Weekly Experiences
In Gants Hill this week the children have been using chalks to make marks. Mark making is so important in the early years, when children are making these early marks, they are practicing to hold a pencil and are attempting to control their marks with their muscles. This enhances their physical development by improving their fine motor skills and helps to develop their hand-eye coordination.
Mark Making GH
Mark Making GH
The children in Rainbowfish room, South Woodford have been printing using potatoes and paint. The children enjoyed making the marks using the large movements required by covering the potato (and hands) in paint, developing the gross motor skills. As with any activity, the children have the opportunity to explore what the staff have planned, however they also have the autonomy to direct the resources in how they choose. This helps to develop a sense of independence, and curiosity of the world around them.
The children commented:
"Finished" - Sasha
"Yeah" and clapped his hands - Ianis
Potato Printing SW
Potato Printing SW
In Gants Hill the children have been singing ‘5 little monkeys’ using props. Singing to and with young children is so important. It assists the children’s language acquisition, and can soothe a troubled moment, capture their imagination, make them laugh and introduce new ideas, as well as teaching simple musical concepts. The addition of singing with props to everyday songs helps to bring the song to life and help develop further skills too, such as recognising and naming objects, simple story sequencing and basic motor grasp.
Singing with props GH
Singing with props GH
The children in Stingrays room South Woodford have been creating a post box for them to post their letters to Santa! They used paint and other resources to collectively create the post box. This type of activity helps the children to negotiate turn taking and understanding of others joining in. The children all thoroughly enjoyed getting the box ready for their very own letters, with Wren saying “Wow” when it was complete.
Post box SW
Post box SW
In Gants Hill the children have been engaging in water play. Water play is both enjoyable and educational. It helps children develop eye-hand coordination, math and science concepts. It also enhances social skills and encourages cooperation. Water Play provides rich and valuable early childhood experiences to develop children's creativity and imagination. New vocabulary was introduced to the children.
Water Play GH
Water Play GH
The children in Sharks room South Woodford have been using their senses to explore the sight, smell and taste of oranges and lemons. This sensory activity helps children to develop a more extensive vocabulary as there are words specific to describing the sight, smell and taste of the citrus fruit. The children used a manual juicer to squeeze juice from the fruit, a practice which develops the muscles of the fingers, hand and wrist. The children then drank the juice they had extracted.
The children offered many comments, such as:
“Yucky, I have to get tissue for my tongue" - Aaron
"I like orange. The lemon’s crazy" - Xavi
"Push, push look juice" - Frederika
“Seeds" - Isobel
“I can smell it" - Ariya
Juicers SW
Juicers SW
In Gants Hill the older children have been practicing their writing on tiles. The benefits of mark making in the early years are clear; a child's physical skills are developed, their creative skills and imagination grows further, children are given a new output to express their feelings and also given a stepping stone into writing. Whilst the children are forming letters staff are ensuring they use the phonetic sounds to support the children’s learning.
Writing on tiles GH
Writing on tiles GH
The children in Starfish room South Woodford have been taking part in a creative activity to get them all in the Christmas spirit. They have been using paper plates to create Santa’s face. The children enjoyed using a variety of resources to place in order to replicate their own version of Santa’s face. This choice helps to develop their decision making and also helps children to develop their expressive arts and design skills.
The children commented:
"When you see a red light in the sky" - Eitan
"Like the cotton wool its fluffy" - Isabella
"I like Santa's buttons" - Laith
"I like his hat" - Saanvi
"His eyes are black and green" - Noah
"He has a big white beard" - Leonard
"Santa" "Hair" – Haarith
Santa's face SW
Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week:
- "I build a helicopter, I saw one high up in the sky" - Armaan
- “I’m sad because my mum is sad” - Luke
- "I’m going rugby at weekend" - Noah
- "When my dad watches football I’m so bored” - Zayd
- "I’m going with daddy to see a dinosaur" - Isabella
Activity of the week:
The winner of 'Activity of the week' this week is Kerry (SW). Kerry has planned a lovely activity to create a jungle small world play in order to encourage a PSE: MR next step. The activity will see a jungle world created using a variety of resources, such as, play-doh, leaves, flowers and brocolli. This activity provides the children with plenty of opportunities to engage with each other and for staff to prompt the use of language. As with other activities we've seen, the sensory stimulation children will get from this jungle world, will aid their learning and development, and also how they engage with the activity itself. The extension asks the children to further explore the play-doh and then share this with their peers.
Quote of the Week:
“Play is the work of a child”
(Maria Montessori)
Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community
Until next time...
