Forest School Afternoon and All Day Nursery

 

Forest Schools

First the children relayed their names with an action. They are getting increasingly confident at doing this. They are now settled and familiar with the routine. Children like patterns and routines which help make them feel safe.

We introduced the game Creeping Comanchi by showing the children how to creep like a dear, silently so they can hide. We explored how to use our hands to make ‘dear ears’ which can change how we hear things. Alicia then became the guardian of the magic eggs (egg shakers). The children sat around her in a big circle. Each child had a turn to try to creep into the circle and steal an egg without being heard. Alicia, who was blindfolded, had to listen carefully and point towards the child if she detected them. This game develops the children’s awareness of each other, their concentration as well as the physical skills of moving silently. They will also have been developing strategies to transport the egg silently, so developing problem-solving skills.

Once the game was over the children could choose from a selection of activities to develop their fine motor skills, imagination and creativity. These included cutting circles from leaves, rolling clay into long sausages and making them into circles, either by joining the ends or by winding it into a spiral and making circles from willow which they could decorate. We also had a den, digging for treasure and an obstacle course.

We closed the session by asking the children to tell us who they had played with in Forest School, again increasing their awareness of each other.

Base Camp

Digging for treasure

Exploring natural materials

Playing Creeping Comanchi

Taking a 'log dog' for a walk

PE in Nursery

This term in Nursery children have been learning to balance during our PE lessons.  

We have been playing games to warm up our bodies before we start. The game we like the best is a traffic light game where we move slowly for the amber light and fast for the green light.  The red light means stop!

For the main part of our lesson we have been balancing and trying hard to keep steady.  We have balanced and walked across benches and have even tried hard to link two movements together.  We show a stretched up pose before we start and say "Gymnast ready" and then after jumping and landing safely we stretch up again and say "Gymnast finished!" 

Enjoy these photos from our lessons.

Feeding the Birds

This week Afternoon and All Day Nursery children enjoyed making kebabs for the birds during their Outdoor Adventure.  We used cheese, apple and sultanas, threaded onto a wire.  The children worked very well together and were able to take turns and support each other.  The teachers were very proud of how well the children persevered and worked together!  After making the 'kebabs' the children went together to choose where to hang them for the birds.

Do you think the birds will enjoy eating their snacks as much as we enjoyed making them?!

Bird watching and Outdoor Learning Fun!

Bird Watching and Outdoor Learning Fun!

In Nursery this half term we have really enjoyed learning about the birds we can see around us.  We are now able to identify the following birds: 

• Blackbirds
• Robins
• Crows
• Pigeons
• Magpies.  

We have enjoyed using binoculars and making our own from cardboard tubes.  We have been using clipboards and checking off the birds we can see.  

This week Morning and All Day Nursery children enjoyed making kebabs for the birds using cheese, apple and sultanas, threaded onto a wire.  The children worked very well together and were able to take turns and support each other.  The teachers were very proud of how well the children persevered and worked together!

We also had fun on Friday making and using a rope pulley.  We used our upper arm muscles to pull up and lower the bucket.  It was good to practise waiting for our turn too!

Some children used the things they could find outside to make up their own games and stories.  Some girls children were making a home for "Eggy".  I wonder if he will hatch soon?!