Nursery 21.11.22-25.11.22

 The Leaf Thief

This week we have been reading the story 'The Leaf Thief'. The children have engaged in discussion about why leaves fall off of trees and have been on a leaf hunt around the school. 

Leaf Boats

The children made their own boats using bowls and leaves. When they had made their boats they tested them to see if they floated. 

Fun with a cardboard box

This week the children had the opportunity to play with a very big cardboard box. We played for hours with the box. Over time the box evolved from a box, to a den, to a treehouse, to a house, to a musical hall. 

The children really demonstrated how imaginative they can be. Children love to play with cardboard boxes so maybe before you put your boxes in the recycling, let your child have a few hours of fun and let their imagination run away with them. When we see a cardboard box, we see it as something to break down and take out to the recycle bin. But for children,  a cardboard box is a blank palate just waiting to be turned into something that adventures are made of. Imagination is important when it comes to childhood development because social, emotional, physical, problem-solving skills, and communication skills are learned through the process of being imaginative. And nothing sparks the imagination more than when children  play with a cardboard box.

Fine motor and pencil control

The children in nursery are all learning to control mark making tools to make marks in the paper. Some are beginning to make marks and others are starting to write their own name. Writing our own name is a great skill to develop, however we need to teach children to do this when they are ready and when they are able to confidently control a mark making tool. 

What to look for to know they’re ready

This is the important bit in terms of timing – the signs to look for to know that they are probably ready to take on name writing.

These include:

• They are beginning to mark-make, and will make marks for a least some short period of time. This could be with encouragement from an adult or independently. 

• They are able to form at least circles and straight lines in their emergent writing

• Their pictures are starting to look a bit like what they are supposed to be. This could be things like an image of a person that you can make out

• They know what their name is, and understand the concept of having a name

• They can recognise their name (a bit more about this in a moment)

• Knowing the names of at least some letters and sounds is optional but does help

Self registration in Nursery

It has been so great to see the Nursery children independently finding their name to register at the start of the sessions. The children have been learning to place their name card in the box that matches the way they are feeling at the start of the sessions. 

It is so important that the children are able to recognise their emotions so they can be supported with strategies to help them regulate themselves. 

Walk to the post box

Next week the children will be walking to the local postbox in small groups. If you have any questions about this, please speak to a member of staff.