This term we are exploring making models in nursery. We will provide the children with a variety of materials and tools to explore across the term. This week we have been learning about clay – how to manipulate it with our hands, with tools and even with our feet!
Adults follow the children’s lead and allow them to explore and follow their own ideas and imagination. Some children want to make models like dinosaurs or frogs so they are learning to create different shapes like rolling balls and snakes to represent different features, while others want to experiment with adding other materials like water and sticks and noticing the changes and effects that occur as they use their hands to shape the clay.
Clay is a natural substance, quite similar to mud! So it lasts for a very long time, as long as we look after it (unlike playdough which goes off rather quickly). We teach the children that there are certain things that can’t be added to it like paper, paint or glue because these materials will ruin the clay. Giving children the responsibility of caring for their resources, is a great way to foster independence and it teaches them to slow down and think about the effect they have on the environment around them.
Some children were fascinated by how sticky and slimy the clay became as they added more and more water, which became so fun they started splatting it on the floor! In order to continue this exploration (safely and without covering the floor with clay, sorry cleaners!) we explored throwing the clay into a tray instead, seeing who could use the most force to make the biggest splat! Next week we are going to put our wellies on and make a mud bath up in the forest, so the children can notice the similarities, explore what happens next and also so they can enjoy splatting that doesn’t need to be cleaned up!
Exploring different media and materials, noticing changes and beginning to learn new vocabulary to describe what you see, is early scientific exploration and also develops language, curiosity, problem solving and imagination!
