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.
Role Play Area
We have things that you would find in the home, different cultural tea sets, packets of food, food, washing up bowl, oven gloves, clothes for dressing up, shoes, babies, cot, baby clothes, a dog, a cat, and accessories. We have resources to play hairdressers and doctors. We have a telephone and writing equipment.
Children use their imagination and act out things they may have learnt within their own environment. They learn to take care of the babies and the pets. They learn to play alongside each other, negotiating roles and responsibilities. They use chairs to make a bus and act out roles. The children use lots of new language, including mathematical language e.g enough, heavy, full, longer, 4 plates, 2 spoons etc. Children use early writing skills to make shopping lists, doctors appointments etc.
Music
We have lots of different musical instruments from around the world. We have cd's and a cd player. Children learn how to switch it on and off and forward to the next song. Children make their own instruments using our junk modelling .We provide children with lots of opportunities to move and dance. Music is available indoors and out.
We learn and use lots of vocabulary, learning the names of instruments and words such as quiet,loud,sing, hum etc.We also use lots of mathematical language such as fast, slow, quick, time, beat.
Dough
The children have the opportunity to make fresh play dough regularly. Sometimes we use clay.
We provide rolling pins, natural resources, bun cases, cutters, baking tins, mats etc.
Children learn to add ingredients, to count and to measure. Making and playing with dough improves children's fine motor skills, strengthening their hands and improving hand/eye co ordination, preparing them for early writing skills.
We use lots of maths, for example counting out how many buns we need for the bun cases, dividing the dough to share, comparing sizes, shape etc.
We use lots of language, soft, cold, smooth, rough, sticky, roll, squeeze, mould, stretch etc.
Writing
We have pencils, felt tips, crayons etc. Paper, card, party invites, birthday cards, registers, etc. We have rubbers, rulers, a post box, name cards, colouring sheets.
Children learn by selecting and exploring mark making tools and equipment. They develop early writing by developing their fine motor and mark making skills.They use writing for a purpose and ascribe meanings to marks.
Some language we may use - down, middle, across and draw. Some mathematical language- straight, line long, short, circle, round etc.
Maths
We have number lines, number cards, counters, card games, board games, dominoes, lotto, natural resources for counting, bricks, objects to sort size, sorting baskets, rulers, dice etc.
The children will explore mathematical concepts e.g. pattern, number, time, position. They will use number names and number language spontaneously, sort and compare objects, match numeral to correct number of objects, investiage and solve problems.
We will use lots of language, few, more, enough, full, empty, long, longer, longest, short, shortest, same, different etc.
