The children set up a garage workshop in the outdoor area, using 
plastic crates and some wooden planks.  They made a ramp to put their
cars, trikes and scooters (and buggies!) on so that the ‘mechanics’ could
repair them with their tools.  They ‘mended’ the engines, the wheels
and handle bars using saws, hammers, screwdrivers and drills and some
children used the tape measure to see how long the vehicles
were. 
Some children went on a short walk along the nearby footpath to the back of
the Tesco garage.  They watched the real cars being filled with petrol and
then on the way back they collected some acorns, leaves and twigs which
they used to make some autumn pictures.  After some heavy rain the garden
was full of big puddles which the children had fun jumping in and out
of. (always a good idea to ensure your child has a pair of wellies with
them). 
We have been reading the story of the Gingerbread Man this week and
children have been helping with the props.  They have been learning the
words ‘run, run as fast as you can, you can’t catch me I’m the gingerbread
man’.  We made play dough gingerbread men, paper gingerbread men and
at the end of the week the children baked some gingerbread men to take
home. 
Lots of children dressed up in their favourite outfits and made donations
to help raise some money for pre-school funds.  We took some photos so look
out for them in our ‘big books’.
We played the teddy bear game where children have to place the teddy bear
on top, under, behind, in front, inside, next to etc to help them
understand positional language.  They all did really well.
We have been on some ‘magic carpet’ rides, visiting the moon, the
park, London, Adventureland and Peppa Pig world.  This has helped the
children to use their imagination in acting out what we might do in all the
different places.
Two children celebrated their 4th birthdays so we were treated to
some lovely birthday cake and sweets.  There was also an extra
treat when we were given some special homemade Halloween cakes!
We played some ball games to practise throwing and catching a large ball
and some beanbag animal games to help us match colours
correctly.
Next week is our half term holiday.  Have fun!  Squirrels returns
on Monday 4th November.    

 This week at Squirrels the children have been helping to build road layouts
for the bikes, scooters and cars to use, in the outdoor area.  We
included a zebra crossing to practise crossing the road safely.  We added a
petrol pump so that the children could take turns to be the petrol pump
attendant, putting in petrol and taking the money.  
 
We also set up  a shop where the children could choose to be a
shopkeeper or a customer.  They used lots of natural materials in
the shop such as baskets of conkers, acorns and pine cones.  We also added
some real potatoes and carrots. 
 
We had a few vegetables left over from our harvest collection which
the children chopped up to make vegetable soup.  The children sat outside
in our log circle and tried their warming soup.
 
We painted a big rainbow in response to children talking about the
rain and the sun and you can see it up on the wall at Squirrels.
 
We have been reading the story of Goldilocks and the 3 bears and lots of
children have helped us to act it out using some props.
 
See you next week 

This week at Squirrels we have been celebrating harvest festival and
looking at signs of autumn.  The children helped to sort out all the fruits
and vegetables that had very kindly been donated by parents and carers.  We
sorted them all into boxes and baskets and then we filled small paper bags with
a selection of fruit and vegetables.  On Wednesday morning the children
made harvest hats and in the afternoon we took the gift bags into the big
hall where they distributed them to the elderly ladies and gentlemen.  We
also sang them some of our favourite songs and rhymes.  The children were
extremely well behaved and they got a big clap from their audience.
 
We have also used vegetables for printing this week and the children have
made lots of pictures using autumn colours.  On Thursday we made apple
crumble and custard and we had some for snack.  On Friday we made a height
chart in the shape of an autumn tree and next week we will measure all the
children and mark them on the chart.
 
We have been reading The Enormous Turnip story and the children have
enjoyed acting it out each day.
 
Thank you so much to everyone who brought in fruit and vegetables for our
harvest gifts.  We were able to make a magnificent display before the items
were distributed and the children have had great fun looking at and naming
all the different foods.
 
TISSUES
As you can imagine we get through a large number of tissues at Squirrels
and this will increase as the winter sets in.  If anyone can donate a box
of tissues at any time we would be most grateful.
 
Thank you

This week at Squirrels we have been talking about autumn and harvest
festival.  We have begun to build a display of autumn books, pictures and
crafts which we will add to over the next week or so.  Some of the children
have made bread and others have made some salt dough shapes to add to our
display.  We are going to make some collections of things we find in autumn
such as different coloured leaves, conkers, acorns etc.
 
We have sent out a letter asking for donations of fruit or
vegetables.  Please try to bring something in with you next week either on
Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and the children can put them in our ‘harvest
basket’.  We need to have them before Wednesday afternoon as the children
will be visiting the elderly people at their lunch club and distributing
the lovely fruit and vegetables and singing them some songs.
 
You may have seen the model of the Community Centre (on the table outside
the pre-school room).  Some of the children made this during the
week.  It started off as a house but then the children decided to turn it
into ‘Squirrels.’
 
We have made the most of the good weather by playing lots of games outside
such as What’s the time Mr Wolf and Hide and Seek.  At circle time we
have been learning the adult’s and children’s names.
 
Have a good weekend and we look forward to receiving donations of
apples, oranges, carrots, potatoes and lots more next week!