This week our little learners in the Caterpillars room continued their learning journey exploring nature through planting and gardening interest. To continue extending on children's interests we began the week exploring the sunflower plant (22/8). The children were shown a visual image of the features of a sunflower. To further extend their learning the toddlers engaged in an experience using yellow and black play dough to create their own sunflowers using play dough.
We combined our new interest with children's book week celebrations exploring the 'rose' flower and we helped 'the queen of hearts' paint her white roses using the colour red (24/8).
Our little learners further explored learning about different flora through visual guides and a painting experience (25/8). The children learnt about our flowers observing the different colours an styles of each floral plant.
What the caterpillars have learnt this week:
* Learning about different plants and their features through visual images.
* Through our environments and learning experiences our caterpillars are being given the opportunity to learn a growing appreciation of nature and to be more adventurous learning all about the various plants in our natural environment through a variety of creative arts experiences.
Next week (week beginning 29th August) the Caterpillars will continue:
* Exploring their plants and gardening interest through a variety of experiences.
Link to Early Years Learning Framework:
2.4 Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment
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.