August News 2020 Throughout August all age groups have continued to enjoy the sunny weather and have spent lots of time exploring our wonderful outside areas, however we are eagerly anticipating the season change and look forward to the many new discoveries and learning experiences that Autumn will provide over the forthcoming months! Our littlest monkeys in Blues and Yellows have been exploring music and movement. They have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and beginning to join in some of their favourite nursery rhymes accompanied by musical instrument exploration, creating a range of sounds and rhythms. Further to this our fantastic carers upstairs in Yellow Monkeys has created a family board inclusive of photos the babies have brought in from home. This has seen many of the babies spend time looking at the photos smiling, pointing and babbling to themselves! Meanwhile our Blue Monkeys have been delving into different textured play such as; coloured rice, dry couscous, sculpting playdough, flour, paint and sensory bags filled with paint, cotton wool and conditioner. Pink Monkeys are our little book worms of the nursery at the moment as they continued to express and show a very strong interest in stories and book exploration. Our lovely team have continued to extend this interest through providing our toddlers with exciting and engaging activities which further this area of development also. We’re Going on a Bear Hunt is always a favourite for many children and Pink Monkeys have brought the story to life through creative and sensory experiences; making bear masks, sensory bags filled with; grass, water, sticks, paint and flour, bear pat-mat table and play-dough with small world people and bears! The story of The Hungry Caterpillar has also been explored through finger painting, green spaghetti play and caterpillar masks. Discussions were held with our little ones whilst cutting and sticking pictures from old story books around their own experiences and memories thus creating their own stories. Our Pre-schoolers in Red Monkeys have journeyed into the rainforest this month and the activities have provided the children with play experiences to support the children’s progression all areas of learning and development. They have eagerly explored; a rainforest themed tufty tray, created arty snakes, explored sensory rainforest bags encouraging colour mixing, weighing animals discussing which is heaviest and creating pasta shaped snakes and discussing how long they are. Discussions around animals whom live in North America, a rainforest and endangered animals/sea-life and how we can help the planet have been held, aided by photos. In addition to this the children have laughed lots whilst taking part in a crazy foam and water battle against their carers and took part in building a rescue boat and conversations around this. Also, this month we were extremely excited to have a party for our Red Monkeys to celebrate their friends who were leaving to start their big school adventure!! We decorated our pre-school room and the garden with banners and balloons, music played throughout the afternoon, temporary tattoos applied and pass the parcel was enjoyed! The afternoon was rounded off with delicious homemade party food for tea!
