We know how important children being able to tune into sounds is for their overall development.
It helps them to develop concentration, develop communication skills, learn vocabulary and develops early reading skills. 

When children are able to hear, distinguish and identify sounds, it means they can then begin to hear, distinguish and identify sounds in words. 
We start with using sounds our bodies make, exploring musical instruments and sounds they make, animal sounds, listening to environmental sounds before we move onto letters and sounds (phonics). 
This week, children have been encouraged to close their eyes and tune into environmental sounds. Some of the sounds children could identify included drills, car horns, a cockerel in a neighbour's garden (have you heard the cockerel near to school?) children laughing in the garden and a siren. 

Children across the nursery have been supported to make shakers to use with a purpose for their Eid singing.
They have selected materials including containers and explored the shaker ingredients (lentils, pasta or rice). They listened to the different sounds each one makes and decided which sound they wanted to create. They then sealed their container, using one handed tools such as scissors, tape, ribbon and glue. Children mark made their names so they could find them again. 

​As many of our families and staff are preparing for Eid celebrations, we hope these shakers will be able to be enjoyed at home.
Remember all children are invited to our Eid Party on Tuesday 1 April - this will be a non-school uniform day!

There is so much learning for the children in Science Week that we extend it every year to two weeks! 
Slime exploration has taken over this week at Children's House.
Children have been exploring a range of ingredients to make the perfect slime - not too sticky, not lumpy.

Children have been supported to carefully follow the instructions on each experiment: reading the instructions and carefully observing what happens. Children shared their ideas, showed amazement and talked about what the think had happened (hypothesised!)  Children also were introduced to vocabulary such as stretch, squish, roll, pull, expand, retract. 

Here is the recipe of you want to try it at home (watch your clothes and carpets though!) 
1) Mixing PVA glue, bicarbonate of soda, food colouring and some contact lens cleaning solution. 
2) Mixing in a bowl and talking about what they can see.
3) Kneading the mixture.
4) Explore the slime with your hands - stretch, squish, pull and roll it!

Most children brought their slime home - we hope you enjoyed exploring together. 

These photographs demonstrate some of the learning that has taken place during Science Week better than any words could!

Children have spent the week exploring and revisiting a range of experiments that supported the children in developing the skills of observation, sharing talk, making predictions, using specific vocabulary, following instructions, making hypotheses and instilling awe and wonder in the children! 

1) Chemical reactions and a change of state were demonstrated very effectively with the Ice Cream Making Experiment- children followed recipes to mix rock salt and ice with sugar and flavouring. They shook the ingredients and created ice cream! Children observed how the ingredients reacted together when they were shaken vigorously! They also tasted some of the delicious end product!

2) Paper Rocket Experiment! Children saw how the pressure of air can be strong and thrust objects. Plastic milk bottles were left with the lid off so they filled with air. Children made a lightweight, cone-shaped, paper rocket and placed it over the open bottle neck. They then clapped their hands together with force on the sides of the plastic bottle and WHOOOOOOOSH! The rockets flew into the air. Children were amazed! The air was pushed out with force and the pressure sent the paper rocket into the sky!

3) Volcano Experiment - children mixed ingredients and observed an exciting chemical reaction.  Firstly children looked at photographs of volcanoes: dormant and erupting. Shazna explained that when volcanoes are dormant, they are asleep and when they are erupting, they are awake. Children watched a short video of an active volcano which was noisy! Children mixed bicarbonate of soda with food dye and then poured in vinegar. They observed and used their senses and noticed the mixture fizzed and bubbled. Then it erupted like lava from a volcano! Look at he expressions on their faces! 

Here are a few science experiments you could do with your child at home. Remember never leave children alone when doing this. 

This week we celebrated World Book Day by wearing pyjamas to school and enjoying a bedtime story with our friends and families.

At Children's House Nursery School all our children read and are keen to explore and enjoy books alone, with a friend or at story time with their class and teacher.  We encourage children to read by having books everywhere - fiction, non-fiction, picture books, books made by children, books made by staff and leaflets too!
We share books together and encourage children to enjoy books as part of their play. 

Please try to read every day with your child at home: a bedtime story is a beautiful way to unwind after bath time. The perfect time to snuggle up together.
Reading helps young children to develop language, vocabulary and understanding. This is key for learning in all other areas of the curriculum. 
Reading the same book time after time can be exhausting for adults but it really helps children internalise narratives and I love to watch the same film again and again as I know the ending and it's comforting and safe!

Remember you can borrow books from school and join the local library: click here for information!