2-3: The Discovery Hub

Playing and Exploring

We have continued exploring the children’s interest with pumpkins across the week. During group times we have discussed the appearances of the pumpkins. We discussed the various colours we could see and the sizes of the pumpkins. The children were able to identify the sizes between “big” and “small”. The children began to explore lifting, passing and rolling the pumpkins to each other. As the children held the pumpkins we introduced new vocabulary such as “smooth” and “bumpy”.

The children have been having a go with cutting open the pumpkins to scoop out the seeds. They showed persistence as they continued to have a go cutting and asked for help from staff. We then explored adding the pumpkins into the tray with gloop. The children were able to explore transferring the gloop into and out of the pumpkin using the various tools.

Active Learning

We have been exploring various fruits and vegetables discussing how we would prepare them. The children were able to name some of the fruit and vegetables such as apple, banana, oranges and potatoes and we introduce butternut squash, limes, turnip and parsnips. We discussed tools we may need to help cut and peel the food items and how we are to keep safe. With support from staff the children took turns to cut and peel the vegetables. Some of the children commented “it hard” “need knife” and “no need knife” when peeling the oranges.

The children explored using the paint brush to create marks in the four. As they moved the flour around the tray they were able to see the coloured paper underneath. After modelling from staff, the children explored creating various exploratory marks and vertical and horizontal lines in the flour. Some of the children explored creating circles and commented “circle, circle, circle” as they made their marks.

Outdoor learning

We explored hiding pumpkins around the garden for the children to find. It was lovely to see the excitement the children had while searching for the pumpkins. Once they had found all of the pumpkins, the children asked to hide them “again”. The children took turns with staff to hide and search for the pumpkins. Working together to lift the pumpkins to place them in the hiding spot. Some of the children explored rolling the pumpkins down the slopes to transport them to a hiding place.

Parents as Partners

Just a reminder for the children who access Term Time only sessions, Nursery will be closed for the October half term. Nursery will be closed from Monday 26th October to Friday 30th October. Nursery will re-open for Term Time only children on Monday 2nd November.

Staffing Updates

Lucy, Cerys, Deborah and Lauren will be in next week with the children who are booked in.

After half term Lauren is going to be working in the Den alongside Anna and Chloe. We will miss her in the Discovery Hub, however, we will still get to see her everyday and for the children to share their achievements with her. Mercy will be joining the Discovery Hub team after the half term from the Nest and we are looking forward for her to join us.

Many thanks

Nursery Team