Exploring Nature Around Our School

Today we explored the school grounds to see what plants we could identify. We found Daisy, Bluebell, Dandelion and Buttercup.

We blew the dandelions and talked about how the tiny seeds we blow away will eventually settle into the soil and grow into new dandelions. It was fascinating to watch the seeds float through the air!

We also tried the old wives’ tale with the buttercup under our chins to see if we like butter… and guess what? We do! Everyone loved seeing the yellow reflection shine under their chin.

While exploring the forest school area, we spotted some new plants beginning to grow. We carefully observed their leaves and stems and wondered what they might become. We can’t wait to keep watching them grow and see if we can identify them over the next few weeks!

Milkshake, Yummy!

Last week, we planted some strawberry seeds, we learned how the seeds will eventually grow into strawberries. Today, we used some store-bought strawberries to make a delicious strawberry milkshake by chopping them into small pieces and adding them to the blender with milk. We spoke about how we can hopefully use our plants in the future too!

Think we did a great job!

Building up our stories

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” we have been exploring the story The Singing Mermaid. The children began by sharing their ideas and predictions, thinking carefully about where the mermaid might travel next and what adventures she might have along the way. This gave them the opportunity to express their own thoughts and build on each other’s ideas.

We then used these suggestions to create visual prompts, which were taken to the water tray to enhance our play. The children used these prompts to guide their storytelling, developing their vocabulary and deepening their understanding of “who,” “what,” and “where.” Through this, they created imaginative and detailed narratives, bringing the mermaid’s journey to life in their own unique ways.

This activity supported their communication and language development, as well as encouraging creativity and collaboration. It was also a lovely way to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning, especially in the warm weather.

Well done for working so hard, Crew Frost!

Coral Reef

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children have been learning all about coral reefs and how this environment differs from their own. They explored the wide range of colours and textures found in coral reef habitats and then applied this knowledge in our playdough area, where they created their own reef-inspired models.

This activity provided a great opportunity to develop fine motor skills, while also supporting language development as the children described their creations and shared ideas. It also helped build their understanding of boundaries, particularly when using food-based resources for creative purposes rather than for eating.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Building our own pier

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children thoroughly enjoyed learning about lighthouses and understanding the important role they play in keeping boats safe.

Inspired by this, Crew Frost used their imagination during provision time to create their own seaside scene. They built a pier using wooden blocks, added large diamond bricks as rocks, and carefully chose the perfect spot for their lighthouse. Their creativity didn’t stop there—The Snail and the Whale even made an appearance, swimming alongside mermaids in their imaginative world!

This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their communication and understanding, as well as build on their storytelling skills. They worked collaboratively, sharing ideas and bringing their stories to life, supporting their next steps in developing rich and meaningful language.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Tomato time!

Last week, we extracted seeds from a tomato and carefully laid them out to dry over the weekend, getting them ready for planting. Learning the life cycle of the food we eat, with this were planting more edible plants each week. We also watched a video about how tomatoes grow, and the children were fascinated by a time-lapse showing the plants growing taller and taller. They loved seeing how tomatoes start off green and gradually turn red, and were excited to learn that tomatoes can come in many different colours too. We’re all looking forward to watch how tall our tomato plants will grow!