We started the week with a visit to the pop-up shop to collect our weekly groceries. There was a slight twist this week as I pretended to be a shopkeeper. The Robins thoroughly enjoyed this, therefore next week I will extend it further by providing the Robins with some Russell House money to purchase their items. 

As part of our topic, we explored dragons, unicorns, trolls and a Pegasus. This topic has supported the children’s language and extended their vocabulary by learning new words. It also captured the children’s imaginations by using some of the key pieces of information in their play scenarios. 

This week’s activities consisted of using a variety of mark-making tools to add colour to a variety of mythical creature pictures. Paint, chalk and crayons were used and each one provided different hand grip positions, from whole-hand grasps to finger-controlled positions. 

 

In Robins, a big emphasis is placed on providing the children with many experiences to explore the great outdoor environment on offer at Russell House. Water is a keen interest of the children, so as a fun activity, Miss Ruby and I took the children to the field to explore the refurbished long jump area. To extend the children’s fun, I moved the water sprinkler for them to run through and then wash the sand from their feet. So much fun was had, so in the afternoon, the children took turns to spray the hose and point it in the air to resemble rain. We also made a rainbow which was great fun. 

Mr McCarthy popped in and read The Three Billy Goats story. This story linked nicely to our topic as there was a cheeky troll that lived under the bridge. 

Making the most of this week’s sunny weather, the children took part in an outdoor yoga session and some of the Robins did a great job lifting up their leg and balancing… great perseverance! Afterwards, we took off our shoes and explored running around on the grass without our shoes socks. 

 

These activities are great for the children’s sensory integration and development. There have been some interesting studies which highlight the importance of connecting with grass as it stimulates neural connections in the brain. This can improve cognitive development and body awareness. Such activities can also provide the children with better balance, control and agility. 

Bubbles are a fond favourite, so lots of fun was had, chasing bubbles across the field! 

Our cooking activities consisted of pizza tarts, low-sugar banana cake, bread rolls and fruit pots. I picked some rhubarb from my garden and the Robins enjoyed building their yummy pots of goodness. They certainly enjoyed making their culinary creations and they learned many fundamental skills during the process. 

Thank you once again for your continued support with our weekly topics. It is truly wonderful to receive such a great level of parental support as it extends the children’s learning. 

Next week, our topic will be VE Day. We encourage children to bring in something from home (just not too big please). This can be related to our weekly topic or anything else they would like to share or celebrate with us. The children enjoy sharing their objects from home during carpet time and it is a fantastic way to build effective communication and listening skills.   

Happy Bank Holiday weekend!