Weekly Experiences
The children at Gants Hill the children have been playing with the sensory parachute. This activity promotes so many areas of learning whilst the children are having so much fun. This form of play encourages a variety of different skills. By coordinating the parachute together, children learn about cooperative play and communication, along with taking turns and learning to follow instructions. Repetitive motion and using songs helps with developing a sense of rhythm, which in turn can help with cognitive process.
Sensory Parachute GH
The children in Rainbow fish room, South Woodford have been exploring popcorn sensory play using jugs & measuring scoops & bottles. Sensory play supports the children’s language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction. With the introduction of jugs and bottles children are building up their vocabulary and introduction of mathematical development.
The children at Gants Hill the children have been participating in observational drawing activities. This activity supports the children in slowing down, and really learning how to record what they see, rather than what think something looks like. Through noticing the details, the children’s understandings deepen, and further questions are provoked. The children used animals to focus on the setting theme ‘Animals through the ages’
Observational Drawing GH
Observational Drawing GH
The children in Stingrays room South Woodford have been making fortune cookies whilst talking to the children about Chinese New Year. Celebrating festivals offers much enjoyment and thrill but also because it has much more to tell about the country, its history and culture. The children told the adults what messages they would like to be put in their cookie, and the children then inserted these in their cookies.
Here are some of the children’s comments:
"Cookie" - Rafe
"Stick it" - Ibbi
Fortune Cookie GH
The children at Gants Hill the children have been playing with rice. Rice play uses all 5 senses, but the sense of touch is often the most frequent. This activity also encourages children to manipulate and mould materials, building up their fine motor skills and coordination. These Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore.
Rice Play GH
The children in Sharks room South Woodford have been exploring raw broccoli. This sensory activity ignites an interest from the children as this is their main method of learning. The children are able to develop their fine motor skills, as manipulating the resources improve dexterity to help with their pre-writing skills. This activity also introduces and promotes healthy eating with the children.
Here are some of the children’s comments:
"I eat it at home" - Clara
"Its heavy" – Julia
"Its like a tree" - Aaron
"Its green" – Ehsun
Exploring Broccoli SW
Exploring Broccoli SW
The children at Gants Hill the children have been exploring colour by participating in large scale painting in the garden. There were many benefits to this activity. The children used scientific thinking to observe, predict and compare, and they experimented with cause and effect. ‘What will happen if we mix all three colours together?’ From this the children used problem solving skills and came up with ideas for what to do when the colour they were mixing didn’t turn out quite the way they had hoped. Along with the developing the children’s fine motor skills.
Large Scale Painting GH
Large Scale Painting GH
The children in Starfish room South Woodford have been making paper mice using a combination of glue, scissors, felt pens and glitter to achieve the desired effect. The children were given the materials to create their own mice. At first sight this looks like a lovely craft activity, but the learning opportunities are plentiful and range from ‘Personal, Social and Emotional’ to ‘Physical’ development.
Here are some of the children’s comments:
"My mouse has 2 eyes" - Daisy
"I gave him some whiskers" - Laith
"A mouse has ears" - Sam S
"A mouse walks slowly" - Saanvi
"It makes a squeak noise" - Eitan
"I give him cheese" - Isabella
Making Mice SW
Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week:
- "Trains can de-rail you know" – Noah
- "I got new shoes. My mummy bought it," - Laharekaa
- "My mummy speaks Hebrew" – Eitan
- "I'm going to make pasta by adding water and salt to make it delicious" - Julia
- "Thank you" - Ianis
Quote of the Week:
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community
Until next time...
