When it's a rocket, a cave, a home for my friend, to keep my food- we're going on a picnic... We all had lots of fun this week stretching our imaginations and enjoying lots of collaborative play using cardboard boxes. We enjoyed listening to a story about a cardboard box and its journey as it was re-used again and again. It inspired us all to think of new ways we could use the box and wonder what will happen to our used boxes after they are recycled. This reminded us of all about the importance of looking after our things and the world about us.
Picnics were popular this week as we followed recipes to make our friends delicious salads. Wonderful care was taken to check whether we wanted one salad leaf or two, and which sauce we wanted. We practiced cutting the bread and the cheese; and used our counting to add just the right amount of tomato. Salads were wrapped to go and transported round the hall, enjoyed by us all, the children very proud of their creations. We also practiced following instructions when we visited our very own hair salon and barber. Brushes and combs, shampoo and conditioner, it was all provided as part of the service by a team of very enthusiastic stylists, keen to show their skills and share their own experiences. We talked about what made us different and what made us the same.
Our book of the week, The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson continued to explore our differences and similarities. It proved a very popular story and was read and re-read throughout the week at group time and story time. Lots of conversation about what we look like and what we enjoy eating and playing. Sharing our differences with each other and recognising we are all unique, but we all enjoy having friends and playing together. Our space small world provided lots of opportunity for zooming to the moon, creating alien homes in play dough and even alien picnics. A topic we will continue to explore next week.
Where is the bear? he's on the chair! lots of time this week was spent exploring and learning about prepositions with our furry friend, Bear. On, under, in front, behind, next to, all of the ways a bear could sit with a chair. We then had lots of fun extending our practice to our everyday routines and play. Lots of laughter as children moved in front and behind of their friends in a line, stand up, sit down, sit in front, sit behind. We were all very tired by the time we had finished. Thankfully Tracey was on-hand with her Xylophone, and we all got to enjoy listening to the scales and having a go. More mathematical terms were explored as we looked at the size of the keys. We even learnt a little Greek, finding out that the Greek words for wood (xúlon) 'wood', and φωνή (phōnḗ) 'sound were used to name it 'xylophone'.
Next week is our last before breaking for Spring half term. We are looking forward to continuing our maths language play, celebrating Valentine's, our weekly sessions of yoga, French and Cool Sportz; and of course lots of play inside and out.
