Cooking and learning about food and why we need it is very important to young children. In F2, the children have explored a topic called ‘Shopping’ linked to their interests. They have been role-playing in the shop, buying and selling items. They have learnt about the different types of food, where they can buy them, how to use money to pay and they have started to make marks and write shopping lists. When learning about food it is essential that the children also experience the real items and have opportunities to explore their senses through touch, smell and taste.
Even Forbes, a global media company, recommends ways that shopping can support your child’s learning in this article;
https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/10/15/the-5-most-important-money-lessons-to-teach-your-kids/#219fe54d6826
The children in F2 all made real pizzas this week in the Early Years’ kitchen. They were able to name and choose the different toppings that they put on the dough. Lots of different skills were involved in this activity including cutting, rolling, squeezing, spreading and use of their pincer grip. They also learnt the English names of the cooking equipment and aspects of safety such as not touching the oven when it is on and hot. What great fun they all had - an experience they will not forget!
Next time you decide to go shopping, why don’t you have a think about what your child could be learning and how you could help them or even prepare before you leave your home. Here are some suggestions taken from www.thischaoticbliss.com.
● Think about your meal planning and look at some recipes and what ingredients you may need.
● Write a shopping list.
● Read the nutrition labels on the packets of food.
● Look at and explore the different shapes of the boxes and containers and spend time hunting for other similar shaped containers.
● Compare the different prices.
● At the checkout let them pay.
In F3, this week the children have really impressed their teachers with the final stage of their storytelling. In the final part of their learning, they have looked at changing aspects of the text. All of the children had a lot to share and were very vocal in English, which was great to see. In F3V, the 3 Billy Goats were changed to 3 Angels for Christmas and the troll became a camel. Instead of the grass and a bridge we had the sky and a ladder and they chose a perfect ending where they all got to eat ice-cream. The children had lots of opportunities to then go away and make up their own stories.
Coming to the end of term, the children across all the classes will be preparing for Christmas. Lots of the activities will be creative, involving decorating Christmas trees and making decorations for the classrooms. There will also be a lot of practicing of the ‘Wriggly Nativity’ songs and lines in preparation for their Christmas Performance. We are all extremely excited and can’t wait for you to come and watch on Wednesday 12th December.
Miss Julie Walton
Head of Early Years
