Weekly Roundup 15 November 2024

This week, our children embarked on an exciting sensory adventure! We explored the world through touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight, sparking curiosity and creativity in every activity.

We added essential oils to the Play Dough which enhanced the usual experience. The children enjoyed the calming and invigorating scents of lavender and lemongrass while shaping and moulding the dough. Debbie brought in a big bagful of herbs from her garden allowing little hands to explore rosemary, thyme and parsley. The craft table provided an opportunity for children to use the herbs as tools to dip into paint to make some interesting pictures. This linked with our featured famous artist, Jackson Pollock whose vibrant and energetic painting style can inspire young children by encouraging freedom of expression and exploration. His famous "drip technique" allows children to see that art doesn't have to follow traditional rules—it can be playful and full of movement. By splattering paint like Pollock, children can experience the joy of process-driven art, sparking imagination and building confidence in creative decision-making.

To stimulate their sense of touch, the children took off their shoes while their feet experienced walking on textured mats. Another fun activity saw the children using blindfolds and guessing what an object was just through touch. This proved to be more difficult than they expected and there were some funny guesses about what the items were!

We danced, clapped, and played with a range of musical instruments, developing listening skills and enjoying the joy of rhythm and rhyme. 

We sampled different flavours in a food tasing game created by Crystal who set out up a floor game where children took turns to roll the dice and count the number of steps to take before landing on a command. They then had to follow the instruction to try a food which could be salty, sweet, sour or bitter. Some children tried all the items, enjoying the sweet tastes more than the sour gherkins or fresh tangy orange juice! 

These sensory experiences enhanced learning and encourage children to engage with the world in meaningful ways.

On Friday we had a wonderful time wearing pyjamas in support of Children in Need and their lovable mascot, Pudsey Bear. All of the staff and many children came dressed in their comfiest pyjamas and slippers for a day filled with fun and kindness! The children engaged in some Pudsey Bear and Peppa Pig-themed crafts with colourful spots, glitter, and stickers. The children learned about the importance of helping others, how their efforts support children in need, and the joy of coming together as a community. To make a donation go to donate.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk 

Next week we'll be starting our topic of Transport and Travel where children will learn about different types of transport in our environment and how people move around in various parts of the world. 

Have a great weekend!