It’s been another great week for children to explore their construction interests in the red group. The week started with them making their very own fire engine out of pallets and dramatic role play ensued as our little fire-fighters clambered aboard, dashing through the forest to come to the rescue! We have really started noticing how this younger group of children have now started to venture out of solitary or parallel play and are starting to work together in their play – not only sharing resources but also sharing themes and narratives and taking on roles within the script. With that comes lots of opportunity to strengthen their social skills when players come off script or introduce their own narrative that conflicts with another child’s interests. It can take negotiation, an understanding that others need to contribute to the story if all players are going to keep within the theme and none of these are easy skills to master. It takes practice and our Little Forest Folk-ers have been making such a big impression on their educators who have been watching them in awe this week.
Construction also continued with this group further developing their tool work skills. They worked with Virginia to practice their sawing – making tree cookies and using these as loose parts in their play. They have been showing a keen interest in following instructions and talking about the safety rules. Yet it has been their sense of independence that has really impressed the educators. This ‘can do’ attitude is one of those soft skills that will be utilised the most once it has been fully developed. With this, the children have wanted to take on more responsibilities this week. After all their wonderful gloop play or mark making with paints on the tables, the children have been handed scrubbing brushes and sponges by Miranda and they helped to clean tables, scrubbed out sensory trays and made the place gleam (all whilst having immense fun with the foamy bubbles!)
In the green group, the older children have been just as keen to take responsibilities. We have a water bottle monitor who helps Xiao count the water bottles, no touching of course. In addition, they have been keen to help with caring for our wonderful new vegetable garden and trees and will water them daily – working together to lift and carry watering cans. We also noticed that our Tomato plants were situated in an area that was mostly shaded. The children drew cardboard suns and attached them to bamboo sticks. As areas of their forest became sunny, the children would plant their post and write the time on their sun sign. By doing this they were able to see which area of the forest stayed sunniest for the longest time. Then they helped Linn and Lizzie to rehouse the tomatoes. They carefully made a new bed for them in an upcycled Sainsbury crate and helped to dig the tomato plants out of their old home and place them in their new ones. The children also helped their educators do a massive litter pick on site (after having made a sign so people would know they were at work in that area and not to venture too close) and again, the educators are getting such joy from watching the children take ownership and responsibility for the play spaces they have created.
Volcanoes became a big theme this week, with children talking about volcanoes in space, or Volcanoes under the sea and one child even told us that one mountain in his country, Mount Fuji, was a real volcano! Nafisa noticed this interest and shared a fact book about volcanoes and which the children became so absorbed in and would use new facts in their play. For example, when firing his lava at Xiao, a child said “there you go Xiao, the lava will harden and you will turn to stone!”. Children are currently making their own volcanoes out of clay and making eruptions with soda and vinegar!
With the warm weather at the end of the children have enjoyed sensory play with water and ice and Lizzie made a huge tray of bubble mix for children to practice making giant bubbles! The perfect end to a great week! We hope the weather continues so you get to enjoy the weekend.
Little Forest Folk
Twickenham