This week there was lots of interest in water play, so we chose to use the water tray in the garden and added boats, ducks and fishing nets! To try and guard against getting too wet in the cooler autumnal weather, children wore waterproof capes… although for those who didn’t want to get wet at all, we also had pirate ships indoors using our silver foil tuff tray insert as the water.
Wednesday was Halloween – some of the children were excited to share their experiences of this, telling us how they’ve helped decorate pumpkins and were planning to dress up and get sweets! For us, Halloween is simply an excuse to explore some science fun! We mixed ‘potions’ in our mud kitchen pots (corn flour, water and food colouring to make gloop) and explored a spider web full of green spaghetti and spiders! We were also inspired by our black playdough – with pipe-cleaner ‘legs’ and plenty of googly eyes!
Junk modelling has been popular again, we encourage children to think about the supplies they need (whether it’s a cereal box, toilet roll tube or lolly stick!), and then support them as they glue, tape, paint and model their masterpieces! It may seem like a pile of ‘junk’ – but when you ask them about their designs you may find they’ve crafted a castle, a rocket, or a TRex!
On Friday we introduced a new technique at the craft table - using straws to blow blobs of paint! As well as creating some interesting shapes, this is also a great oral exercise to strengthen muscles that aid speech and language.
This week we have been discussing our ‘Golden Rules’ with the children. It is important that children learn how their action can impinge on others in an age-appropriate way, so we came up with four easy to remember ‘rules’ – at Squirrels we use our listening ears, nice words, kind hands and walking feet (indoors… we can run in the garden!)
Finally, we’ve been to the hairdressers this week! The children have been busy washing, combing and styling our styling heads! They’ve been inspired looking through hair themed books which they were able to ‘read’ as they sat in the waiting area!
Ideas to continue this week’s fun at home:
It’s not too late to enter our autumn challenge – can you go on a nature walk and find autumnal finds? We have had some amazing entries so far! As you walk, you can talk about the colours, the falling leaves, the acorns and conkers… autumn provides so many opportunities to explore!
Wednesday was Halloween – some of the children were excited to share their experiences of this, telling us how they’ve helped decorate pumpkins and were planning to dress up and get sweets! For us, Halloween is simply an excuse to explore some science fun! We mixed ‘potions’ in our mud kitchen pots (corn flour, water and food colouring to make gloop) and explored a spider web full of green spaghetti and spiders! We were also inspired by our black playdough – with pipe-cleaner ‘legs’ and plenty of googly eyes!
Junk modelling has been popular again, we encourage children to think about the supplies they need (whether it’s a cereal box, toilet roll tube or lolly stick!), and then support them as they glue, tape, paint and model their masterpieces! It may seem like a pile of ‘junk’ – but when you ask them about their designs you may find they’ve crafted a castle, a rocket, or a TRex!
On Friday we introduced a new technique at the craft table - using straws to blow blobs of paint! As well as creating some interesting shapes, this is also a great oral exercise to strengthen muscles that aid speech and language.
This week we have been discussing our ‘Golden Rules’ with the children. It is important that children learn how their action can impinge on others in an age-appropriate way, so we came up with four easy to remember ‘rules’ – at Squirrels we use our listening ears, nice words, kind hands and walking feet (indoors… we can run in the garden!)
Finally, we’ve been to the hairdressers this week! The children have been busy washing, combing and styling our styling heads! They’ve been inspired looking through hair themed books which they were able to ‘read’ as they sat in the waiting area!
Ideas to continue this week’s fun at home:
It’s not too late to enter our autumn challenge – can you go on a nature walk and find autumnal finds? We have had some amazing entries so far! As you walk, you can talk about the colours, the falling leaves, the acorns and conkers… autumn provides so many opportunities to explore!
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