Parent consultation to increase sessions

Tools, Tools and more Tools

This week we have been thinking about the tools we use. We have been building our strength doing exercises developing our grosse motor skills and using tools to develop hand eye co-ordination and fine motor development.

We use mark making tools to create big designs outdoors.

 "Look, I use the autumn things to do patterns and shapes"

We find different uses for objects creating our own tools.

 
                           "Its my job to make sure all the building things are tidy at home time"


                                          At Sparklers we use real tools to design and build.

Using real tools is the perfect activity in which children can demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning:-

·         playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;

·         active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements;

·          creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things. 

Autumn is here

We have been  looking at the changes in the world around us now autumn is here.

We went on an autumn walk to collect different  items and look at the changes in our environment.

While out we looked to see what else was happening in the insect hotels and in the log pile.

On our walk we encouraged the children to look for  things for such as the changing colour of leaves, berries on the bushes and trees, pine cones, conkers and acorns. We talked about the need to keep to the path, so that things don’t get trodden on. Explaining why we shouldn’t pick any of the flowers or touch the berries.

                                           

 Using autumn colours in art

We used some of the natural resources we collected as different material to create with.

Some of us have looked at changing colours and pretending to be the leaves falling off the trees.

                            Finally we used our natural collection to make marks in our dough.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood ........

For further Gruffalo fun http://www.gruffalo.com/

This week we have been looking at one of our favourite stories The Gruffalo. The story took us on our own journey through the forest where we looked at woodland textures and colours. This linked us in with the beginning of the autumn season.

We spent time discussing the characters the Gruffalo and mouse, how they behaved and why.

The children decided it is important to be a good friend to everyone. We looked at the different characters in the story and their similarities and differences. 

We are the same because    "We all have socks on"     "We've got hair and eyes"       "We're at school"

We are different because "I've got pretty bobbles you've not got any" "I'm a girl you're not"

We all have pets and they are different. We have dogs, kittens, pheasants, horses, chickens, fish and sheep.

We used pictures showing different body parts of the Gruffalo's body and tried to find them on the Gruffalo hiding in the rice.

    

We created our own Gruffalo using chocolate dough and different loose parts from around the nursery.

We set up small world version of the story to the encourage children to retell the story. The children created the characters they created in the dough area to support their play.

"Look all the Gruffalo's are having a party"

Free flow snacks

At Sparklers we have a free flow snack area, this is so children are not interrupted in their independent learning. Snack time is a time where children can learn about healthy snacks and gives them an opportunity to develop responsibility. The older children help their younger peers with the water dispenser, getting straws from the wrapper and peeling fruits.

The children are given a range of foods to choose from melons, cucumber, peppers, olives and cereals. This week the children have made their own sandwiches.











As well as free flow snacks we have a group snack and chatter time at a time that is convenient for all the children.