Friday 7th October 2011

Every day when we play outside, the children each grab a wheel toy - bicycle, car, pram or scooter or anything from the shed - and then they race around the building pushing or cycling as fast as they can. We usually need an adult to control the flow!

Exiting the shed to play with
the chosen toys.

A sweeping look at what there is!

Leah used great energy as she raced around the building. She quickly picked up the car by the handles and shuffled over uneven surfaces to get right around with everyone else.

Chloe chose this pram as her wheel toy to join the flow around the building.

Thursday 6th October 2011

The staff have been busy taking photographs of the children in action, both for this blog and for the learning journeys. I took a picture of Summer working on her picture for a new placemat for snack time. She then went and fetched the children's camera and took a picture of Leah doing hers.

Tuesday 3 October 2011

A Walk in the Park

We took advantage of a slight break in the wet weather on Tuesday to go to the park. We collected a huge bag full of berries, leaves, twigs and stones to make into collage pictures which are on our display board. Don't forget to have a look when you come in to school.

Here are some pictures from the day.

Group Photograph taken by Vicki

Bethany pushed her way through
thorny bushes to collect berries for our
collage pictures.

We saw a cluster of interesting mushrooms

Kyra carried the bag of 'goodies' for our collage.
We all added what appealed to us and what we thought we could use to make a picture.



This is what our pictures look like now they are
finished and up on our notice board



Friday 30 September 2011

Today MJ and Keanan decided to work together to build a blockade so that the younger children would not go near the car park. They fetched what they needed from the shed and worked together, planning where everything should go. Soon there were lots of children helping and joining in.

Later on they moved the blockade to stop the children going all the way around the building and banded together to 'police' their blockade.

Great team work.

Wednesday 28 September

      

Claire played football with Archie today. Archie told her she represented Arsenal and he represented Chelsea. At story time, Archie told Claire that she was to sit on the red chair while he sat on a blue chair because they were 'our team colours'

IMPRESSIVE!



Monday 26 September 2011

We are learning about tools and repairing/building different things this week.

- wooden articles with a drill, hammers and nails
- books with sellotape or replacement staples,
- clothes with thread and by hand or machine,
- different types of materials like plastic or wood or paper with different
  types of glue
- cars with different tools to the ones used for woodwork.  

Today Claire brought in some woodwork tools for the children to feel, see, experiment with and name.

This is the selection of Claire's husband's tools that
she brought in to show the children

Safety first! Claire demonstrated how
to use the drill, then assisted Jordan when 
he had his turn.

Jordan in action again. He spent a long time
experimenting here today - good concentration

                                     

Claire was able to answer the many questions
that the children asked her about how to
hold the tools and what they were called.

MJ asked to be photographed using
this hand held drill.

Caleb was fascinated by
these tools, inspecting them all
closely

Mmhh - what is in this box?

Balancing and turning at the same time
- takes some concentration and control.

Today we swept up a couple of buckets of leaves around the back of the buiding because they were preventing the wheel toys and prams from moving freely.

Summer was extremely enthusiastic and keen to help. She picked up huge armfuls of leaves that Freya had raked into a pile and put them into the bucket with the other leaves that were destined for the compost heap. Summer then insisted on carrying the heavy, full bucket to the other end of the garden (where the compost heap is) all by herself.

Scarlett and MJ were trying to establish who was in charge of the bucket full of leaves.



Lottie, in her coat and borrowed wellies , came to help with the leaves.
She knew exactly which rake she wanted and she helped take some leaves that remained attached to this blue rake to the compost heap

Jordan decided to make the cars into a long line. He spent ages ensuring that they were properly placed one behind the other. When he was finished he shouted out, 'Look at the traffic jam!' Jordan then went back to the box to find more cars and used them all to make this extra long line. He was so obviously pleased with himself for thinking up this idea all on his own.

This was the day when we had toast with either chocolate spread or jam on for snack. All the children ended up with large amounts of chocolate around their mouths.

MJ stood up and looked around at all of them. He heaved a huge sigh and put his arms on his hips in frustration. MJ then marched over to pick up the packet of wet wipes and proceeded to do the rounds, wiping each child's mouth clean in turn!

Some children have really mastered swinging on the rope swing in the garden. They are strong enough to climb up unassisted and to continue to swing themselves once they have been given an initial push. Holding on tight is essential!

Eyes closed to 'feel' the motion

The first time after some

persuasion

Coy pride in this achievement,
done without any assistance
well done Maisie!

Kyra has gradually
built up her confidence until she
was happy enough to swing
very high today.



Go Abi! Keep holding on tight.

Freya has just slowed down after
twirling round and round
 - feeling a little dizzy then?