries taking part.  The children have made their own flags, painted and designed their own football pitch and added 3D model players.  This was further extended by making football shirts, each with their name and a number.  All of these activities involve lots of learning and development, from mark-making, fine motor skills, creativity, understanding the world, to maths. By using children’s interests, they are more willing to take part in activities.  By keeping them fun, they are more likely to engage and maintain concentration.

In their sensory play they explored the properties of cornflour and what happens when you add water to it.  Amazingly, it is wet when water is added but if you pick it up, it becomes dry again. Really fascinating and a great early science experiment.  Adding food colouring gives another dimension and keeps it interesting.  Lots of lovely descriptive words can be introduced in this kind of activity, but the best bit is that it feels lovely.

Continuing with sensory play, they have also enjoyed playing with the ‘unicorn foam’. This foam is made up of different colours; pink, blue and white.  Not only is it sensory, but children link the experience to stories around the mythical creatures.

Finally in sensory play, they have used blue ‘crazy foam’.  Lots and lots of fun and great for imaginative and role play, as they created an underwater theme for their role play scenarios.

In their creative play they mixed colours together on large paper laid on the floor.  By having paper on the floor, children get a different perspective on their creative ideas. Rather than working on a solitary project, they worked collaboratively, mixing the paint together and learning from each other about what happens when they mix colours together.

Outside they made a ‘camp in the jungle’. As they were in the jungle, they needed to be able to see what was around them and explore their environment, so they made ‘binoculars’ to help on their expedition, as they spotted tigers lurking in the dark.  As it was dark, they needed a tool to help them see, so they created ‘torches’.

Singing, rhymes and music activities happen throughout the day. Using signs alongside music and singing helps all children to be able to participate and communicate with each other. They have been learning the signs for ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ and ‘Old Macdonald’.

What a busy week! As always, this is only a snapshot of some of the things the children have been doing. For photos of some of the activities this week, please visit our website www.anthonyroperpreschool.co.uk.

Thank you.

The Pre-school Team