Children in Oak Room have loved exploring the oats as part of our sensory story “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” They have been feeling the oats falling through their hands, using a range of different sized spoons and bowls to explore filling, tipping, and feeding whilst connecting the sensory experience to the narrative.
Next, the children wanted to add water to the dry oats which changed the texture, demonstrating curiosity and scientific thinking. They used their whole bodies to explore the oats – feet, licking, hands, face – fully experiencing the sensory change from dry to wet whilst engaging all their senses.
Mark making has been another interest. The children have been creating big marks on the floor using a range of resources including paint, crayons, and pens. We observed children enjoying the whole-body experience of making marks with pens in both hands, using circular motions, dotting and making splats, dipping the paint and splatting it.
We noticed an interest in nature with children scooping leaves and watching them fall. We ran out of leaves so we used our problem-solving skills and used some made leaves to scoop and fall, showing how we adapt resources to follow children’s interests.
We expanded our learning about habitats and making homes. One child made a home, covered it with leaves to camouflage it so no other predator could find it, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of animal survival strategies.
We continually follow the interests of the child. We often as adults need to go and research and find out information as we don’t have all the answers – we are equal thinkers and learners. We are loving learning alongside our knowledgeable children who are introducing us to new learning.
