Nursery Learning 11.5.26

Digging Deep with The Enormous Turnip!

We have had such a busy and "fruitful" week in the nursery! Our focus story has been The Enormous Turnip, and it has been wonderful to see the children engage so enthusiastically with the themes of teamwork and growth.

To bring the story to life, we set out a special sensory Tuff Tray filled with rich soil, plant pots, and a variety of real vegetables. The children loved getting stuck in, feeling the textures of the skins, smelling the fresh earth, and practicing their fine motor skills as they "planted" and "harvested" their crops.

We carried this theme into the art area, where the children used various vegetables to create unique prints, showing great curiosity as they discovered the hidden patterns and textures found inside. Through these hands-on activities, the children haven't just been playing; they have been developing their fine motor strength, practicing collaborative roleplay, and building their language skills by retelling the story in their own words. It has been a fantastic week of learning and discovery!

We have had an incredible time in our outdoor area this week, as the children turned into little explorers for a bug hunt! There was so much excitement as they searched high and low, discovering all sorts of tiny creatures hidden in our garden. Using magnifying glasses to get a closer look and bug catchers to safely observe their finds, the children showed great care and curiosity. This hands-on exploration was a brilliant way for them to learn about the natural world, as they discussed the different shapes, colours, and movements of the insects they found. It was wonderful to see their sense of awe and wonder in action!

We have been busy with some super maths this week! The children have been developing their one-to-one correspondence and subitising skills by matching amounts and colours using Unifix cubes. It was wonderful to see them concentrating so hard as they sorted the cubes into groups and compared different quantities. These hands-on activities are a fantastic way for the children to build their confidence with numbers and patterns in a fun, visual way.

Our Finger Gym has been a hive of activity this week, keeping those little hands working very hard! Using bendy straws and connectors, the children have been busy designing and building everything from geometric shapes to their very own skipping ropes. This type of play is fantastic for strengthening fine motor muscles and improving hand-eye coordination. It was wonderful to see their concentration and creativity as they twisted, pushed, and snapped their constructions together!

Our creative area has been transformed into an art gallery this week! The children have been busy exploring the work of famous artists who use dots and dashes to create their masterpieces. After observing these unique styles, the children tried the techniques themselves, carefully dabbing and flicking their brushes to see how individual marks can come together to form a beautiful picture. This activity was fantastic for encouraging patience and precision, while also allowing the children to experiment with texture and colour layering. We were so impressed by their focus and their unique, "dotty" creations!