This week our little learners in the Caterpillars room continued their learning journey exploring insects. To continue extending on children's interests we began the week engaging in a visual experience exploring images of different bugs and insects (1/8).
The children were shown some images of insects which they then used some natural but also some craft resources to make different bugs using the pictures as a guide. We also had one of the children bring in a snail that she found in her garden to share with her group to further extend our insects and bugs topic of learning (1/8). The children shared their enthusiasm and interest observing the snail and discussed how slow a snail is and through a creative arts experience using brown paint made our own snails too.
As we continued our learning journey throughout the week we made our own dragonfly through a sensory activity using our hand prints as the wings of the dragonfly then adding popsicle sticks to create the body for their dragon fly (2/8). Our little learners further explored the shapes and prints of insects as they learnt the names of different insects and used these in a painting experience where they painted the prints of the bugs using the figurines (2/8).
To further extend on children's sensory exploration our little learners engaged in a sensory activity where they mixed their insects into sand exploring textures and developing their fine motor grip using tongs to explore insects in a more natural habitat (3/8).
To conclude another wonderful week of learning our caterpillars shared their interest and made a spider web using black cardboard, glue and shiny glitter (4/8). To further extend this activity the children also listened and sang to the favourite 'Incy wincey spider' song. The children also learnt about worms being shown visuals of worms and then making their very own worms using pipe cleaners, paper and paint.
What the caterpillars have learnt this week:
Through providing children with the opportunity to explore bugs and insects they notice many STEM concepts which further encourages children to use their thinking skills for example, different insects and their features.
Through our environments and learning experiences our caterpillars are being given the opportunity to learn scientific concepts, a growing appreciation of nature and to be more adventurous learning all about the various insects and bugs in our natural environment through a variety of creative arts experiences.
Next week (week beginning 8th August) the Caterpillars will continue:
* We will be going on an Insect Hunt
* Creating Insects in a Jar using tongs experience
* Garden hunts
* Using visuals of insects to assist children in their learning of bugs and their features.
Link to Early Years Learning Framework:
4.1 Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity.
4.2 Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.
Links to National Quality Standards:
1.1.2 - Each child’s current knowledge, strengths, ideas, culture, abilities and interests are the foundation of the program.
3.1.1 - Outdoor and indoor spaces, buildings, fixtures and fittings are suitable for their purpose, including supporting the access of every child.
3.2.2 - Resources, materials and equipment allow for multiple uses, are sufficient in number, and enable every child to engage in play-based learning.
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