Weekly Roundup 23 June 2023

Our new topic, 'Forces' has got off to a good start this week and children have been observing and exploring energy and power in our environment. Both rooms have enjoyed using cars with the garage and ramps and using vocabulary such as 'push', 'pull', 'fast' and 'slow'. Some children took turns with the Hot Wheels track and marvelled at the way in which the cars built momentum before being propelled around the loop the loop section. Magnets have featured greatly throughout the sessions and children have used these on the magnetic easel and to make large structures.

Bumbles have been creating repeating patterns which help support their understanding of mathematical sequencing - it's not all about numbers! At around three years old children will start to identify the mathematical relationships and connections around them in their environment and outside in nature. Patterning supports the foundations for recall of the counting sequence and understanding number operations. Learning about patterns and connections will help children to make their own predictions and form logical connections. It’s an important foundation for later mathematical thinking and reasoning.

Both rooms enjoyed the classic story of 'The Enormous Turnip' which provided lots of opportunities for discussions about forces - "why is the turnip stuck in the ground?", "how can we get it out?". We'll continue the topic next week and children will take part in some activities which help them discover more about the effects of forces.

Our highlight this week has got to be the visit from the Essex Community Police Team who came in on Wednesday to talk about the work they do. Children learnt that the Police force support and help us, not just chase and catch 'baddies'! The team allowed the children to have a look around in their police car and switch on the blue lights too!

For more information about the community police team visit www.facebook.com/EPChelmsford

Have a lovely weekend!