Children in Elm Room have been enjoying lots of opportunities to explore, create and develop their physical and social skills through play.
Mark-making has been a big part of their learning, with children experimenting with pens, dry-wipe boards, chalk, and paint. Exploring different tools and surfaces encourages children to discover the marks they can make, while developing the hand control and coordination that will support their early writing.
Children have also been sorting colours using tweezers. Carefully picking up and moving objects is a great way to strengthen fine motor skills and develop hand-eye coordination. There have been plenty of opportunities for bigger movements too, with obstacle courses, stepping stones, ramps and bridges encouraging children to practise balancing and moving their bodies in different ways.
Music has provided a lovely opportunity to develop listening and turn-taking skills. Using the instrument bag, children have been practising waiting for their turn and listening while their friends play. The familiar song, “Here’s our instrument bag, here’s our instrument bag, what’s inside, what’s inside?” helps children anticipate whose turn is coming next and encourages everyone to join in.
Children in Beech Room have been busy investigating, experimenting and learning together through lots of hands-on play.
The children have been exploring ramps and discovering what happens when different objects travel down them. Starting with cars, they then extended their investigations by trying natural resources such as pinecones. This playful experimentation gives children opportunities to notice cause and effect and explore ideas such as fast and slow.
There has also been plenty of messy sensory play. Children have been investigating what happens when sand and water are mixed, creating very gloopy, wet sand! Exploring how materials can be combined and changed encourages curiosity and gives children opportunities to make their own discoveries.
A jumping game has been helping children practise taking turns while developing their physical skills. Children take turns standing on the block before everyone joins in with “Ready, steady, go!” and jumps off. The game combines listening and anticipation with the excitement of movement and playing together.
Beech Room’s Book of the Term is Owl Babies. Becoming familiar with a favourite story through repeated reading helps children develop their language, understanding and enjoyment of books.
