Fun in the sun! (Week beg. 17th May)

This week we have really enjoyed the sunny weather, but we have had a very wet week!!

The water tray has enabled us to enjoy enthusiastic, sociable, collaborative games, quiet exploration and experimentation, colour mixing, bubbly fun and lots more besides.

With outdoor play the preferred choice, we have tried to provide learning opportunities in all areas of the curriculum outside.

Snacks have been enjoyed outside at a table, as a picnic on mats and in a camouflage den!

Construction toys – duplo and mega blocks, were used to make trains, star wars spaceships and so much more!

Different mark-making materials have been on offer outside and all ages have made good use of them.

Small world games have been given more scope with a larger area to explore - farm animals, wild animals and cars and trains were all taken into the garden and some found their way into the water (don’t worry they survived!)

Bluebell Wood Trip 4th May

Last Tuesday (4^th May ) a group of children and parents enjoyed a tractor and trailer ride in the Spring sunshine to the Bluebell Wood above Beckford.

We had a walk across the stream and through the wood before stopping for picnic snacks for the children (tea and coffee for the parents).

Then we got out our reference books and magnifying glasses and took our time to really explore. As well as lots of lovely wild flowers - bluebells in abundance, marsh marigolds and red campion, we found all sorts of minibeasts under the logs including woodlice, millipedes and worms.

Back at nursery, the children did some colour mixing to paint some lovely pictures of bluebells and their trip to the woods.

We hope to be able to use the tractor and trailer (a huge hit with the children!) for more countryside trips in the future.

Learning from bugs!!

Over the last few weeks on nature walks, in Forest School sessions and in the garden and digging pit we have found lots of 'minibeasts'.

So this week we have been doing art and craft activities to reflect the children's interest in bugs.

Making collage caterpillars enabled the older children to hone their cutting skills.

Everyone enjoyed getting messy to create handprint butterflies.

We got out mirrors and experimented with the wonders of symmetry painting.

This week we have also enjoyed sharing bug books and songs.

It may be 40 years old but we never tire of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' and it inspired us to learn an action song teaching about the lifecycle of the butterfly and the story of 'The Very Lazy Ladybird' taught us that under those spots ladybirds have wings!