Some of the ways we learn in the different areas of our Nursery Room
Sand & Water Play
Sand
Sand
We have wet and dry sand and include resources such as Buckets, containers, cylinders, moulds, bowls, spades, rakes, trowels, spoons, animals, farm vehicles, numbers, letters, sieves, natural materials, cones, stones, pebbles, shells
Water
We have funnels, jugs, containers, cylinders, bowls, tubes, spoons, water wheels, creatures, stones, cones, shells, bottlesetc.
We learn to explore and engage through gestures, gaze and talk. We learn to take turns, share, learn rules and we learn new language. We count objects and use lots of mathematical language, tiny, big, huge, heavy, light, below, full empty. We estimate how many more spadefuls before the bucket is full. We use our hands to squeeze, hold, dig, scoop etc.this prepares us for later writing skills. We use our imagination and act out things we see in the world around us.
Creative Area
We have spatualas, scissors, brushes, powder paint, ready mix paint, glue and a variety of materials i.e ribbon, string, glitter, etc. We add natural material e..g. gravel, leaves, sticks etc. We have recycled materials for children to model make such as yoghurt pots and different size boxes. We have felt tips, pencils,(including skin tone pencils), crayons and chalk. We have aprons and a drying rack, different sized paper, magazines and catalgogues, an easil and a place for children to display their work.
We use lots of language in this area, e.g. light, dark, drip, mix, stick and mathematical language such as long, short, circle, pattern etc... Children use theiir imagination. They put random marks on paper and stick materials with glue whilst exploring space of the paper. They mix colours, join materials together, learn to use scissors safely, compare materials and represent people, nature and experiences.
Book Area
In this area we have books, board, hardback, paperback, flap,touch and feel books, fiction and non fiction. We have books that reflect different cultures, families,gender and abilities.
Our book areas have soft and comfortable seating where adults can also sit to share stories with the children, in groups and one to one. Children learn to look after books,turn pages and know when the book is the right way round. The learn where the beginning and end is. They learn new words, for example the author writes the story and an illustrater draws the pictures. We use puppets and wooden spoons so that the children can join in whilst an adult reads the story. The children sometimes act out the story, taking on individual parts. Children use pictures in the book to practice re-call and to re-tell the story. Children begin to have favourite stories and books.
Construction & Small World
We have wooden blocks in various shapes and sizes and have access to masking tape, string and junk and natural materials. We have tools, bricks, lego,magnetic bricks, mobilio, train tracks, bridges, etc.
We have cars, trains, farm animals, wild animals,people, dinosaurs, minibeasts, a house, a garage, etc.
Children have the opportunity to construct and deconstruct a range of structures. They can count, expore length, height and area and investigate and solve problems. They can work collaboratively with others to build imaginatively and use experiences from home and in the world around them.The children will use their imagination to plan, extend and modify an activity. They develop lots of language skills for example push, fix, balance, fall, stack, build, slot, topple, connect. We use lots of mathematical language, counting, big little, small square cube, longer, wider etc.
