Wednesday 27 November 2013

Bird Feeders




All the children here love nature from creepy crawlies in the garden through to feeding the ducks in the pond. As winter is drawing in we thought it would be nice to give our feathered friends a helping hand by feeding them as well as enabling us to view them a bit closer!





We made our feeders from pine cones. The children had a lovely time filling their pine cones with peanut butter and then covering their cones in bird seed that we took a special trip to the pet shop to purchase. 



We hung the feeders in the garden and before long we got some interest, not from the birds but from the local squirrel community. The children did not mind in the slightest and were fascinated with watching these creatures climb up and down the tree, hanging on our feeder and then sitting upright on the wall to munch their claimed seeds!


This was our great activity for all ages to teach children about nature and our school children were keen to have a go on their return. They all kept watch in the window until it got dark.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Spaghetti Painting


Spaghetti painting is a fun and tactile activity for children and, as we have been discussing colours a lot lately, I thought this would be a great, and very messy, way of enhancing colour awareness. 



I squeezed some paints into a baking tray and, discussing the colours, the children helped mix the paint with the spaghetti. The children initially picked up the spaghetti cautiously, feeling the slimy texture and then looking at the paint on their hands. Some were keener to have messy hands that others!



After showing the boys how to place the spaghetti on the paper to make patterns they both joined in. They worked out that by bashing the spaghetti they made bigger marks which was thoroughly entertaining and produced some lovely colourful results. 

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Autumn at Wembury Beach



As it has been such a lovely sunny autumn day we wrapped up warm and ventured out to the beach. The children had a lovely time running around playing.


The children thought up lots of exciting activities to participate in, each following the lead of the others. Hand digging a hole in the sand and watching it fill with water to splash with provided endless entertainment!


The children also practised throwing stones into the river, talking about the sizes they could throw as well as drawing in the sand, investigating the seaweed and building rock towers with some being more keen than others about getting sandy hands!  


It was a gorgeous morning and we have had lots of fun being outside together but everyone was keen to go home to some nice warm lunch!

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Glitter Fireworks


For bonfire night I wanted an activity that children ranging from one to six years in age could become involved with. I came up with the very simple idea of glitter fireworks pictures.











We looked at some pictures of the fireworks on the internet, talking about the colours and the patterns the fireworks made. We then set to creating our own firework images. I presented all the children with some pastels and chalks and black paper as well as glitter and lots of glue!


Each child came up with their own ideas and had a lovely time getting covered in glue and glitter as well as producing some colourful, unique sparkly patterns that looked very effective on the black paper.

Friday 1 November 2013

November Theme

In November we have an Under The Water Theme.


We will be going on a number of aquatic themed visits ranging from the aquarium through to the beach as well as making use of our fish puzzles and looking at numbers, colours and movement of fish.