Halloween 2016 Sensory Tray

We had some halloween fun this week with our sensory tray. This was packed with lots of learning opportunities for all ages.

The younger ones enjoyed the sensory feel of the beans and lentils as well as developing their motor skills through using tools to fill and empty containers.

For the older children there were more mathematical opportunities including number recognition when they found the hidden numbers as well as weighing and counting. We used lots of mathematical language to describe the things that were heavier, lighter, smaller and bigger as well as counting out our beans into pots.

All this was combined with the imaginative play created by the introduction of scary spiders, slimy names and various other halloween paraphanalia!

Apple Trail

Today we enjoyed the Autumn trail set out within the gardens of Saltram House. We had a lovely morning where children of all age ranges (1 to 4) were able to get involved. The older children enjoyed following the map on the trail, practising their number identification and pen holding skills through joining up the apples on the sheet. 

The younger children were able to explore the woodland areas, using the tree trunks to help them practise their standing as well as investigating the ground around them while the others engaged in den building and general exploration.

In order to continue the apple and autumn theme we later used some apples to create some autumn coloured paintings. The younger children enjoyed sliding the apples around while those with more strength examined the apple and did more detailed printing.

Autumn Conkers

We went for a walk in one of the local parks to collect some conkers. The children found some of the conkers still in their shells and gently opened them up. They were fascinated to see some of the conkers still falling from the trees, luckily not onto their heads! The younger children explored the ground, examining the Autumn leaves as well as the sticks and conkers. 

We took some conkers home so found a variety of uses for them in the house. Young children learn with all their senses so we decided to create an Autumn sensory tray of beans and lentils with leaves, twigs, acorns and conkers. The younger children were able to feel the resources and undertake placing objects inside and outside pots while the older children used the woodland animals to create stories with each other. 

Additionally for the older children we used the conkers for counting practice. The children loved that they were able to use objects from the park and count them as well as developing their number recognition. 

We were please with all the areas of learning covered through undertaking a simple trip to the park to collect conkers:

Social Development          The children played together, sharing resources and observing

Physical Development      The children played in the park gaining fresh air and exercise

Communication                 I introduced langauge, the children discussed their findings and followed 

                                           instructions on the walk.              

Literacy                             We looked at road signs and placed Autumnal words in our play tray

Numeracy                          Children counted conkers as well as moving them into pots

Understanding the World  Children looked where the conkers fell and talked about Autumn

Expressive Art & Design  Using the animals and natural materials older children created stories.