Today in the 3 year old session we looked at objects that begin with different letters. We began the session with our SATPIN cards and sang the phonics songs that go with them. Next we moved onto our activity. The children were shown 3 different cans of letter “soup” all with a different letter. We looked at letters S A T in this activity. The objects cards were taken from the tins. The children could pick an object, name it and then work out what letter it went with. We finished the activity using three Makaton sign for finish. In the two year old session we looked at the number two. We began the session with the rainbow colour song and makaton signs. Next we moved onto the number/ counting activity. The children were first shown a picture of the number two and asked to hold up two fingers. Next the children were given a variety of different counting bears and we counted two of each colour. The children then had a go at counting two bears and putting them in a line. We finished the session with our bubble song. Today in our afternoon focus sessions we looked at emotions and what makes us feel different ways. We spoke about how we are feeling and using Makaton signs for happy and sad we explored using our hands to communicate. Next we moved onto a social story about using our good walking feet inside. We explained this is important at preschool because if we run inside we may hurt ourselves and potentially others around us, following on from this we asked the children questions about the story then to end our focus sessions we used the makaton sign for finished.

Today we had our Class and individual photographs . The children went on a nature collection to make Andy goldsworthy inspired nature portraits. We enjoyed a lovely walk in nature and made daisy chains. Andy goldsworthy is an artist that makes art out of natural materials

Today in the 3 year old focus we looked at our colours. We began the session saying hello to our friends. We asked each other how we are feeling and then learnt the makaton sign for happy and sad. We moved onto our colour session, first we named all the colours and then moved onto learning the makaton signs for the colours. We finished the session with a colour dance. In the 2 year old session we followed on the colour theme. We began the session with our colour song and makaton signs. Next we played a colour matching game where we matched different colour objects to each of the colour tiles. The children had great fun. This activity helps with colour recognition. We finished the session with some bubbles. In the afternoon we explored an activity of measure to see how high we could build a tower.

Today in the three year old session we looked at drawing the letters in our names. We began the session saying hello to our friends and telling each other how we feel. Next we started the session with our SATPIN cards and sang the phonics song for each. Next we looked at our line of the week, we practiced drawing a dash line on our palms with our finger so we could feel how the line felt. We then moved on to writing the letters in our names. Each child was given a whiteboard with their first initial in the corner, the children had great fun having a go at copying their letters. We finished the session with the makaton sign for finish. In the two year old session we did some play-dough gym. We began the session with our rainbow song and makaton signs. We next moved onto the playdough gym. The children had great fun using their fingers to make different marks and patterns in the dough. This activity is great for fine motor/ manipulative skills. We finished the session with some bubbles. On the arts and crafts table today we made some shields for St George’s day. St George is the patron st of England! We used the colours red and while to reprints the English flag.

Today in the 3+ focus session we played a game called higher or lower! We began the session saying hello to our friends and counting 1-10 on our fingers, holding up the correct amount of fingers each time. Next we moved onto our session. The children were shown two numbers and asked which one was higher or lower. We used the counting bears to help us, one of the numbers was then swapped with a different number and then the process was started again. We finished the session with the makaton sign for goodbye. In the two year old session we played what’s missing. We began the session with our rainbow song and signing the colours in makaton. The children were shown different objects such as a teddy, train and a blob. The objects were then placed in 3s in-front of them and named again, the children then closed their eyes and an object was taken from the line! The children had to identify what object was missing. We finished off the session with come bubbles.

Today in the 3 year old session we looked at the different rules and expectations of different places we may visit. We began by saying hello to our friends and talking about how we feel. Next the children were shown some pictures of different places such as a library, school and cinema. We spoke about the different rules of each place such as good sitting and kind hands (school) and what we shouldn’t do such as shouting and running around (in a library or cinema). We went on a trip to the care home in bickley called Kin. Today we explored songs from the 40’s and met the newly hatched chicks. Please see the video on TikTok. @lillybrookchildcare In the two year old session we played a game of sticky-kids. We began the session by singing our favourite rainbow song to help us learn the colours and practicing the Makaton signs for them. Next we played our game. The children got to pick between let’s go walking and stand up sit down! The children picked let’s go walking and we had great fun exploring the different ways we can move across the room. We finished off the session with some bubbles!

Today in the three year old session we looked at road safety. We began the session by saying hello to our friends and asking each other how we feel today. Next we moved onto our session. We looked at different things that help keep us safe when crossing the road such as zebra crossings and lollipop people. We spoke about the rules of the road, such as stop, look, listen and hold hands and what the different colour lights on traffic lights mean. For parents please check out this website for more information on safety~https://www.think.gov.uk https://capt.org.uk/csw-road-safety/ videos to watch with your children on road safety - • https://youtu.be/DaqR9Oyf1Zw?feature=shared How to cross a road We finished off the session with a video about road safety and the children answered some simple questions to test their newfound knowledge. In the 2 year old session we revisited drawing circles. We began the session with our rainbow song and the Makaton signs. Next the children were shown 2 circle shapes and we spoke about the side and colour of each. Next the children were given trays, paper and a crayon and we bagan to sing the wheels on the bus while drawing in a circular motion to replicate the wheels. We finished the session with some bubbles.

Today in the three year old session we looked at our cutting skills. We began the session by talking about what we know about scissor safety, how we hold scissors and what things we should do to keep us safe such as run with them. Next we sang our scissor song and began the activity. The children had a choice between cutting along a straight or wavy line or cutting out a circle or square shape. The children had a good go at staying within the lines. In the two year old session we looked at the number three and counting. We began the session with our colour song and Makaton signs. We followed onto our counting activity. The children had a range of different objects in a pile and had to count out 3 of each item to put in the box. We finished the session with some bubbles

Today in the three year old focus we looked at drawing different lines we have been practicing. We began the session saying hello to our peers and telling them how we are feeling. We started singing the phonics song for the SATPIN letters and talking about what words begin with each letter. Next we moved onto our line activity. The children were shown 3 lines that they learnt last term, a spiral, zigzag and straight line. We used a whiteboard and pen to draw them.    In the 2 year old focus we looked and quiet and loud sounds. We began the session by singing our rainbow song and signing the colours in Makaton. We moved onto our sounds activity. The children were given two wooden sticks and we hit them together to make sounds, the children were asked to hit the sticks loud and fast and slow and quiet. We finished the session with some bubbles! In the afternoon focus we looked at emotions. The children played the fishing game with emotion cards underneath. The children took it in turns to go ‘fishing’ and reveal a card. Once the card was shown the children had to explain how the people in the picture were feeling and why they might be feeling that way.

Today in the three year old session we have been looking at different shapes and how to draw them. We began the session by saying hello to all out friends and then counting on our fingers to 10, holding up the correct number of fingers for each. We then moved onto our shape activity. We looked at two different shapes, a circle and a triangle and spoke about how many sides each shape had. We all had a go at drawing the shapes on our whiteboards. We finished the session with the Makaton signs for finish. In the two year old session we continued looking at farm animals. We began the session singing our rainbow song and singing the colours. We then did the Makaton signs for the colours. We moved onto our animal activity. The children were asked the name of the animals, what sounds they make and then shown the makaton signs for them for each animals, we song old McDonald as we held up each animal. We finished the session with the bubble song! In the afternoon we made an octopus for our display board together collaboratively as a team.

Today in our 3 year old focus, we began the session by saying hello and discussing how each one of us were feeling and why we were feeling that we. We explored looking at adjective cards whilst playing game of pop up pirate. Chloe placed all of the cards face down on the floor and picked the children one at a time to come and flick up a card. The children were then asked to describe what was happening in the picture. Chloe then gave them an instruction of picking up a certain amount of swords to put in the pop up pirate barrel. The children enjoyed watching the pirate pop up. 🚲 🐎 During our two year old focus, we began our session with a hello and continued on to our rainbow song exploring the makaton sign for each of the colours. We then moved on to looking at the shapes triangle, square and circle. Chloe labelled the shapes to the children and then asked the children one by one to find a shape. E.g., ‘can you find me the circle’. We then put them in a row and Chloe used the language of size describing the sizes as ‘big’ and ‘small’. 🔺🟡🟩 🌈 To support our two year old focus we have had out the shape dominos in the main room and the children have enjoyed naming the different colours and shapes with staff. We have been building houses out of the stickle bricks 🏠 We have been doing some sticking using Pom poms and tissue paper for some Easter craft activities. 🐣 The children have had access to the cultural puzzles out for the children to explore. 🧩 We hope you all have a lovely weekend! ☀️ A friendly reminder that our last day is Thursday 28th March 2024 and we return on Monday 15th April 2024! 🐣

Today in the three year old focus time we learnt about Ramadan. We began the session talking about what countries and the name of the religion that celebrates Ramadan and looking at some of the flags. Next we spoke about why Ramadan is celebrated and how it’s celebrated. We looked at some pictures of significant places such as a mosque and mecca . We finished the session having a recap of what we had learnt. We explained it was a special time in the Muslim religion. We spoke about the fact that in the Muslim religion they have a special book called the quaran and that during Ramadan Muslims will fast which means not eat during sunlight hours and the break their fast by eating when the sun goes down. In the two year old session we looked at farm animals and their signs. We began the session with our colour song, we signed in Makaton for each colour. Next we did our farm activity. We introduced our different farm animals and practiced the makaton signs for them all and sang old McDonald. To finish the session we played with some bubbles. Note for parents only During this month, Muslims observe a strict fast from dawn until sunset.They are not allowed to eat or drink (even water) during daylight hours. Fasting is a private act of worship bringing about nearness to God, as well as a form of spiritual discipline and a means to empathize with those less fortunate.

Today in the three year old focus we looked at colours. We began the session with the colour train, we labled all of the colours and then re visited them, this time learning the Makaton signs to go with them. We learnt each sign one by one and the children all really enjoyed having a go. To finish the session we did a colour dance. We moved our bodies to the music. In the two year old session we moved our bodies to a sticky kids activity. We began the session with the colour singing p, identifying the colours as we sang. We moved onto our exercise activity! The children all enjoyed moving along to the sticky kids song ‘let’s go walking’ we traveled around the room in different ways. We finished off the session with some bubble fun! In the afternoon focus we looked at making shapes. We used different materials to link together to make circles, squares and triangles. We spoke about how many corners and sides the shape had and counted how many objects we used to make each shape . We made some Easter cards on the arts and crafts table using legos to print colours onto our paper to make different patterns.

Monday 18th March In the three year old focus today we looked at 2D and 3D shapes. We began the session with counting on our fingers to the number 10, holding up the correct amount of fingers each time. Next we moved onto some number recognition. The children moved sammy spider along the number line to a number given. We used our fingers to found how many jumps sammy needed to make to get from his next to the number! Next we moved onto our activity.  The children were shown a circle, triangle and a square and asked to name them. Then the children were shown their 3D equivalent. A cylinder, cube and a pyramid. The children matched the 2D shape to the 3D shape and we spoke about what the different between 2D and 3D shapes are. In the two year old session we looked at number rhymes. We began the session with our colour song and moved onto the activity. The children were shown 3 ducks and we counted them out. Next we began to sing the number rhyme. Each time a duck swam away the children were asked to found how many ducks were left. This helps with the first stage of counting. We finished the session with our bubble song. Tuesday 19th March Today in the three year old session we looked at different lines.we began the session with looking at our SATPIN cards and singing the phonics songs to go with them. Next we moved onto our line activity. The children were introduced to a new line of the week, the wavy line. The children were given whiteboards to practice drawing the line. Next we had a look back at our previous lines of the weeky and practiced drawing those on the whiteboard too. In the two year old session today we looked at fast and slow and loud and quiet. We began the session by singing our rainbow song to help us learn colours and them moved onto our activity. The children were each given two rhythm sticks and we hit them together to make different sounds. We hit them slowly to make the quiet sound and hit them fast to make the loud sound. We finished the session with some bubbles.

In the three year old session today we learnt about St Patrick’s day and Ireland. We began the session looking at a picture of the Irish flag and talking about the county, where it sits on the world map. Next the children were introduced to St Patrick’s day and we spoke a little bit about what the holiday is about and why we celebrate it. We watched some videos of Irish dancing and pipe playing and looked at different ways in which the day is celebrated. The children enjoyed learning about different foods such as corned beef and cabbage and learning about the shamrock. In the two year old session today we revisited play dough gym. This activity is good for fine manipulation skills. We began the session with our rainbow song to help the children learn their colours. We moved onto the play dough gym, the children had great fun using their fingers to make different movements and marks in the dough such as pinching, poking and rolling. We finished the session with some bubble fun. In focus time this afternoon, we looked at the letter ‘s’ and the sound it makes. We had mats down on the floor in an s formation and had to follow different instructions such as crawling, walking, jumping or running along the letter ‘s’. After this, we spoke about some different words that started with s, such as sausages, sock, shoes and snake. To finish we recapped on what letter we had just looked at and the sound it made.

In the three year old focus today we looked at colour mixing. We began the session talking about the different types of colours. Primary and secondary colours. We spoke about how we make different colours from the primary colours called secondary colours. We practiced mixing the colours up, identifying the colours as we went. We then spoke about how to make colours lighter or darker by adding white or more of the darker colour we were using. We finished the session by mixing all of the primary colours together to see what colour we would get. In the two year old focus we continued our colour matching activity. We began the session by singing our rainbow song and then followed onto our colour matching game. The children had a variety of different objects with different colours in front of them, they took it in turns to match the different colours together and name them afterwards. We finished the session with some bubbles.

NUMERACY FUN ON MONDAY! Today during our three year old focus we explored a series of patterns, discussing what a pattern is, how to make a pattern and how to continue a pattern. The children were given the opportunity to continue a pattern using the coloured counting bears, starting with simple patterns such as red bear, yellow bear, red bear, yellow bear. Once the children were able to demonstrate great capability to complete the pattern, we then moved on to more challenging patterns such as green bear, green bear, blue bear, blue bear, green bear, green bear etc. we will be continuing this throughout the rest of the term, providing opportunities for the children to explore this with activities displayed in the main room. The children were very keen to participate and were showing great engagement during this activity. We also matched numeral and quantity using our fingers to symbolise the quantity. E.g., holding up 7 fingers when asked to display the number 7. During our two year old focus session, we continued to explore farm animals and the sounds that they make. We used a communication box to explore the animals which kept the children very engaged. There are cards that come with the box and as you put the cards in the box, it will say the name of the animal and make the sound that they make. Once we had explored the animals hen, dog, cat, goat, pig and duck, we reinforced the sounds we had just learned by singing a song of old McDonald had a farm. LITERACY FUN ON TUESDAY! Today in the three year old session we looked at following instructions. We began the session with our SATPIN cards. We sang the phonics song for each and tried to think of some words that began with each letter. After that we began learning a new line of the week! This weeks line is a Curley line. The children were shown how to draw the line on a whiteboard and then they had a turn drawing the line on their hands with their fingers to see how the line feels. Next we moved onto our instruction game. The children had a range of different objects in front of them such as a teddy, a chair, some blocks and balls of different colours, a car, train and fork. The children were asked to do different things with the different objects. Eg “can you give the orange ball to teddy and put the green block on the chair”. We finished the session with the Makaton signs for finish. In the two year old focus we continued looking at farm animals. We began the session with our rainbow song looking at colours. Next we moved onto our activity, we had some different animals such as a cow, sheep, chicken, pig and cat. We names all the animals first and them practiced the Makaton signs for them. We finished the session with some bubbles.