Hot potato

Another group time - Hot potato

Focussing on a specific set of words/objects, children have to pick an item and say it as fast as they can whilst passing around a plastic potato. The idea is that the potato is hot and therefore you need to say your idea quickly and pass it on - hence the name.

This game helps to develop vocabulary and speech, but also assists children with the decision making process.

Turn taking games

Nursery is a time for children to learn important skills to be successful in life. One of these skills is learning how to share and take turns completing tasks with other students.

 By using a variety of turn taking games for group time, the adults in nursery can model good practice.

Learning how to practice good manners and social skills is a lifelong lesson for students both in and out of the classroom.

We are a polite and kind nursery!

PIP's

In group time, the children access something called PIP's (progress in phonics). Phonics is the study of letters or clusters of letters and their corresponding sounds. The understanding of these is a fundamental skill which is necessary for reading and writing.

In nursery, we introduce new letters in a fun and child-friendly way, through the use of puppets, stories and games. Here the children are playing something called 'Alien game'.

Our friendly puppet alien comes down to earth to learn letter sounds alongside the children. However, he keeps on making mistakes! He often muddles up his initial letter sounds and therefore says some words incorrectly. The children have to point out any mistakes and correct them, showing the alien how to say things properly.

This week the children have been concentrating on the sound 'e'.

This new knowledge will be repeated and recapped regularly, as this is a powerful way to enable the knowledge to be embedded.

There are many other games that the children play in PIP's - rhyming rock, circle swap shop, jump in the hoop - the list goes on and on!

Prepositions

Learning Intention; To develop specific vocabulary and understanding relating to position.

From time to time, all the groups in Nursery experience these focussed sessions which aim to extend understanding and vocabulary relating to specific subsets of words.

Currently, the Seahorse group are looking at prepositions ( positional language relating to where an object is).

Each week concentrates on a particular preposition - in, on, under, next to, between and behind.

We like to introduce each new preposition in a very child-centered way; through the use of stories, or with a practical task such as putting a teddy in various places according to instructions.



Once understanding of a particular preposition is established, the children are then encouraged to select a preposition picture card.

Using full sentences, the children explain what is on the card.

e.g.               'The spider is in the dish'

Children are encouraged to take a full and active role in these sessions. Even sometimes taking on the role of 'teacher' and making decisions about which card to focus on. Here you can see a child using a 'magic hand', whilst the others say a special chant, to choose a card for all to describe.

This session is also used successfully for other subsets of words such as nouns and verbs.

Dora the Explorer

Learning Intention: to develop vocabulary.

This half term, the Whale group in nursery are taking part in a group time based on the popular children's programme 'Dora the Explorer'. They are focussing on developing vocabulary relating to going on different journeys.

The children sing a special song and wear a hat and backpack, before going on a 'journey' of their own around the circle to collect some objects. Each week focusses on a different journey - to the swimming baths, the shops, on a  picnic, to a party, on holiday, to school or a sleep over. A selection of pictures or objects relating to that journey is displayed.

Children are asked to pick an object and discuss what it is. This item then goes into the backpack and another child continues the journey. Hopefully, the children will be exposed to new vocabulary that will help them understand a little more about their surroundings.

By keeping the children active in these sessions, their attention is sustained.

This is a session that is often revisited throughout the year through other topics, and also done by the other groups of children from time to time.

Group times

Here at Gleadless we offer more than simply childcare for your children. Every day is jam-packed full of learning opportunities for your little one to engage with. You may have heard your child singing some unusual songs, or talking about tasks that they have undertaken.

Many parents have shown an interest in learning more about the types of activities that their children are exposed to. Because of this, over the next few weeks, we aim to give you a greater insight through the blog.

Keep checking out the blog for further details on learning intentions and key information about the group time sessions that we do. Photographs will accompany these.

If there is anything else that you are interested in learning more about, please let us know!

Egg boxes and yoghurt pots

Just a small request - could you please save and bring in any empty egg boxes or yoghurt pots that you may have or use in the near future. We are aiming to use these things for planting seeds in next half term.

Thankyou in advance.

Topic launch

In Foundation stage, we like to introduce each new topic in an interesting and memorable way.

Next half term, we are looking at the topic of 'Changes'. This will cover life cycles - especially of plants - and how things can change over time. We have decided to teach this through the traditional tale of 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.

Therefore, we are asking that your child comes to nursery or school dressed as their favourite fairytale charater. This can be any character of their own choosing (or a choice that you have very gently and cleverly led them to believe is their choice!).

We will look forward to seeing the children (and the staff) in their outfits. Now, where did I put that wig...?!