WEAVE recycling centre in Leamington Spa

I had the privilege of visiting the WEAVE recycling centre in Leamington Spa last week and came away both impressed and inspired (as well as armed with a decent sackful of open ended 'waste' materials to try out in my setting :-) ).

I attended a course on Creating and thinking critically. We were first shown a short PowerPoint to show the benefits of open-ended play with recycled materials and to detail exactly how well it fits in with the new elements of the EYFS framework. Then, after exploration of the materials at hand, we were asked to create an exciting and stimulating environment that would help children to ask questions and give them an opportunity to try out new ideas and ways of thinking...we had 45 minutes until 9 reception children (4-5year olds) arrived!!! We had great fun and it was interesting to see how different each of the environments were. The children were lovely and engaged well with the materials (mostly!) :-) it was fascinating to see how they approached the materials and they gained in confidence in a short space of time - it was the first time they had been in this environment. Lots of them experimented with fitting, overlapping and threading - a common recurring concerto throughout the group and something I would want to plan for next time if I were to meet them again....sadly I will not!! But I am exited to try these resources out with my own group...watch this space!!

Colours app for iPad and iPhone

Came across this blog article today and love the idea of this app! http://www.appsplayground.com/apps/2012/10/09/color-hunt-for-kids-iphone/#more-2853

I then found and downloaded the free app Find!Color which works on similar principles but has turned it into a game with points. I can see how both would be useful - non competitive (color hunt), finding colours against a set time limit - good for teamwork and excitement (Find!Color)

Both apps are listed for iPhone but the demo video shows the app being used on an iPad and I had no issues using Find!Color on the iPad.

Would be interested to see what other people also think!

Exploring Natural Materials Part 2

What a fab day! I put out tubs of natural materials and our mirror spots and left the children to explore. Last week, we were looking at patterns and it was lovely to see some pattern-like constructions emerging in their play. Their fine motor skills are improving daily and the children are spending more time engaged in these activities than 6 weeks ago. Even more importantly, they are having fun, learning to share and talking about their work as they go :-)

Exploring with natural materials Part 1

One day last week it was pouring with rain...a small group of children wanted to go outside but still wanted to carry on playing with the natural materials...
So we put out our trusty tuff spot, some chalk and little tubs of natural materials. One child had the idea to use the chalk to create a face, then fill it with 'natural' features. Lots of conversation ensued. See below for some of their examples of work :-)
We loved the way that the chalk showed up better because the tuff spot was so wet!

Light and shadow play

The light exploration corner in my class has become very popular in the last few weeks, especially with those children who do not have English as their first language. 

In the first few days, there was a lot of awe and wonder, looking at colours, shapes and the children were fascinated to discover that moving objects on the OHP meant that the objects on the curtain also moved.

 Then one child discovered that shadows were created on the curtain for everyone to see. 

"Look, look! It's me!"

We cut out some shapes together and the two paper children had a 'conversation' together. It was lovely to watch how some of my English native speakers took the lead here and the EAL learners were able to copy new language structures and have a go themselves. These paper children were in a magical fairy land and they were off to visit the rainbow....!

Making Circles!!

We moved the small natural materials from the inside construction area to the outside area this week. 

 These 3 children spent half an hour working together, talking about which layer should go next and who was going to do what.

The wooden 'spikes' were then added as hair for this extra-terrestrial character!!! :-D I love children's imaginations!

Den Building....

One day last week, we started the morning off with an invitation to explore some of out outdoor equipment by placing a sheet over the top.

 This led to many a discussion about whether it was a castle or stables. The children settled on it being a castle for horses...perfect solution...! The same group of children then asked for more material and started exploring the boxes we had been saving up that were stacked in the playground.

 This little den got a sheet over the top and was a great 'hidey' hole for the morning session...until the strong wind kept blowing it apart....no amount of stones or securing seemed to help....! Was a good learning experience for the children though - they tried balancing boxes in all different directions and on different surfaces to see if it helped...the wind was just too strong on that day though!

At the weekend, I discovered this fab construction material (Crazy Forts), which the children have spent the last two days exploring and building with. The first day required lots of adult help, but today, two children were able to build a den for themselves almost unaided - great cooperation and fine motor skills!!

This 'house' is on fire so we are very lucky that our Fireman is already on hand and dealing with the situation, walkie talkie in hand... :-)

Talented nearly 4 year old...!

Today I encouraged groups of children to draw a portrait of themselves and write their name. We do it every year to see where they are in their development and to give us an indication of their progression by the time they leave us at the end of the year. I got the usual range -  a child scribbling, a series of unconnected lines and dots, a face with arms and legs coming off it and much inbetween….until this one child presented me with a picture that blew me away. In my 9 years of teaching, I have never seen such attention to detail. The child is 4 in a few weeks yet the three figures she drew had different facial expressions, one was facing sidewards and they all had fingers, hair, clothes, etc!!! WOW! She then proceeded to write 4 sentences underneath…..

Has anyone else seen this in a child so young? I am also left wondering how best to meet her needs. Our play-based classroom will definitely offer challenges in many areas and activities are usually open ended which will ensure they are naturally appropriate for her. I want to stimulate her reading and writing but am not sure if I should 'teach' her the way we would for our older children when they learn to read or whether I can alter our environment to help her naturally progress through her self-chosen play....any suggestions/ideas welcomed!

New school year, new class layout :-D

Sorry for the long break in posting - the first week back at school was great but very busy!!! I have worked really hard on trying to make my classroom more colour neutral (no more primary colours adorning the walls!) with lots of interesting areas to explore and am really pleased with how much calmer the class feels.

 The light/colour exploration corner. I have access to a fab concierge who helped me to put up this curtain for the OHP to reflect onto. I used an old IKEA shower curtain that we had lying around and stapled it to a length of wood, which was then hung from the ceiling.

I found an old mirror (acrylic) in the basement which I placed behind the light box - the children love watching what they are doing whilst they are playing and the reflections of the colours are beautiful.

 Our nature area - we are encouraging the children to bring in natural objects they find during their weekend to add to this area. I love the mats which my colleague found at a charity shop for very little money :-)

 I couldn't get away from the primary colours in the furniture but I am pleased with what we have been able to do with the area - it used to be enclosed but we have opened it out and taken away the boundaries which seems to be working really well. It has encouraged the children to share their play with children in other areas. I love sitting chatting to a child in the book corner and being offered an 'ice-cream' or slice of 'cake' that they have just baked.

Writing corner/mark making area - my fab assistant sewed the pocket at the back to hold all the felt tips in their colours. So far, so good! Lids back on pens and back in the right places!

After being inspired by several blog posts I have read recently, I decided to have a go at making my own sensory bags using Ziplock bags and gaffa tape. The blue one is just regular poster paint. The middle one was originally squishy with shaving foam and lentils...but...the next day we came in to find a rock hard square!! Logically I guess, all the shaving foam got soaked up by the lentils - sadly it was the day before the children came back but I might repeat it again to see their reaction the following day!! The left one is hand gel, a little water and loads of glitter :-)

 Blocks area and natural materials - pine cones, shells, sticks, corks etc

Mirror and stones/seed pods

Getting ready for September - Back to school!

It's the holidays and you are enjoying walking along a shopping street or through a mall, relaxing and making the most of being out and about during the day...then something catches your eye and you see the perfect item....for an area of your classroom or that you know the children will just love... Know the feeling?! It's the time of the year where I actually have the most time to really reflect and so is often when I am able to come up with some of my more creative ideas and I would not swap it for the world. Today I was in a cute kitchen/garden store with lots of natural wooden products and came across this little stash - am very pleased! The gorgeous toadstools (cork stoppers for wine!) are just right to go with the waldorf playmats I blogged about a few weeks back. I am especially pleased with the scoops to complement our pincers that we already have - great for promoting fine motor skills in a playful way :-) And the best bit was that they didn't cost the bank :-D Will follow up with another post showing them in use once school is underway!

Eric Carle Studio - Limiting choices to promote creativity

Eric Carle Studio - Challenges!

I love the idea of limiting choices at times to promote risk taking and creative problem solving. This could be putting out collage materials but no scissors, limiting the choice of colours, no pencils, etc. Sometimes our settings are all about offering a wide choice and allowing the child to choose freely but it is equally as important to offer times when choices are limited so that cooperation, team-work, problem solving and risk taking can begin to occur. Thank you to the Art Studio at The Eric Carle Museum for their inspiring work!!!

Am back :-)

Had a wonderful long holiday abroad and now starting to think about school again before starting back in September. Went shopping in the local 'cheap' shop this afternoon and have found lots of lovely little bits to make an Autumn inspired play set...watch this space!

Holidays :-)

Will be quiet on here for a few weeks! Will post when I get back :-)

Waldorf style playscapes

These amazing wool/felt playscapes have been made for my class by Cheryl from Soft n Woolly (http://www.etsy.com/shop/softnwoolly) - I received them this week and am so excited to find bits and pieces to go with them to create inspiring small worlds for my new class to explore in September. I asked her to create four different ones - river, beach, roads and woodlands and think they are all gorgeous. My absolute favourite is the last one - the detail is stunning and I can just imagine little fairies hiding in the caves! I cannot wait for little hands to play with them! Thank you Cheryl :-)

Building in circles!

My class often choose to play with the wooden blocks and the number of different ways they come up with to use them never ceases to amaze me. Last week, I simply offered them on top of one of our tuff spots and placed a single triangular brick in the middle as an invitation to continue. After nearly 2 hours of play (returning to it after short breaks each time), a group of 4/5 children had created an amazing circular city of symmetry. They worked together to ensure they didn't leave any bits out of their pattern and it was a pleasure to listen to their conversations as they worked - I love this time of year when the children are able to put all their creativity, sharing and team working skills together to create something fabulous. Sadly I didn't get a photo of the completely finished build but the process was the most important part and I was lucky to watch it from start to finish :-)

The jealous car....

The children had been engrossed in their play for some time when one child called me over and asked if he could tell me the story they had been working on. Here it is...

Once upon a time there was a car factory. It had lots of workers and all the cars lined up carefully when they needed fixing or upgrading.

One day, the queue of cars waiting to be seen was so long that some of them had to be turned away for the day and were asked to return the next day.

The large green truck was mad. He did not want to wait. He thought it was unfair so he did something bad.

He drove as fast as he could into the factory so nobody else could use the factory that day either. Everyone was very sad but luckily noone was hurt. The police came straight away and took him away.

He felt really bad and said sorry. Then he helped to rebuild the factory but a bigger one so more people could be seen at once. Then they were all friends and he was good from then on!!!

THE END

I loved all the dinosaurs standing watching in the second picture!!! All the children had a little part in remembering the story and they were very pleased that it had such a happy ending!!!! :-)