Weekly Experiences
In Gants Hill children have been making cookies. Cooking activities are a great resource that staff can utilise to help children develop in a variety of areas of learning. Through the process of cooking, children are able to develop skills such as, turn taking, counting, fine motor skills, speaking, listening and attention, just to name a few.
Ingredients
Makes: 35
- 225g butter, softened
- 110g caster sugar
- 275g plain flour
Method
Prep:15mins
Cook:10min
Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4.
Cream the butter in a large bowl or in a food mixer until soft. Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Sift in the flour and bring the mixture together to form a dough.
Using your hands,roll the dough into walnut-size balls and place them slightly apart on a baking tray. Flatten them slightly and bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes or until they are a light golden brown and slightly firm on top.
Carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Baking Cookies GH
The children in Rainbowfish room, South Woodford have been making their own post boxes using containers and tubes. The children used bottle tops to post through the slots, which had been cut by practitioners. The children spent a long period of time at this activity and used their fine motor skills to ensure they could fit the bottle tops into the slots. These activities are also great for the development of hand-eye coordination.
Posting Activity SW
The children at Gants Hill the children have been making fruit kebabs. Cooking with children is fun and it teaches them mathematics, science, and pre-reading skills, plus it gives them fine motor and sensory stimulation. Cooking healthy foods with children helps them to become familiar with the foods and gives them more interest in trying something they haven’t tried or liked before.
Fruit Kebabs GH
The children in Stingrays room South Woodford have been engaging in water play in the garden. They have made the most of the warmer weather and got themselves a little wet in the process! The children used their senses to explore the water, they also had resources in the water which enhanced this play opportunity. They were listening to the sounds the water makes when splashing, which is a listening skill that can assist with their reading in the future, such as being able to segment and blend phonics.
The children commented:
“Splash” – Wren
“That’s a big bubble…. pop!” – Rafe
“Woah, bubble” – Samir
Water Play SW
The children at Gants Hill the children have been making music using the pots and pans. Music ignites all areas of child development and skills for school readiness, including intellectual, social-emotional, motor, language, and overall literacy. It helps the body and the mind work together. Exposing children to music during early development helps them learn the sounds and meanings of words.
Pots and Pans GH
The children in Sharks room South Woodford have been creating pictures using bubble blowing. The children blew through straws to create bubbles which had paint added. This activity took place in a group and on a large-scale sheet of paper on the floor. In delivering this activity in this way, rather than on separate sheets of paper, the children are also developing their personal, social and emotional skills. They are learning to use the resources fairly and also to wait their turn.
The children commented:
"You dip it in the bubble" - Ariya
"Its red and yellow" - Ayaan
"We are making orange" - Ayaan
"I made bubbles" – Zohaan
Bubble blowing SW
Bubble blowing SW
The children at Gants Hill the children have had a visit from our persona doll ‘Bella’ Persona dolls have a vast number of learning opportunity at the nursery. They support the older children to share their own experiences relating to the topic that is being covered. Persona dolls develop children’s emotional literacy especially around behaviour management scenarios.
'Bella' GH
'Bella' GH
The children in Starfish room South Woodford have been discussing different occupations and have been experiencing the hairdresser’s role play. They have been giving top salons a run for their money and have thoroughly enjoyed doing so. This role play is a great way to help the children develop their expressive arts and design skills, in particular, being imaginative.
The children commented:
"Im using the hairdryer to dry his hair" - Xavi
"The shampoo is making her hair clean" - Isla CP
"I want to be a hairdresser because I like doing hair" - Isla
"It tickles when you get your haircut" - Daisy
"You can have sweeties after if you’re good" - Sam S.
Hairdresser's Role Play SW
Hairdresser's Role Play SW
Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week:
- “I want my coat" - Aradhya
- "I’m going to my sister's school soon cos I’m a big boy" - Jayce
- “Isla sleeps at the bottom bunk, I sleep on the top" - Luke
- “I went on holiday to Greece, it was very hot" - Mae
- “I like the computer” - Abrar
Quote of the Week:
“The work of education is divided between the teacher and the environment.” ~ Maria Montessori
Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community
Until next time...
