This week, we’ve had an ice-cold blast! The children have been discovering snowy animals and how to free animals from ice! We’ve also been learning how to set goals for the year ahead and develop our fine motor skills.

In Maths, we practised subitising—recognising small quantities without counting. The children enjoyed playing a fun cup game where they had to “say the amount, don’t count!”. It was exciting to see the children grasp this new concept, confidently saying the number they saw without counting one by one! They were super at it!

At the Creative Table, the children made homes for hibernating animals from lollypop sticks. They also set a personal goal for the year, drawing a picture to represent it while an adult scribed. After watching a video about snowy animals, the children created detailed artwork inspired by what they had learned, using different materials such as tissue paper, cotton wool, pom poms and glitter to stick and glue on their chosen animal.

In the Water Tray, the children had a frosty challenge! Each day, different frozen animals needed rescuing from blocks of ice. The children worked hard to free the animals by smashing, blowing, and rubbing the ice until the creatures were free. It was a fantastic sensory experience that also allowed them to explore the concepts of hot and cold.

In the Tuff Tray, we explored snowy environments and animals. We used flour as “snow” and the children enjoyed making tracks and footprints with toy animals and diggers.

At the Mark Making Table, the children worked on their fine motor skills by drawing snowflakes on whiteboards. They practiced holding pens and making marks, while discussing how snowflakes are all unique.

We’ve had a fantastic week of learning and play! We’re looking forward to more chilly adventures next week.