This week we have continued our learning on STEM and explored the role of a marine engineer.  We investigated floating and sinking using a range of different objects and recorded our findings.  We then experimented with different materials to make a raft to carry the animals safely across the water without it sinking.  In the provision, we made observational paintings of different types of boats and designed our own boats, then used junk modelling resources to bring our designs to life.

Over the past two weeks in Nursery we have taken part in  the Living Eggs project.  The eggs arrived in an incubator and we observed them hatch into 9 healthy chicks.  We then moved the chicks into their brooding box.  When handling the chicks, all of the children have been very careful and caring.  We thought they were ‘soft’ and ‘fluffy’.  During this time, we have sequenced the life cycle of a chick and used non-fiction books and information booklets to find out facts all about chicks.

Recently we had a mini first aid workshop in Nursery as we continue our learning about safety.  We learnt lots of skills of how to look after ourselves if we are hurt, who to call in an emergency and the importance of knowing our full name, the names of our parents and carers and where we live.

This week in Nursery we have been learning about why and how Easter is celebrated.  We read the Easter story, shared some hot cross buns and made Easter cards.  Our parents and carers were also invited into Nursery to participate in an Easter hunt.  Thank you to all of the parents and carers who came along, the children had an      eggs-ellent time!

This week we have taken on the role of a Glaciologist as we have continued our STEM learning, with a focus on freezing and melting.  We began the week by thinking of how ice is made.  We decided to put some water in the freezer to observe what would happen.  The next day, we investigated the ice that we made and thought about what happens when the ice starts to melt.  We experimented with adding warm water to the ice to observe and explore the changes we could see.  The children came up with some fantastic ideas of different ways we could melt the ice faster including using a hair dryer, putting it on the radiator and near a light – what super scientists!  To enhance our learning, we have also explored painting with ice and rescued the animals from the ice using hammers.

This week, we have been learning about oral health and hygiene.  We have talked about the importance of an adult brushing our teeth twice a day and not rinsing after we have brushed.  As part of our learning, we discussed the role of a dentist and shared our own experiences of visiting the dentist.

This Friday, we arrived at Nursery to find a blanket of snow.  We all got dressed for the weather and had so much fun building snowmen, sledging and explored mark making using the snow as our canvas.

This week we have had a great time celebrating World Book Day and fostering a love of stories and reading with the children.  Throughout the week we have been story mapping one of our favourite stories ‘Dear Zoo’.  We then innovated the story by changing some of the characters.  The children had some excellent ideas such as a dragon who was too fiery and a leopard who was too fast!  Over half term, we were set a challenge of reading a book in an unusual place.  The photos shared by children and staff alike were very creative and we had great fun sharing these at group time!  To finish the celebrations, we did a book swap in Nursery.  Thank you to all of the families who brought in wrapped books for the exchange.  There were lots of happy children taking their new stories home to share.

This week, the children made something special to send to someone they love.  We talked about how we could send them home and we decided to put them in the post.  Next, we placed them in envelopes and had a walk to the local post box to post our mail.  We talked about the journey our mail will go on.  Parents and carers, keep a look out for your delivery, we hope you like them!  Thank you to all of the parents and carer helpers who came on our walk