Week beginning 12th February 2024
What a very busy week we’ve had in Early Years!
On Monday, we learned about Lunar/Chinese New Year. We watched videos explaining why it is celebrated and know it is the year of the dragon. We made lanterns and dragons and listened to music whilst watching fireworks. We also had our own dragon parade and tried some typical Chinese food - rice, noodles and prawn cracker
On Tuesday, we were lucky enough to have a professional chef come and cook pancakes with us! Chef James showed us what each ingredient was and taught us each how to mix them altogether. Once the ingredients were stirred together, Chef James cooked them in the pans, where we watched from a safe distance. We cut up strawberries to add to the top, chose other toppings to add to the freshly cooked pancakes and ate them! They were expertly made - the thickest and fluffiest pancakes! Chef James also talked about the importance of handwashing and why we keep everything in the kitchen clean and tidy. Thank you so much Chef James!
We also celebrated Valentine’s Day by making some cards and crafts to take home to those we love and had a Disco!
Here is the recipe Chef James used to help us to make our delicious pancakes. Why not have a try at home? Don't forget to upload some photos too!
The recipe Chef James used to make our delicious pancakes.
AMERICAN PANCAKES
Serves 4 people
Ingredients
• 200g self-raising flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 25g melted butter, plus extra for cooking
• 200ml milk
• vegetable oil, for cooking
Method
STEP 1. Mix 200g self-raising flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp golden caster sugar and a pinch of salt together in a large bowl.
STEP2. Create a well in the centre with the back of your spoon then add 3 large eggs, 25g melted butter and 200ml milk.
STEP 3. Whisk together either with a balloon whisk or electric hand beaters until smooth then pour into a jug.
STEP 4. Heat a small knob of butter and 1 tsp of oil in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. When the butter looks frothy, pour in rounds of the batter, approximately 8cm wide. Make sure you don’t put the pancakes too close together as they will spread during cooking. Cook the pancakes on one side for about 1-2 mins or until lots of tiny bubbles start to appear and pop on the surface. Flip the pancakes over and cook for a further minute on the other side. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
Week beginning 5th February 2024
This week in Early Years, we have explored the sense of smell. We have used our noses to guess what the different scents were – some we liked and some we did not! We have explored different scents through our play, in the water trays and using smelling bags. We have even made our own different scented play dough.
On Tuesday it was Safer Internet Day. We read a story about staying safe online and played a quiz with the Safeguarding Monitors. We know to tell a trusted adult if we are worried about anything we see online
This week is also Children’s Mental Health Week. We have taken part in wellbeing activities, discussed our feelings, created artwork, made feelings cards and went ‘Inside Out’ on Friday – showing it’s ok to get our feelings (what’s inside of us) out into the open!
Week beginning 29th January 2024
This week in Early Years, we have explored the sense of hearing through investigating different sounds in our environment, using instruments, exploring quiet and loud songs, and making our own instruments using junk modelling.
Our new book theme is ‘Funny Bones’. We have retold the story through role play and story mapping, labelled the different parts of the body and made skeletons using the counting bones.
We have also had a visit from our local Healthworks team who came to talk to us about the importance of handwashing and toothbrushing. They brought their special machine and gel to show us how many germs we have on our hands - even after washing them! They showed us how germs spread all around the classroom and how long we should wash our hands for (by singing Happy Birthday!) Then we had a turn at brushing ‘Tilly the Tooth’ with the large toothbrush. We also brushed the set of teeth and had a turn at looking at our own teeth using the mirrors. We were all given a new toothbrush and a certificate for joining in.
Perhaps the children could post a photo on Tapestry of their super toothbrushing and handwashing techniques at home?
Week beginning 22nd January 2024
This week in Early Years, we were lucky enough to have the Teddy Bear Hospital visit us. We took part in different activities, exploring some equipment that is used in hospital check-ups, such as, stethoscopes, blood pressure and heart rate monitors. We looked at the different parts inside our bodies and played games involving our senses. We also explored teeth cleaning, using the tooth brushes to clean the big teeth and discussed healthy food choices.
We have investigated and explored the sense ‘touch’ this week through playing different sensory themed games, guessing items and describing textures using the ‘feely’ box.
Week beginning 15th January 2024
This week in Early Years and Year 1 we have continued Our Body and Senses theme by looking at ‘sight’. We have taken part in lots of activities using our eyes, playing games, exploring different colours and investigating light and dark.
Early Years have been acting out the story of Little Red Riding Hood, after making masks, to transform into the different characters. We have also looked at different celebrations in RE and played a new game in PE.
Year 1 have loved their transition time in the Year 1/2 classroom and on the yard during break times.
Week beginning 8th January 2024
Happy New Year!
We welcomed some new Nursery friends into our Early Years and Year 1 class this week, who have settled in beautifully!
Our new topic this half term is My Body, we have been naming and identifying body parts, singing body related songs, such as ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’, and making play dough faces.
Our new book theme is Little Red Riding Hood, we have role played the story, hot seated and described the characters of Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolf, Grandma and the Woodcutter.
Year 1 have enjoyed their sessions with Mr Howard in the new Year 1/2 classroom and are looking forward to spending more time there as they begin their transition process.
